When to Stay the Hand

Are you more of a "the-rules-are-meant-to-be-broken" or a "play-it-by-the-book" type of person? Why? Give an example (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1460).

Today at 6 am I was at LabCorp getting blood drawn for examination prior to my doctor's appointment next week  A Saint Petersburg police officer was ahead of me so we had a chat.  His current assignment is to provide police presence at a local high school.  I asked what was his toughest challenge? He said the toughest challenge came not from students but from school officials.   He explained that they wanted him to address matters other than law enforcement--they wanted him to enforce school dress codes and monitor the cafeteria. This he declined to do. I responded that he did well.  It would be a serious matter if students come to see the police power of the state as legitimately the enforcer of matters other than the law. On his leaving I told him to be a good ambassador for law enforcement.  I remarked in utter seriousness that students should come to love the police power of the state.  A moment's serious reflection demonstrates the truth of this statement.


So in some matters I  think a clear and proper perception demands playing-it-by-the book.  The abuse of power is never good.  The oft overlooked paradox is that discipline releases the most creativity.  There is a song that says "anything goes."  This is a good concept so long as it takes place within broad parameters of disciple.  A wife may tell her husband "anything goes" which is fine if it means brainstorming about an upcoming vacation--not so good if he thinks his wife is suggesting that he have an extramarital affair.  

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The Continuum of Appropriateness

What discussion topics are taboo at your family table or at family reunions?  Why? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1460)

There is a continuum of appropriateness and at either end is abuse.  In the center is goodwill which is a combination of respect and love.  The question that confronts is how to arrive at the center between the extremes of abuse.  First, what do I mean by extremes of abuse?  The current atmosphere is Congress where each faction intentionally HURTS one another is a form of abuse.  But so also is the vacuity and desperate emptiness found at family reunions where nothing of importance or real meaning or underlying concern is honestly addressed--this too is HURTFUL.  Somewhere in the middle are forums of  goodwill (certainly NOT cold civility).  For example at a family reunion a young man in his late twenties is present who is seemingly going nowhere; he has no career; he does not have a wife, two children, and a dog all living in a lovely home with a pool.  His life appears stymied and it is evident the situation is becoming painful and embarrassing for him.  The talk at the dinner table is vacuous and painfully so as only saccharin niceties are exchanged.  Surely the young man would appreciate someone casually telling a story illustrating that "those also serve who only stand wait"--for example an abbreviated telling of Hawthorne's "The Great Stone Face."  Such a story would be of general interest and there would be no reason to suspect that it was intended to encourage any particular person.  This technique of approaching problems obliquely but meaningfully and helpfully is a significant attribute of empathy.

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Spring Forward

This is the first Communion Sunday after the spring equinox.  In the way of celebration, I share with all my friends and readers throughout the world the following two songs by gifted artists.  Regarding the first song, I have to apologize to everyone if I seem dense in my view of this primal American mission--I am fully aware that our friends throughout the world often best us in fulfilling this important and universal goal.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2syR4On4xDI


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU













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On Drives and Blessings

How can you transfer your treasure from Wall Street to Heaven's Gate? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1459).

Like most every Christian I know, I recoil at "selling all I have and giving it to the poor."  I view the situation much as analogous to a shrub growing in the front yard. It is absolutely true there are great limits set regarding what I can provide for the plant.  For example I have no control over the necessity of sun light and congenial weather.  Even if I built a lighted and climate controlled greenhouse, it all ultimately is fueled by star energy.  So in analogy, we are in final evaluation totally dependent upon God for the essence of spiritual nourishment. Given the truth of this, in order to help the plant flourish, it is a good thing to have a bank account from which to purchase water from the utility company and fertilizer and fungicides at Home Depot.  There even exists a significant drive of responsibility and moral duty involved--and this necessarily entails a measure of "filthy lucre."  Thus we can see that a balanced viewpoint is necessary; and I take Jesus' pleadings for us to deemphasize concern over material wealth as an attempt to break our obsession and addiction to unlimited financial  security which tends to err on the side of great excess, psychological denial of a crippling problem, and even cruelty to ourselves and others.

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Stand Up

When have you taken a risk and stood for Jesus in a public way?  What happened?  What did you learn? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary, page 1458).

Doing so, [Jesus] reminded us that we should never let legalism get in the way of the power of Christ.  When we are prompted to act, to love, to heal, to move, that's exactly what we have to do. ("Throw Out the Playbook" April 4th devotional in The President's Devotional by Joshua Dubois).

When the need arises and one feels a divine calling to act, it is often the case that a significant measure of risk is involved primarily due to the uncertainty that a goodwill response will be forthcoming.  That is, your best intentions can be met with hostility or manipulative opportunism. The responses I've  encountered have been mixed ranging from an awesome love response to a hatred of shattering proportions.  My ultimate lesson is always the same: one is inevitably enriched by following the promptings  of the Great Jehovah--one can receive the reward of requited love or the hard lessons that build and enrich character.

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Ashamed of My Termites

How do you feel knowing that everything done in secret will someday be revealed?  (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1458).

I live in a frame home in Florida. This means like clockwork every 5 years or so I must have my house tented (fumigated) for termites.  Every time this is required I go through several stages.  The first time I see the shed wings of dry termites a dull dread overcomes me.  My first response is denial--I attempt to hide the fact even from myself.  I quickly discard the wings.  I vaguely feel having termites should be a cause of shame.  I am careful to hide the fact from anyone and try to go about my life as if nothing were wrong--nothing is steadily destroying my home.  I will let months pass--almost a year--half successfully pretending that all is well.  Yet my underlying dread is that the termites will swarm again, and the fresh supply of shed wings will doubly convict me for now a year of inexcusable inaction has passed.

For the uninitiated I will list a few of the negatives brought on by fumigation for termites; their elimination is expensive; all ingestible items other than canned goods must be removed (even those in regenerators or freezers) or double wrapped and sealed in special plastic bags; all life will be killed--so all plants will need to removed or temporarily transplanted; any limbs or branches above the house that would impede putting up the tent must be removed; one must vacate the premises for two nights; the fumigator by contract is shielded from liability for any damage done to the roof of your house or break-ins or theft during the process;  the natural gas must be shut off the day preceding fumigation and turned on again the day after--yet another inconvenience and expense.

Thus approximately twice in  every decade I encounter a practicum of sin and shame. But one thing I have learned.  Once I come to my senses and call the fumigator--the one I've used for thirty years--I immediately feel a great weight lifted. When a date for the fumigation is set, many things are automatically placed upon my agenda.  Nevertheless, I have the immense satisfaction and relief of knowing I am doing the responsible and right thing, and a great sense of rectitude, competence, and optimism immediately overtakes me.

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How Many Flashlights Does a Man Need?

How many flashlights do you own?  How many work? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1456).

There is a current ad for a real estate broker that displays a healthy caution about clients lusting after a dream home and not counting real cost--for example the cost associated with maintaining an expansive pool.  Living in Florida surrounded on three sides by water, I have long heard the warning that owning a fancy yacht may fuel one's dreams, but upon realization of that dream there arise the relentless cost of boat maintenance and upkeep.  I love to shop and often purchase on impulse items that at a minimum will require further cluttering of my home.  Yet I characteristically go for the immediate addictive "fix" of purchase rather than counting the eventual cost of clutter.  This acquisition tendency is so firmly ingrained in my character that I have many flashlights, but few well maintained and working ones.

As an American I have deep respect for individual conscience and the belief in the divine spark. Yet I surmise that I am not the only one to be lax in my maintenance of conscience and the cultivation of divinity.  This has sobering implications for framing the underpinnings of society and the concordant outgrowth of neurological pathways. How many today have set aside time for daily meditation and devotions?  How can we cultivate conscience and the divine spark without them?  Surely 24/7 "Breaking News" however additive is not our most urgent need nor does it serve to fructify life rather than impoverish it.  When we take a moment to pause and think about it, surely we have let the noise of life supplant our responsibility to induct harmony within it.

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