Today will be filled with celebrations, thoughts and prayers for families of all those and those who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice in protective military service to our nation; and it should be such a day. But just like Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day and the plethora of other 'days' of honor, it really means nothing if not, during the rest of the year, we continue to honor mom, dad, our sweetheart and all who have sacrificed much for our good.
I have made it a point to try and wholeheartedly shake the hand and thank vets and those currently in military service when I meet them. As one who has not had to make the sacrifice, they stand as one's much taller, and deserving of my highest esteem no matter their rank. I pray often for those in our military and for my friends in harms way, serving in these days of treacherous warfare. Even with all our tools of military technology, we are still loosing lives regularly in the Middle East as well as in places near and far.
Just as those who fly Space Shuttle missions know the risk and cost of doing so, all in the military do as well, and for some, who believe they will be the ones that will escape harm, find themselves overtaken but do so with bravery and honor for the sake of the greater good. Who are these people? Moms and dads, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, ordinary citizens with an extraordinary call. Many, if not most, survive, and plenty with tangible, physical reminders of their sacrifice. My call today is that, indeed, we do honor our veterans and those who serve today, but even more so that we take time to remember every day, and whenever we meet one who serves or has served our great nation with engaging honor, respect and deep appreciation for their sacrifice. To all of my friends who have relatives, family and friends serving and who have served us, THANK YOU for your sacrifice. May God richly bless and continue to protect you all in this life as we press ahead toward the next!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
More With Less, Means More of Less, More or Less
Are you feeling it as you watch the news, hear of government and oil companies all taking and needing more and more of our dollars? Watching our pocketbooks being drained? Those who have jobs find themselves worked towards the grave for less and less, with employers asking more and more all touting that you 'are lucky to even have a job in this economy?'
I love working in my yard. Huh? Yes, I am mostly 'unemployed' and can't afford a gardener, but, I have come to discover that yard work is a blessing in my life in these times. For it is relatively mindless work needing only momentary attention and focus. This 'state' of work is good because it gives me opportunity to turn over in my minimally taxed brain, other issues of more 'monumental' import...and it happened this morning as I worked in the yard.
With far less income hitting the teller turnstile account, we have had to change our lifestyle doing less with less. Almost everyone I know is trying to make ends meet and still curtailing rampant spending as in days of old. We have watched our dollars monumentally shrink at the gas pumps. We used to have enough change filling the tank of our Camry to buy drinks for the kids out of a $20 bill. Now the tank costs over $65 to fill. Over twice again the cost? Ouch. That alone is enough to impact our flagrant spending! The vicious cycle continues as people spend less, businesses charge more, as gas cost more, businesses must charge even more. And finally, with people 'lost' in a loosing battle, they abandon ship and make for the hills, leaving houses, debt and all responsibility, placing the burden on those who are still able to contribute to the coffers of government.
So, while raking up the detritus in my front yard, it hits me. First, because of my lack of employment, my wife and I have had to cut back on a lot of things discovering that we can get along quite well on far less than we thought. Hmmmmm. Creative family restructure has been a good thing for us too! Some things we thought essential, we no longer do or purchase. We work harder at putting our errands together to maximize our gas use. A host of tasks and doings have been changed and we find ourselves doing more with less. How?
The answer is quite simple. We were doing plenty of things that neither contributed to the effectiveness of our relationship or the quality of life and living. Putting it succinctly, we squandered a lot of time and money in fruitless ways. What we have found is that we are doing more of less, and more with less. How is that possible? It boils down to doing the essentials well. We are in a time where it is time to evaluate what is essential and that which is spurious, and I mean truly spurious. But even that is not enough. Because as we reduce and focus on the important, that which has been shed, must now be consumed with more of the essentials, thus doing more of less but if the focus of the less is essential, then we are actually accomplishing more of that which is essential.
So are you hearing what I am saying? Those of us most content in this time of personal financial cutbacks and the draining of our pocketbooks for the glory of the oil company's highest gain ever, are those whose lives are filled with doing more of the essentials, more of less, with less. Spending more time just being with family cooking rather than going out. Using our talents to help others saving them money and them using their talents to help us, saving us money, all the while building relationships with our friends while helping in areas of need.
We all are making do with less, less money, less appreciation, less hope (well at least some of us). Rather than just complain about it (which actually does nothing to solve the problem) maybe it is time to do more of less, more or less. It may be time to go back in time and sit around playing card games and board games with on another discussing life issues, dreaming of ways to solve them rather than just rant and moan. If you are a manager of employees, maybe it is time to thank them and let them know you appreciate how hard they are working. If you own a company, maybe it is time to take a good hard look at cutting your own salary and helping those in your company find ways to improve what you do and how you do it. For the gas companies, it is time to stop being greedy and start thinking about how you can help us improve the economy instead of draining us and it, all for your own gain.
America used to be a place of innovation and sacrifice for the good of the nation. Now it has become an everybody for himself nation with our people only trying to get more and more of that which they don't deserve but think they do. Lawsuits, lotteries, even insurance fraud. CEO making more money than anyone deserves to make and spend, all things ethical and unethical all together. Desperation does one of two things, it will either consume us or motivate us. Which side of the fence are you on? I have found it of happier means to do more with less, actually doing more of less, more or less. If we don't do this from the top down, we all will have less and less until there is nothing left to share, because the rich will have it all and be completely unwilling to share it with us, the poor, and this great nation will be relegated to become another third world nation devoid of a middle class.
I love working in my yard. Huh? Yes, I am mostly 'unemployed' and can't afford a gardener, but, I have come to discover that yard work is a blessing in my life in these times. For it is relatively mindless work needing only momentary attention and focus. This 'state' of work is good because it gives me opportunity to turn over in my minimally taxed brain, other issues of more 'monumental' import...and it happened this morning as I worked in the yard.
With far less income hitting the teller turnstile account, we have had to change our lifestyle doing less with less. Almost everyone I know is trying to make ends meet and still curtailing rampant spending as in days of old. We have watched our dollars monumentally shrink at the gas pumps. We used to have enough change filling the tank of our Camry to buy drinks for the kids out of a $20 bill. Now the tank costs over $65 to fill. Over twice again the cost? Ouch. That alone is enough to impact our flagrant spending! The vicious cycle continues as people spend less, businesses charge more, as gas cost more, businesses must charge even more. And finally, with people 'lost' in a loosing battle, they abandon ship and make for the hills, leaving houses, debt and all responsibility, placing the burden on those who are still able to contribute to the coffers of government.
So, while raking up the detritus in my front yard, it hits me. First, because of my lack of employment, my wife and I have had to cut back on a lot of things discovering that we can get along quite well on far less than we thought. Hmmmmm. Creative family restructure has been a good thing for us too! Some things we thought essential, we no longer do or purchase. We work harder at putting our errands together to maximize our gas use. A host of tasks and doings have been changed and we find ourselves doing more with less. How?
The answer is quite simple. We were doing plenty of things that neither contributed to the effectiveness of our relationship or the quality of life and living. Putting it succinctly, we squandered a lot of time and money in fruitless ways. What we have found is that we are doing more of less, and more with less. How is that possible? It boils down to doing the essentials well. We are in a time where it is time to evaluate what is essential and that which is spurious, and I mean truly spurious. But even that is not enough. Because as we reduce and focus on the important, that which has been shed, must now be consumed with more of the essentials, thus doing more of less but if the focus of the less is essential, then we are actually accomplishing more of that which is essential.
So are you hearing what I am saying? Those of us most content in this time of personal financial cutbacks and the draining of our pocketbooks for the glory of the oil company's highest gain ever, are those whose lives are filled with doing more of the essentials, more of less, with less. Spending more time just being with family cooking rather than going out. Using our talents to help others saving them money and them using their talents to help us, saving us money, all the while building relationships with our friends while helping in areas of need.
We all are making do with less, less money, less appreciation, less hope (well at least some of us). Rather than just complain about it (which actually does nothing to solve the problem) maybe it is time to do more of less, more or less. It may be time to go back in time and sit around playing card games and board games with on another discussing life issues, dreaming of ways to solve them rather than just rant and moan. If you are a manager of employees, maybe it is time to thank them and let them know you appreciate how hard they are working. If you own a company, maybe it is time to take a good hard look at cutting your own salary and helping those in your company find ways to improve what you do and how you do it. For the gas companies, it is time to stop being greedy and start thinking about how you can help us improve the economy instead of draining us and it, all for your own gain.
America used to be a place of innovation and sacrifice for the good of the nation. Now it has become an everybody for himself nation with our people only trying to get more and more of that which they don't deserve but think they do. Lawsuits, lotteries, even insurance fraud. CEO making more money than anyone deserves to make and spend, all things ethical and unethical all together. Desperation does one of two things, it will either consume us or motivate us. Which side of the fence are you on? I have found it of happier means to do more with less, actually doing more of less, more or less. If we don't do this from the top down, we all will have less and less until there is nothing left to share, because the rich will have it all and be completely unwilling to share it with us, the poor, and this great nation will be relegated to become another third world nation devoid of a middle class.
Monday, May 16, 2011
This Place, This Precipice
It has been made clear to me that throughout my life, I have been blessed with an eye to see, notice and capture photographically what is obvious and present but overlooked by everyone else. Here is a photograph taken at a recent camp where many attended, but, while many avoided the puddles, none stopped to enjoy the beauty of the reflection and underlying detail found at the bottom of the puddle. Finding the right perspective and lighting, I captured it for some to enjoy.
Hanging on my parent's living room wall are two photographs I took as a youth, one of my mom and dad, the other of my brother. They point to the history of my initial statement. The image of my parents was captured while at Green Valley Falls creek. My mom and dad were sitting on a rock as I explored and moved about with my with my Minolta SLR camera loaded with ektachrome. I looked up, saw my mom and dad, told them to smile, and took the picture of them sitting above me on the rocks. Returning to my friend's darkroom, I processed the image as I remembered it only to discover that in a very small pool below, my parent's image appeared perfectly centered in it's reflection. It was an amazing coincidence, but if I had not studied the photo, it would have been easily overlooked. I flipped the image, enlarged and severely cropped it, and it has hung in my parent's living room for decades.
The other family member photograph is one of my brother. While on a Boy Scout hike we walked by puddles along the trail with thin sheets of ice layering their surface. I picked up one sheet and held it up. With my camera always at the ready, my brother picked up another, much larger sheet. Asking him to hold it up in front of his face, the shutter raced open and shut and I raced to the darkroom once home to process this image as well.
The play of light, the exuberance of words (especially holy words), the joy of capturing unique moments have followed me through the years as my website http://thef-stopshere.phanfare.com/ displays some of my many thousands of images captured, along with some thoughts linked with holy words. I also find myself composing music and lyrics, my heart, directed in compassion and interest in the lives of others. The revelation of all this 'history' all these 'talents' and giftings slam together as I ponder the immediacy of direction for my life and career.
Finding myself at the fullness of age 54 years into life, my passion and presence presses forward to yet another career in caring, that of minister and ministry. Not that I have not engaged in this for many, many years, but now with added impulse and unction. Great joy and fulfillment is now found in my heart as I engage others in care and encouragement, seeing themselves and their predicaments in the hands of God. For my life overflows with tragedies and joys, failures and triumphs, all moving me to this place, this precipice of trust. I am compelled to come alongside of whomever comes my way to invest in their lives; to care for their souls, using the gifts of which I have been blessed.
This place, this precipice is daunting and monumental, and yet I must step, I am compelled to go, finding no peace in any other 'way'. I remember a professor telling us, his students that "if there is any other profession you can do and find fulfillment in besides ministry, do it. For ministry is only for those who cannot do anything else and be satisfied. Why? Because ministry is the most challenging of all professions, and if you are not called, you will not endure it."
So this place, this precipice is but another step in this life as one of footprints and faith.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Arm and Arm Into Glory.
As our footprints press into the soils of the earth, our travels, our quests, we wander, we work, we wonder, we wish. Evidence of our presence in places, few, if any are preserved for decades as remains of one who walked in these places. For these reasons, God directed the people of Israel to erect altars and design rituals in memory of monumental, trans-formative times in their lives and the lives of the people. In times present, rarely does one do such, or do we? The modern day altar for me, can be found in this electronic, cyberspace location, for here, I construct monuments of this small, mostly unknown life, lived in response to the God who owns me. And so, I continue.
God continues to bring me back to Michigan. It is the home state of my beloved partner in life, she being the God given key to the most central of my transformations, the growing understanding of His abundant grace toward one who stumbles and falls so short of deserving God's and my beloved's love. Through the years, though, the unfolding grace moves from undeserved grace to joyous and thankful celebrations for the growth and depth of life gained by accepting such grace and love.
Michigan holds so many other beauties in my travels, many tied to the history of my dear wife's past, long before we met, and my explorations of them as together we have shared visiting the places and talking about the wonderful things that occurred there in her youth, and as we do so, she becomes more alive and radiant as I partake in the shaping of the one I cherish. In addition, Michigan has been and continues to be explored by us, building new memories and adventures as a couple, and yes, we have brought our sons many times and even dear daughter-in-law to this haven of our journey.
This time, our journey to Michigan divided us for a good chunk of the trip, Carrie spending time with her sister, and I drinking deeply from the well of God in Vassar, Michigan taking two of my ministerial classes as I press forward in what seems to be a vocational change. It was a new adventure with out her, but with God and many other spiritual quest adventurers. In scant five days, I left Vassar with several deep friends who have participated in a deep transformation within my heart, but also who will carry some of my struggles, lifting me up, as I will they, before our Lord as He continues to press us into His ministry of grace and challenge.
My life and world have been rocked by Dave, Earl and Kitty, Tom, John, Josh, Wayne, Greg, Joe, Jeff, Ben, Wally, and yes, even my professor, Phil, all of whom have stood with me, arm in arm toward glory, and continue to place their lives in the hands of the same God who owns each of us. The hurdles that I thought I came to jump, were insignificant to the hurdles that were in my life that I didn't know I needed to jump. And so, I continue this debrief time between now and when I return home to work and pray, not about the remaining class work to culminate my two steps toward ordination, but rather the life work that must occur to press forward in my spiritual progress as directed by the one who owns my soul.
When I was a young boy in school, we had to memorize the states and capitals of our nation. I remember the yellow, plastic pencil box I had with rotating wheels that when turned matched the state with it's capitol in the little windows. Michigan and Lansing was one such place, and while I have yet to go to Lansing, I have spent a large portion of my time here in the state that I found fascination even back in grade school, because it looked like a glove. I had no clue that a cute and eventually radiant woman was living near the tip of where the index finger would be. I had no clue that my connection with her would transform my life and lead me to connect deeply with her family and this state. Even more so, before even coming here this week, I had no clue of the depth of transformation a trek to Vassar would add to my life; but this morning find myself in a place so vastly different from where I was six days ago, while sitting in the familiar sofa of my sister-in-law's family home.
If monuments or altars of rock and stone were still the tradition, I'd add yet another construct in Vassar, one of the many, in Michigan, where celebrations of love, explorations and transformations have deeply deposited life in this soul. For there, in Vassar, many followers of Jesus came together thinking we'd learn a few things, not really understanding we'd leave with a cadre of significant friends, and for me, friends who participated in a time of revelation and what I believe will lead to healing of a few more things in my life, caused by a man who has not communicated well to one he deeply loves. I am thankful that God has spoken into my heart, and that I have the opportunity, trusting in the wisdom of my Lord, for setting right my relationship with one of my sons.
Without my intention, I believe he sees me as a father whose hand is like the left held out as the state of Michigan in a gesture that 'holds at a distance' those away from me. But I want him to see it as the right hand held out as the state, inviting and calling him to me and to the place of grace and love his father truly has for him, no matter what he chooses or how he lives, for my past was riddled with mistakes and celebrations, just as his. And where I find myself today, would never have occurred without God's grace pouring out upon my life, bringing me here. I hope Derrick and I can construct an altar together that marks the beginning of a monumental change in his life, not for me, but as he continues and presses forward with our God. As his footprints press into the soils of the earth, his travels, his quests, he will wander, work, wonder, and wish. I could never imagine a more uniquely wonderful son, one who has been part of challenging me to faith and growth with our God. And it is his dad's wish that he and I walk arm in arm into glory.
God continues to bring me back to Michigan. It is the home state of my beloved partner in life, she being the God given key to the most central of my transformations, the growing understanding of His abundant grace toward one who stumbles and falls so short of deserving God's and my beloved's love. Through the years, though, the unfolding grace moves from undeserved grace to joyous and thankful celebrations for the growth and depth of life gained by accepting such grace and love.
Michigan holds so many other beauties in my travels, many tied to the history of my dear wife's past, long before we met, and my explorations of them as together we have shared visiting the places and talking about the wonderful things that occurred there in her youth, and as we do so, she becomes more alive and radiant as I partake in the shaping of the one I cherish. In addition, Michigan has been and continues to be explored by us, building new memories and adventures as a couple, and yes, we have brought our sons many times and even dear daughter-in-law to this haven of our journey.
This time, our journey to Michigan divided us for a good chunk of the trip, Carrie spending time with her sister, and I drinking deeply from the well of God in Vassar, Michigan taking two of my ministerial classes as I press forward in what seems to be a vocational change. It was a new adventure with out her, but with God and many other spiritual quest adventurers. In scant five days, I left Vassar with several deep friends who have participated in a deep transformation within my heart, but also who will carry some of my struggles, lifting me up, as I will they, before our Lord as He continues to press us into His ministry of grace and challenge.
My life and world have been rocked by Dave, Earl and Kitty, Tom, John, Josh, Wayne, Greg, Joe, Jeff, Ben, Wally, and yes, even my professor, Phil, all of whom have stood with me, arm in arm toward glory, and continue to place their lives in the hands of the same God who owns each of us. The hurdles that I thought I came to jump, were insignificant to the hurdles that were in my life that I didn't know I needed to jump. And so, I continue this debrief time between now and when I return home to work and pray, not about the remaining class work to culminate my two steps toward ordination, but rather the life work that must occur to press forward in my spiritual progress as directed by the one who owns my soul.
When I was a young boy in school, we had to memorize the states and capitals of our nation. I remember the yellow, plastic pencil box I had with rotating wheels that when turned matched the state with it's capitol in the little windows. Michigan and Lansing was one such place, and while I have yet to go to Lansing, I have spent a large portion of my time here in the state that I found fascination even back in grade school, because it looked like a glove. I had no clue that a cute and eventually radiant woman was living near the tip of where the index finger would be. I had no clue that my connection with her would transform my life and lead me to connect deeply with her family and this state. Even more so, before even coming here this week, I had no clue of the depth of transformation a trek to Vassar would add to my life; but this morning find myself in a place so vastly different from where I was six days ago, while sitting in the familiar sofa of my sister-in-law's family home.
If monuments or altars of rock and stone were still the tradition, I'd add yet another construct in Vassar, one of the many, in Michigan, where celebrations of love, explorations and transformations have deeply deposited life in this soul. For there, in Vassar, many followers of Jesus came together thinking we'd learn a few things, not really understanding we'd leave with a cadre of significant friends, and for me, friends who participated in a time of revelation and what I believe will lead to healing of a few more things in my life, caused by a man who has not communicated well to one he deeply loves. I am thankful that God has spoken into my heart, and that I have the opportunity, trusting in the wisdom of my Lord, for setting right my relationship with one of my sons.
Without my intention, I believe he sees me as a father whose hand is like the left held out as the state of Michigan in a gesture that 'holds at a distance' those away from me. But I want him to see it as the right hand held out as the state, inviting and calling him to me and to the place of grace and love his father truly has for him, no matter what he chooses or how he lives, for my past was riddled with mistakes and celebrations, just as his. And where I find myself today, would never have occurred without God's grace pouring out upon my life, bringing me here. I hope Derrick and I can construct an altar together that marks the beginning of a monumental change in his life, not for me, but as he continues and presses forward with our God. As his footprints press into the soils of the earth, his travels, his quests, he will wander, work, wonder, and wish. I could never imagine a more uniquely wonderful son, one who has been part of challenging me to faith and growth with our God. And it is his dad's wish that he and I walk arm in arm into glory.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The Measure of a Mom
It is Mother's Day, and millions upon millions wake to think and do for their moms, sharing their accolades and forms of adoration. The treatise and pouring out of blessings to the woman who endured the suffering and joys of birthing us, the selfless sacrifice of time and energy that forged meaning and virtues of life itself in to us, beyond the forms of carrying of us toward and through maturity is the fullness of the day. With confidence we gather and pour out praises and celebrations and surely they are well deserved, and well placed.
Just as in all 'callings' and investments in lives here on earth, there are virtues attached to such 'callings'. Some are called to be teachers, some preachers, some caregivers, some leaders, some insurance salespeople, some bankers, some writers, some, if not most, of the female gender, to be moms. Moms are called to 'be it all'. We bestow financial blessings, paying millions to those whose leadership and insight make business and entertainment 'successful', relegating the ones primary for their achievement as ghost writer behind all they are. But even as I write, it strikes me that the measure of a mom is her ability to continue as she has always been, the quiet, self-sacrificing, humble woman who cherishes and finds joy alone in the fact that her child contributes valiantly and vibrantly to the continuation of the future and humanity.
As I reflect today, but mostly on other days, of all my mom has done and shown me about life and love, I celebrate with joyous thanksgiving. Her quiet, constant, and diligent acts of service and caring, satisfied only with my successful survival and generous heart of me, her son, forged through hers, is the only thanks she truly desires. In her honor, and with her character, I choose to live as such. While my mom is thankfully still with us, and as I cherish every moment of her presence in and around my life, I daily remember and give thanks to God for His wise provision and placement of my life, and it's initial toils, as the son of Maxine.
My mom doesn't live for the honor of today. Few if any moms do. Which raises the point of this blog. The measure of a mom isn't found in her accolades, but in her children. Both my brother and I strive to live lives led in ethics, truth, honesty and sincerity. It is motivated primarily by our pursuit of holiness, but endorsed and invested in our lives through our 'raising'. When my mom stands by me, to this day, I can not just feel her warmth, her love, but decades upon decades of her selfless investment in my heart. When people ask who my heroes are, mom and dad are first on the list, followed by others like them. I measure my heroes by the woman who gave and gives today, her heart and soul bulging as she speaks proudly of her sons.
For me, the measure of a mom is found as others are compared to mine, and for all, I believe that we can and should track with my celebrations, for the measure of a mom isn't found in the one who only carries and brings us into the world, but who carries and invests in us and with us as we continue to mature. I am fortunate to have both. I do not take this for granted. I will not forget. I will remain thankful, with frequent occurrence, the blessings poured out for me, through my mom, pressed into her, by her mom, and the plethora of generations that preceded her. My gratitude is great. My heart and musings forged by hers, for she is my measure of a mom.
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