Easter came and went, once again, yesterday.
It came despite the fact that it was a colder than usual day. It came despite the fact that country is undergoing some financial upheaval. It came despite the fact that family members of mine have suffered, and are suffering. It came despite the fact that the world perhaps wasn’t all that ready for it.
It came, and it comes every single year, whether we want it to or not. Let me assure you that the first Easter came to a world that was also in a terrible state of darkness and despair. It’s coming, through the resurrected form of God on Earth, turned the world on its ear.
Whether or not you subscribe to the Christian point of view or not, it is hard to debate the fact that this singular event really did alter history. It can be debated as to whether or not it really happened or it was/is allegory, and that comes down to a matter of one’s own faith. What is not debatable, however, is the sweeping of Christianity throughout the world, ultimately changing history.
And yes, there has been both good and bad throughout that history. Ultimately, however, Christianity has come with a message of hope.
As I’ve said many times, I’m not here to try and preach to you gentle reader, or to try and persuade you to my point of view. I’m merely an observer of the mundane, trying to find God in the details, with apologies to the devil.
But, I can’t help but notice each and every year what a message of hope Easter brings to a sometimes bleak and weary world. The message of Easter is “Be Not Afraid, for I AM with you always”, or at least it seems that way to me. It’s message sometimes gets lost in the commercialism of the day, but usually, I manage to hear it in my heart at some point in the day.
Even if you do not subscribe to the Christian point of view, its my sincerest hope that you too manage to glean this message that we are most definitely not alone, and that we are all loved.
So, with that said…
Happy Easter my friends.
-The Minister
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Oak Tree
There’s this magnificent old oak tree that can be seen right outside of our church’s windows. It is one big tree, taking up a lot of the window space, and almost resting perfectly in the middle of one’s view out the window.
Oftentimes, I sit directly across from the windows looking out at this tree. It’s almost comforting to see that tree now, strong and unbending despite nature’s strong breezes and winds that have blown against it for years.
When I really look at this tree, I notice that on second glance, its not that unbending at all. In fact, it bends rather a lot, swaying too and fro with the winds.
It’s this bending that has helped that wonderful old oak tree grow so tall over the decades. Bending with the wind, instead of railing against it, resisting it. Accepting the wind, accepting what life has brought to it, instead of constantly fighting against it, not accepting reality.
Pretty good way to live a life, isn’t it?
Yet, we human creatures spend a lot of time railing against life for giving us events that we don’t want to happen. We become rigid, unwilling to bend like that old oak tree in the breeze, and we find ourselves in rotten moods, complaining that life once again has conspired against us.
Acceptance is a wonderful concept, but oh so difficult to make come to life within us. Yet, acceptance of what is, rather than wishing it was something different, is the key to harmony, the key to peace within us.
Turns out that old oak tree knows a thing or two.
-The Minister.
Oftentimes, I sit directly across from the windows looking out at this tree. It’s almost comforting to see that tree now, strong and unbending despite nature’s strong breezes and winds that have blown against it for years.
When I really look at this tree, I notice that on second glance, its not that unbending at all. In fact, it bends rather a lot, swaying too and fro with the winds.
It’s this bending that has helped that wonderful old oak tree grow so tall over the decades. Bending with the wind, instead of railing against it, resisting it. Accepting the wind, accepting what life has brought to it, instead of constantly fighting against it, not accepting reality.
Pretty good way to live a life, isn’t it?
Yet, we human creatures spend a lot of time railing against life for giving us events that we don’t want to happen. We become rigid, unwilling to bend like that old oak tree in the breeze, and we find ourselves in rotten moods, complaining that life once again has conspired against us.
Acceptance is a wonderful concept, but oh so difficult to make come to life within us. Yet, acceptance of what is, rather than wishing it was something different, is the key to harmony, the key to peace within us.
Turns out that old oak tree knows a thing or two.
-The Minister.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Ladybugs
Every Fall, as soon as it starts to get cold outside, we receive some new tenants in our house.
Only these tenants have orange backs with black dots, have multiple legs, and love to fly around and check things out.
Yes, it’s the good old ladybug which comes to dwell with us when it starts to get too darn cold for them outside. During the winter, a lot of them unfortunately will go on to ladybug heaven, but there are always a few survivors who stick around and become our friends.
I’ve come to admire the pluck and spirit of these little creatures. They’re actually quite playful. Just the other evening, I was eating dinner in front of the television (I know, bad habit) when a ladybug descended from the ceiling to land and rest right on my shoulder. The ladybug didn’t move once it landed, it just wanted to hang out and enjoy the television I guess. So, I didn’t begrudge her that, and together, we hung out and watched the evening news.
As a younger man, I probably would’ve been annoyed at having these harmless little creatures as house guests. Now, they entertain me and provide me with laughter each day. You never know where one is going to turn up. The other day, I was brushing my teeth, and when I went to rinse my mouth, one descended right down in the sink! Luckily, I saw her, so I rinsed my mouth very slowly and carefully, lest I drown my new friend in toothpaste!
God provides us with lots of friends, you know, and not all of them are of the human variety. These ladybugs, while obviously not on the same developmental plane as my bipedal friends, are no less entertaining and cheerful. It’s almost as if they sense we are a welcome spot for them, and they come and take up residence with us much the same as family would.
I’ve come to be thankful to God for providing us friends like the garden variety ladybug. I’ve learned that there really is no creature too small or simple to play a role in the grand wheel of life. Even the ladybug can bring us pleasure.
And, quite honestly, they’re really good company to boot!
-The Minister
Only these tenants have orange backs with black dots, have multiple legs, and love to fly around and check things out.
Yes, it’s the good old ladybug which comes to dwell with us when it starts to get too darn cold for them outside. During the winter, a lot of them unfortunately will go on to ladybug heaven, but there are always a few survivors who stick around and become our friends.
I’ve come to admire the pluck and spirit of these little creatures. They’re actually quite playful. Just the other evening, I was eating dinner in front of the television (I know, bad habit) when a ladybug descended from the ceiling to land and rest right on my shoulder. The ladybug didn’t move once it landed, it just wanted to hang out and enjoy the television I guess. So, I didn’t begrudge her that, and together, we hung out and watched the evening news.
As a younger man, I probably would’ve been annoyed at having these harmless little creatures as house guests. Now, they entertain me and provide me with laughter each day. You never know where one is going to turn up. The other day, I was brushing my teeth, and when I went to rinse my mouth, one descended right down in the sink! Luckily, I saw her, so I rinsed my mouth very slowly and carefully, lest I drown my new friend in toothpaste!
God provides us with lots of friends, you know, and not all of them are of the human variety. These ladybugs, while obviously not on the same developmental plane as my bipedal friends, are no less entertaining and cheerful. It’s almost as if they sense we are a welcome spot for them, and they come and take up residence with us much the same as family would.
I’ve come to be thankful to God for providing us friends like the garden variety ladybug. I’ve learned that there really is no creature too small or simple to play a role in the grand wheel of life. Even the ladybug can bring us pleasure.
And, quite honestly, they’re really good company to boot!
-The Minister
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Neighbor's Cat
My neighbor has this wonderful little gray cat, who I am convinced believes that our house is merely an extension of his own house. He comes over quite often, purring away, and affectionately rubbing up against us in search of a good head scratch. He’s always happy to see us, no matter what the situation, and is as friendly a cat as I’ve ever seen.
More than a few times, I’ve come home from a challenging day, convinced that the world is conspiring against me and plotting my demise, only to see this wonderful little cat come prancing over from his regular home to his “vacation home”, namely our home, to cheer me up. The cat seemingly doesn’t have a care in the world, and he’s just as happy to see me on those days I’m gloomy and doubt-ridden as on the days where the world is going my way. He never fails to bring a smile to my face, no matter what I’ve experienced that day, and in so doing, has brought a lot of happiness to me personally.
I’ve seen it written many times that animals were created for human beings’ enjoyment and use, that the animals really don’t have souls like we humans. I for one don’t believe this. When I look into the eyes of my neighbor’s cat, there’s most definitely a soul there. While the cat is not on the same plane of development as I am, there’s intelligence in those big green eyes, there’s a sense of fun and play, and there’s love. Yep, there’s a soul.
Any animal lover reading this would probably tend to agree. I do believe that animals have souls, and are every bit as much a part of God’s kingdom as are we humans. I see a lot of God in my neighbor’s cat, actually. There’s unconditional love, there’s joy, there’s a sense of humor, and there’s an uncanny ability to live in the here and now, the precious present moment. I think we could all learn a lot from this cat. I know I have.
Recently, I’ve been going through some questioning times, like I’m prone to do. I tend to contemplate the reasons for my existence. There are times when I can get quite tied up with this, and my head becomes a maze of thoughts and concerns. It’s times like these I like to head out on my front porch, sit down, and more often than not, see the little gray cat come prancing over from my neighbor’s yard.
In every fiber of this little creature’s being comes the message “Do not be afraid, there is only now, and there is only love”. I tell you, that cat is wiser about life than I am.
Perhaps its time I start listening better to this little messenger from above.
-The Minister
More than a few times, I’ve come home from a challenging day, convinced that the world is conspiring against me and plotting my demise, only to see this wonderful little cat come prancing over from his regular home to his “vacation home”, namely our home, to cheer me up. The cat seemingly doesn’t have a care in the world, and he’s just as happy to see me on those days I’m gloomy and doubt-ridden as on the days where the world is going my way. He never fails to bring a smile to my face, no matter what I’ve experienced that day, and in so doing, has brought a lot of happiness to me personally.
I’ve seen it written many times that animals were created for human beings’ enjoyment and use, that the animals really don’t have souls like we humans. I for one don’t believe this. When I look into the eyes of my neighbor’s cat, there’s most definitely a soul there. While the cat is not on the same plane of development as I am, there’s intelligence in those big green eyes, there’s a sense of fun and play, and there’s love. Yep, there’s a soul.
Any animal lover reading this would probably tend to agree. I do believe that animals have souls, and are every bit as much a part of God’s kingdom as are we humans. I see a lot of God in my neighbor’s cat, actually. There’s unconditional love, there’s joy, there’s a sense of humor, and there’s an uncanny ability to live in the here and now, the precious present moment. I think we could all learn a lot from this cat. I know I have.
Recently, I’ve been going through some questioning times, like I’m prone to do. I tend to contemplate the reasons for my existence. There are times when I can get quite tied up with this, and my head becomes a maze of thoughts and concerns. It’s times like these I like to head out on my front porch, sit down, and more often than not, see the little gray cat come prancing over from my neighbor’s yard.
In every fiber of this little creature’s being comes the message “Do not be afraid, there is only now, and there is only love”. I tell you, that cat is wiser about life than I am.
Perhaps its time I start listening better to this little messenger from above.
-The Minister
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Miracles...On Ice and Otherwise
I finally sat down to watch the movie “Miracle” this past weekend. It is a movie about the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey team, and their incredible, if not improbable, gold medal.
I was a kid during this time, but I remember it oh so vividly. The movie does an excellent job of showing how fragile the nation’s psyche was at this moment in history. We had a crisis of confidence in this country, brought on by a lot of different things all going wrong at the same time. Going in to that Olympics, it seemed that we (the U.S.) had lost our way a bit.
Two weeks later, our confidence, and our belief in the impossible, was on its way towards being restored.
The very night that the U.S. Hockey team completed its stunning upset of the team from the Soviet Union, I was seated in a high school gymnasium, watching my brother play basketball. The public address announcer came on in the middle of the game to announce that the hockey team had pulled off the impossible upset. The place erupted in cheers. As a young man, I knew something miraculous had happened that night, even if I didn’t understand the full implications of it.
Looking back, I see now in full how much that simple little hockey game meant to this country. I also see how a team of individuals who have at their core an unshakeable belief can pull off the impossible. Call it a miracle if you will, but its also really about belief.
There are miracles in our lives that are very hard to explain. But, I tend to think that all miracles hold one thing in common, namely a belief by the parties involved that the miraculous can happen. Jesus Christ, in his famous and admittedly hard to interpret Sermon on the Mount, told us all to (and I’m paraphrasing here) “Ask and you shall be answered…”. This particular passage and its meaning has been debated for centuries, and I’m not about to try and solve that debate. But, perhaps it does mean that if we hold perfect belief in our hearts and minds, a belief so unshakable that not even the big bad Soviet Union hockey team of the 1980’s could shake it, our “prayers” will be answered.
Maybe, when we pray for things or events we either want to happen in our lives, or not happen in our lives, we don’t do it with enough gusto, chutzpah, or belief. Perhaps we have to not only ask for our prayers to be answered, but have the unshakable belief beforehand that they will be answered. Maybe, the winning formula for the miraculous to happen is “Belief + Asking = Miracle”.
Again, I don’t know for sure, but these are my suspicions. I’ve seen a lot of “miracles” happen in my life, on the ice and otherwise. Looking back, it does seem that the common denominator in all of them was belief.
Here’s hoping a miracle will visit you all soon.
In the words of the immortal Tug McGraw, “You gotta believe”.
-The Minister
I was a kid during this time, but I remember it oh so vividly. The movie does an excellent job of showing how fragile the nation’s psyche was at this moment in history. We had a crisis of confidence in this country, brought on by a lot of different things all going wrong at the same time. Going in to that Olympics, it seemed that we (the U.S.) had lost our way a bit.
Two weeks later, our confidence, and our belief in the impossible, was on its way towards being restored.
The very night that the U.S. Hockey team completed its stunning upset of the team from the Soviet Union, I was seated in a high school gymnasium, watching my brother play basketball. The public address announcer came on in the middle of the game to announce that the hockey team had pulled off the impossible upset. The place erupted in cheers. As a young man, I knew something miraculous had happened that night, even if I didn’t understand the full implications of it.
Looking back, I see now in full how much that simple little hockey game meant to this country. I also see how a team of individuals who have at their core an unshakeable belief can pull off the impossible. Call it a miracle if you will, but its also really about belief.
There are miracles in our lives that are very hard to explain. But, I tend to think that all miracles hold one thing in common, namely a belief by the parties involved that the miraculous can happen. Jesus Christ, in his famous and admittedly hard to interpret Sermon on the Mount, told us all to (and I’m paraphrasing here) “Ask and you shall be answered…”. This particular passage and its meaning has been debated for centuries, and I’m not about to try and solve that debate. But, perhaps it does mean that if we hold perfect belief in our hearts and minds, a belief so unshakable that not even the big bad Soviet Union hockey team of the 1980’s could shake it, our “prayers” will be answered.
Maybe, when we pray for things or events we either want to happen in our lives, or not happen in our lives, we don’t do it with enough gusto, chutzpah, or belief. Perhaps we have to not only ask for our prayers to be answered, but have the unshakable belief beforehand that they will be answered. Maybe, the winning formula for the miraculous to happen is “Belief + Asking = Miracle”.
Again, I don’t know for sure, but these are my suspicions. I’ve seen a lot of “miracles” happen in my life, on the ice and otherwise. Looking back, it does seem that the common denominator in all of them was belief.
Here’s hoping a miracle will visit you all soon.
In the words of the immortal Tug McGraw, “You gotta believe”.
-The Minister
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Old Basketball Hoop
When I was growing up, along with my two brothers, we had this great big basketball goal outside in our back yard. My dad and some of the neighbors erected this home made basket and backboard, nailed to an old telephone pole, in our back yard. We kids took it from there, dribbling and shooting for years upon years.
Now, I’m sure my father didn’t exactly love the fact that we killed all of his grass around that goal, but he never said anything to us about it. Oh sure, he planted grass seed out there a couple of springs. But when it became apparent that this was a losing battle, and that no grass would ever grow on our homemade court again, he gave up.
I think pop was far happier knowing his boys were having a great time outside, shooting hoops and having fun with our friends.
We learned a lot of things playing basketball in our backyard. We learned how to work together through endless games of 2 on 2, or 3 on 3 with friends. We learned creativity, in coming up with more and more imaginative ways to get the ball into the basket. We learned sportsmanship, trust, and even love out there too.
We also learned that if we dreamed big dreams, and believed in them with all our hearts, we could make them come true with determination and sweat. My brother , for example, proved a lot of folks wrong, who while well meaning, thought he was too short to play basketball in high school, let alone college.
He ended up playing well at both levels.
So, was God present there too? Was He looking down upon us, pleased that we were learning all of these valuable skills?
While no one can say for sure, I tend to look back at those happy times and think He was quite happy watching us play. Kids learn a lot of lessons interacting with other kids. Given the right environment, most kids will work things out for themselves. God gave us free will, and I think it pleases Him when He sees us exercising it well. I think it pleased Him to watch us playing basketball, having a great time, and growing up together all at the same time.
Nothing escapes His watchful eye, and His love. He expresses Himself in a myriad of ways, and through many different people in our lives. Yes, we do see God in other people, and I’m confident looking back that I saw God in the enthusiastic eyes and smiles of my brothers and our friends, playing our hearts out around that old basketball hoop. I wouldn’t trade those times, or those lessons, for anything now. In so many ways, they helped mold me into the person I am today.
And, I’m reasonably confident that God was pretty darn happy having me learn about life shooting baskets with those nearest to me.
-The Minister
Now, I’m sure my father didn’t exactly love the fact that we killed all of his grass around that goal, but he never said anything to us about it. Oh sure, he planted grass seed out there a couple of springs. But when it became apparent that this was a losing battle, and that no grass would ever grow on our homemade court again, he gave up.
I think pop was far happier knowing his boys were having a great time outside, shooting hoops and having fun with our friends.
We learned a lot of things playing basketball in our backyard. We learned how to work together through endless games of 2 on 2, or 3 on 3 with friends. We learned creativity, in coming up with more and more imaginative ways to get the ball into the basket. We learned sportsmanship, trust, and even love out there too.
We also learned that if we dreamed big dreams, and believed in them with all our hearts, we could make them come true with determination and sweat. My brother , for example, proved a lot of folks wrong, who while well meaning, thought he was too short to play basketball in high school, let alone college.
He ended up playing well at both levels.
So, was God present there too? Was He looking down upon us, pleased that we were learning all of these valuable skills?
While no one can say for sure, I tend to look back at those happy times and think He was quite happy watching us play. Kids learn a lot of lessons interacting with other kids. Given the right environment, most kids will work things out for themselves. God gave us free will, and I think it pleases Him when He sees us exercising it well. I think it pleased Him to watch us playing basketball, having a great time, and growing up together all at the same time.
Nothing escapes His watchful eye, and His love. He expresses Himself in a myriad of ways, and through many different people in our lives. Yes, we do see God in other people, and I’m confident looking back that I saw God in the enthusiastic eyes and smiles of my brothers and our friends, playing our hearts out around that old basketball hoop. I wouldn’t trade those times, or those lessons, for anything now. In so many ways, they helped mold me into the person I am today.
And, I’m reasonably confident that God was pretty darn happy having me learn about life shooting baskets with those nearest to me.
-The Minister
Monday, February 4, 2008
A Rainbow in Winter
As I was driving home from work the other day, I saw a sight I don’t think I’ve seen in all of my years on this planet. Here we were, in the dead of winter, and there was up in the sky, a rainbow.
In the morning, we’d had an ice storm, which had turned over to rain, and now the skies were clearing. Still, I have never associated rainbows with wintertime. Maybe its just me.
Of equal importance, at least to me, is the timing of this rainbow’s appearance. I had been going through a rough patch at work, when it seemed like I took one giant step backwards for every two steps forward. On this particular day, mere hours before I saw this wonderful rainbow, I’d made a couple of breakthroughs. For me, the metaphorical clouds were at least starting to break up at the office.
So out I walked from the office, got in my car and started to pull out, when I saw up in the sky this truly magnificent rainbow. It sliced through the clouds, a harbinger of better weather after a truly nasty ice storm that morning. Call me crazy, but I also interpreted that rainbow as a message to me that sooner or later, the sun will shine again, and that also, I am never alone.
As I’ve written many times before, there was a time in my life that I would’ve just viewed the rainbow as purely that…a rainbow. I would not have thought twice about its timing. The timing of its appearance would have been purely coincidental.
Now, that I’m older and wiser, I know there are very few, if any, coincidences. It is my belief that God communicates with us using the method He believes will work the best for a particular time and place. For me, it was the rainbow shining through the clouds; a message that after all dark time, there is light. For you, it may be something entirely different.
But make no mistake, He does speak with us, He does communicate with us. And He does love us. He created the heavens and the earth. If He wants to send me a rainbow, I think its within His power to do so.
Well, Message Received Big Fella. I appreciate so much you letting me know, symbolically, that life will always have times of light and bliss after darkness and confusion. It truly was a great ending to a meaningful day.
You just have to love seeing rainbows in winter.
-The Minister
In the morning, we’d had an ice storm, which had turned over to rain, and now the skies were clearing. Still, I have never associated rainbows with wintertime. Maybe its just me.
Of equal importance, at least to me, is the timing of this rainbow’s appearance. I had been going through a rough patch at work, when it seemed like I took one giant step backwards for every two steps forward. On this particular day, mere hours before I saw this wonderful rainbow, I’d made a couple of breakthroughs. For me, the metaphorical clouds were at least starting to break up at the office.
So out I walked from the office, got in my car and started to pull out, when I saw up in the sky this truly magnificent rainbow. It sliced through the clouds, a harbinger of better weather after a truly nasty ice storm that morning. Call me crazy, but I also interpreted that rainbow as a message to me that sooner or later, the sun will shine again, and that also, I am never alone.
As I’ve written many times before, there was a time in my life that I would’ve just viewed the rainbow as purely that…a rainbow. I would not have thought twice about its timing. The timing of its appearance would have been purely coincidental.
Now, that I’m older and wiser, I know there are very few, if any, coincidences. It is my belief that God communicates with us using the method He believes will work the best for a particular time and place. For me, it was the rainbow shining through the clouds; a message that after all dark time, there is light. For you, it may be something entirely different.
But make no mistake, He does speak with us, He does communicate with us. And He does love us. He created the heavens and the earth. If He wants to send me a rainbow, I think its within His power to do so.
Well, Message Received Big Fella. I appreciate so much you letting me know, symbolically, that life will always have times of light and bliss after darkness and confusion. It truly was a great ending to a meaningful day.
You just have to love seeing rainbows in winter.
-The Minister
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