A higher conversation

What do you do when somebody's rude to you - for no apparent reason?  I learned last week to go for a higher conversation. 

I had gone to Home Depot for a small can of paint.  You see, I had this bathroom waste basket with a lovely blending of most unusual colors -- pale blue, green, and yellow -- and had been thinking about putting some accents in the bathroom in these colors.  

Bold, new, not so pale, accents

Wastebasket in hand for matching colors, I asked the clerk whether a toilet seat could be painted.  He answered generically and negatively.  Feeling sure it could be done, I repeated my question.  He repeated his previous answer very loudly -- which was embarrassing because there were other customers and clerks nearby.  

This conversation wasn't going at all in a productive direction.  I knew God had a better plan for our relationship.  To find out how to turn this in a useful direction, I reached out to God.  I like to talk with Her often, and not only when things get dicey.  I've learned to trust that She always has a good solution.  

Finding a sense of God, good, being in charge, and standing across the counter from the clerk, I said very quietly, "I can hear you just fine without your raising your voice."

He paused, then replied trying to justify himself, but this time his reply was equally quiet. 

I said nothing, but I did pray to love this guy.  I loved his humility -- even if it wasn't evident.  I loved his desire to serve.  I loved his expertise, his skill, his progress in his career.  

About that time he finished some puttering he was doing at the counter, looked up, and with a completely different attitude, allowed that a toilet seat could be painted under certain conditions.  This led to his asking some good questions and then offering some helpful advice.  He was all helpfulness.

He mixed the colors in enamel, and we parted on a very cordial basis.

James (in the Bible's New Testament) says, "Who is a wise man... among you?  Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom."  There is always a good conversation, always a better conversation, when God remains at the forefront of thought. 

There will be celebrating

Americans take the Bible for granted, pretty much.

Most anybody who wants to can buy, borrow, or read a Bible, not only in King James English, but in any of dozens of translations that take advantage of recent scholarship and research to add insight and accuracy.

And, yes, these translations are also in English. And with what reverence and enthusiasm do we (you and I) read the Word?

The Kimyals in West Papua, Indonesia, are thrilled to be receiving translations of the Bible in their own language. They raise the bar for joy in being able to read their BIbles.

I found their celebration very humbling.

No limit on friendships

Love has no limits. In spite of what we're taught to believe, valuing, respecting, and caring for one another is natural.

Is God trying to tell you something?

“The Color Purple” aired on Public TV the other night.  Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover -- what a cast Steven Spielberg assembled for this beautifully directed movie, which debuted 26 years ago.  I watch very little TV, but remembering this story as worthy of five stars, set aside the time.  So glad I did.

Let's focus on the old fashioned Gospel song near the end of the movie.  Here’s a tiny bit of background to set the scene.

Rural Georgia, early 1900s
Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) - main character
Albert (Danny Glover) - Celie’s abusive husband
Shrug - popular jazz and blues singer with dubious reputation

Shrug has been trying to reconnect with her daddy -- a local preacher who turned his back on her years ago.  When she’s in town, Shrug sings at the local bar which is within easy earshot of her daddy’s church.

Albert has beaten his wife and told her she was worthless since she was fourteen.  Celie believed her beloved sister dead, when actually Albert had cruelly hidden her letters from his wife.  Finally as Shrug helped her recognize her self-worth, Celie found and read the cache of her sister’s  letters, gathered the courage to leave Albert, and has returned years later, financially independent, to inherit her father's home and land.

This particular Sunday morning, Shrug is singing to a full house at the bar. Her words, “So let me tell you somethin’ sister...” are interrupted by the Gospel choir across the little river, countering with their own message, “God is trying to tell you something.”  Shrug used to sing this same song in her daddy’s choir, and it speaks to her heart now.

Leading the bar crowd down the road and right through the front doors of the church, Shrug counterpoints with the choir -- as only classic Gospel can do -- with an affection and hope that God is trying to tell them all something!

Finally her daddy gets the message and embraces Shrug as she tells him, “See Daddy,  sinners have soul too.”  Albert sitting alone on his front porch also gets the message and uses a stash of hidden cash to set in motion a chain of events which will soon reunite Celie and her sister.

God’s message may involve a change of heart, a willingness to forgive and go forward, or maybe to repent and go forward, or maybe something else and go forward.  Sometimes, like the characters in the story, we need to pay attention.  We might well ask, "What is God trying to tell me today?"

Here’s a wonderful clip of the Gospel choir and Shrug’s joyous moment.

The power of being a friend

This email has been making the rounds again.  It's a story with a good message.

One day when I was a high school freshman, I saw a kid from one of my classes walking home from school.  His name was Kyle, and it looked like he was carrying every book he owned.

I asked myself, “Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?  He must really be a nerd.”  I, on the other hand, had quite a weekend planned -- parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon -- so I shrugged and went on.

In a moment, a bunch of guys ran towards him, aggressively knocking the books out of his arms, then tripping him so he landed in the dirt, laughing as they moved on.

Kyle’s glassed went flying.  As I walked over, there was terrible sadness in his eyes.  Handing him his glasses I said, “Those guys are jerks.  They should get a life.”

A smile lit his face.  “Hey, thanks!”  Together we gathered his stuff, and it turned out he lived near me.  He’d just transferred from a private school, and that’s why I hadn’t seen him walking before.

As we talked, we hit it off real well.  He was a cool kid, thoughtful, bright, funny.  I invited him to play football with me and my buddies the next day.  And he accepted.

We hung out a lot over the next four years.  In fact we became best friends.

In our senior year we began talking colleges.  Kyle was headed to Georgetown and pre-med, and I was going to Duke for business on a football scholarship.  I felt we’d always be friends, and the miles would never be a problem

Kyle had really found himself, he had a good sense of who he was.  He’d filled out and actually looked good in glasses.  He almost had more dates than I did, and sometimes I was almost jealous. 

As valedictorian of our class, Kyle had an important speech to prepare.  I was so glad it wasn’t me having to go up there and speak to everybody. 

Graduation day I could see he was nervous.  “Hey big guy,” I said smacking him on the back, “You’ll be great!”

“Thanks,” he replied, looking me straight in the eyes with a warm smile.

On stage he cleared his throat and began. “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through the tough times.  Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a couch, and especially your friends.  I’m here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.  And I’m going to tell you a story.  My story.”

I stared in disbelief as he recounted the first day we met.  He had planned to kill himself that weekend.  He’d cleaned out his locker so his family wouldn’t have to do it later.  He was carrying home all his things.

Kyle looked at me and smiled.  “Thankfully, “he said, “I was saved by a friend.  He saved me from doing the unspeakable.”

In the silence that followed, this likable young man told us about the lowest point in his life.  Afterward his parents hugged me and shook my hand. 

So, what Kyle said, I would underscore.  Never underestimate the power of your actions.  There is no such thing as a small act of kindness.  One kind word or deed can change the course of another person’s life.

Community after the blizzard

In the Chicago area, from what I can gather, things went rather well during the blizzard.  People had advance warning to stock up on groceries.  Most stayed home and didn’t get stuck and become part of a crisis.  Even the newscasters were commenting on how the blizzard brought people together to help each other.

Before the plows came

I pray for my condo community, which is part family, part neighborhood.  I pray for cooperation, support, fellowship, harmony, peace -- those qualities we want to see in our neighbors.  Sometimes there is no clue as to how things are going.

Johanna looking for snow to shovel

About 10 pm, Anita called from the building at the other end of our complex.  "My truck is stuck in the drive.  I've tried everything and can't move it.  I'm going inside now."

So, is anyone cut off from God’s love and care, even during a blizzard?  It cannot be.  Where God, good is ever-present, no one can be stuck outside that universal goodness.

Within minutes I saw from my window a young man running down the snow-filled drive with a snow shovel.  It turns out his brother had pulled in and was stuck behind Anita’s truck.  Both men helped her get her truck into a parking slot, and within a few more minutes, their van was also in its parking slot.  She was so grateful.

Lauren peaks the local Matterhorn!

The plows came during the night after the wind stopped, and the next morning (after the snow had stopped).  Nearly everyone spontaneously moved their vehicles so the plows could clear maximum parking slots.  Owners were chatting and laughing as they congregated in little groups to watch the plowers do their swift work.

My heart filled with gratitude to see this sense of community and good-will in action. 

Peace and silence afterward

Paul understood that nothing could separate him from the love of God -- and he had been jailed, beaten, betrayed, ship-wrecked, snake-bit, stoned and left for dead -- he had proved the oneness of God and His creation every day of his missionary life.

I was glad to see a glimpse of this oneness after the blizzard.

True progress

"The new growth in the plant 

swelling against the sheath, 

which at the same time imprisons and protects it, 

must still be the truest type of progress."

Jane Addams

Did we mention teamwork?

True, this Youtube has been making the rounds for about three years, and well it should!

Fred Astair and Eleanor Powell set a standard in this 70 year-old clip.  Teamwork, timing, rhythm, fun, precision... did we mention teamwork?

This spectacular dancing hints at another teamwork each of us can be part of.  It has to do with recognizing our oneness with our Maker, infinite Truth.  This awareness and approval aligns us with an infinite rhythm, timing, and teamwork that reveals what's genuinely beautiful and good in our lives.  Even fun.  

Our dance through life may not always be light and tappy and perfectly coordinated with everyone around us -- though that would be nice.

But as long as we pay attention to and follow the Chief Choreographer, we'll be OK.

In praise of crossing guards

Since my grandsons began attending public grade school, crossing guards have suddenly come onto my radar.

Crossing guards didn’t exist when I walked my mile plus to school (through snowdrifts, and uphill both ways!).  My school bus ran a perimeter and picked up those kids who lived more than a mile from school.  I quit riding it when one of my neighbors -- Tommy Mills, a big 7th grader! -- was a very serious patrol boy on our bus.  

I talked smart to him one day, and he told me to sit down and be quiet, as he should have.  At nine I lacked the social and spiritual skills to deal with shame and hurt feelings, so my solution was to refuse to ride the bus after that.

Crossing guard on duty

Despite my foolish pride, the walk turned out to be delightful.  The roads in our little community were Illinois level, and I picked up friends along the way who were finishing their breakfasts and happy to join me. 

So while there were occasional patrol boys to keep order, crossing guards hadn’t been invented yet.

Here’s what these fine ladies and men do today.  With their chartreuse vests and hand-held stop signs, these faithful guardians are found at busy intersections in all sorts of weather.  Single-handedly they hold cars and trucks at bay while children, middle-schoolers, parents, joggers and dog-walkers cross safely under their watch.  Their authority trumps the usual order of stop-sign etiquette.

At the intersection in the above photo, two ladies work a five-way stop in tandem to guide their charges safely through traffic.   If a driver or a kid ignored the crossing guard, there could be chaos.  The crossing guard concept succeeds because everyone pays attention. 

It’s comforting for me to realize there is an All-knowing and All-seeing Crossing Guard who guides each of us safely through the intersections of life.  She guides our steps through life's traffic with skill and alertness.  Sometimes we may be told to wait at the curb, and we don’t know why.  It’s all in the timing.

Life works best when each of us is patient and, more importantly, listens and watches attentively to know the right moment to go forward -- according to the wisdom of the Chief Crossing Guard.

Even a child can do it

So simple even a child can do it? Apparently.

It's all that we love about children -- their joy, their spontaneity, their natural love for things beautiful, their ability to laugh at themselves, to surprise us with their talents.

It's also what we love in adults -- their joy, their ability to laugh at themselves, to appreciate things beautiful, to focus on what they love, to surprise us with their talents.

Love the child in you today, just for fun.

This is 3 year old Jonathan conducting to the 4th movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony. This piece was originally conducted by Herbert von Karajan ...