Public Servants

 Over the past several years, I've made it my intention to reach out to various state and local officials, office holders, etc.  I've mainly done so with people who represent me or with whom I may have some kind of direct dealing.  I've tried to be both polite and knowledgeable in my efforts, and those efforts have largely paid off.  Many have returned my overtures, and we have developed some sort of relationship to a greater or lesser extent.

I also have had lunch with some of these folks, attended public informational meetings, and communicated on the phone or by email or social media.  I've come to know several well enough that they have told me things they might never say in front of a camera.  Over the years, I've come to a conclusion that one might miss if one hears only ten-second sound bytes or sees a one minute piece in a local news show.  Someone could easily get the wrong idea about most of these people with that limited input.

In my opinion, the great majority of these local and state public servants, and yes, even those in federal service are just people who are trying to do the best they can do, given the situation they are in, the office they hold, the resources they have, and the rules, bureaucracy, laws, and court decisions which constrain them.  They don't have the magic answer for many of the issues we face such as homelessness, gun violence, medical autonomy, public education shortfalls, teacher/social worker/physician/other vocations shortages, and other societal and environmental issues that are part of life and living in today's world.  Furthermore, they know they don't have the magic answer, and they also know that their colleagues don't have the answer either.  They just do the best they can.

One other thing.  Most problems and issues are incredibly more complicated than most of the public believes.  In many cases, there is a plethora of laws, regulations, and court decisions, to say nothing of financial resource availability, time constraints, human resource availability, public pushback, and other constraints and issues which make solving the issue at hand, or even making substantial progress on it problematic at best.

These folks become just as frustrated, just as stymied, and just as yes, even angry at the lack of progress as all the rest of us.  They have families.  They have friends.  They have life to live.  And by and large they must live that life with the same problems and issues dogging them as those issues do the rest of us.

So, maybe we the public…us ordinary folks…need to understand that we don't have the answers either.  It's easy to parrot some platitude about the homeless man just needing to get a job rather than beg for food.  It's nice to say that teachers need to teach, not be social workers.  It's good to say that everyone deserves health care.  And it's noble to speak for the unborn.  But each of those issues, and hundreds more, are complex mazes of settled law, ideological bent, environmental factors, resource availability, and a host of other  complicating factors that make many of these issues a kind of mushy soup that our elected and appointed representatives and officials must work with, make sense out of, and formulate some kind of way forward.

Maybe we need to give some grace to the people who serve us in some public capacity.  And if we do communicate with them, offer constructive, problem-solving comments rather than crass, vitriolic or harsh ones.  At a minimum, we should treat them as we would want to be treated.  Maybe if we did that, the world might be a more gentle place.

Yes, I realize that politics, extreme ideology, and the thirst for power, wealth, and control often get in the way of the Golden Rule.  But I also realize that unless we step up with a change in heart and attitude, demonstrating a better way, the morass of vitriol and hate will just perpetuate.  We cannot admit defeat and just go along with the crowd.  For those of us who believe that Jesus offers a better way, it is up to us to demonstrate that better way…to live it out in our everyday.  The better ways of Jesus have changed the world order in the last two thousand or so years.  Those ways will continue to change the world order for as long as we who are Christ-followers will continue to show those better ways to a lost and dying world.

 

 

Where Is This Going?

 Today, I decided to spend some time in prayer and meditation...specifically for guidance in how to make the best use of a rather large sum of money donated to the missions committee for missions work. Obviously, we want to make the best use of it for the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus. To that end, several of us in our congregation decided to spend some time today in prayer and meditation.

I began by getting into my easy chair and put my feet up. I shut my eyes and began with prayers for not only the best use of the funds, but also for a couple of other issues regarding missions. One is how we can encourage the congregation to begin to think (and act) more missionally. The other is the decisions that Josh and Allyssa Myers, a young couple we have recently begun a relationship with on the committee level, will be making in the next weeks regarding their future as missionaries...domestic or foreign.

However, my mind quickly devolved into a kind of kaleidoscope of visions of various people...both those I know and those I don't know. And they all were people who I mostly did not know...and who were not part of our church fellowship. When these visions first began, my mind wanted to go back to the original reason why I was in prayer, but I couldn't do so, keeping these visions of people at the forefront.

So for a time I just rested in that world, taking in the people who quickly came and went into and out of the vision. When I sort of re-awakened, I wondered about the meaning of it all. It quickly came to my mind that perhaps the issue of how to spend the funds wasn't as important as I may have at first thought...that perhaps people...those I both know and don't know...take precedence. Maybe it is people I need to be concerned with...not money.

One other thing. Right before this time in meditation, I found out via social media that a couple our church had helped with groceries and utilities from time to time while they were living in Wichita, and had a few years ago moved to Arkansas...the wife today lost her life due to COVID. It was a rather sudden thing and unexpected for this woman who was no more than 50 years old. I had been maintaining contact with them by way of social media following their move, and continued to help them personally from time to time as they worked to keep themselves clean from drugs and make a life for themselves.

Robert and Nicole were fighters. They fell off the wagon once in a while, but were determined to get back on and go again. Although they were not to my knowledge members of any local church family, I believe they knew God and the saving grace of His Son Jesus Christ. I think they did the best they could with the hand that was dealt to them, and were able to get and stay clean through the power of God and the encouragement of others.

As I recalled their time in Wichita, I was reminded of some of the times we interacted with them. At the time, what we were doing for them didn't seem to be of much importance, at least to me. Some groceries from time to time. Once in a while some money on a utility bill. We did what we could as they struggled to remain free from addiction, and we remained with them during times when one or both would fall back into it.

There is a connection here, I believe, between the visions I had of various, mostly unknown people and my recollections of Robert and Nicole. Many of those recollections were the small (to us) things we did with and for them as they struggled through life here in Wichita.

Because of that interaction, Robert, Nicole and I personally have become joined in some way over time, and I am acutely feeling the pain of Robert as his world has fallen apart when she passed away today. They don't have, and never had any extra money. They were doing well to live day to day, and occasionally borrowed money from me through PayPal to get themselves through to the next check. They always paid it back and were grateful. Now, Robert has just asked on social media how he can raise funds to deal with funeral expenses. He's lost right now, and probably will be for some time.

So, where does all of this go? What's the takeaway from this? As of now, I'm not sure. But what I do see is that whatever we do with the donated funds; whatever we do in helping Josh and Allyssa; whatever we do in encouraging our congregational family to be more missions-minded; people need to be at the forefront. People we may not know. People who need the Lord. People who come and go into and out of our lives. Just like Robert and Nicole, some little thing we may do that may not mean much to us at the time...some minor interaction, something said or done...may well have life-long consequences that we may never see or know anything about. Robert and Nicole are examples of that.

One other thing. Our interaction with Robert and Nicole was part of our church benevolence ministry. This reminds me that benevolence indeed can be, and should be thought of as missions. By loving our neighbor we demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ. Not only that, but if we do benevolence correctly, we can foster human connection that sometimes persists throughout life.

I don't know where this is all going, and may never quite have a complete handle on that. However, we continue life in this world as God gives us breath. We foster relationship. We love our neighbor. We imitate Jesus Christ as best we can. We use the resources God has given us to work toward the renewal of the creation and look forward to that time when it will all be complete, whole and perfect again.

Perspiration Service

 Today on social media, I saw a post from a friend of mine, Michelle, who is caring for her elderly father, who has dementia.  She said today that for the first time ever, her father didn’t recognize her when she came into his room.  Here’s her posted comment.  “The day when your dad wakes up and DOESN'T remember who you are has to be the WORST day ever!!!  I'm over here completely heart broken, all by myself, trying to figure out what my next move is...”  I’ve texted Michelle asking if she would like some company, but haven’t yet received a response.

 If she would ask me to come, I would have no clue what I would say.  I suspect that I would do a lot of listening, and ask a few questions here and there, because there really aren’t any answers to Michelle’s situation.  As his caregiver, she has a lot of thinking to do about how things are right now regarding her dad’s care, and what needs to happen in the near future.  She’ll need to contact people, organizations, and care places.  She’ll need to make financial arrangements.  She’ll have to fill out endless forms for both medical and custodial care.  Then there are the legalities of whatever resources her dad may have…how those should be used, and who should make those decisions.

 On top of that, there are family concerns.  I don’t know if Michelle has siblings or other family members, but if so, they need to be, or will want to be in on the goings-on with her dad.  Sometimes families are already fractured…not speaking to one-another or holding grudges.  And these kind of events tend to exacerbate those issues, piling stress upon stress for not only Michelle, but other family members as well.

 The other thing Michelle needs to do is care for herself.  She needs to remain healthy, nourish herself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  She can’t make these decisions and care for anyone else if she herself is not in good condition.  She also has her own daily concerns…paying the bills, keeping herself in the loop of things, and maintaining her household.  It isn’t easy being a caregiver.

 I say all of that to say this.  If you become aware of a friend going through a situation such as this, it’s fine to say, “Call me if you need something.”  However, it’s much, much better to just do something.  Ask if you can visit them or take them away from the situation for an hour or so for coffee or lunch…and just listen.  Volunteer to clean the kitchen, bath, or the whole house.  Take their car to the QuickTrip and put in a tank of gas.  Oh, and check their oil and tires while you’re there.  Volunteer to run to the pharmacy for medication if needed.  I won’t go through a big list of things you might be able to do…you get the point.  Listening to them as you eat lunch with them will usually give you all of the ideas for service you’ll need.

 Oh, and one other thing.  Talking about your own experiences caring for elderly parents usually isn’t much help.  Re-telling horror stories of poor care at the hospital or being snagged in a mountain of paperwork isn’t productive.  So don’t go into the “here’s my story” mode.  They don’t want to listen to you at that time…they want you to listen to them.

 It also isn’t very productive to offer unsolicited advice.  They may well have already been in contact with long term care facilities, home health agencies, and other services.  If they ask you for ideas, go ahead.  Otherwise, such advice usually isn’t needed or wanted.

 In short, be thoughtful when interacting with a friend or loved one who is going through some kind of life situation…either for themselves or for someone else.  Stop.  Think.  Speak little.  Listen much.  Serve…not lip service, but perspiration service.

 Blessings

Theology Weaponized

 Sometimes in doing everyday reading, I come across something that really strikes home.  And sometimes, whatever it is that strikes home for me seems to be something really unusual or even, shall I say, somewhat weird for me.  However, the Spirit moves in mysterious ways, and if weirdness is a way of catching my attention, then so be it.

In the January/February 2023 issue of “Christianity Today” magazine, there is an article titled  “Fury Isn't a Fruit of the Spirit.”  In it, the author, Ronni Kurtz, Assistant Professor of Theology at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, says this in the opening paragraph of the article.

“What is the matter with theology today?  Far from being described by the string of virtues that make up the fruit of the Spirit, much of what is labeled “theology” is insecurity and fury disguised as dialogue or thoughtfulness.  Even the most cursory scrolling of social media could lead you to the conclusion that you must be angry in order to do theology.  In our day, it is not uncommon to see theology used as a weapon and not as a well of joy.”

Wow!  She cuts to the heart of her article quickly right at the first, and, dare I say somewhat aggressively.  No beating around the bush here.  And this criticism of theology is from a professor of theology.

But how does she then continue?  She lists three ways that she says theology is used in modern society that are not at all in accordance with the fruit of the Spirit.  But before we get into that in some depth, let's quickly review what the fruit of the Spirit really is.  And for that, I quote the Apostle Paul in Galatians chapter 5 who, after discussing the works of the flesh such as immorality, jealousy, uncontrolled anger, and so on, then says this:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Now, as for those three ways Kurtz says theology is inappropriately used, the first she lists is this: “Maybe you've seen theology weaponized as an instrument of division.”  She says that often, Christians will draw boundary lines regarding points of doctrine and create an “us versus them” mentality.  Fellow Christians are warring with each other issues that should never be used as weapons, causing disunity among the faithful.

Secondly, she says, “Maybe you've seen theology weaponized as an instrument of pride.”  She goes on to point out the accumulating theological knowledge sometimes leads to inflated egos and self-importance.  Arrogance soon follows.  Theology becomes a show...theologians become actors on a doctrinal stage.

Her third point is, “Maybe you've seen theology weaponized as a replacement for sanctification and wisdom.”  She goes on to say that devotion to the Lord isn't measured by the memorization of theological lingo and logic.  Theological knowledge doesn't guarantee either Christian sanctification or the wisdom in life and living that comes from above.

Whether we're aware of it or not, most of us who are Christians have seen theology used as a weapon in at least one of the ways Kurtz describes.  It's relatively easy for the human spirit...the “works of the flesh” as the Apostle Paul puts it, to take charge of things and cause discord, disunity, and distress through something as spiritual as theology...the study of the nature of God.

So, how does Kurtz end her article?  What is her point?  Just this.  As she says in the article, “Theology done well can drive the virtues that make up the fruit of the Spirit deep in our souls such that we become Christians marked by wisdom and stability.”  She goes on to put together three passages written by the Apostle Paul from Philippians, Romans, and II Corinthians, in this way.  “Contemplate the good, the true, and the beautiful in Christ, and in so doing be transformed by the renewing of your mind by beholding Christ from one degree of glory to another.”  Think about these things.  AMEN

Incredible Blessings

 As I often do when at home, I decided this afternoon to go for a walk in the park that is right behind our home.  I hadn't been out of the house much today and wanted to get out into the air.  The weather was a little crisp, but little wind, and it was sunny.  A good day for a walk.

As I began my walk, I thought it would be good to hear some music as I walked, so I put Pandora on my phone and started listening.  I have, of course, a Pandora account, and have selected several genres of music that I like, and furthermore have put Pandora on shuffle.  And the really cool thing about it all is my phone plays into my hearing aids via bluetooth, providing me a private concert as I'm walking.

I got a little way into the walk, and began thinking about the technology I was using.  My phone seamlessly transferred itself from my home wi-fi to the phone carrier's data link as I got out of range of my wi-fi.  My phone then transferred the audio to my hearing aids via bluetooth.  I could even open the hearing aid app on the phone and adjust the bass, treble, etc. to my preferred settings.  If I had wanted to do so, I could have looked at the phone screen to see who was performing, what the lyrics of the song were, and other information about what was playing at the time.

OK, all you who are 50 or older...think about this.  Sixty, fifty, even twenty five years ago, this wouldn't have been happening.  The technology just wasn't there.  The Internet.  Wi-fi.  Cellular systems with Internet data.  Cell phones.  Hearing aids with bluetooth.  Pandora.

Just how magical and wondrous is it that I can wander in the woods and hear great music of my preference sent just to me for no charge (I still endure the ads on Pandora) wirelessly through a network that literally encompasses the earth.  This same network also enables me to send text, crisp photos, audio, movies, and who knows what else literally to any place on earth almost instantly.  And that network is connected to an electronic device I carry with me that has more computing power than most PC's of just a few short years ago and brings the world to me, and me to the world.

I can ask any question, and ask that question in spoken language by the way, and get a spoken response that most of the time is pertinent.  I can immediately access unabridged dictionaries, encyclopedias, governmental information, the weather any place on the globe, breaking news, movies, literally billions of videos, grand fine arts performances of all kinds, travel information, and directions.  I can play games, watch sporting events, find out my elevation above sea level, learn sunset and sunrise times for today (or any day) anywhere in the world, and know where I am anywhere on earth to within about a 6 foot radius.  I can get the exact time to within a tenth of a second. 

I can order pizza, buy opera tickets, book a flight, buy a car, check the inventory at Wal Mart for an item I want, have virtually anything delivered to me, call for transportation to somewhere, get medical advice, pay bills, refill my prescription, check my bank account and deposit, withdraw, or transfer funds, check on my electric utility service usage for the month, day, or year, take photos and movies, unlock my car remotely, turn the thermostat in my home up or down, and accomplish hundreds of other things by using this electronic device we call a phone...all without actually talking to anyone...which was the original purpose of the phone.

Yes, the Internet, the Cell Phone, and wireless technology have enabled the once impossible at ANY...yes ANY...price to be as ubiquitous as night and day and well within the budgets of billions of people world wide.  If you were alive thirty, forty, or sixty years ago, just think of the changes in technology and marvel at what has been done.  Fifty years ago when I was working in Western Kansas for the 3M Company, I would have given my right arm to have a working telephone in my car instead of having to pull up to a pay telephone in some small Western Kansas town and calling collect or with a phone credit card.

Yes, I know the world is still a messed-up place.  We are still at war with each other.  We still don't love our neighbor as we should.  We have polarized ourselves into various camps.  We spend entirely too much money on things we shouldn't.  The Internet is a mixed blessing, bringing pornography and other societal ills to the world as well as the good things we’ve celebrated in this post.  We still lie, steal, cheat and kill.  I get it.  I have, and will continue to speak of society's good and bad sides in other posts.  This post, however, is about technology and the advances in that field in just a few years-time.

The human race isn't all bad.  God has created it all to be, as he says, “Very good.”  We humans have messed it up, but there's still a lot of the creation that displays that “Very Good,” aspect.  Look for the good.  Don't let the bad put you into despair and depression.  Celebrate those people who love their neighbor, exude kindness, extend compassion, and treat others as they wish to be treated.

And take advantage, as much as you can, and in good and noble ways, of the wonderful and incredible inventions that have come about over the past half century or so.

 

Blessings,