Never a Straight Line

   Life seldom goes in a straight line.
   
   There are times when everything is going right and on schedule, but more likely than not, there are also detours, delays, disappointments, and sometimes even disasters.
   
      When we look back on our lives, ideally we should be able to say, "Not everything in my life turned out exactly the way I had hoped or planned; but taking everything into consideration, it wasn't at all bad."
   
      I hope no one would say, "looking back on my life, it wasn't worth the struggle."

Encouraging the Young

Sometimes when I want to encourage a young person, I say to him or her, "I like the person you are becoming."

What is life if not a journey toward maturity?

Asking the Right Questions

 "Now that you are graduating from high school, what do you plan to do next?"

As a pastor, I would sometimes say that to a young person in order to show a personal interest in his life.

In retrospect, I should have asked, "Now that you are graduating from high school, how do you sense God is leading your life?"

The first question has to do with what he wants to do.  The second has to do with God's leading in his life. These are two different questions.  The first question already gets asks a lot.  The second needs to be asked more often.  After all, who are Christians if not a Spirit-led Spirit-filled people?

Giving and Receiving

 We all agree that receiving is both necessary and good.

  -  Growing up in a loving home
  -   Having all the necessities of life.
  -   Receiving a good education
  -   Having work to do and the strength to do it.

But Scripture tells us that there is even something better than that; namely, that is more blessed to give then to receive.

Why? Because if receiving made us more possessive, more self centered, more uncaring about the needs of others, would receiving really be an unqualified blessing?  

So if you are a parent who is intent on giving your children everything they need, be sure you also teach them how to give. I try to give my children everything they need, but I also want them  to grow up and become generous and compassionate people. I know you feel the same way as I do. .
                                                                 

When Things are in a Mess

There are people who can actually do productive work in a desk that looks like this.  It doesn't bother them that everything seems disorganized. They know exactly where everything is.

Simple Order

Complex Order

They can argue that their desk is orderly too, but in a much more complicated way.

I actually admire people who can function in an environment that appears to be in complete disarray. They will do well in the kind of world we live in today.

Ordinary people like me who are not as fully evolved can't work unless everything around our desk is in perfect order.  I tell myself that when everything in the world is a loose ends, at least everything on my 24" X 48" desk is exactly where it ought to be.  I find that thought very comforting.

What Time is It?

     If we compress our entire life into 24 hours, and you are 20 years old, it would be 6 o'clock in the morning.  Not to worry.  Your whole life is still ahead of you.
   
     If you are 40 years old, it's 12 noon.  You are probably settled in our work, and have a growing family and all the responsibilities that go with it.  Half you life is already gone.
   
      If you are 60, it's six o'clock in the evening.  Your responsibility for raising children is mostly done, and your are looking forward to retirement.
   
     If you are 70, it's 9 0'clock in the evening and it's dark outside.  Physically you are not what you used to be.  Life slows down.
   
     I'm in my 80s.  For me it could be 11:45.  I'm okay with that.

Shall We Talk?

Harvey Cox

Jerry Farwell

                        These two Christian leaders in the United States are very far apart in their understanding of the Christian Faith.  Harvey Cox is on  the faculty of Harvard Divinity School; Jerry Farwell,  a well known conservative evangelical, is the founder of Liberty University.

     
         Some years ago, Harvey Cox suggested that Jerry Farwell be invited to Harvard to speak. There was considerable objection to his suggestion, but he finally prevailed.  Jerry came on campus, and according to Cox, did a very fine job.

     
         Today there is much talk about interfaith dialogue with other religious traditions. But Cox suggests that we also need to pay more attention to staying connected with others in our own tradition, liberal and conservative and everything in between.

       
         I'm afraid I haven't  been a good example of this. All my life, I have been hanging around and working with people who think like me, and with whom I feel comfortable. You could say it's a kind of tribalism.