A little demagoguery will do...NOT!

I just received an invitation to a coordinated event at 9am on Friday to "call the Congress and demand that my President be impeached."  Folks, this is silly.

Regardless of what one might think of this administration, it's policies and the direction of the country, impeachment is a bad idea--and to demand it "en masse" is a slippery slope that sets a very dark precedent for our Nation.

This "impeach Obama" mantra is a distraction which will cost time, money and focus; it will shift the debate from issues of substance to "more partisan politics as usual."  It's time America get back to traveling the "high road" and demanding our politicians take the lead in getting us back on track; to that place where good government embraces a commitment to the welfare of the nation and to future generations v. winning the next election cycle to exercise power.  "Impeach the President" won't get us there.

Why make it more difficult to govern well, by behaving badly?  Speak your mind, write the local "people's view" section of your hometown paper, work to stop policy you don't believe is good for the nation, protest--but don't use your disagreement as an excuse to demagogue your discontent.  That's what elections are for.

Channel your angst and volunteer to work for a candidate whose vision you can embrace.  When you do, it makes our nation stronger and better.  It reinforces the values that make our political process exceptional.  Don't pander to the base nature of the human condition--it diminishes us all.

Stand up to be heard, sit down to be appreciated.  Refuse to be the problem.

Lost and found...

Loss. I've had my share over the years.

Two weeks after I graduated from High School, my father died, I was 17. In 1984, just after my 31st birthday, my mother died . I was 38 when I learned I had diabetes. I began a "rest of my life" battle with skin cancer in 1996, at age 43. Disappointment...oh my, where do I start. Failure--several crushing instances. Unrealized dreams, of course.

My story isn't unique. It's called, "being human." Loss is just a part of the "living experience." Life is hard, and, can be very harsh. Loss, though we all face it, is not simply a one size fits all process. For some, loss means never experiencing "what could have been." For others it's remembering "what was." For all of us it's losing people we love, to death. Life's "Harsh passages" include broken relationships, disease, tragic accidents, children "lost" in adolescence and never able to move on to productive adult lives, addiction, betrayal, unfaithful spouses and/or friends...have I described your "loss-story" yet?

Recently, an extended family member, and friend, facing a number of very difficult circumstances posted a comment about loss, she concluded, "Easy to be philiosophical...easy to be grateful too." As I paused to reflect on her words, I was struck by this profound insight.

"Easy to be grateful too..."  Really?  We can't, generally, control loss. Bad things happen to good (and bad) people. We can, however, control our attitude and our response to loss. We can ask "why me?" or we can declare "why NOT me!" That's the "philosophical" part.

The "grateful" part comes when, our pain notwithstanding, we aren't swallowed by bitterness; through the darkness of the moment, we still see the sunshine we've experienced over the years--as well as the expectation that the sun will shine again. Loss frames our perspective. It reminds us of the providence of God and the blessings we enjoy and have enjoyed through the ebb and flow of life. It's ironic, loss and gratitude are two sides of the same coin. Tennyson understood this when he penned "It's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all."

The sentiment that struck me as so profound was "easy." It just never occurred to my friend to not be grateful. The emotional and spiritual place that she "lives" made gratitude a logical extension, not of her pain, but of His promise. The Psalmist (42.5) said it this way..

"Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again—

my Savior and my God."

Loss isn't abandonment. It isn't the death of hope. It's an intersection of life where one can step back and see life not just for what it isn't, but for what it is; it's at that place, in that moment, we see the goodness of God, and it's easy to be grateful.

Lost and found. A fitting description.

When will spring come?

This is the hardest part of the weather calendar in N. Indiana.

The caldendar says it's spring, reality says "it's ugly."  Things are ready to go, mowers have been serviced, hedge has been trimmed.  Irrigation system is functional again.  Bud's are on the trees and bushes...the evergreens aren't just green now, they are awake!  Robin's are busy being the "dirty birds" of the neigborhood.  Lily tracks fresh scent everywhere we go.  We are ready, where is spring?

It feels like Thanksgiving Day when I was a little  boy.  Would our guests and extended family ever arrive...

"Mom, how soon will they be here?"  

"Pretty soon BJ."  

"Mom do you think they're still coming?" 

"BJ, they will all be here, just like last year." 

"But mom, we are ready, where is everyone?" 

"They are on the way."  

"Then where are they?"  

"BJ, why don't you wait outside for them, greet them when they arrive."  

"I think they changed their mind, they aren't coming this year." 

That's the way our conversation advanced every year.  A little boy, anticipating a favorite event, thinking it would never happen...but it always did.

I'm ready but spring just hasn't arrived...yet.  When it does come and the days slip quickly into summer...the memory of this misery becomes dim, almost dream like.  Every day a new color explodes some place along my route to the office.  It's warm, balmy...with life sustaining showers from time to time.

There are many "seasons" in our lives...they come, they go--some are better than others; they make life interesting and always produce something my memory clings to, which produces a life-time of pleasure and expands my perspective.

Yes, spring hasn't arrived but summer's comin'.  It will be OK, sooner than later.  I can wait, the memories from "seasons past" will sustain me.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Truth is...

Truth is to living what physics is to life.

We can't "see, smell or hear" the laws of physics, but without them, nothing works; that which we do see, smell and hear is the result of these laws being applied with purpose or spontaneously.

In the same way truth is the rail living rides on. Ethics, the rule of law, cultural norms, relationships, parenting, good government, freedom--to name but a few aspects of living--all work based on a set of core values, derived from the common grace of God, who wired humankind with an intrinsic sense of what truth is and an understanding of what's "right."

Truth, like physics, does not function in a deterministic way. I can ingore Newton's Law of Gravity and embrace a belief that I can float, then step of top of a tall building. Newton's Law does not override my choice. But my choice to embrace and believe I can float will not prevent a very bad outcome.

I can believe that truth is relative, subject to change, given to multiple definitions or simply an outdated cultural moray. People, and cultures, can choose to ignore the truth, or worse, be deceived and believe a lie--at great peril. The result/reality of these choices is sobering. Living spirals out of control. Chaos trumps the rule of law, justice becomes a myth, bondage becomes the norm and brokeness the face of a nation.

Life does not work without physics.  Living does not work without truth.   

Bring'em home...

Iraq needs to fish or cut bait.
Let the Arab League work it out with Libya.
Afganistan just smells too much like Viet Nam.

We've done our part.
Let the tribal tensions run their course.
Please, bring our young men and women home.   

180 degrees.

REPENT - to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; to turn around and move in the oppisite direction.

Reverse [HQ]

The heavens declare...

Went into the office this morning; still dark. Stepped out to retireve something from my truck; so focused I almost missed a truly beautiful sunrise...so breathtaking it startled me. World is a chaos...I was reminded in this quiet moment that God is still in control.

March 15, 2011

In retrospect...

I'll be 58 on March 14.  I don't consider myself to be a "senior citizen" but I'm guessing some younger folks are thinkin' that way about me...in much the same way I thought about "50 Something's" back in 1978.  While I don't "see" myself that way now, truth is, I can certainly see "that place" from here.

Life is so much shorter than I ever imagned it would be, and so much more than I ever dreamed it could be.  My cup isn't half-full, it overflows..

• In High School a guy named Mark Zier walked into my life and lovingly led me to a life-changing decesion to trust Christ; then he introduced me to a girl who eventually became my for-life companion.
• I have been blessed by that girl, Laura Cherrie, who became my wife (we were both 19), help-mate, mother of and for our children, my best friend and companion, for 38 years and counting!
• Neither of my parents were college grads and when the time came for me to enroll, my father died; there was no money for higher education.  God provided, first at Duke were I received my BA and then at Talbot Seminary where I earned an M.Div. all without student loans.
• God blessed us with two children.  Erin and Jospeh have made me so proud because of the people they have become; honest, engageing, generous, interesting good-hearted young adults...and two of my closest friends.
• We have two grandsons.  Braden and Kellen make us laugh, give us hope for the future, love us in a special way unique to our role in their lives...and enjoy hanging-out with us.
• I have enjoyed two modestly successful careers centered around helping people; for 25 years as their Pastor and, now, for the last 10, as guy that takes the "scarey" out of risk as their State Farm Agent.
• Over the years I've witnessed lives change in long-term and very profound ways; I have played a part in that process as a tool in the Master's Hand; what a privilege those moments of been.
• While I have experienced disappointment and betrayal in and from friends, my life has been rich beyond measure because of folks who've come alongside and embraced me (changed me) with their friendship.
• I have traveled with people through the most difficult intersections of their lives, prayed with them and waited; then watched God do what only He can do..."exceeding, abundantly beyond anything we could ask or imagine."
• Laura has loved me and patiently waited for me to become the man she needed and so richly deserves.
• The roles (the work of my hands) I have chosen to invest my energy in, have been challenging and rewarding.  Not once have I felt trapped in doing what has been my life's work.  It's been and continues to be too much fun.
• My girlfriend's dad, (my future father-in-law) stepped into my life as the man I needed when at age 17, my father died--he continues to be a rock for me.
• Mentors have invested their lives in me.  They've taught me, listened to me, cried with me and believed in me. 
• Life has softened me.  Tenderness comes easy today.

I enjoy a rich tapestry of memories, some good and not.  These memories confirm what most people eventually come to realize: there are a few regrets, there are scores upon scores of very special people and wonderful events, whose images remain clear to the smallest detail.  I smile me each time I think about these people and replay those special moments.  There has been failure, good fortune and difficulty; pain, lost dreams, heartbreak and victory.  But through it all runs a story, my story, of God's grace transforming me, using me, teaching me and most amazingly, loving me with an everlasting love.

When I die, I pray my legacy will be people I've touched saying, "I love Jesus more."

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Today.

Today empty nest, too quiet.
Today strength remains, ravaged by age.
Today confidence, morphs to doubt.
Today weakness, a familiar face.
Today profile weathered with time, hair a pensive memory

Today independence is community.
Today knowledge is wisdom.
Today love is tenderness.
Today time is precious.

Today HELP stopped being a four-letter word.

We hold these truths...

Super Bowl pre-game reminded us again; America is unique.  It's amazing what people can do when given the freedom to succeed AND to fail.  

This game has become a metaphor...

Back in July, each team started at the same place, 0-0, as every other franchise in the NFL.  Now, 106 young men, two teams remain standing; black, white, brown...not all born equally, privleged start and not.  All shapes, sizes...some more talented than others.  All making the most of what they've been given, working hard and sacrificing for a dream.  Working together to create synergy.  All competing on a level playing field, and yet, a few with a clear advantage over others, not all endowed equally--size, strength, speed?

That said, each strives to overcome, to elevate their game and maximize their opportunity, against all odds. The underdog can prevail, because "heart" can't be measured.  Mistakes will be made, injuries will occur that force a change to the gameplan and the unexpected will be the norm.  Bad calls?  No doubt; someone is going to feel like it wasn't fair.  Most will perform up to standard, a few will be disappointed--and not play well at all.  The ball will be dropped and it will take some bad bounces.  But there won't be any do-overs.  One performance will be judged most outstanding of all...and propel that player to a new level of achievement and noteriety.

At the end of the day, some will win, others will lose.  And tomorrow morning?  Each will crawl out of bed, and begin again, in an attempt to make the ascent to the top of their profession; each sore, tired, some beaten...all driven by conviction; it's a new day, it's a new opportunity; "I believe 'it' can happen...if I work hard, stay focused and apply myself."  This hope compels them to bear down, start over and try again.  They will take what they learned (the good, the bad and the ugly), winners and losers, and use that as leverage to get better; and they will.

I believe this is why this night, this event, is more celebrated, anticipated and watched than any other event on the calendar in America.  It represents our hopes and dreams, our core values as a nation, at so many levels.  We watch these young men compete and we are reminded, dreams come true here; hard work pays here, the hope of success far outweighs the risk of failure.  Bottom line: "It" can happen, it does happen.  If it doesn't?   "Loss" isn't the end of the world, it's the begining of a new cycle.

Everyone has to play by the rules, but the rules aren't designed to produce pre-determined outcomes.  So, many compete; some win, some lose...some never win or lose, because they never try, that's ok too.  America is a place where dreaming is a part of our culture, where we set the bar; where people can "do better" and to no one's surprise, we do.  

America, we hold these truths...