A Year Without October

Well, I have proven once again that I'm not cut out for the world of high stakes, professional blogging. Apparently (as far as my blog shows), nothing happened in the month of October. The truth is, of course, too much happened. This is one of the odd and sad quirks of the lifestyles we lead these days: the busier we are, the less we talk about it.

Obviously, more time spent doing is less time spent talking. Have you ever noticed what happens when we do this, though? We start to make more mistakes. We become less satisfied. Our decisions make less sense to those around us and even to us.

Why?

We stop talking.

All it takes for me to reconsider a really pointless or stupid course of action is for one trusted friend to say, "Matt, you're being an idiot." Once those prophetic words call my attention back to reality, it is much easier for me to think clearly and get back on the right track. This is true of everything from deciding what to eat to decisions about the future, or even thoughts about God.

All judgments on life, love, and faith are better made by more than one brain. Don't let busy-ness turn into stupidity. Never let scheduling take the place of thinking. And finally, don't stop talking. It's much harder to tell just how skewed our vision has become until we actually say it out loud.

Blessings,
Matt

The Groundskeeper

There once was a man who lived in a small house by the park in a quaint little town. Each day he would get up early, get dressed, and begin his walk through the park. As he walked, he would pick up trash and make sure the sidewalks were clear of garbage and debris. All the people of the town knew him because of the service he freely gave to them on his daily walk.

When one of the swings in the park broke, the man returned to the park during the evening and worked late into the night to repair it. Everyone knew that if someone got hurt on the jungle gym or scraped a knee on the cement the man would have a bandage or an ice pack ready in minutes. They trusted and loved the man. The park was a warm and welcoming place where all felt safe and joyful.

One day the man announced that he would be leaving for a while. The people of the town asked him when he would be back, but he simply told them that he couldn’t say. Then he was gone.

For a while the people continued to look for him, not quite ready accept his absence since he had become such a significant part of their lives. The people often spoke of him and remembered the times that he had helped them personally and simply reminisced about his daily walks through the beautiful park.

Meanwhile the park grew dirtier.

Trash was left on the ground. The sidewalk became cluttered and filthy. The merry-go-round broke and was left that way.

After a while, the people stopped going to the park. What had once been a beautiful place filled with love had become a dark and desolate place. Some of the people spoke of the “good old days” when the man had cared for the park and life was as it should be. Others grew angry with him, resenting the fact that he had gone and neglected the park. Still others would wait and watch the park, imagining what it would be like when the man returned.

As the people stayed away from the park longer and longer, they grew distant from each other. And so they stay behind closed doors, away from the park, and talk about the man who taught them so much and do nothing but wait for his return.

Wise and Foolish

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and it fell with a great crash. The man was not fearful or worried, for he knew his home was not bound up in a building but in the family of God. Yet, when he sought help from his brothers and sisters they saw not his need, but the time and effort that would be required of them. Though they all had houses on the rock, the doors were shut. The man left the rock and found a spot on the beach. There he built a shelter on the sand. Those on the rock looked down and ridiculed his poor decision, watching and waiting for the storm that would wash him away. Yet, the man was content. For he found a new family among those huddled on the beach. Each knew the suffering of the other and all shared what shelter there was to be found. He found it was better to be among a family of fools on the sand than alone with a house on the rock."



When he finished saying these things, the crowd was outraged. They went away frustrated, for they had come to find safety and comfort, but were given sand instead.

After the Fall

So the man and his wife walked away from the Garden, heads hung low in shame. Suddenly they came upon a box. Taped to the top of the box was a simple note that said, “On second thought, animal skins are not quite enough. –God”

They opened the box cautiously.

Inside were the most beautiful clothes they had ever seen (though that wasn’t saying much for these ex-nudists). Adam gathered his outfit: pants, shirt, jacket, tie, and nice polished shoes with argyle socks. Eve took up her dress, necklace, and stylish pumps.

They quickly changed into their new garments, after struggling with how exactly to put them on for a few moments.

They looked at each other.

They were amazed by what they saw.

Not only was their shame still covered, but they looked wonderful. They were even attracted to each other. Adam thought about these new clothes and said to Eve, “Now we are worthy. God has given us these clothes so we can be with Him again.”

Eve replied, “That must be it. We no longer feel ashamed and we look important enough to be in the presence of God. We deserve a relationship with Him now.”

Eve reached out and grabbed her husband’s hand. Together they walked on, looking for God so they could show Him that they were properly dressed to be with Him. Their shame was covered and their clothing suggested they were perfect.

From the tree that was shading the box the serpent slithered. He picked up the note that he had written from the box. Laughing to himself, he watched as the man and woman walked. He could rest a while, knowing that they were now further than ever from God.

Finding Sabbath

As always, school is off at a brisk jog. It isn't sprinting yet, but give it time. Over the past year I have become a big believer in the Sabbath. Not necessarily the Hebrew Sabbath, but just the practice of slowing down from time to time to remember and spend time with God.

Unfortunately I am an American...

We live in a culture that tells us, "If you're not busy, you're lazy."

The sad part is we buy it.

I bought it.

The things that occupy my time are good and all important to me. My time is stretched and pulled by my youth internship, Seekers, and school. That is why I am searching for Sabbath.

Since I cannot and will not drop any of these things that I love, I have to keep my eyes open to the opportunities to stop and rest. I still want to know God and He wants to know me. Finding the time to do that will be an adventure.

I am excited about all the blessings in store for this semester. I am working with a youth group that I love, I am in a drama ministry that has become my family, and I am learning so much about God and my work.

I just have to remember to slow down.

The Have-Nots

I have been thinking a lot about the way we see the world. We separate everything into neat categories.

There are the rich and the poor,

the popular and the unpopular,

the good and the bad,

the beautiful and the hideous.

There are the Haves and the Have-Nots.

Unfortunately, we let these distinctions infiltrate our faith. We see people outside of Christianity as those without faith,
without hope,
without God.

We forget that faith is a part of being human. Whatever we feel to be right, whatever we cling to, whatever we hold dear is our faith.

We neglect the fact that life is not possible without hope. Whatever gets us out of bed, whatever makes us work, whatever we long to see is our hope.

But most importantly, we forget that God is everywhere, in everything, and with everyone.

When it comes to God, there are no Have-Nots. There is no group that is outside of God's love. Therefore, there is no group that should be outside of our love.

Our job is not to implant faith, our task is not to create hope, and our duty is not to deliver God. Each of these actions is beyond our grasp.

But love is greater than hope and faith, as you've heard before. Not only is it greater, but it is what is within our grasp.

We cannot use faith and hope on others. We can love them.

In a world where everyone has the love of God, will we continue to withhold our own?

Spit Shine

Today marks the end of an era. I bought a new watch.

For those of you who are not familiar with my bond with my late timepiece, I will share the history of that watch.

I received it as my first "real" (analog) watch when I was in the 6th grade. It has been on my wrist almost every moment since that day. That is why I have such a tan-line on my wrist. It suffered dents and cracks for almost 9 years. Today it took its last hit from a basketball before it finally gave up.

I started thinking about that watch.

How quickly do we throw things away when they no longer look "good"?

It had been years since that watch looked good.

But it still ticked.

It still stayed on my wrist.

It still worked.

We so easily forget that things continue to serve their purpose long after aesthetics have faded. We figure that if something doesn't look pristine then it isn't working the way it's supposed to work.

We treat ourselves the same way.

We try to keep ourselves looking nice and put-together so that we appear to be doing everything right. We cover up our flaws to give the appearance of perfect actions. We spit-shine our souls.

But spit-shine still depends on spit.

Whatever we do, we're going to get dirty. We're going to get battered. We're going to be broken.

But God still works.

Where we are filthy, he shines. Where we are cracked, he makes whole. Where we fall apart, he remains the same.

Do not let the bruises and cuts of this life fool you into thinking you are useless. Let God show you that your scars make you something more.

When we are at our most broken, he shows just how whole we can be.