Think About It

Fall finally made an appearance in our area last weekend.  I am not going to say that it turned cold in southern Maryland, but I do know that it doesn’t take me nearly as long to walk out to my car in my shorts and T-shirt as it did a few weeks ago.  While different places have different degrees of coldness, one thing that is certain is that the falling temperatures have an adverse impact on the homeless populations in our community.  As the old TV show used to say, “there are thousands of stories in the big city”, there are that many reasons that people are homeless.  Some of their stories are sad, others are infuriating – but, the fact remains that we have neighbors who don’t have a place to call their own in the wintertime. When I think about homelessness, I can’t help but hear Jesus’ comments, “ Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world....

          When I was a youngster I was fascinated by space travel.  Our family lived on the east coast of Florida during the 1960s and 1970s and even had some friends and distant relations that worked in and around “the Cape”.  I recall the excitement of watching successful space launches and landings; then feeling the pain of the failures – especially those that resulted in the loss of life.  It was great time to be an American kid.  It was inspirational to imagine just how far we could go and what could be discovered out there somewhere.  The visionaries of that day made some incredible leaps through thought and dedication.  Over the last few decades our emphasis on space exploration has decreased.  I’m not sure what happened – was it the influence of those who question the validity of our history or the lack of people who saw it as important – but, we rarely hear about what is going on in outer space.    ...

If you have ever had to communicate with someone who speaks a different language you realize how difficult it is to have an understanding of what is being said.  Isn’t it great that when we come across those who speak “our language” because we have a general belief that they will be able to understand each other.  The problem is that even though we have a common language we may or may not define similar words in similar ways.  Some words may sound the same but have different meanings.  To take this a step further, some words may have a similar meaning, but are open to individual interpretation.  Take, for example, the word “humble”.  To some, this word has the negative connotation of being meek to the point of being downtrodden, but not everyone shares that understanding.  To many of us, humility is the ability to truly understand ourselves in light of our physical and spiritual environment.  It isn’t about being “milk toast”, it is about being m...

          Since I wasn’t at the original meetings of the revolutionists in the 18 th Century I can only imagine what they discussed.   Being dissatisfied with the systems in place from the royal monarchy, I am sure they envisioned a government run by the people for the people.   It wouldn’t surprise me if they thought of a nation governed by their friends and neighbors.   Someone that looked (and thought) like them making laws that represented them.   They were unimpressed by a ruling class thousands of miles away from them – they wanted someone who understood their day-to-day challenges and philosophies.           The reason I bring this up is not to tout the Great American Experiment, rather it is to remind us of another way we are represented by someone who understands us.   When the early Christian church sought assurance of their place at the throne of God they we...

In her lifetime, Harriet Tubman was two things – first she was a slave, then she became a deliverer.   After her escape from slavery she helped others achieve freedom through what has been called the “Underground Railroad”.   Historians tell us during the mid-19 th Century she helped dozens of people find a new life.   In describing what freedom was like to her, she observed, “ I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything. The sun came up like gold through the trees, and I felt like I was in heaven.”.   None of us will ever know the type of euphoria Harriet Tubman and others of her era might have felt at their freedom, but as I read her quote I was reminded of another type of freedom.   The Bible describes sin’s control over us as a kind of spiritual slavery – something that without some type of intervention will lead us to eternal bondage.   Yet, there is hope of a new and better world – one which can pro...

I have very mixed emotions about Halloween.  On the one hand, I see it as an opportunity for community people (especially small children) to get dressed up in silly costumes and play in the dark.  After all, who doesn’t want to go the neighbor’s house and get a handful of Tootsie Rolls or Smarties!  It is one of the few time when communities come together and you might even get a chance to say “Hi” to our neighbors.  I have participated in many of the activities associated with the day and we allowed our children to go Trick Or Treating. There are other sides to the day that I am not too keen on.  I am not a big fan of the pranks that have come to symbolize the day (I am well aware of what a frozen pumpkin can do to the back window of a car or the mess dozens of eggs can do to a house).  The adult-based games of “Trick Or Drinking” is not something that promotes safety or security.  Maybe, most of all, the thing that causes the most discomfort is ho...

          I am blessed!  I am surrounded by people who encourage me, take care of me, support me and many who forgive me on a regular basis. I have friends who teach me what I need to know and tolerate me when I am not too quick on the uptake.  I have people who love me in spite of my shortcoming and like me in spite of my idiosyncrasies.  I am buoyed by people who are willing to provide me with counsel and are kind to me when I offer advice (sometimes, even when it isn’t solicited).  I have people who are willing to be sad for me and many more who are willing to rejoice with me.  All-in-all, my life is good. As I got to thinking about those who surround me, I recalled a passage of scripture, “ We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater ...” (II Thessalonia...