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What follows I neither brag about nor apologize for:  About 15 years ago, I attended a gathering of Promise Keepers at Soldier Field in Chicago, along with tens of thousands of other Christian men.  It was summer and lunches were provided, but the facility service people were not only letting the stacked boxes of food sit out in the hot sun (a great formula for food poisoning), but were attempting to herd the attendees around like mindless sheep.  I admit that, at one point, I did back one of these clowns against a wall, my Bible under his throat, and gently reminded him that he needed to get the food passed out immediately or I would remove part of his anatomy.  Praise the Lord!  The meals were quickly distributed.     

 

I think a lot of  guys get this church stuff all wrong.  I’ve seen a lot of men split from church because they confuse being a Christian with being watery-eyed, gentle patsies who roll over and play dead when someone kicks them in the butt.  I thought that, too, until I met a Catholic priest maybe 45 years ago who had been a tank commander in the Korean War.  He had an incredible mix of no-nonsense Christian gentleness and love, along with the ability to put you against the wall when he needed to get your attention.  (I learned from the best.)

 

My point:  I’m not good at rolling over, and I suspect I’d make a lousy martyr (unless taking a few of them along with me still qualifies).  No, I’m comfortable being both tough-minded and Christian.  I think if more men thought that way, we’d have a whole lot more Christian men. — jri

 

“Always be prepared to give an

gentleness and respect.”

        –    St. Peter

               (1 Peter 3:15)

 

I have a special place in my heart for those in recovery: men and women who had led their lives to the brink of self-destruction … and then clawed their way back.  They are not grateful for the bigger yacht or fancier car.  They tend to wake up in the morning grateful for the simple gift of having been given a second (or third or fourth or five hundredth) chance … for the simple gift of having awakened at all.

 

My appreciation for these terrific men and women, however, comes mostly from their recognition that their lives — both the destruction and the recovery — have been their choices.  They are not victims, but survivors.  Oh, and by the way (and this is certainly not intended to be a parenthetical “Oh, by the way”), almost all that I know recognize that their recovery has more to do with “a higher power” than their own sweat and tears alone.  Faith, determination and hard work … and letting God take over the controls.   

 

My point:  Beats me.  This one is just a rambler.  But with Thanksgiving fast pulling into port, I guess it’s that we all do have much for which to be grateful.  And, to all those in recovery, I just want you to know that I am inspired by your hard work and determination.  God bless. — jri

 

“But they had a wanton craving

    but sent a wasting disease among them.”

        –    Psalm 106: 14-15

 

 

Due to travel and business commitments, I have not been at my church for the last four Sundays.  I find myself feeling as if part of my identity is slipping away. 

 

I think of my church — a small and diverse collection of Episcopalians — as my faith family.  Though of varying views, political opinions, and backgrounds, we have at least two things in common: One is a need for something greater than ourselves to fill that yawning pothole in our souls and to respond to that whispering truth that there is something more than earth, air, fire and water in this world.  The other is a belief — sometimes wavering, sometimes solid as Gibraltar, sometimes certain, sometimes tentative — that God is that something more.  We come together to celebrate, dine together on the Holy Eucharist, pray together and strengthen each other.

 

My point:  Family strengthens and defines us and helps us remember who we are.  If you have a faith family you need, remember that it needs you, too.  If you do not have a community of believers, seek until you find one.  And then share and strengthen it, just as it strengthens you.  — jri

 

“For where two or three come together

in my name, there am I with them.”

        –    Jesus Christ

               (Matthew 18:20)

 

 

Imagine Tiger Woods trying to teach one of us how to play golf.  That’s how Jesus must have felt trying to teach His disciples how to carry out the Father’s work.  And there were times when you could almost imagine Him shaking His head, raising his eyes to heaven and saying, “Father, will you PLEASE give me something better to work with!”

 

Hopefully, if He could put up with them, He will also keep being super patient with us, as we clomp along in our big, clunky clay feet. 

 

My point:  If the disciples struggled to get it right — and they had Jesus up close and personal for a good three years — we’re likely to have our less-than-stellar days, too.  We should be grateful for God’s patience … and patient with ourselves as well. — jri

 

“‘Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a

        –    Matthew 17:15-20

 

 

It’s been my experience that most of us, especially in America, are never satisfied.  If we can walk a 15-minute mile, we push to make it in 14 minutes.  If we earn $100,000 a year, we set our sights on $110,000.  And that’s fine; that’s human nature.  That’s how this great country has/had maintained its leadership in innovation.  However, this never-enough attitude also can lead to a never-good-enough sense of frustration, of restless uncertainty and of inadequacy. 

 

The exception — or at least it should be the exception — is with God.  On one hand, we can never be good enough to  match up to His perfection.  On the other, that doesn’t matter.  That’s because as we are — limited, clay-footed creatures that we are – is good enough.  It really is. 

 

My point:  God takes us as we are … thank God.  Sure, we should shoot for perfection.  However, let’s not be so dumb as to think we’re really ever going to achieve it.  But that’s okay.  God loves us as we are.  Again:  God loves us as we are!  (Repeat that until it sinks in.)  So, today, if only for this day, forget what you’re not and what you can’t, and just enjoy being who you are, which is loved by God … and that truly is good enough. — jri

 

“To please God … to be a real ingredient

thoughts can hardly sustain.  But so it is.”

    –    C.S. Lewis

            “The Weight of Glory”    

 

 

One of the few times my parents agreed on anything, it was to keep me.  Seriously.  My mother’s health was precarious while she was pregnant with me, and she was told she’d die if she went to full term.  Abortion under those circumstances was legal in New York back then. 

 

I think of that story now and then and feel quite special, favored, blessed.  (BTW, Mom lived another 30 years, spreading joyful chaos every day.)  I’ve also come to realize that, while I am super special in God’s eyes, I’m really no more special than anyone else in the world. 

 

My point:  Aren’t we all hand-picked, special, chosen … not just luck-of-the-draw survivors, but personally selected by the Lord?  I’m grateful for the gift of my life — albeit battered and bruised — and for the daily mix of blessings and challenges.  I invite you to enjoy this day also, to thank the God who gave it to you, and to celebrate the special gift of your life and the lives of those around you. — jri

 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

        –    Jeremiah 1:5

 

 

One of our family mottos is “Don’t tell me what to do!”  (Note that the exclamation point is ALWAYS included!)  We abhor obedience, take determined pride in cutting our own paths through the jungles of life, and get wistful looks on our faces when we hear the Frank Sinatra song, “My Way.”

 

Well, I’ve done it my way for years, and  I have to confess that the self-directed roads I’ve chosen have all led to brick walls, to some great successes with only passing joy, as well as to some very major clock cleanings.  So, I admit that I’ve grown tired of my way.  Having tried every other path and option, I am finally learning … no, not to bow down and submit to the will of God, but to joyfully and confidently seek and embrace His way as the only way, the best way. 

 

My point:  Victory through surrender!  (Note exclamation point!)  I don’t know how it works, but it does.  So, for those among us who are tired of stubbornly doing it our own way and who want a better path, try God’s way.  Works for me!    – jri

 

“In all your ways acknowledge him,

        –    Proverbs 3:6

 

On my cruise last week (Medical mission work in Swaziland vs. a Caribbean cruise; sometime I’ll try to explain that one!), I would take my Bible up on deck in the quiet hours of the dawn to read and pray.  I was actually self-conscious at first about carrying that book around.  A few other early risers (or late nighters) would glance at the title and look me up and down.  No, nobody joined me and there were no sunrise prayer services, but I’d like to believe that a few folks pondered, questioned, perhaps quietly connected.

 

It’s the same when I pull out change and my pocket cross shines in my palm.  People rarely say a word, but they almost always lean forward and look more closely, as if trying to fit the face with the faith.  At the very least, they know there’s someone out there trying … perhaps a clay-footed, stiff-necked yahoo, but trying nonetheless.  And sometimes, just sometimes, I see a look of curiosity or questioning or — best of all, every now and then — a big-smile connectedness that says, “Ah, I’m not alone.”    

 

My point: It seems to me that we do not have to argue and cleverly present our case or be high-volume Bible thumpers to stand up for our faith.  We can be silent examples of what we know.  And that, I suspect, speaks volumes.  Enjoy the day and cherish your many blessings.  — jri

 

“You are the light of the world.  A city

        –    Jesus Christ

               (Matthew 5:14-15)

 

I had the privilege of meeting an  incredible man last week.  George Velasquez was born to dance.  He became a professional ballroom dancer and danced competitively.  It was what he did.  Actually, it is still what he does … but he also inspires people these days.  How?  Well, the  man I met last week had only one leg, no toes, and only stubs where fingers were supposed to be.  It started with a hit-and-run accident 15 years ago, followed by a series of surgeries and infections.

 

The kicker:  Though I suspect there was a lot of despair (Imagine being robbed of the one thing you were born to do!), he never quit.  He still dances.  He refused to be robbed of that one thing he was born to do!  The man I met was cheerful, positive, active.  Through great loss (and, I suspect, continued and ongoing pain and frustration), one man went from teaching people how to dance to inspiring them how to live.  Check out his story and see him dance  at http://dancingoutofthedark.com/.  (I think the title of his website says it all.)

 

My point:  I don’t know if George Velasquez is a spiritual man or not.  However, his story reminds me that God uses us, builds us, challenges us, and heals us in many ways, ways we cannot imagine.  Accept, celebrate and rise to the challenge of each and every day. — jri

 

“Great crowds came to him, bringing the

the blind seeing.“

    –    Matthew 15: 30-31