At what points during the past years have you found yourself speechless? Why? (Were you awed, outwitted, fumbling for words, suffering from a sore throat, or what?) (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 729).
The most common situation by far is when I am at a loss to come up with a humorous bon mot when one is obviously called for....yet my mind is as sluggish as yesterday's congealed leftover gravy. The fact that such a remark is obviously called for, and called for with promptitude, makes me appear dumber than silt. The next challenging need for verbal acuity occurs when trying to write something original on a birthday card presented to someone by a group. Typically I get the card to sign after many clever and appropriate things have already been said. Sometimes the lack of something clever to say – and fearing that my best effort will only seem like a failed attempt to sound "cute"– I just sign my name. The final awkward silence – and I'm sure I share this with many – is when someone has had a death in the family. Then I'm tempted to borrow from a politician who just the other day said that such "stuff happens." Probably that's what I will end up saying – just dressed up a bit.
Why do the poor care the least who holds power? Why do you care about who's in or out of government? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 560).
Currently in the United States there are radically divergent views about a number of matters. In the news today was the issue of whether or not to increase government regulation of firearms. One major representative of the opposing view even said that tragedies such as the mass killing of students with firearms is simply status quo "stuff" that just "happens." There is no distinction made between egg beaters and assault rifles when discerning regulatory implications. While I am only one, I know that my vote matters because I am one of those who helped Obama get elected for two terms. His sentiments regarding most issues – perhaps with the exception of infanticide as a means of birth control – align with mine. It is deeply reassuring to know that even during the most acrimonious periods, the simply sane can hold significant power despite constant thunderous blasts from the wacky opposition questioning the basic legitimacy of government to cultivate health and safety.
Today I attended an Annual Spiritual Retreat sponsored by the Westminster Retirement Communities in St. Petersburg, Florida. The retreat was held at a conference center near the banks of Manatee River not far from Ellenton (about 30 miles to the east of St. Petersburg). It is my understanding that ideas from the following book were used in discussion: Soulful Aging: Ministry Through the Stages of Adulthood by Henry Simmons and Jane Wilson. The concept discussed was that one's spiritual journey is characterized by stages of transition and stability. For example, about two years ago I retired. This meant that I underwent some loss and grieving (like crying at the going-away party). The following year I sold my house and moved into a retirement community. It was not easy to downsize and part with long cherished items. Granted enough time, I will proceed through additional transition periods--from being active and relatively independent to periods of greater dependency accompanied by increasing physical and perhaps mental decline, and finally of hospice care or whatever is required before the arrival of death. Periods of transition (the closing and opening of chapters) are followed by periods of relative stability. In periods of relative stability, we are to self-examine by asking three questions: 1) Who am I? [Can I define with assurance who I am?] 2) Who am I called to be with? [Can I map out my relational ties with others?] 3) What am I called to do/be? [Do I understand my mission as tailored to meet this stage of my life?] (numbered questions from conference handout). I found the discussion very helpful and full of realism. But it strikes me at once that this conceptualization of maturation's challenges is for all ages. For example, the college student--or the recently married--or those with a new job could easily find this analytical structure an advantage. Likewise, if one is given the assignment to write a biography or autobiography, what better way to begin than by analyzing the subject's life as a series of transitions (chapters) followed by periods of relative stability in which "Who am I?" "Who am I called to be with?" and "What am I called to do/be?" are thoughtfully treated.
In what areas of your life are your actions governed by fear of what others think? How could Jesus help you? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 1348).
There's a saying something to the effect that your true character is most evident in what you do when no one is watching. I think most people to a greater or less extent differentiate between their private and public selves. Sexuality is obviously an area where this is true and sex is typically seen as a private matter between the parties involved and not to be trumpeted as page-one news for the simple reason that doing "the act" is redeemed from sensationalism by the dignity of privacy. A common example of a public act is eating – which we frequently do in public within the company of many others. Given this, I am significantly governed by what other people think. The other evening I attended a birthday party for a friend of mine at Hooters. At one point, the waitresses came over to sing happy birthday for my friend. They fixed white cone water cups in his mouth to look like a beak. Then they had him flap menus with his arms extended. It was called a happy birthday chicken dance. My friend ate it up fully enjoying putting himself on display as a dancing chicken. In contrast, I would have been mortified to have been in his place. Everyone would have had a lot less fun laughing because I clearly would have been embarrassed and restrained. In sum, it is ridiculous the extent to which I try to avoid being ridiculous – to the extent that I care what other people think. The irony, of course, is they would think more highly of me if I were less self-preoccupied, could simply relax and care less. This would indicate good-natured generosity and genuine deference--a trait highly valued by Jesus.
Which slogan fits how you maintain peace in your life (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 1251).
To maintain peace it is necessary to aggressively seek peace. This starts off with aggressively seeking a positive attitude – an attitude that is proactive. Peace does not come by accident and it certainly is not an indication of nothing going on. Quite to the contrary much has to be happening dynamically in context to maintain a peaceful state of mind. Conflict must not be avoided but must be engaged and resolved to the satisfaction of mutual parties. This requires demands upon self as well as solid expectations on the part of others. Situations are seen as hopeless when fear banishes the ability to cope. It is fear that must be banished by outflanking it with active goodwill and effective imagination. In the last analysis peace depends upon happiness which in turn depends upon spirited human capability founded upon providential trust.
How do you respond to rhetorical questions....(Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 699). ------------------------------------------------------- Noun: rhetorical question 1. A statement that is formulated as a question but that is not supposed to be answered "he liked to make his points with rhetorical questions" (WordWeb Pro)
If I were running for president I would consider the following 15 questions rhetorical should I be asked them:
Would you be in favor of raising the national debt to 2 trillion dollars?
Can you please list the terrorist organizations in the middle east, name their leaders, map out their historical roots, and finally compare and contrast their interrelationships, ambitions and beliefs?
What is the capitol city of Utah and its approximate population?
Do you believe that Jewish Masons run this country--the world?
Do you think Martin Luther King, Jr. would be as popular today if the had lived to advocate a fairer distribution of wealth among the nations?
Do you agree that alcoholic beverages are on balance an unsurpassed blessing?
Do you really believe the liberal spin that tobacco causes cancer and that economic enterprise has environmental impact?
Do you think that egg beaters beat eggs or do people beat eggs? As a follow-up question, do you equate egg beaters with assault rifles?
Which do you think has had a more positive impact upon society, Jesus's Beatitudes or Trash-It-All Movies?
Do you deny that the Fathers of our Country and of the Constitution were all-knowing with absolute final say on all matters?
Do you really think that government has a shred of legitimacy other than for the ascent of military weaponry?
Do you deny that pornography went undiscovered until the WorldWide Web?
Do you agree that love among those of the same sex is no more than "Seein' me and Julio down by the schoolyard."?
To be considered as great as Lincoln, would you freely foster war?
Will you tag every major address with "God Bless America!...and All Other Countries of the World!"?
Who is someone you admire because they dared to give their life to a mission? (Serendipity Bible Fourth Edition, page 1438).
Missions statements can be more or less general or concise and specific. I have always seen my mission as applying my faith to practical (worldly) affairs. This is a very general mission statement and can applied in more specific ways over time. My father's mission was to be a local pastor in the Methodist church. A college president once offered him a faculty position, but daddy saw clearly his mission was that of an itinerate minister. His humble certitude stood him well during the vicissitudes of time. I especially prize that a member of a church daddy once served told me years later that my father's remarkable humility was just what the member needed at that point in his life and prompted him to join and remain faithful.
