Happy Friday,
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)
Beautiful or Useful? In the Psalm above, David asks to “gaze on the Lord.” He is not after a glance, he wants to sit and stare. This suggests less petitionary prayer and more praising, admiring and enjoying God. What about you? Do you seek his beauty or are you just hoping He will prove useful?
Fear: Articles in the popular press routinely list snakes and public speaking as our top fears. That is misleading and unhelpful. Our lives are profoundly shaped by fears that lie much deeper in our soul. We need to expose these phobias to the light so they will stop holding us back. We also need to follow them back to their root so they show us what we love the most. What might you love more than God?
I’m old. Current culture celebrates youth, consequently, we’re supposed to leverage hair coloring, workout routines, diets – even cosmetic surgery – to look years younger. Sixty is the new fifty and all of that. Other cultures find this curious. They are more likely to think age equals wisdom, and wisdom matters more than six pack abs. Full disclosure: I’m aging! This week I turned 58, which not only means I am 29 for the second time, it means I can only claim to be middle aged if I plan to live to be 116. (BTW, I hope not to. To live is Christ and to die is gain).
Observations from the Academy: Most people only read about higher education on the sports page or in accounts of higher-ed-gone-wrong – e.g., class presentations by porn stars; students (and deans) protesting micro-aggressions; egregious behavior by Spring Breakers, etc. We should be paying more attention to the ways the university souls and impacts culture. We should also note what they portend. For instance, it’s worth noting that UC Berkeley’s one-month-old data science major (i.e., big data analytics) is hot. There are 1,300 students in its intro courses.
Congrats to Crenshaw. Having mentioned micro-aggressions, let me commend Dan Crenshaw, the former Navy Seal / newly elected member of Congress. Crenshaw, who lost an eye in combat, was mocked in a Saturday Night Live skit over his appearance. You can read about it here if you want. Suffice it to say, no one thought the joke was funny. I’m mentioning Crenshaw to applaud his response to the skit. He tweeted: “I try hard not to offend; I try harder not to be offended.” Those are good words to live by.
Two Short Videos That Will Change Your Mood: I seldom recommend videos, but some deserve a shout out. The first – which will make you cry – reports a surprise celebration for Nichola Winton, who rescued fifty Jewish children from the Nazis – and did not mention it to anyone, including his wife. The second – which will make you smile – is a flash mob rendition of the song, “Every Praise,” which I searched for after hearing a Gospel Choir sing it last Sunday afternoon at the 118th anniversary celebration for First Baptist Church of Lake Forest.
Closing Prayer: Only now am I beginning to be a disciple. May nothing of powers visible or invisible prevent me, that I may attain unto Jesus Christ. Come fire and cross and grapplings with wild beasts, the rending of my bones and body, come all the torments of the wicked one upon me. Only let it be mine to attain unto Jesus Christ. Amen. (Ignatius of Antioch (35 – 107)