Of This I'm Sure. . . I think

This has been a difficult entry into this blog because I want to ensure, more than ever, that I am thoughtful about what I am saying. I decided to release it in multiple postings so that I could really give some thought to it. Besides that, it’s too dang long to read in one sitting. Personally, I have the attention span of Golden Retriever, so short segments are always good. Here is part One.

One of my favorite authors is Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz and To Own a Dragon). For those that don’t know Donald Miller, he is a Christian writer with a profound sense of wisdom in the whole notion of being in the World, but not of it. One of the things that resonates with me is that Miller does not take an “in your face” approach to living one’s faith, but rather he espouses to what I would call “relational humility” as we interface with the world in which we live. Don’t assume that Miller is soft on truth. Quite the contrary. But what is certain is that as Christians, we cannot storm the castle without first looking at our own behavior to make sure our own house is in order.

One of my favorite Donald Miller stories is about when he was a student at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. At one of the college’s more radical annual celebrations, Donald, and a few of his Christian friends, erected a booth to offer apologies for all of the wrongs Christians had invoked on humanity for the past several centuries. At first, students were skeptical, but as Donald and company engaged people in authentic apologies followed by authentic relationship, skepticism eroded into guarded trust. This action did not result in revolutionary change for Reed College, but it did give a few individuals on both sides of the apology something to think about. I think we would do well to offer a compassionate shoulder for the world to lean on rather than meeting it with a judgmental finger.

We live in a society where almost everything comes down to a “moralitical” issue. (“Moralitical” is my word for the collision between morality and politics). Each side regards the other as unenlightened, intolerant and downright evil. And each side is more than willing to outshout the other side in order to be heard. The real tragedy to all of this is that millions of people searching for answers to some of these big questions can’t be heard over the clattering rhetoric. Moralitics has become the clanging cymbal referred to in I Corinthians 13.

So what is the answer? I am but a mere man. However, I would like to make a suggestion. Unfortunately, that will have to wait and be the subject of my next blog. Thanks for your time.

Climbing Higher

A couple of weeks ago, I went mountain climbing with my brother. I wasn't quite ready to go clear to the top and while I disappointed myself a little, I knew the mountain would be there in the future and I would make another attempt to stand on the top. Yet, in the journey, there were lessons I took away that are so significant.

Lesson One: A journey begins with a single step.

I had been trying to convince myself to try something like this for several years. But, I always had an excuse. Who knows what prompted me to finally try it, but I'm sure it was realizing that life is too short to wait for a better day. Opportunnity never becomes as precious a comodity as when one realizes he has let too many of them pass. What was I waiting for? And so, here I was taking the first step.

Now, my brother is an accomplished mountain climber. And yet, here he was, taking time to lead a novice up the trail. I've always admired his call to adventure and at times felt a little intimidated by his skill. And yet, he showed no judgement at my lack of ability (and equipment). He encouraged me and taught me along the way.

The journey of first steps was not so much getting out of the car and heading up the trail. The first steps were more about letting go of my own ego and being willing to try even if I didn't succeed.

Lesson Two: God speaks volumes in the most intriging ways.

For me, it was a spitiual journey. I always feel a little closer to the Almighty in places like that. Years ago, I tried some cold weather camping by myself. I wanted to see if I could face the wild completely alone on its terms. What I found is that once I get away from the din of everyday life, God has my undivded attention and His voice booms loud and clear. John Eldredge said that woman was created in the Garden, but man was created in the Outback. What he meant is that men have a natural born tendency to interacting with nature. It is in our pedigree to meet God under the wildest of circumstances.

A few years ago, my friend Bill and I were talking about this. We were spending a weekend at his beach house and we were headed to the grocery store for some salad items. Bill decided to take a detour. he asked me if I was up for a little adventure. I agreed. We didn't take a back road. No, we were headed onto the beach (beach driving was legal there). The next thing we were four-wheeling over rocks to get back to the main road. Sea water was lapping dangerously close, but eventually we made it back to the main road. Here we were, two grown men in their mid forties laughing up a storm like we'd just exited a thrill ride at a carnival.

Life is about risks and sometimes we are never more alive than when we are in the midst of one. There were a few moments when I really wondered why I was standing on the side of a mountain with loose rocks trying to climb up. Then I would turn around and see the view of the vast expanse and realize how small I really am and how big God is. I became less. He became more. That's not a bad position to be in.

Lesson Three: People are more important than issues.

I had a friend who tried to drill this notion into my head everytime he faced a conflict. On the day of the climb, I wasn't facing any particular conflicts, but I was conflicted. In my day to day life, I am feeling stressed and stretched. There are too many things that preoccupy my mind. I'm not doing well at handling any of it. Most of what I am conflicted about are things over which I have no control. Moreover, I care too much about what others think of me and all that I say and do. I can't control that anymore than I could control the forces of nature I encountered that particular day. But, I am learning that what others think of me is not nearly as important as who I am as a person.

Yesterday, after feeling misjudged and berated, I responded with anger. My wife responded that I tended to write people off too quickly. She's right. I can't control what others think of me, but I can control how I react. I've kind of adopted a phrase lately, "It is what it is." Maybe I should say, "You are who you are and God loves you for who you are. Who am I to think any less of you than He does?

The wolf is becoming more centered.