An Oft Needed Reminder

   Most every evening, after supper and the heat has abated a bit, we like to get out and walk. There is a certain sameness about these strolls. Same streets, same golf course, same environments. But then there are ones like this.

      They came out to watch us.

      Would you be drawn to this house?

      A pause for reflection at the end of the day.

      The glory of it all.

   At the end of a day, one that moved along like so many before it, God stopped us in our tracks and seemed to say…

   "Consider this day as special, treat it as such. Each and every day is a gift, appreciate it."

 

Not Just Another War Story

   I have always been fascinated by the little-known stories that accompany the larger scenes from history. It seems that prisoners of war have gotten my attention, or maybe have been brought to my attention over the past weeks.

   First it was the minister to the Nazi war criminals, and today it was a Civil War setting. Both were stories of good men swimming against the tide of popular opinion and the Biblical admonition of "Do Unto Others" applied to both.

   Col. Henry (or Howard in one account) A.M. Henderson, a Kentucky Confederate, was the commander of the Cahaba Federal Prison in Alabama from 1863 until near the end of the war in 1865. He became known for his attitude toward his inmates that was the complete opposite of what happened at the infamous Rebel prison at Andersonville in Georgia.

   Although the prisoners suffered under the same overall conditions as all POWs did in this war, Henderson made it his business to look for ways to overcome the natural deprivations common to these camps, and it showed in the mortality rate in his facility. Whereas Andersonville had a nearly 33% mortality rate, Cahaba's was only about 3%.

   Toward the end of that conflict, the South was having trouble feeding its own troops and civilians and the prisoners also suffered from a lack of food, but Henderson did what he could to make sure that poor water and sanitary conditions did not add to the misery. In short, he treated the men in his camp as human beings and not just enemies to be persecuted.

   Two stories, Nuremberg and Cahaba, two men put into situations that blessed rather than cursed the men under their care, and two great examples of the Biblical injunction to treat others rightly.

   Herry Gerecke, Lutheran pastor at Nuremberg and Henry Henderson, Methodist pastor at Cahaba, two men little known, but two who made a difference in the lives of the men they served, regardless of what the world around them thought about their charges.

   Oh that all of us might take their example to heart and listen to God's instructions to care.

   The other blog on Nuremberg is here:

http://walkinganewpath-pilgrim.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-life-worth-imitating.html

   The Prison at Cahaba

 

 

Caught Between

   One of the slogans for the US Army in days gone by was "Be All You Can Be"

   Those words came to my mind this morning as I reflected again, and again, and again on those words in the "Lord's Prayer",

   Thy Will Be Done

   Something I read the other day asked the question, "What do you want to be?" It is a question asked all around us, all the time. We ask it to our kids as they grow up. We ask it to someone who is looking for fulfillment in life, and it is a good question. I even ask it, late in life, as I look to have meaning that will last.

   The Army pitch emphasizes the pronoun you, refering to the person reading the ad, and that is not all bad. It is good to strive to be better, to use our abilities to the greatest, but it does not end in a sense of self satisfaction or pride for what we have accomplished.

   Back in 1980, I trained for and ran the Chickamauga Marathon. I had run a few half marathon races of 13.1 miles, and wanted to see if I could do the full one. I ran that one race, but never tried to run another. I got what I wanted out of that experience, to be able to say that I did it. There was no lasting overriding thought of that was what I was supposed to do, it was just something that I did that I could look back and point to saying, "I did it". There was no need to even say that it took me over 4 hours, and I had to walk a lot over the last 6 miles or so. It was only, "Look at me".

   There is a sense that we are all caught between pride and surrender, between the "I" pronoun that I used so much in the previous paragraph and the "Thy Will Be Done" verse.

   John Ortberg writes in his blog:

"You are not the center of the universe. You are the not the master of your fate. There is a God, and you aren’t him."

   Even in these days of my life I still want to be the captain of my life, to do what I want to do, but, deep down, I know that it is not enough, that what I want to do will not bring lasting joy or satisfaction, unless what I want to do is to be in His Will.

   And to be able to say that line in that prayer with conviction and not resignation.

   I don't want to recite it with a shrug but with a smile.

   That will keep me from the rock and the hard place.

 

Sorry Is Not Just a Board Game

   Way back on April 23rd of this year, I began going through the 5th, 6th and 7th chapters of Matthew's Gospel, his account of the Sermon on the Mount. I have tried to, if not catch every verse, at least catch the meaning of the thoughts of Jesus as they seem to apply to my life right now.

   It has not been an all-inclusive study, just one that relates. I have not tried to pick apart every verse or part of a verse. I just tried to catch the tenor of Jesus' words.

   I have not looked forward to the day when I got to the end of chapter 7, but it has arrived. Here is the thought for today, from The Message:

“But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

   When I read this, I think back to all the blog posts I have written on the verses of these 3 chapters, and have to wonder, "how many of the insights have I actually incorporated into my life?" "How many of the admonitions and warnings have I even thought about after I typed them on my computer?"

   As I look back at some of those many postings, I am often chagrined by my callous disregard of what I have written. It sounded so good at the time, but it was so much harder to live in the light of that Truth.

   When our family gets together, especially with the kids, we often play games, and one of our favorites uses these pieces on its board.

   I usually play the yellow men, for some reason or another, probably because one of them is broken, (there is probably a great psychological study in that fact), but I also find that this simple game displays some true findings about life.

   At any one time in the game, the player's four men are in various positions around the board. Some are still in the start circle, some are making their way around the outside and maybe some are already in the home spot.

   That seems to be represented by this shot, and, as I think of the slow progress of getting the men to the home circle, going back to the start and starting over several times, my life struggle with following Jesus' words is brought out in living color.

   There are victories, sure, but too often my attitude is reflected in the one word name of this board game.

   SORRY

   God has given His Words and even the insights into some meanings of them, but often my life is characterized by realization and then forgetfulness.

   I want all my men to get around that board and into home, even the broken one.

   Go on, get back out of "start", get on the board and into "home". Sorry might be OK for a minute, but action is better.

Foundational Evidence

   One of our seven grandchildren has been here for the past few days, and I think about his life this morning as I read this verse again from The Message in Chapter 7:

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock."

   As I get ready to wake him up in a few minutes, for another round of golf. I think about the attitudes and priorities in his young life. This soon-to-be 14 year old boy has the marks of a solid foundation.

   Sure he has his moments of silliness, of typical teenage boyhood, but he is thoughtful of his elders and of others around him. He is helpful and accommodating in situations where plans need to be made. It has been a joy for this set of his grandparents to have him around.

   In short, he has been raised right. His prayers at mealtime, when asked, have been on target and sincere, and show the training received at home. He loves his family and his God, and we love him.

   Just another example of our Lake Wobegon family: (All 3 kids, 3 spouses, and 7 grands)

   Smart, good-looking and way above average.

   And we are Blessed by all 13, and......

   Ready for another day of fun.

Right in the Hole, Again

Busting a Myth

   There is a myth about that teenage boys like to sleep late and stay in bed for as long as they can each morning, but I am here today to refute that.

   I've got a grandson down here in South Georgia this week that loves to be out and active, and, although his Mom and Dad may think he is taking full advantage of the sleep opportunities, he is actually out and about at an early hour.

   After playing golf the past three mornings, we decided to get out to the ocean while it was still cool and see the uncrowded beach. And it was, as we watched the sun come up out of the ocean.

   What a great person I had to share this moment, at 6:27 this morning.

They Also Serve...

   A couple of days back we were in the National Cemetery in Chattanooga for the burial of one of our dear friends. When I stood surrounded by all of those similar grave markers, I could not help but to feel a surge of patriotism, not only for the thousands of veterans who are interred there, but for their spouses, who are also there.

   Looking on those stones, planted in rows, seemingly marching up that hill and across the landscape, I think of all the sacrifices made by military personnel and their families, especially the wives of the men who served.

   I think of another monument I saw a few days earlier on the grounds of the courthouse in Newton County, Covington, GA. Although the sentiment revolves around the women of the South in the Civil War, it could easily apply to any conflict.

   "While this monument is erected in memory of confederate soldiers and the sacred cause for which they contended, it is also intended to commemorate the noble women whose peerless patriotism and sublime lives of heroic and self-sacrificing service enhanced the holiness of that cause and prolonged the struggle for its supremacy, by inspiring its champions with increased ardor, enthusiasm and gallantry in their contest."

   So as we celebrate the 4th of July this coming Friday, and think about our Founding Fathers, let's not forget the power behind the throne either.

   In our homes as well as our country.

   From John Milton's poem:

   "When I consider how my light is spent 
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, 
And that one Talent which is death to hide 
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent 
To serve therewith my Maker, and present 
My true account, lest He returning chide, 
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" 
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent 
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need 
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best 
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state 
Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed, 
And post o'er land and ocean without rest; 
They also serve who only stand and wait." 

   Thank You