When All Seems Lost

I had the best intentions yesterday. I even sat staring at the empty posting screen on my computer for the longest time, reading over the day's scripture over and over. I thought of several things to write, even had paragraphs written, but not one of them ready to post. It was one of those days. We all have them, where we just can't think straight; where there are so many other things going on that it's hard to concentrate on even the important ones. So I erased them and went on to something else.

But that's exactly what I was trying to write about. There are times when the details of life, circumstances with kids, choices, futures, get to a challenging point, where anxiety, worry, can get the best of you. Where you even wonder if you are hearing the word of God right, if at all.

It's where the people of Judah had found themselves. Jeremiah had been preaching, pleading, warning them for years. Now the doom he predicted was coming. The truth he preached was being realized (as was the false hope of his adversaries). Yet even in the doom of God's messages to Jeremiah was some glimmer of hope, some future promise, something that the people latched on to, even while in chains being led away to Babylon;

Look around. What I've built I'm about to wreck, and what I've planted I'm about to rip up. And I'm doing it everywhere - all over the whole earth! So forget about making any big plans for yourself. Things are going to get worse before they get better. But don't worry. I'll keep you alive throu the whole business.(Jer 45:4-5)

The hardest thing in the world to do is to keep a "glass half full" attitude when life is at its darkest. It is usually that optimistic guy you want to strangle when all is lost, yet that's the person God wants us to be. The one who holds on to faith even in the darkest hour, in the midst of death, in chains being led away from the only promises you've ever truly believed in. That's when God wants us to hold on to Him, hold on to faith.

And it's the place that's the hardest to hang on.

It's where we recognize our true place, helpless, looking to the the only One who can make a difference, God.

Oh listen, please listen; I've never been this low.
Rescue me from those who are hunting me down;
I'm no match for them.
Get me out of this dungeon
so I can thank you in public.
Your people will for a circle around me
and you will bring me showers of blessing! (Psalm 142:6-7)

So what do we do when we are lost?

Stop and ask directions...


...from God!

Peace ><>
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Agony

That's the song we've been singing in our house for the last week. It's one of the comical songs from the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods which Boone Grove High School recently produced. For no reason, and at random times someone in our family might just break into the chorus singing, "Agony! How you cut like a knife." It was a funny play (with even funnier renditions playing at our house daily) but real agony is felt in our nation.

What happened at Virginia Tech was a great tragedy and one that will not quickly be forgotten. At least I hope so. I don't want it to be forgotten because this tragedy speaks not of the miscues of the campus police or of the doctor's mis-diagnosis or even of Virginia's or University's policies on gun control. This tragedy is about the human condition.

Every day I hear or read another argument how this could have been avoided had gun control been legislated differently, if the VT "gun free school zone" policy had been rescinded, if professors and students had been allowed to carry concealed weapons, if, if, if...

The if's are only pointed fingers in order to blame something else, someone else, to refuse to look at what might be a deeper problem...we missed an opportunity to help a lost kid!

Yes, I said "we." It wasn't the doctors or the faculty or even the students. It wasn't the various campus ministries that represented ecumenical faith communities or even the church. The fault lies with all of us.

We are in agony because this young man was in agony because we didn't reach out to make a difference. It's partly our fault.

The group Superchic[k] has a song entitled Hero, written after the Columbine massacre.

No one sits with him, he doesn't fit in
But we feel like we do when we make fun of him
Cause you want to belong, do you go along?
Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong
It's not like you hate him or want him to die
But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide
Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side
And a kindness from you might have saved his life
Heroes are made when you make a choice

[Chorus:]
You could be a hero - heroes do what's right
You could be a hero - you might save a life
You could be a hero- you could join the fight
For what's right, for what's right, for what's right.

Could something have been done to prevent this tragedy? Maybe. Just maybe the answer is us.

I've been silent on the tragedy at Virginia Tech, not because I want to avoid the conversation but because there seems to be so much being said that one more voice, even if rational and wise, might be drowned out by the flood of opinions and commentary and the unending newscasts. I've read the Bishop's call (and other's) to prayer, some other's call to action (although they haven't specified what that is), the call for more legislation (or maybe signs posted - NO GUNS in School as Ann Coulter said this morning). And of everything I have read and heard, the best solution I've found so far to fix the agony we feel is to become who God called us to be.

Yes, much of the agony that is felt is guilt, not because any of us could have stopped this tragedy, but all of us can stop one of them, by being the body of Christ right where we are. There are other Seung-Hui Cho's, Eric Harris' and Dylan Klebold's (Columbine, CO) out there, maybe even next door. And their agony will not be fixed by gun control legislation favoring either side. Their agony can only be healed by grace...


...from God...


...through people like us every day.


Peace for today and for eternity for the victims of the VT Massacre
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Beginning Right

I long for its aroma every morning. The fresh ground, dark roasted nuttiness that filters through the house. It almost feels like a cartoon odor, that ghost-like cloud of aroma that stealthily finds my nostrils and with its caffeine-power lifts me up each morning. It's coffee, man. I may be addicted, but it gives me just the right kick to start my day. And I'm not alone. Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's, even Family Express and Speedway have made their mark in jolting America every morning. They are attempting to help people start right each day.

At least that's the goal, starting right. But just maybe the best way to begin is not with a caffeine injection, rather a right attitude that can really make for a better beginning?
A few years ago a friend gave me this pocket labyrinth. I carry it every day and like any labyrinth (a tool for prayer)you follow the path in, spend time with God and then prepare to come out again to face the world. When i run my finger over it is to remind me that coming out well demands my going in well. Which is exactly what we need to do every day.

While Jeremiah was speaking God's judgment and doom to Judah, he also held out hope for them that if they were to begin well daily, then their lives would be spared. While they would still be sent/taken into exile to Babylon, it didn't mean that they should stop trying to live rightly and the best way to begin each day is with a sense of justice.

Start each day by dealing with justice. Rescue victimes from their exploiters.

It's a good bet (although we shouldn't) that few of us wake up every day with this thought, "I need to rescue someone from their injustice today." That sounds more like what Superman or Captain America might do. But it was God's word to Judah and is God's word to us. It is a reminder that God cares not only how we live our lives, but how we respond with the character God wants to develop in us. God has a great sense of justice and has called for his people to respond in the same way. Justice matters to God and it should to us!

It's a way to begin looking at the day differently, much like we see differently after our first cup of coffee because remember, this life is not "all about me" anyway. It's about God and if we begin like God does, we are well on our way to the right destination!

Enter well...every day.

Peace ><>
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