Happy First Friday in Advent,
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
John 1:14
The Bible is full of surprises: the birth of Isaac, Joseph’s ascent, the Exodus, Esther’s courage, an empty tomb, the Apostles’ transformation, Paul’s work with Gentiles, etc. But the Creator’s decision to become part of creation, entering time and space through a virgin’s womb, is the most shocking. In a world where people aspire to be a god, no one expects God to become a person.
T-Day: To those who joined me in “eschewing dietary asceticism,” I hope you found something to wear to work this week other than sweatpants. (Although I do admire the esthetics of dress sweatpants.)
Our Enemy: Per Richard Baxter, our adversary’s efforts to sideline us include: 1) showing us the bait while hiding the hook; 2) highlighting the sins of others (esp. leaders); 3) over-emphasizing the mercy of God; 4) making us bitter about suffering; 5) showing us bad people living great lives; and 6) causing us to obsess over past sins that have caused damage that cannot be undone.
Overheard: 1) The Chosen has made Pharisees understandable; 2) Integrity is the new sexy; 3) Dysfunction is seldom fun; 4) Revenge is not a dish best served cold. It’s a dish best not served at all; 5) When asked, “How you doing?” Americans used to say, “I’m fine.” Now they say, “I’m busy.”
IS2M: 1) Given that the wise are slow to speak, it’s troubling that the first to spin a story frames it; 2) Objections to Christianity are becoming less intellectual and more personal; 3) While I love universities (and believe many gifted people work in them) much of Higher Ed has grown angrily partisan, stridently illiberal, administratively bloated, football-centric, and ham-fisted when discussing truth; 4) This graph, from a self-described progressive think tank, shows where professors land on a political bell curve. This graph from The Financial Times suggests today’s polarization is caused more by the left moving left than the right moving right.
Without Comment: 1) The number of male nurses in the US has tripled since 2000; 2) Per this WSJ article, the top 1% of income-tax filers provide 40% of tax revenue; 3) 9M lightning bolts strike earth every day; 4) 25% of new code at Google is generated by AI; 5) Per this WSJ piece, sales of Bibles are up 22%, fueled by “first time buyers, rising anxiety, a search for hope and highly focused marketing campaigns”; 6) Per this Reuters piece, Australia has passed a ban on social media for children under the age of 16; 7) Per Gallup, 51% of US workers are looking for a new job—the highest % since ‘15.
A Friday Update Stock Tip: I don’t usually offer financial advice (and please don’t leave trading instructions on this line!), but I’m pretty sure anger is going to climb over the next few years. (My comments are based on culture, not politics—i.e., the belief that many are making choices today that they will strongly regret in a few years.) If you can find a good Anger Fund, buy and hold.
Quote Worth Requoting: “If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road, and in that case the man who turns back the soonest is the most progressive…” C.S. Lewis
WOTW: Honorable mention goes to shenaniganry (there’s quite a bit going around), political technology (a Soviet term for gaming the system to ensure an outcome), and choice architecture (a suddenly trendy econ term that describes the way decisions can be shaped based on how they are presented). Full honors go to MAID (UK’s pleasant-sounding term for assisted suicide). The term MAID—which stands for Medical Aid In Dying—was introduced in Canada, where its usage has been expanding.
WOTY: The Oxford English Dictionary, The Cambridge Dictionary, and The Economist announced brain rot, manifest, and kakistocracy (rule of the worst) as their Words of the Year. But you have until next Wednesday to submit your nominee to The Friday Update—which is the definitive list (just ask my Mom). Nominees to date include romantasy, brat, slop, vibes, love, and integrity (the last two being efforts to manifest a happier world). Remember, either Taylor Swift, Tom Brady, NT Wright, or Glenn Wishnew (Lakelight’s Associate Director) will record a message on the winner’s answering machine.
LBRIA: Articles about our depopulation crisis are now more common than Bears’ losses (see here, here, and here). This First Things piece by Louise Perry covers new ground. (If you have time to kill, I’d point you to this GQ piece on the rebuilding of Notre Dame’s Cathedral. Architects and fans of The Pillars trilogy will enjoy it.)
Resources: You can click here for Lakelight’s annual report.
Closing Prayer: Dear Lord, help me keep my eyes on you. You are the incarnation of divine love, the expression of God’s infinite compassion, the visible manifestation of the Father’s holiness. You are beauty, goodness, gentleness, forgiveness, and mercy. In you all can be found. Outside of you nothing can be found. Why should I look elsewhere? You have the words of eternal life, you are food and drink, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You are the light that shines in the darkness, the lamp on the lampstand, the house on the hilltop. You are the perfect icon of God. In and through you I can see and find my way to the Heavenly Father. O Holy beautiful and glorious One, be my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Guide, my Consoler, my Comforter, my Hope, my Joy, and my Peace. To you I want to give all that I am. Let me be generous, not stingy or hesitant. Let me give you all I have, think, do, and feel. It is yours, O Lord. Please accept it and make it fully your own. Amen (Henri Nouwen, 1932-1996).