Lord, teach me. . . .

  The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination. –Albert Einstein One of the things I love most about children is their ability to see things that aren’t really there. Things that come purely from their wild, busy little minds. Things that, as we grow older, we might no longer see or hear or experience. Chris Van Allsburg wrote a wonderful book, The Polar Express . It’s the story of a young boy who is invited to go along on a Christmas Eve adventure. As we ride with him aboard the Polar Express, we are reminded of the wonders of childhood, and the joy of sharing a very special secret. At the end of the book, the boy and his sister receive a gift from the Visitor from the North: a silver bell, whose tinkling jingle is nothing short of divine. Imagine their surprise when they show the bell to their parents—and they hear nothing! They have lost their ears that hear. They have grown up. Throughout Scripture, we find messages that remind us to have eyes to ...

  Of all the [churches] in all the towns in all the world, he walks into mine. –Humphrey Bogart (adapted)   He was 66 years old, clean cut and polite. Introduced himself and told us he was from a faraway place, but was on his way home. He had been hitchhiking, but finding rides was tough. He needed sleep . Could we help him out with a motel room for a night? Several Googles and phone calls later, we got him set up, handed him a mask and got ready to load him into my back seat for the short drive to the Holiday Inn.  Then he started talking.  Well, if you ask me . . . all this stuff is just a hoax. There haven’t really been that many deaths. And it’s not really that bad if you do catch it. And masks don’t really do any good, anyway! I responded that I’ve walked alongside too many people who’ve had it or lost someone they loved deeply, and reminded him to put on that mask before he got into my car. Those were three long miles to drive. But at about Mi...

  The years teach much which the days never know. –Ralph Waldo Emerson   Recently we watched that magnificent movie, Gone with the Wind . Between the beautiful panorama shots, the over-the-top costuming and all-star cast, it truly is unforgettable. A classic. One line from that movie has kept inserting itself in my mind of late, as we all wander our way through this season of pandemic. It’s that line delivered by Butterfly McQueen, aka Prissy, in a panicked, high-pitched squeak of a voice: I don’t know nothin’ about birthin’ no babies, Miss Scarlett! Remember? Remember the chaos? Everyone thinking someone else needed to take charge? Remember how, in the end, Miss Melanie and the baby were all right, despite everyone’s inexperience.  Kind of reminds me of this pandemic we are in. Not a one of us has ever been through anything even remotely similar to this. Ever. We make mistakes. We yell, we cry—we make excuses for our actions. Sometimes we lash out in ang...

  I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity. –Eleanor Roosevelt When our first child was born and the nurse placed him in my arms, we simply stared at one another.   His was a gaze of curiosity, of wonder and perhaps a bit of fear, as well. Everything must have seemed bright and new and unusual—but there were these voices he already knew, so it would be all right.   Meanwhile, we counted fingers and toes, and looked with absolute astonishment and joy—and a wee bit of trepidation, as well—at this new life we had created together. Perfect in every single way.   As he grew, he became more independent. Some days, he decided he didn’t need us at all. Some days, he came running towards us, arms outstretched; other days, we wouldn’t hear from him at all.   But we continue to love him. And he knows that. We have never left that up for question, even on ...

  There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand  to someone in the dark.  --Helen Keller   The last time. . . .   When was the last time you set aside some time to spend alone with God? I’m not talking about a few fleeting seconds of pleading for a break, or a cry of desperation during a tough time. No—I mean more than a quick Thank God when something goes your way. If you have those moments regularly (and recognize them as prayer), good for you.   But God desires more. And frankly, you need more. A prayer life that consists of nibbling and noshing, and never settling down for a real meal, can leave our souls feeling malnourished and longing for more .   When was the last time? And—when will be the next time?   Fall is on its way in our part of the world. The weather will soon begin to cool; trees and bushes are cloaking themselves in autumn. Everything seems to whisper of change . What ab...

  Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others? –Martin Luther King, Jr.   A great man died recently, and left a legacy that would fill the Grand Canyon, at least. John Lewis, small of stature and big of heart, determined to leave the world a better place than when he arrived, reminded us all not to be afraid to get in good trouble . What he didn’t need to say was, Get in good trouble together . The path we journey in Life is made for companionship. When we sing, it’s the mingling of voices that raises the roof—even as that one beautiful voice rises high above (or bellows deeply below) the rest. When we weep, we find solace and healing in the arms, real or virtual, of a friend. Even when we choose time alone, the Presence of the Holy Spirit makes sure we are never truly by ourselves. This has been a tough season. We have been told not to gather, not to hug— not to sing. We yearn for a physical touch from a friend we no longer se...

  Oh, we’re halfway there, livin’ on a prayer! Take my hand and we’ll make it—I swear. –Jon Bon Jovi   I have never counted, but “they” say the words fear not or don’t be afraid appear 365 times in the Bible, once for each day of a year. It’s the principle of this idea that I love so much.   All around us, there are folks trying to scare us. Many of them even claim the label Christian (but they’re not following Jesus). Using their bully pulpits, they tell us we shouldn’t trust someone who doesn’t look like them, or talk like them—or believe like they do. They proclaim a god so small (and yes, fearful ) that he could be hurt by a mere human being!   Don’t fall for that garbage. Almighty God will never fit in their teeny tiny box!   In the big picture? There is nothing to be afraid of, because God is still and always in control, even when it doesn’t feel much like it. God has a much longer view of history than we can ever pretend to know. Foc...