Year End

Today is the last day of 2007. I could, at this point, go on about where the years have gone, lamenting the aging of myself along with the general population, and the seeming flying by of society and technology while I sit on the sidelines. But I’ll spare you those things this year and concentrate on something else.

It is said in some circles that older people don’t learn nearly as well. I don’t know if it is the collective resistance to learning new things, an innate inability to learn due to diminished brain cell function, or something else that makes people say that. I do know, however, that 2007 was one of those years that this late-50’s person learned, and learned a lot. Not that I caught up on technology or learned a new language, but rather that I learned about life and living in a way that made the whole experience worthwhile.

I won’t bore you with the details. You may well already know most of them anyway if you keep up with my blog. Suffice it to say that I am more compassionate, more appreciative, and more grateful now. There’s something about working with teenagers and their families, with those who survive day to day, with unemployment, and with a church family that truly cares that makes all but the most-hardened knot heads take pause. Thankfully, I don’t believe I am one of those in the most-hardened category (although I’ll defer to the wife for a final determination).

What will the new year hold? I haven’t a clue, but I know that whatever it is, I want to be part of it, because The Adventure Continues. Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Why Do We Do That?

When things are routine for us, we have so-called ruts we get into and stay in as we go about our daily lives and living. But when that routine is disrupted, we many times have to get out of those ruts and plow new ground. It’s uncomfortable for us, but sometimes is productive as we try new things and gain new appreciation for others.

Then when the routine returns, we quickly go back into the ruts we’ve plowed long ago. For some reason we become comfortable in them, even if they aren’t best for us. We tend to gravitate back to them, abandoning the newly plowed ground that provided some refreshing change and insight to life and living.

Now, why do you suppose that would be? Why would we prefer the old, established way to the newer, more exciting way? Why would we prefer the familiar to the new? Why would we continue to put up with the same old habits and ways when we’ve already had a taste of doing things differently?

I’m not saying here that everything we do by force of habit is bad. Many of those habitual things are that way because they are good for us and help us in life. But there are some that we could just as easily do without, or replace with something that is markedly better for us. Yet we greatly resist, at times, those changes.

Paul the Apostle said once, “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.”

Even though Paul was talking about the law of sin and his propensity to succumb to its temptation, I think the principle applies. It seems that this practice of doing what we really don’t want to do may well be something that infects humanity in many cultures over many times and epochs.

As I get back into the groove (rut) of having a job and earning a living, I find that I also fall back into the old habits and thoughts that accompany that way of life. I find that I am less compassionate toward those who are homeless or in other dire straits. I find that I become more judgmental toward others, and that I feel somehow superior to them. I find that my communication with those I love becomes more strained as I go back into myself in a kind of protective mode.

Those are the kinds of things I do not want to do, and struggle with even now. I want to retain the lessons I’ve learned over the past few months and allow them to remake me into someone who is more like the God I proclaim to serve. How can I do anything else?

Faithful

It’s been since Christmas Day that I blogged. Since then, much good has happened. The evening of the 26^th, a man called and offered me the position I had been wanting with a new nursing home that was starting up in Wichita. The pay was even more than I had hoped it would be and I readily accepted.

Then the next morning, the Director of Nursing at the same home called my wife and offered her an RN job at the facility. So we are both employed, now, or rather will be shortly.

I would say something like “God is faithful,” thinking that since we have work, He is faithful to us. However, that is the wrong idea. I am grateful we have work. I am thankful that this chapter of our lives is apparently closing and another chapter of the great adventure is beginning. However, God is always faithful, regardless of whether or not we have work, are sick or well, rich or poor, homeless or have a home.

I believe that although there are many coincidences in life, there are also many times when the Hand of God is at work. I don’t know if my seeing the small ad in the newspaper was coincidence or not. I don’t know if my having a second thought about NOT applying for the job was a coincidence or not. Nor do I know if my taking my resume at a time when the man had time to sit down with me for an hour or more was coincidence or not. And I don’t know if having my wife with me (waiting in the vehicle) and the man asking me to get her because they were also looking for nurses was coincidence or not.

I do know that we have work. And the work is something we think we will enjoy and will give value to our employer for what we are paid. We believe we will derive satisfaction in our work, helping those who cannot help themselves.

And so I again say, “God is faithful,” knowing that even if we would not have work yet, I could say that with a straight face and in truth. And I know that whatever happens, we know that we are loved, cared for, and appreciated.

Christmas Day

Today is Christmas day. It’s the 59th Christmas I’ve seen in my life. We are in Emporia today, spending the day with our son Scott, Laura, Rachel, and (unborn) Gabriel. This will be the first Christmas I’ve spent in Emporia. There have been Christmases in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Goodland, Kansas, and many other places, but Emporia is a first.
The world has changed considerably since Dad wrapped up the American Flyer train set in several different packages and gave parts of it to each of the kids. I got track, if I remember right. Brother Max got the engine. I don’t know about any of the rest of it. We set it up in the unfinished, cold west bedroom on a piece of plywood that had an extra foot or so scabbed onto the side of it to accommodate the width of the layout.
It was a wonderful time of aluminum trees, light sets that went out if one bulb went bad, bubble lights, orange marmalade brought back from the once-a-year Wichita shopping trip, homemade ornaments, school vacation, and people coming to the house. Sometimes some of the King family would show up. Sometimes it would be the Planks. Sometimes we’d go somewhere else.
I’ll never forget the meals and fellowship when we went to Mervin’s (my uncle) out west of town. The meals were superb and their place was wonderful for exploring…tree rows, outbuildings, and all the rest. They also had a basement where we could play with Mervin’s homemade foosball, cards, or whatever else (remember stadium checkers?).
Now, we have digital music from a computer, DVD Christmas movies, electronic ornaments, and designer hot chocolate. We can run to the store on Christmas day for a forgotten food item and carry a portal to the world on our hips. We travel hundreds of miles without even thinking about it, and orange marmalade is no big deal.
But some things never change. Family ties and gifts under the tree. Ham, pumpkin pie, and peppermint ice cream. Bean and Bean (some won’t know what this is…ask sister Marianne). Christmas eve traditions. They’re all there just as they were years ago, and just as they’ll be as long as God permits.
One other thing that never changes is what Christmas Is All About. Linus, wise beyond his years, succinctly and clearly tells the world every year in It’s A Charlie Brown Christmas what the season is really about. I’ll close with his speech.
Charlie Brown: I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about. [shouting in desperation] Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. [moves toward the center of the stage] Lights, please. [a spotlight shines on Linus]
Linus Van Pelt: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" [Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown]
Linus Van Pelt: That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

We Are Not Forgotten

I was laying in bed last night waiting for the wife to join me. It always takes me less time to get ready for bed than it does her. As I was laying there, I started to pray. I immediately thought of our situation here, no home, no job, and started praying about that. I stopped, however, after only a couple of seconds, and started to think of others that were in situations that also were not necessarily the greatest.

My mind quickly raced, thinking of many people who had chronic problems with health, finances, relationships, or work, and of people in situations that just weren’t the best. I just spent a second or two on each one, thinking about them.

The thing that got me was the large number of people I knew that had issues. I must have thought of well over 100 people, and just kept thinking of more, never repeating.

When I finished, our problems seemed rather small compared to some of the people and problems I had remembered. After all, we have a place to stay, food on the table, and job prospects are still coming our way. We are apparently healthy, and have all of our arms, legs, and mental faculties.

If we’re still not working in three or four months, I might start to sound a little more desperate or despairing. But even then, I’ll know that we’re blessed and that God has not forgotten our situation. I may need to be reminded of that, but we’ll take one day at a time.

Saying It All

I had the chance to visit with some of the girls from the children’s home yesterday. It was after church, and we had a few minutes together while they waited for a ride.

I heard from one of the girls who is going home for good tomorrow. Another is going home for Christmas vacation, and others had other things to tell. All in all, it was a great conversation, and I got to catch up a little on the lives of the girls we once cared for in our household.

I thought on the way home about the conversations with the girls, and told my wife that when people deal with other people rather than other things, it can get very emotional very quickly. I still ache for those girls and the needs that they have. I still rejoice with the ones who are making progress. And I know that for every girl we were able to help there at the home, there are hundreds in the world that will never get the chance to make something of themselves and change in ways that will enable them to be the kind of women that God would have them be.

We did a good job at the home. That’s not a boast…that’s the truth. We impacted many lives, not only lives of girls, but of parents, grandparents, school staff, church people, and others. We have no regrets about the work we did there, the decisions we made there, or the turn of events that resulted in our dismissal from there.

One of the girls we cared for is now back home with her parents. They reside in the Wichita area and remain in contact with us. The dad wanted to speak at a public fundraiser a few months ago. The words of that parent to Pat and me that night as he spoke to the gathered crowd say it all. “You gave us back our daughter. Thank you.”

I wonder sometimes about the words that I sing in religious songs. Many songs that we sing as part of our religious celebrations, we sing many times in kind of a rote mode, not thinking much about what we are really saying. The Christmas carol Silent Night is one such song. Look at the third verse.

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

Just what is meant by those words? What is the subject? What is the verb or action word? We know this was translated from the German original, so the structure might be a little stilted and artificial, in order to make the English fit into the melody, but there indeed is a message there.

How about this. When we say the words “Son of God”, we are addressing the Christ child. We are about to tell Him something.

That something is, “Love’s pure light, radiant, beams from Thy (your) holy face.” The word “beams” is the action word, and “light” is the subject of the sentence. Radiant is an adjective describing the pure light of love that is beaming from the Christ’s face.

I’m not certain about the next line. “With the dawn of redeeming grace” could be attached to the prior sentence, as in, “Love’s pure light, radiant, beams from Thy holy face, (along) with the dawn of redeeming grace.” Or, it could be the beginning of a new sentence which states that the birth of Jesus is accompanying the dawn of redeeming grace. That could also be turned around to say that the dawn of redeeming grace is accompanying the birth of Jesus. In any event, the intent is to say, it seems, that God is extending redeeming grace to mankind through the birth of the Christ child.

This is just my opinion; others may have other opinions. What do you think? Would you care to give your ideas?

My, My!!

Has it really been a week since I’ve blogged??? Heavens!! My three readers must be forgaying (look THAT one up in your Funk & Wagnalls) waiting on me. My, my. I’ll have to blog more later as we’re on our way up to see the granddaughter this evening.

Urban Living

There are a lot of reasons why I like living in rural areas. No, I’m not talking about Goddard or Valley Center. I’m talking about Scott City or Grinnell (all in Kansas). You see, the first two cities are quickly becoming suburbs of the greater Wichita area. Their city limits buck up against the limits of other communities in the area, and it’s just a stone’s throw to travel to the largest city in Kansas. The other communities don’t stand a chance of becoming suburbs of anything and are struggling to keep an even keel.

However, once in a while, it becomes apparent that living in an urban area also has its perks. That happened to us just tonight when we attended the annual Christmas concert by the Wichita Symphony, with the Singing Quakers Alumni Choir of Friends University.

Those good folks in Grinnell didn’t have two chances in the world of taking in this concert. We, on the other hand, had a good time with friends and competent musicians and singers. The evening was lively, sparkling, and spirited. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Century II.

While many people who have had access to these kinds of programs don’t think much about them, those of us who have not been able to participate in them due to geography have an entirely different attitude. We truly appreciate the effort these people make, and also appreciate those who sponsored this concert so that our tickets could be free tonight.

No Clue

We have some bad weather that is coming in today. The forecasters are calling for upwards of an inch of ice in the next 24 hours or so. We are under an ice storm warning.

I was listening to an AM radio station this morning (WIBW, 580 out of Topeka, KS). Their meteorologist was on the air explaining the situation to listeners. He was saying that there is a large area of warm air that has overridden a layer of colder air at the ground. When moisture condenses in the warmer layers and falls, it starts out as rain, but freezes when it goes through the colder lower layer. He also said that in some places, this colder layer of air could be only a hundred or so feet deep.

That’s the part that got me. We could have an inch of ice, power lines down, trees downed, and society totally disrupted by a layer of air that could be only a hundred or so feet deep.

Life is so fragile here. We think we have everything under control, and then we find out something like this. Our efforts to keep warm and comfortable quickly become priority and other things take second fiddle to the more primary things. We tell stories for years after going through something like this, and pat ourselves on the back for being ready and having extra supplies, etc. But in reality, life is at the whim of a hundred feet of cold air.

Who are we, anyway, to think that we have it all together. We don’t have a clue.

If you’re like me and most other people, you are a blood-relative of the family that claims you. Although some in this world are adopted, most of us are not, and do not fully comprehend what it means to be adopted. I know that I don’t.
That’s why it’s hard for me to understand the passages in the Bible that talk about us being adopted into the family of God. I don’t normally preach in this venue, but I will this time. If you don’t want to hear it, just don’t read it. Romans 8, Galatians 4, and Ephesians 1 all talk of our adoption into God’s family as His children, being lavished upon with all that comes with sonship.
Listen to just a few verses.

“In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” Ephesians 1:4-10, NASV

In spite of what Paul says about adoption, I’ve always thought that it was kind of a second-class existence…not quite as good as blood, and not quite as safe and sure. I know that flies in the face of everything that is said in Scripture. I am only telling you what I feel, at times.
That has, thankfully, begun to change. Part of that change came in an “Aha!” moment as I read a portion of the article, Blessed Are the Barren by Sarah Hinlicky Wilson in the December 2007 issue of Christianity Today (beginning on page 22). I’m going to bore you yet again in this writing with a quote from that article. Ms Wilson says this concerning Jesus and His lineage.

Jesus, the new Moses, is the natural-born, only-begotten Son of God, but he is not the natural-born son of Joseph. Yet he must be Joseph's adoptive son. Two Gospels trace at great length Jesus' genealogy through Joseph, even while they both insist that Joseph played no part in Jesus' conception.

Matthew starts with Abraham, moves fourteen generations to David, another fourteen to Jeconiah, and a final fourteen to Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. Luke moves in the opposite direction, starting with Jesus at the age of thirty, "being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph," through many sons and fathers, until the end when we reach "Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God."

Through adoption, Jesus is the son of David and heir to the kingdom. The genealogies are pointless unless adoption matters; unless it is real; unless the ingrafting really happens.

If that doesn’t open your eyes immediately, you’re either brain dead or you just don’t care. Think of it. The only way that Old Testament prophecy could be fulfilled was if Jesus’ adoption by Joseph was considered by God to be as good as blood lineage. And if God considered that to be so, how much more does He consider our adoption into the family of God to be as good as anything human blood lineage could do.

Who Am I?

Isn’t it amazing how one’s identity is wrapped up in something that is, when pondered upon, not at all who the person is? I’m talking of the most of us whose identity is wrapped up in what we do for a living. We identify ourselves, examine ourselves, assess ourselves, and pass judgment on ourselves based on whether we work or not, and what we do.
Right behind our names when we are introduced to someone is the question, “What do you do?” The answer helps to identify us as white collar/blue collar, intelligent/dim-witted, educated/unlearned, outgoing/introverted, driven/bored, and a host of other identities that we work hard to protect and/or improve upon.
Now, it’s a little difficult for someone to know this unless that someone has had work taken away and has to live sans the crutch of a job. Even going to school or being a stay-at-home parent is an acceptable “job” for an adult in this day and age. But to just do nothing is, well, somehow beneath us.
And maybe that’s part of the issue with how I feel at the moment. I am unemployed; therefore I am not contributing to society. As a result, I have no value to anyone and feel helpless and hopeless as I wander through days of looking for work, hoping someone somewhere will validate my worth and offer me a job.
Yes, yes, I know that those of you who know me and know that I am a Christian are thinking that I should know I have value to God and to others…family and friends. You are thinking that I should be satisfied in that, and to an extent, I am. I’m not sure what I would do without family, friends, and faith. It’s tough enough as it is. I can’t imagine going through this without the support of those who love me and accept me for who and what I am…other than my vocation.

Wallowing Around

I was in kind of a funky mood earlier this afternoon, and went back to the bedroom to try to nap it off. When one is unemployed, these kinds of perks (naps) are available. I know, though, that I don’t want a permanent trade-off of naps for employment.
I was laying on the bed and my mind raced to several things that have happened in the near (past two years) past. I relived those things yet again, as I have done many times before. Those same feelings of anger, frustration, and helplessness came out yet again, just as they have before.
Then I wondered why I did this? Why do I think about these things, allowing the same old feelings to surface yet again? This exercise helps no one and only continues the funk. Nothing will be solved, and I can’t change the past. It is what it is.
Maybe I was wishing that someone would throw a pity party for me. Maybe I was wishing that I could go back and fix the things I was thinking of that went wrong. Maybe I was trying to justify what I did or didn’t do in these situations. I don’t know.
What I do know is that the exercise I went through this afternoon did not one thing to or for me or anyone else that was productive. It was time that could have been better spent fixating on the love and grace of God, the beauty of the creation, or the everlasting word, which itself says it is “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Next time I’m wallowing around in the dark, maybe I need to look around and find that lamp which lights my way.