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I’m Still Working on It

Virtual Reality (VR) can now allow an adult to experience the world through the perspective of a small child. Through the technology, you don’t have to just imagine what it is like for everyone to be three times bigger than you, and not be able to reach stuff on the kitchen counter. But it makes me think of something else I might keep in mind for today, and well beyond, though the specific reminder to give a thought to what the world is like for the children I encounter is not a bad thing in itself.

The Apostle Paul said,that “from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view” (2 Cor. 5:16 NIV). I should be able to see people differently without aid of any technology. According to the following verse, it would seem the ability to have this kind of perception of others is connected with being part of the new creation Christ has brought into effect. It might be asked how this works in relation to people who do not recognize this new reality, but that is not my first concern. The question, honestly, is how willing am I to see people with Christ-eyes? Maybe if I could see the world of some other through virtual reality, I would still bring my presuppositions about with me and see things accordingly. The Holy Spirit will not allow this. This means that truly entering into and living in Christ-centered community takes courage and true selflessness. I’m still working on it.

Forced Landing

Just read about the most recent occurrence of an airliner making an unscheduled stop because of an unruly passenger. This one was en route to the U.K. from Vancouver, but headed back to Halifax from somewhere over Newfoundland. A 51 year-old man was throwing water on passengers and crew, threatening the crew, and “acting strangely,” according to the CBC report. When the plane landed, the man was arrested and taken to hospital to be assessed.

That last detail, about hospital is important. When the plane was in the air, all that mattered was the safety of all on board and getting the man under control. Once safely on the ground, apart from the inconvenience to passengers (not to be minimized) and expense to the airline, there is a concern about this man, with whom everything obviously is not right. Literally bringing people down with him (from the sky) may, in addition, be a picture of what he is doing with people around him in his life, since it seems unlikely this episode just came out of the blue while in the blue. Of course he will have to face whatever legal ramifications await. And maybe that will be the beginning of a new part of his journey, for him and for all he knows.

Live Music

ajax_kidsconcertsign

I am all for beat-making and computer music (been there myself), but anything “live” for kids (especially) I am really happy about. Any time people can get together instead of having our noses into a screen is good, and if it can encourage someone to sing or play something, so much the better.

Let Her “Yap”

I was enjoying a DQ cone in the Oshawa Centre mall food court today, when I overheard a mom telling her young daughter (at least it seemed that was the relationship), “You talk too much. Nobody wants to listen to you when you are yapping all the time.”
Well, mom of the year, maybe “Nobody” is just you, and someday you will pray that she will “yap” to you–or somebody–when you are lying awake at night wondering what is going on with her.

Reverse (Dis)Order

I was reading something the other day about past (incorrect) and present (considered correct) methods of determining the age of Earth, and, for that matter, our solar system. The common theme that struck me in this is decay. My mind starts to get fuzzy (more than usual) when trying to follow a lot of this stuff, but what I get is that the currently accepted method of “radiometric dating” has in common a phenomenon in common with previous “failed” methods: decay. Basically, the age of ancient rocks can be determined by measuring their rate of decay.

Some of us might think, great, I’m just like ancient rocks: ageing and decaying. Life is winding down. It might also resonate with a certain view of the world: that socially, politically and economically, it is devolving into increasing disorder. And maybe even that the morale of your life is not much different: a mess and getting messier. Nothing every works out, lurching from one crisis to another. And the various crises of life are like compressed entropy, the process of decay and increasing disorder compressed into my lousy day.

Maybe that has something to do with why the disciples where scared out of their minds by the storm, even with Jesus with them in the boat (Mark 4:35-41).  He didn’t seem even to care! That just adds insult to injury. And maybe that’s the real crisis with us in our storms, in our sense of things winding down and disintegrating: “God, don’t you even care? Are you, like, sleeping or something?”

God is creator, but he is not identified with nature or its processes. We may be united with one whose ways are increasing while the world, yes, may be decreasing. He is in the boat with us. He stills our storms, and gives us hope.

Epidemic of Blame

If we’re honest we would probably all have to admit we’ve indulged in the blame game at some time, but the public display of it in high places has become epidemic. When was the last time you heard a public figure accept personal responsibility for something gone wrong, or a misjudgment, or just plain wrongdoing, without his or back being against the wall?

There is a better way. There is a healthier environment for us to share. There is a character of life, a reign of influence, the character of which is described in a few sayings at the beginning Matthew 5. They are called the Beatitudes, but the handle may be unfortunate if it evokes Hallmark images of fluffy clouds and flower petals. It really describes a gutsy way of thinking, feeling, and living. But how can being “poor in spirit” be good? It is if I accept that there is Another who is all good and offers to share his power with me. I am blessed or happy if I “mourn” over the state of things around me, and thereby show some genuine concern outside myself. “Meekness” is not weakness but humility that makes room for the other. If I hunger and thirst for righteousness I want what genuinely is right, and now just, or I might think, for me. Mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, blessing those who are against me: There is no room for blame here, no excuses. A better. I know I need to embrace this daily. And I suspect I am not alone.

 

Fewer with More Information

CBC and others have reported on the work of Canada’s privacy commissioner, who is about to end her term in that position. I have tended not to be too concerned about such things, thinking that if I have nothing to hide, I don’t need to worry. Something in this report made me think that is probably a naive attitude. The commissioner makes the observation that more and more information, about all of us, is in the hands of fewer and fewer organizations. We often hear about how more and more money is in the hands of fewer and fewer – the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer. This points out that a similar thing is happening with information. I suspect if one were to dig into this more deeply, one would find at least some correlation between the two kinds of wealth: money and information. That adds up to immense power, and power, inevitably, gets abused. That’s a concern for all of us. So maybe I should stop being so naive, and we all should pay a bit more attention to these things.

The Book of Revelation has something to say about the coming together of various kinds of power, and demanding our allegiance and even worship. There are forces in whose interest it is to keep us in a state of fear and dissatisfaction, so we will depend on them and they will profit by us. This is something we can do something about, by being discerning, and making wise choices.

Meanwhile, it is also not a bad thing to keep from having anything you feel you need to hide.

 

Major Theme

Every second Wednesday morning, I help lead a Bible study at a seniors’ residence. It is so wonderful to get into the Word with people who have, for the most part, walked with God all of their lives. As is so often the case with ministry, in ministering (supposedly), I find myself more ministered to. I have noticed a major theme. While, in honesty, there is acknowledgement of times of doubt and weakness, there is experience of a God who never abandons us, and whose mercy never fails. Steadfast love, the Old Testament calls it. I count on it, but know it comes at a cost.

Space Sharing

In a report on Cmdr Chris Hadfield’s first appearance since returning to earth, the astronaut is reported to have said that his experiences were “too good” to keep to himself. As a result, we were all blessed by his sharing on social media. ‘”There is beautiful imagery, there’s poetry in what is happening, there is purpose in what is happening,” he said. “There is beauty to it, there is hope in it and it’s an international thing.”

We  have heard much about this. What we do not hear so much is that he managed to do this sharing while not being diverted from his essential work, with which, he says, he was “very busy.” I find this to be an important challenge to our own sense of busy-ness, being caught up our own responsibilities and concerns, and not sharing, or maybe even noticing, what is of beauty in our own daily “space.” We need to notice and share what is of beauty and purpose, not just through social media, but in our daily conversations, and in thanksgiving back to the author of beauty and purpose. You don’t have to be a famous astronaut to make a difference in the day of others. And we are blessed ourselves in the process.

Smuggling KFC to Gaza

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/05/17/it-takes-a-smuggler-to-satisfy-kfc-cravings-in-gaza/?xid=rss-topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29

A number of major news outlets in the last couple of days have made much of a report, apparently first reported by the Christian Science Monitor, that KFC is being smuggled to Gaza from Egypt. So what? As the reports themselves note, lots of things are smuggled through the many tunnels. Is there a touch of condescension in this? Anyway, maybe it points to an observation we should make: that we have more in common than things that make us different. Are we in the more ‘sophisticated’ culture above such cravings?

in the early church, food was a major issue related to unity between colliding cultres. Maybe we have a clue here toward better negotiations–between nations or people in conflict of any kind: Put food on the negotiating table that all can enjoy. It may be a kind of communion.
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