Friday, September 25, 2015

The Miracle of 6:30

I love getting up just before the sun. 


The house is uncharacteristically quiet. The big road behind us is calm. The neighborhood is still asleep. Even the dogs are still dozing. This hour beckons me. I even think about it before I go to bed at night. Relishing the personal time. Connecting-with-God time. Pondering. Journaling. Praying. Refueling. I put on the coffee, foam up some milk, pour the dark brew in my favorite stoneware mug, then settle in to my comfy chair near a window and by the fireplace... Are you feeling it?

This day, in my slow wanderings with Jesus through the second Gospel, I arrive at Mark 6:30. Jesus and the disciples have had an intense period of ministry. They are ready for some time away from the crowds and demands. They climb into a boat, and sneak off to a secluded cove. Begining to unwind, as they consider the time ahead. They're really looking forward to some quiet, R&R. Alone. Right?

But the hoards are so zealous to be near Jesus, they run along the shore, taking shortcuts over hills and creeks, and are waiting at this "secret" place when the guys arrive. Can you imagine the frustration? The sense of let-down and disappointment?

By now it's 6:30am, and the Colorado sun is coming up. Suddenly, The Kid's bedroom door bursts opens, and out pops our nine year old; all spunk and smiles. (I love that she most often wakes up in this way. But prefer that it be- I don't know- AN HOUR LATER?!) She comes bouncing across the living room to me, and asks if I want her to make us some oatmeal. I force a smile, and tell her that would be delightful. She skips to the kitchen. Pots and pans crash. The pantry door slams. She soon announces, "I'm going to need your help reading the instructions!" Not satisfied with instant- and the simplicity of the hot water dispenser- she wants to make it from scratch on the stove; like Grammy does. There goes my magic hour.

Thinly masking my impatience, I get her started, then try to get back into The Word; totally relating to the situation in which our Hero finds Himself. If you know the story, you're already smiling. Jesus' response to the major interruption of solitude for His weary group, is not irritation or rejection. Instead He feels compassion. Compassion! He goes on to teach the crowd what they long and need to hear. Then later (6:30pm?) feeds all 5000 of them a delightful dinner of fish and bread. But to me- in my current state- the real miracle that day was His compassion in the face of personal loss.

I humbly admit that this was not my initial response at having my personal retreat hour revoked. But always seeking to follow His example, I put down my books and pen, and joined The Kid for breakfast. Telling her all she longs and needs to hear: That she is a treasure, and worth every bit of my attention and affection. (Isn't that what Jesus told His flock that day?) There will be more quiet mornings alone. But not many with this God-given blessing.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Futuristic Targeted Advertizing?

Creepy shades of that old Tom Cruise movie: "Minority Report"

To get this, it would help if you remember the movie from 2002. I'm not sure I ever got the point of it, but one thing I do remember from this science fiction noir film, was how sophisticated and computerized everything was. One scene that sticks in my memory, is when our hero, John Anderton, is walking down a crowded walkway. A camera on the ceiling scans his eyes, the "Big Brother-type" computer pulls up his preferences, and a voice begins to "target-advertise" to him. "Your favorite jeans are on sale..." (Haunting how similar this is to certain search engines and social media formats.)

So, I've just sat down at a sunny coffee shop cafe with my beautiful daughter. Sipping ice coffees and celebrating her new job. BTW, everybody has their "talk zone." For some, it's right before they fall asleep. For others its on the phone while driving (Still legal in 45 states!) For my adult daughter it's coffee shops. The chatty environment, the feel of a "date," and the imagined privacy (as compared to a home with family around.) The caffeine helps too.

Suddenly, my phone registers an e-mail. It's sitting right on the table, so I glance over at it. It's a personalized ad from the sandwich shop right next door to the cafe!

"How did they even  know I'm here?!" I exclaim.

My daughter quips, "Yeah. It's just like Tom Cruise in Minority Report!" (I love having a well-cultured kid.)

You should know that one of the things I do in my present job, is teach people how to minimize their electronic foot-print. Simple things like not leaving your "Location Services" beacon running is basic. Mine is off, of course. How did they do it?! This is really disturbing!

My mind is rummaging through all kinds of conspiracy theories, as I further examine the apparent location-activated, "group-on."

My amazement and activist adrenaline finally begins to subside as I realize this is actually nothing more than a pre-ordering opportunity for a catered lunch meeting I'm attending next week. The convener of the gathering had given them my email address. The timing of it's arrival was purely coincidental. Got a good chuckle at my suspicious-self. Okay. Yes please. I'll have the cookie too.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Lessons from the Hearth

- Analogies observed through tending the Wood Stove


Proximity
Logs need to be close together – yet with just the right amount of space between them - to really burn well. If they get too far apart, the fire goes out, and the logs grow cold. And the best way to get a new log going, is to put it up against one that’s already burning well. Reminds me of life in Community.

Variety
The quick-starting pieces of wood that you put in first (kindling), play a very important role. They get things started, and warm up the fire-box. But you will also need to add other, thicker, slower burning logs. It is these characteristics that will sustain a long, hot burn. Kind of like building a work-team.

Build, then Trust.
When selecting the right components to lay a new fire, it is important to take into account all you know about thermodynamics; building it carefully. Trying to predict what will create the best possible base fire. Then you’ve got to light it in just the right places, and make sure it has just enough air. You take special care to be as accurate as you can be. Because once the stove door is closed, all the smoke builds up in the fire box. Until it gains enough heat to blast up the cold chimney. You cannot open the door at this point, to correct anything. Sometimes you watch with dismay, as a piece of wood shifts, and falls away from the burning paper and other sticks. The fire starts to falter. You’re tempted to open the door and fix it, but that would be a mistake- creating a house full of smoke that would be nearly impossible to ever completely get rid of. You’ve got to wait it out; watching and hoping that the rest of your system compensates for this unpredicted development. 
Kind of like launching young adult children into independence.

Wood Type
Wood from trees that grow fast, don’t burn very hot? They are certainly wonderful additions to a landscape; providing shade sooner than most newly planted trees. But it is the slow-growing oak, or nut or fruit trees- and other hard woods- that create the most heat in the fireplace. They have a higher “kindling point,” (the temperature at which they’ll ignite), but they burn long and hot, once they get going. And, by the way, the smoke from quick-burning, low temperature logs leaves a gunky, crusty film in the chimney- creosote. It has to be scraped away periodically, or it can catch fire up inside the chimney! Kind of like two kinds of people: those who have never suffered in life, and those who have. Those who have led peaceful, healthy unruffled lives can be quite pleasant, fun, and entertaining. But those who’ve been through hardship – if they’ve processed it well – will be the ones who can really help others over the long haul; journeying through difficulty with empathy, and authority.

Aesthetics vs. Effectiveness
Sometimes the best-looking fire does not end up burning as hot as those in the house might need. People may be kind enough to be complementary of its symmetry and dancing light, but if they’re cold, and hoping to warm up, what they really need is a hot fire, not a pretty one! There are certainly aesthetic occasions for a good-looking, yet inefficient fire. But the builder and tender needs to be clear on the purpose. How many other areas of life are like that? Food, clothing, automobiles… Sure, pretty is nice. But as the architect says, “Form follows Function.” Reminds me of trying to make a difference among the poor. It’s important to know the actual, under-lying issues, so we can best address them. Not merely meeting people's presenting needs with service that seems good, yet fails to meet the long-term, greater need.

But now this is beginning to look like blog-fuel for another day…


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Angry Birds; and Chipmunks too!



Hummingbirds are beautiful and amazing to observe. Periodically, I’ll prepare some sugar water and put it in the feeder, just to enjoy their rich colors and spectacular aerodynamics. Recently, I’d let their feeder run dry. Instead of humming at our red plastic flowers one Saturday morning, they hovered by the window near where I was sipping my coffee; glaring at me. They had that look on their little faces that said, “Hey, human! Where’s our food?!

Later in the day, I was splitting firewood, and in the process moved a pile of logs that had been seasoning against a stump for about a year. I’d seen chipmunks scurry in and out of the wood pile, perhaps nesting or storing food in the protected crevices. As I sat back to admire my newly filled rack of firewood, and enjoy the pungent smell of fresh-split fir in the air, one of the little critters scampered to the top of the tree stump, and began chattering in my direction. “What have you done to our handy storage place?!

In a brief, but riveting sermonette, I reminded my little forest friends that “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.” More specifically, Jesus pointed out that God feeds birds, and provides holes for ground-dwelling varmints (i.e. foxes.) “Your Creator has given you all you need!” I proclaimed as they listened intently. “Don’t get mad at me when a luxury is denied! Perhaps you need to rediscover God’s design for your life.

Then I reflected on God’s provision for me. He promises to take care of us, and most often (in America) does so with amazing bounty and abundance. I realize that I often grow to depend upon- even expect- His lavish blessings. When they are changed, diminished, or removed I get frustrated or sometimes angry. 

But His goal for us is holiness, not happiness. If removing a comfort-prop makes us depend more upon Him, that frustration can move us in the right direction! May we learn the Eternal truth that disappointment is often His appointments. A blessing removed, could represent an opportunity for a closer walk with our Creator and Lord.

God does not actually promise financial abundance, perfect health, and story-book families. He promises to journey with us, and to meet our needs as we put our lives fully in His hands.