A Dad's Legacy

This morning, a couple of boys were yelling, "DAD!!!", "DAD!!!"; the boys were neighbors from down the street. No doubt their interest was to report transgressions of the other with little regard for where Dad was or what he was doing, their insistant tone and loud shouts disturbed the peace of Father's Day. The sense of urgency in their voices gave pause to regard the true meaning of Father's Day and perhaps the true legacy of "Dad" in our lives.
Can it be so simple as just having Dad within earshot to respond to the urgent shouts of children calling "Dad" to intervene on their behalf? Is the volume of their shouts an attempt to sway Dad to their pleas at the expense of another? Perhaps it's simply the fact that someone is there to answer and that past experience has shown that Dad will respond at some time whether the outcome is as expected or not. There is certainly security in knowing that there may be a sympathetic ear to hear our complaints or just knowing someone hears our pleas for help. We never really know when we're children if our complaints have merit and will elicit response that is favorable but we do know that as we shout louder and louder we will get a response. Sometimes there is little regard as to the outcome but rather simply knowing that "Dad" is there for us. It is in an odd way a recognition of the protective potential of "Dad".
There seems to be many poignant stories about dads this Father's Day 2012. It is the uncertainty of the times that makes the role of "Dad" take on qualities of a protective nature for children. It is when Dad has passed from our lives that a pang of emptiness evades our consciousness and makes us wish we could shout, "Dad!!!" when the world transgresses against us. The very act of yelling, "Dad!", like the boys down the street, in hopes that that he will finally relent and come to our rescue is quickly becoming a reality that many of us no longer enjoy or perhaps we have assumed the same role. Dad may not always be our hero but his presence becomes a simple act of heroism in our memory. When we won't allow negativism to cloud that memory there are tender moments that surface. Whether real or imagined they fill a hole in our consciousness that gives us comfort in troublesome times.When Dad is gone, we long for those fleeting memories .
Father's Day always brings testimonies of Dad's best memories and gives us a break to acknowledge the simple representation of Dad in our lives. It is at this juncture that we should recall a simple prayer,

Our Dad who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name...

Have a grateful heart full of love.  Love God, Love one another.

"I've fallen and I can't get up"

That commercial played again today for what seems like the thousandth time. The poor lady who utters these memorable words does indeed look pitiful and old but for those who by default have been charged with the responsibility of elder care it is a painful reminder of what life brings to the elderly and to the caregiver. Along with the falls come knots, bruises and bumps, perhaps a bit of embarrassment for the "fallen" or not. Occasionally there's the visage of "raccoon eyes" to attest to the fact that the "fallen" suffered an injury that begs the question, "What in the world happened to you?"; thus the opportunity to tell the story of lapses in judgement and unusual circumstances that caused the fall. There's a twang of guilt that accompanies the story as it may have occurred on "your watch" and is due to a change of venue brought on at your suggestion. Unless confined to a facility, bedridden and restrained, elders are susceptible to falls wherever they are and with a variety of attendees. If, in some obscure way, a finger can be pointed, it is pointed. The old analogy of "finger pointing" comes into play as, "when a finger is pointed, at least three other fingers are pointing back in the general direction of the truly responsible person". The elderly in our society have plenty of folks to point at when love and family is involved. In our mobile lifestyle, elders now have the opportunity to fall at places all over the world. This opportunity opens varied lines of communication between "pointed people" and a plethora of unusual circumstances. There have been 5 "fall" stories in the past week and considering the nature and circumstances, opportunities abound for plenty more falls in the near future.
Falls are usually pretty damaging to the body, perhaps "pretty" is not the proper adjective for a fall as they are usually "ugly" at best. They often involve broken things and messes to be cleaned up for days, months, even years after the fall. The stories include broken hips, broken arms, broken fingers and toes, broken ribs and sometimes a broken nose. When good judgement goes astray, injuries result.
Most of us have a story to tell about a fall with disastrous results and maladies, but there are more serious falls in life. Falls that carry the extra baggage of broken hearts, broken dreams, broken realities and broken spirits, falls that damage the very essence of a person. Sometimes when a person falls, something extraordinary happens to the person. As the old saying goes, it "knocks some sense into his head" and a bit of wisdom is the result. If we "chase after the wind" as the author of Ecclesiastes does in the Bible, we find that there is a "time for everything". The author reminds us that we should "pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!". He tells us, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it".
God commands us to love one another. We should come to God with a grateful heart and reach out to others to help them up. Our efforts will be rewarded with a hand up when we fall.

Magic Dragons and Relics

Peter and Paul were on one of the morning shows this past week. They were lamenting the departure of Mary from their group and reminiscing about the great songs they sung together. Puff the Magic Dragon was a thought provoking and sometimes controversial song that Peter, Paul and Mary sung back in the 60's. Life changes was a missed interpretation that perhaps has applications today. In the words of the song, Puff lives by the sea in a land identified as Hon ah Lee. The land could just as easily have been John Key or Come and See, just as long as it fit. The name Puff could just as easily have been Papa, Nana, Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad... any old relic would do. Dragons are creatures of the past and are steeped in a tradition so unlike reality that they have become quaint. The magic that Puff made was via a relationship. Puff's relationship with little Jackie Paper (name changed to protect the innocent) was based on love which is certainly magic . That "rascal" Puff frolicked because Jackie loved him unconditionally. Puff and Jackie enjoyed a fantastic world of sailing ships, stars, frogs, squirrels, garbage trucks or things that go 'round and 'round, anything that supported their love for one another. The enjoyment of their company was accentuated by shared experience predicated on learning principles of how to share love and regard for one another. Jackie learned the rudiments of Puff's language but their communication transcended language and relied on trust, love, and shared experience. Puff could live forever, though time and distance separated the friends, because of the magic. As Jackie grows, thoughts of frogs, squirrels, and gingerbread men seem to slip away as adventures and relationships become more sophisticated. In the song a grey night arrives but Jackie does not and the old dragon cannot summon the strength to frolic, laugh or roar. The old dragon finds sorrow and depression has overcome him and what has been his armor begins to rust away as he quietly slips into a dark place that has befallen old dragons for years. Sometimes the loss of special relationships exacts a terrible toll and the dragons lose their awesomeness, magic and the music in their hearts. They cannot face their new reality, their friend is replaced by darkness, the mist where they frolicked begins to poison them as they drown in self doubt and remorse.
There IS a lasting relationship that at times escapes us. Development of a lifelong friend in Jesus allows us to live forever in comfort and joy. As earthly friends and relationships fade Jesus is there to stand with us in the most difficult circumstances. He may not enjoy a relationship based on fantasy but He will comfort you in your realities. His light is forever, darkness will never overcome and there will be a song in your heart.

Reflection

As I come back to this blog after a long absence, I am reminded of the relative importance of putting thoughts to paper or keyboard or whatever. I think we all need a time of reflection in our lives daily, this blog is perhaps not a daily reflection or an occasional diversion, it is necessary. The blog is perhaps not for anyone but me. A chance to ramble about the inspirations and observations that come from the world. Believe me, changes are what define our lives. Reflection on the world has become a look back to a matter of minutes or hours ago. For example, how many days ago did the world become upside down for millions of people? Did the earth shake and the world crumble for some people in Haiti or was life changed dramatically for millions of people worldwide? Was the call to help the people of Haiti limited to some first responders? Or was an emergency of considerable proportion significant in the lives of a myriad of people throughout the world? People who perhaps would have witnessed the disaster via electronic conveyance with sympathetic yet actionless interest find themselves swept up in the plight of people many miles away. As we look on with empathy and consider the world that these people find themselves in today we are justifiably moved to action. Whether our action is defined by reaching out materially or spiritually we are nevertheless moved to action. The simple act of caring what happens to these people is a change for good. If you reflect for a few minutes on how your life was changed by an earthquake in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, you will find that your interest was shifted for just a minute to someone besides yourself. The exposure to the terrible aftermath of natural disaster gives us pause to think and to be grateful that we were not swept up in similar circumstances. Our reflections show us that we are indeed at the mercy of God in our circumstance. What we consider to be the "worst" of circumstance for us suddenly pales in comparision to the circumstances of the people of Haiti. We see suffering. We see pain. We see desolation. We see destruction. We see death. We see panic. We see chaos. We see a certain sadness. We see cries for help. And we see it all "up front and personal" from our homes, in front of our high-definition, plasma, 47" television, a few steps away from our refrigerator. Are we then grateful for our abundances? Do we feel a certain guilt for having so much as others clamour for water and food? Suffice it to say that a grateful heart is in order. Thanks to God is a minimal response as we reflect on this terrible tragedy. Prayer for those unfortunate souls is essential. An outpouring of concern is an appropriate response. Take time to reflect on life as you know it. Perhaps it is fraught with personal dispair. Does it compare to the human suffering we witness each day? Have a grateful heart. Love God. Love one another.

I'll Fly Away

While attending a worship service this past Sunday, one of the songs that was sung was "I'll Fly Away". The song was a melodic Baptist standard and was sung acapella as is the tradition in the church we attended. The song was perhaps a bit more poignant this time than in the past. The opening verse of the song says, "Some glad morning when this life is over, I'll fly away..." it made me think of something that had been on my mind for the past few days. One of our neighbors had passed away a few days ago. His wife once told me of the appearance of a red bird when she had lost loved ones in her family. The morning after her husband's passing while standing of the porch with my grandson, a red bird began to sing from an overhead wire. His song made us take notice of his nearby perch and his vibrant red color. We knew the bird was a male by his crimson plummage. My thoughts went immediately to the red bird's timely appearance in my neighbor's story. Since my brother-in-law was having serious heart surgery, it gave me pause to consider the story. I thought to myself, that's her story not mine, nothing to worry about as the surgery had been successful. My grandson and I went inside to answer the phone that was ringing. The call was from a friend telling me about the neighbor's passing the night before at 10:30pm.
I was initially taken aback by the news and had to wait until the news had sunk in to react. The story of the appearance of red birds seemed to have borne out the events of the previous night. For indeed, this "glad morning" my neighbor had "flown away". Leaving this earthly plain as a red bird has a certain appeal as we see our soul set free. Free to soar. Free to fly.
The red bird's song was a familiar one to me. His call to "Purdy, Purdy, Purdy" had been the subject of a discussion that I had with my youngest granddaughter who had come for a visit the previous summer. I had told her upon her return home that she needed to come back as this bird was "driving me crazy" calling her. We had laughed about the bird's song when she was here. "There he goes again," I would say, "calling you". "Hear him saying, 'Pretty, Pretty, Pretty', to you." "Walk out there, so he can see you!"
My neighbor may have been calling to his wife on his "glad morning" after the many weary days of 90+ years. Reminding her of her story with a loud and crystal-clear song, "Purdy, Purdy, Purdy" ( I use southern dialect as I know he is a Southern red bird.)
Perhaps "one glad morning" you, too, will "fly away to a home on God's celestrial shore". After many "weary days", you will fly to a "land where joy shall never end". As you contemplate your soul taking flight, be grateful for the promises of God. Love God. Love one another. Prepare to "fly away" some "glad morning"!

Memorial for the Prince of Peace

Isn't it amazing that over a billion people watched the worldwide coverage of Michael Jackson's memorial. The media attention was incredible from the day of his death until the memorial at the Staple Center and now seems to be never-ending. You could run but not hide from the story as it unfolded. This person made his life the center of media attention and ultimately paid the price for his fame. It is truly sad that he commanded the same attention (if not more) in his death than he did in his life. His life was fraught with evils and temptations that seemed virtually insurmountable. It is our fascination with his life that seems to diminish us all. The King of Pop is dead! In considering the "circus" we have witnessed thus far it begets thoughts of what a "media circus" would have looked like upon the event of Jesus' death...
"We have breaking news from Jerusalem... The self-proclaimed King of the Jews is dead!" Jesus of Nazareth has been crucified on Golgotha! We have reporters on the scene to bring you the breaking news! We go now to Golgotha where our own reporter, Marcellus, comes to you from the foot of the cross where Jesus died just minutes ago.
Yes, Marcus, I am standing at the foot of the cross of Jesus of Nazareth, son of the carpenter, Joseph and his wife, Mary. On a placard over his head is an inscription that reads, THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. On his right and left are two thieves that were crucified at the same time as Jesus. Witnesses say that Jesus cried out, "IT IS FINISHED", just a few minutes ago. One Roman centurion was said to have exclaimed, "Surely, he was the Son of God!" Marcus, the weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse here, I'll send it back to you.
We have a reporter at the Temple where minutes ago the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. What can you tell us, Absalom? Well, Marcus, witnesses here say that the earth shook, the sky darkened, and this beautiful curtain was torn asunder!
Let's go to palace of the Roman governor, Pilate, for reaction to the news of events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus. Marcus, numerous attempts have been made to get reaction from Pilate, he simply has no comment. Thank you, Aurelius, keep us posted if there is a Roman reaction to Jesus' death.
Absalom has the high priest, Caiaphas, in the Temple. Well, yes, Marcus, this is Caiaphas, the high priest, one of Jesus' accusers in his trial before Pilate. What is your reaction to the events of the day, Caiaphas? "It's shameful trickery, the curtains were old and the wind simply caused them to tear. We have posted guards to insure no more of this blasphemer's prophecy comes to fruition." Marcus, as you have heard the religious leaders want no more talk of Jesus and miracles, back to you.
Marcellus has found one of Jesus followers in the crowd near the cross. Marcellus, what does this man say? Marcus, I just questioned this man known as Simon Peter and he flatly denies that he knew Jesus. There are others who seem sympathetic to Jesus' cause, I'll try to get some of them to speak to me.
That's the breaking news on Jesus' death for now, stay tuned for our coverage of Jesus' life and the events that led up to his death. Coverage of "Memorial for the Prince of Peace" will continue after this short break...
As coverage of this story continues throughout time we hope that you are tuned into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Can you imagine a "media circus" befitting the Son of God? Can you imagine the relative importance of His story in your life? Have a grateful heart for Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Love God. Love one another.

I'll Be There

As the news of Michael Jackson's death inundates us all, we have occasion to hear an early song from his career that propelled the Jackson Five and Michael to stardom. It's the words that have special meaning in a larger sense. They seem to be a double entendre in their scope. "You and I must make a pact, we must bring salvation back, Where there is love, I'll be there", now, was this a hymn that Barry Gordy, Willie Hutch, Hal Davis and Bob West had in mind as they composed this song or was it a simple love song? Is not God's word... a simple love song? "I'll reach out my hand to you, I'll have faith in all you do... Just call my name and I'll be there" seems to cut to the chase in terms of God's message to us all. So what does a love song have to do with God's message to mankind. Just the simple phrase, "I'll be there", speaks to the very essence of religion. The existence of God, who will be there for all time, available, "Just call my Name, I'll be there!!"
The song goes on to say, "Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter, Togetherness, well that's all I'm after, Whenever you need me, I'll be there. I'll be there to protect you, with an unselfish love that respects you. Just call my name and I'll be there.", reminding us all of the promises God has made to us. He is there for us. God is Love. God is saying through the words of this song, heard by millions, "You and I must make a pact, we must bring salvation back".
Perhaps we all could us a little joy and laughter in this uncertain times. Perhaps we should call upon God. God will indeed be there with "a love that's strong, I'll be your strength, I'll keep holding on..." The Four Tops had a similar message in their hit, "Reach Out I'll Be There"... "Now if you feel you can't go on because all of your hope is gone and your life is filled with much confusion until happiness is just an illusion and your world around is crumpling down,darlin', reach out..." God is speaking, are you listening?
So as you pause to reflect on the life of Michael Jackson, no matter how bizarre it became, remember the innocence of a young boy who reminded us that all we have to do is call God's name and He'll be there. Have a grateful heart, full of joy and laughter. Love God. Love one another.