Month: July 2008

Ferris wheels and fireworks are provocative images we recognize from youth as being exciting and sometimes scary. I desire to live my life in that state of excitement, anticipation and explosive action!

“The thrill is gone” was bellowed out across the fairgrounds and it rang long in the air of the hot night. I was watching a guitar legend play at 82 years of age; he had his showmanship down to an art of reality. He didn’t need a bunch of dances and choreography or special stage set-up. All he needed was his famous black guitar he calls Lucille and we were a contented audience.

We listened with enjoyment to this artist who told his stories with rhythm. It was quite clear that for B.B. King, the thrill has not gone. His passion for sharing his gift with people beats loudly in his chest for all who would listen. The only disappointment he expressed all evening was his sadness for other blues artists and rappers who felt the need to talk trash about women. He just didn’t agree with that and neither do we.

When we look at the world with our natural eyes we can only see what we are looking for. A few years ago I was hanging out near a rail bridge in Fort Bragg and something about the natural bridge ties caught my eye. I snapped a photograph but never felt I caught what I sensed in that moment.

Looking at it again I am intrigued by the different ways one can see this bridge. You can see its shadow structure, its natural structure and even its structure reflected on the water. These different views of the same thing captivated my thoughts and how we look at the world every day. What are we really seeing and how much more are we missing?

I heard an older gentleman speak yesterday about his work in foreign countries and how he would share bibles by having them translated into local languages. On the surface this seemed quite wonderful and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. When he shared more with us he mentioned a young man who had journeyed a tremendously long way in order to get a bible he could translate for his own people. “Wonderful” was all I could think. My cozy thoughts of joy were shattered by what the older man shared next; this young man was martyred! He went on to say that this man’s wife was going to carry on the work of her husband.

Living in the United States, we don’t even have a concept of what it means to be martyred for faith. We can read anything we want, go to any church we want, get together and listen to who we want. Would we be committed if we knew it was possible someone would kill us for wanting to know more about Jesus?

I keep thinking about our soldiers fighting in other countries where freedom is only a word but not a reality and I pray with more understanding of what my prayers mean.

Yesterday we went up north a ways to meet up with some of my family and have breakfast. While we waited for them to arrive at the restaurant we noticed a man in another parking lot selling honey. Being curious we decided to go and chat with him. He was so pleasant and obviously in love with what he did, it wasn’t long before we were pulling out the wallet for some treats to give to my sister.

Walking away from him I couldn’t help but just feel good having shook the man’s hand and his sharing a huge smile with us. I don’t know his name or anything about him other than he loves the honey he was selling and there was something special about him. Inwardly I want to be that kind of person and even more so. I want to leave an impression on anyone I meet. I don’t want them to remember me for my clothes or my hair or even the way I look, for all of those are outward appearances only. I want to be remembered for my heart and a kind loving smile. There needs to be more people like the honey man in the world.

I have the opportunity to spend some time with my nephew who is eleven years old. Now being as immature as I am, this is splendid fodder for my inner child to express itself in ways that the grown up world just doesn’t get. How does this expression manifest? Well for example, you have to have the “high five” in your arsenal of agreement on any given subject. I am also learning the multitude of “handshakes” with all the snaps and twists of the wrists. Mostly it’s a language to be learned anew with the latest “slang” or “kidspeak” to understand what is being said.

He is a pretty open kid and we hope to pour into him something worth remembering. So far we have chosen to introduce him to our family cat and it looks as though he may be able to hold his own.

During the last round of elections, John Kerry was not popular with many soldiers and veterans, as he was thought to be anti-military and some even said un-patriotic. They wanted him to be silent on his views. I disagreed. I didn’t care for his politics or views either, but I felt that his service to his country in the military in Vietnam earned him the right to speak his mind.

Many Christians serve in battle too, and although I don’t always agree with their theology or their presentation, I believe they have earned their right to speak.

God bless those who serve in our military, and let us bless those who serve on the front line of our Christian battles, be it in the media or in some far corner of the world.

Guest Author – Bobby (Husband of DebraBee)