"So... What's Important to You?"

(This short post is a coincidental follow up to "Eat Cake (after all the world is ending).")

I like Uber drivers. Most have a story, and I am interested to hear. Today Ubering home from the airport rental car facility I met an older gentleman on his second day as a driver (a nUberer). He had some trouble finding me; he was not very familiar with the app. I was mildly frustrated, but really didn't have to be anywhere. When I met him, the frustration immediately subsided.

Shortly into the conversation he asked me the following question: "So David, what is important to you?" I should have responded, "cake," just for the reaction. In a way, that IS how I responded. Specifically, I said, "I guess if you boil it down, I'd say faith and family are most important to me.

I've been asked several times following yesterday's post what my favorite cake is. Frankly, I'm not much of a literal cake-eater, though I can indulge at times. My cake?... FAITH and FAMILY.

It turned out that Uber Clyde and I have some commonalities: both have MDiv degrees from seminaries, both former pastors; both want to make a difference; both want to EAT CAKE.

Just a rambling follow up. No point really. But pretty cool.

So... what's important to you?

For now...
D

Eat Cake (after all, the world is ending)

My birthday is Saturday. That is really not all too significant. But Saturday is also the day the world will come to an end. So I think I will eat my cake early.

Astrologers and pseudo-astronomers, numerologists and hack Bible interpreters have targeted the first full day following the Autumnal Equinox as the end of everything we know. Planet X is to swoop in and collide into our blue ball (without allowing Bruce Willis an opportunity shuttle up and drop a nuke down a drilled hole). 

I am no astrologer, nor an astronomer. I guess I am a bit of a hack Bible interpreter. But I'm not convinced. I think odds are I will be having Sunday brunch with my son this weekend.

Don't get me wrong... I do think the world is going to end. As a matter of fact, I am sure of it; one hundred percent convinced. The world will end for each of us at some point. We don't know when our personal Planet X may come. Hopefully for all who are reading, it will be a long, long time from now. But the (our) world will end. So we should go ahead and eat the cake. 

Stop for a moment, and ponder: If we truly knew this world (and we) would be no more come this Saturday, how would we live the days until? I think priorities would change in an instant. Trivial things would suddenly be, well, trivial. People would become our priority. Hopefully, we'd stop staring at five inch screens and have real conversations. We would hug more and "👍,💓,😊" less. 

If the world were truly ending Saturday, I couldn't care less to what political party I belong, or you. I wouldn't think of myself as one race and someone else another. The car I drive, what I wear, or even my net worth would have no significance. If the world were ending Saturday I would care about only a few things. Among them would be my relationship with a God who made me and face time (the real kind) with the people I hold dear. 

The world may not end Saturday (even though I'll be another digit older). But one day there will be no more digits. One day the world will end for each of us. We might as well start living with that in mind. 

And I wouldn't wait to eat the cake. 

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | I KNOW

I know... to the one who conquers

-- Revelation 2 (multiple)

Sometimes we feel forgotten. We feel like we are on our own. We feel alone. The feelings are real. The reality is far different.

Jesus tells the Apostle John to give messages to seven churches (four in this chapter). These are real first century churches, real people, real problems, real persecutions. And to each he says: 

I know...

Five times he says, I know your works... 

We often want to shine the spotlight on any good we do (and want to hide other things, thoughts and actions in a dark closet). God sees. But he doesn't see through frowning eyes. Jesus says, "...this I have against you..." (or something along those lines) to several of these churches. However, rather than following with condemnation, he gives correction: "You are doing this... now do this..." 

Once, to a condemning and murderous crowd Christ said, "Whoever has not sinned, cast the first stone." And to the woman who was the object of their vengeance he said, "I don't condemn you, now go and sin no more." In other words: I know you... who you are and what you've done. You have been doing this... now do this...

To one he says, I know your tribulation...

We never walk a valley too deep or through a night so dark that we are beyond the sight of our God. Trials and circumstances may at times block our view of God, but his vision is always clear and his eyes are constantly on his children. At times we may feel obscure, alone or abandoned - but we are not. Even in the shadowy valleys that smell of death, he is present. I wish he always made us aware of his presence. But maybe that is part of the beauty. Faith (in my experience) is often built retrospectively; it is in reflection that we see that we were not alone. 

To one he says, I know where you dwell...

Sometimes Christian answers are trite. When we don't know how to respond, or we are just too uncomfortable to face a difficult reality, we offer up pithy platitudes (usually well-intentioned, but powerless). When we are the one struggling, we want to know someone is with us. We need to have someone understand what we are living through, in, and under. We need someone... in our kitchen. 

Jesus sees the hidden places, the closets of pain and desperation, the attics of guilt, and the basements of regret. There is no corner of our dwelling place that he cannot illuminate with his light. (Note: you and I must be willing to be the light-bearers to others - even when we are struggling in semi-darkness ourselves.) 

There is a very personal and intimate sense to this thought: I know where you dwell. Go ahead and make the coffee - two cups; as Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "I'm coming to your house today."

...to the one who conquers...

The idea here is not one of (our) power. It is more of weakness that won't give in. God calls us to persevere; and he provides the strength to hold on. He is, as the Apostle Paul wrote, ...able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us... (Ephesians 3:20). Though we are weak, we are conquerors in the making. 

God, you know; enable me to conquer.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | THERE IS NO "S"

The Revelation of Jesus Christ...

-- Revelation 1:1

(I've been reluctant to write a devotional walk through the book of Revelation. And though it feels daunting at the moment, here we go. As with every time I approach scripture, I attempt to drop preconceptions and popular opinion to allow the scripture to speak for itself. And hopefully, to allow God to speak to my soul. D) 

Living where I do, I often hear people say something akin to, "I'm heading down to Walmarts..." That is "Walmarts" with an "s." 

Though there are 4,672 Walmart stores in the US (Google is my friend), each is singular. There is no "s" in Walmart. 

Likewise, there is no "s" in Revelation. As a matter of fact, the word "revelation" is used only once in the entire book; here in the initial verse. I stand on this particular soap box to make a point: the revelation to follow both comes from Jesus, and is about Jesus. All the happenings, difficult to understand pictures, incredible creatures, etc. that emerge in the book are secondary. Ultimately, this revelation is the story of Jesus' overcoming. Jesus is both the source and subject of this Revelation. We therefore, must remain laser-focused on him and not get off track with speculation. In the words of a preacher I heard long ago, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. 

The word revelation (in the original Greek) means an uncovering, or a drawing back of the curtain. In a sense, Jesus draws back the curtain and gives us a dizzying picture of both heaven and earth. In all the chaos it is important to remember that this drama's Author and Finisher (Hebrews 12:2) is Jesus himself. 

Jesus instructs John to: "Write what you see... and send it to the seven churches..." (v.11). Context must always be considered when reading scripture. These were real churches with real people, facing very real persecution at the time. And though the messages to each are not completely pleasant, the ultimate point is clear: through his death and resurrection, Jesus has already won the victory. Time is just playing out toward it's celebration. 

Lastly, as we look at this very strange and unsettling book, it is important to note Jesus' words to John when John turns to see who is speaking. "Fear not," Jesus says to his old friend. In a story filled with awesome and frightening pictures, the most awesome is Jesus himself. And though many today use this book as scare-tactic in their preaching and writing, Jesus says, "Don't be afraid." 

He is there in the beginning. He is there in the end. He is here with us now. Always in control. Ultimately victorious. Always loving.

This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

God, reveal yourself to me. Help me clearly see. Help me not to fear.

For now...

D

Random Thoughts | LETTERS

Just a random thought... Actually a question.

While sitting in another generic hotel room, and in between Chipotle (always) and the fitness room (usually), the trailer for an upcoming HBO movie came on the TV. The premise caught my attention.

As best I can tell, a man facing a life crisis writes three very unusual letters. Letter #1 is written to Death. Letter #2 to Time. Letter #3 is addressed to Love. Surprisingly, he receives in-person responses to each; in kind of a Christmas Carol sort of way.

The question: If I were to write these three letters, knowing I would receive responses, what would I write? What would I have to say to Death, Time and Love? What would I ask each? What would you?

Maybe I'll actually write these three letters. I doubt they will make it into a blog post if I do; some things are a bit too personal. For now I'll just emote via keyboard - as I am apt to do in between Chipotle and cardio.

Death: Will I write with trembling hands? Will I ask when, how? Do I want that knowledge - for myself; for those I love? Will I be defiant? No matter how eloquently or persuasively I may write, death will come. Until it does, I must strive to LIVE, rather than just be alive.

Time: I won't ask for more. Just one question: Why so fast?  It would be nice if you would slow a bit. I guess the big deal with Time is... I can't get more of you, so I must make the most of  you - moments must be filled to the brim.

Love: (Why are Lionel Richie songs filling my brain as I think this one through?) You, Love, are both powerful and elusive. Really, Time and Death pale compared to you. Time, filled with Love is never wasted. Void of Love, Time echoes with emptiness. Even Death is defanged by your presence. To be alive without Love is not the kind of living I desire. Like light, you fill an available open space. Therefore, I must be open. But I must remember Love, that though you are sometimes a noun, you are also a verb. And it is in doing Love that I most experience Love.

Now that I think about it, there is really no need for the letters. These three - Death, Time, Love - have each visited me; and will continue to. They are part of this human experience. Each is to be embraced and not feared.

I'm not sure how to wrap up this post. I guess I'll just recall what a wise man once wrote; "...and the greatest of these is Love." He wasn't specifically referring to these three; or to writing letters. But I'll go with that.

Well, that's about as deep as I get (between Chipotle and cardio).

For now...
D

Ringtones: Beauty Behind the Familiar

I don't think much about ringtones. Mine is still set on the default from when I bought the phone. Though it's possible I changed it on day one to the same mundane tone I had on the previous two phones. It is something Samsung calls Over the Horizon. The point is, I have not given my ringtone a second thought. Until the other day.

I was mowing my daughter's huge lawn on a 117 degree day (embellishment and lying are not the same thing, right?). Mike Rowe's podcast was pumping through my Bluetooth earphones, barely maintaining a volume above the straining push mower. Somehow, due to a magical congruence of friction, sweat and general pocket size, my phone jumped to life from time to time. It would suddenly make a change from Mike Rowe's That's How I Heard It to my workout playlist (an odd combination of Daft Punk and movie soundtracks), to Hillsong United worship and back again. It was annoyingly entertaining.

At one point in the schizophrenic media mix my phone rang. I really didn't want to stop to fish it out of my pocket or shut down the mower to answer. It would go to voicemail and the strange musical shuffle would resume. The ringing did not give way to voicemail though. Then I noticed the ringing was not the normal five second version duplicated four times until my message abruptly interrupted. Rather than repeating, the ringtone melody played on... and I heard something pretty cool.

Over the Horizon is much more than the merely five second annoyance I thought it to be. As the "ringtone" played on, I picked up the melody. Then I noticed intricacies I never had; layers of instruments and runs. As the "ringtone" played on, it became less "ringtone" and more orchestral. Depth and movement emerged. And there mowing in the heat, a simple too-familiar and annoying melody became a masterpiece.

I have since discovered a jazz version of Over the Horizon, a millennial-musical version, a rock version; and some pretty artistic videos accompanying each. It is an interesting 15 minutes spent on YouTube for the tangentially-minded like me.

In reality, Over the Horizon was a masterpiece from it's inception - that of a little six note melody by composer Josh Joongsam Yun. I had just never noticed. My experience with its simple beauty had been too surface and too short-lived. It had become too familiar.

It makes me wonder... What other melodies of life are playing all around? What symphonies have become too familiar to notice? What music plays while I am unaware, or worse, annoyed? 

There is beauty behind the familiar. I must listen.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | Called & Kept

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.

--Jude 1

I remember the days when a phone - on the wall in the kitchen - would ring. It was a real ring, not a tone or a song. This was in an ancient time when Roaming meant you had an extra-long spirally cord from wall unit to handset.

In those days a ringing phone was exciting - of course I was young and typically thrilled by a rock or a block of wood. Most exciting though, was when the phone rang and then I heard, "David, it's for you." Someone had called me.

Jude reminds us that Jesus has called us by name. This is deeply interesting too. You see, Jude was most likely the half brother of Jesus; we surmise this in his introduction as James' brother. So why is this a big deal? Apparently James and Jude - and most of Jesus' family - did not buy in to his God-ness (or Christ-ness, Creator-ness, Savior-ness) while Jesus roamed the Galilean hills. It was not until Jesus' gruesome death and odds-breaking, glorious resurrection that Jude believed. And though he had been a doubter and a nay-sayer, Jesus called him by name.

Jesus has called you (and me) by name. With phenomenal grace, he meant to dial, and he asked for us... "David, it's for you."

Just as importantly, Jude tells us, this calling grace is keeping grace. The same power that overcame death in a cave-tomb, walked water and healed lepers; that is the power that called us by name. And it is the same power that continues calling and keeping us by his side daily.

It is good to be called. It is good to be kept.

God, keep me close; especially when I tend so often to roam.

For now...
D