That Haunting Whistling

      "Don't Worry, Be Happy" is a fairly nondescript song by musician Bobby McFerrin from the late 1980's espousing the virtue of just simply being happy. Somehow, out of the blue, it crossed my mind this morning---just goes to show that even my brain takes an occasional odd twist. Got me to thinking, though. Our Declaration of Independence proclaims "the pursuit of happiness" one of our "unalienable (fundamental, inherent) Rights." Many folks will quickly and openly tell you that being happy is exactly and naturally what one should really be seeking in life. I have many facebook friends who often express in posted pics their happiness---tho' their words mainly express gripes, opinions, fears, and concerns. It seems to me that happiness has become our purest American Idol (sorry, couldn't resist) pushing all other virtues far into a blurred background. I'm thinking happiness isolated as an overriding quest becomes a very lonely phantom. 

       "So what?" you say. Not sure yet; give me a couple of minutes. Certainly, our other proclaimed unalienable rights---life and liberty---play a distant second and third fiddles. Abortion and prohibitive costs of medical care and curative drugs say much about our dishonor for life. Our isolationist foreign policy and  the increasing attacks on our daily lifestyles speak much of our belittling of liberty. So, it's back to the pursuit of happiness---and pursue it we do.
      I can only speak for myself on this. I believe, to a large extent, we choose to be happy or not. Jesus said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). So, I choose to believe that and accept it and opt to be happy. I was never the hottest guy around (but okay); eventually, I read Paul's remarks, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you . . ." (1 Cor 6:19). I just figured if it's good enough for the Spirit, it's good enough for me. I'm happy. Also, I've always had plenty (all one could truly need) of wealth and things: "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have . . ." (Heb 13:5). I've been happy and more than blessed by God. He allowed me to love the work I did (Prov 12:11), and He kept loved ones all around me (Psa 128:3). I'm happy. God gave me a home where I wanted to live---serenity itself, not the hustle of city life, and He has allowed me to enjoy the simple, basic things in living (Mic 6:8). I'm happy. As I age, I'm learning more and more to let go of past hurts, and I'm becoming more and more spiritual in my view of life itself (Mat 6:33). I'm happy. I exhort you to enjoy those perfect moments when they happen---perfection doesn't last long on Earth. Overall, I suspect my happy listings match most of yours.
      So, after all this seemingly extraneous rambling, I conclude:  The pursuit (of happiness) must be focused on something else and directed by Biblical principles or else it is futile. We have the declared Right to pursue happiness---but pursuing Christ's approval is the ultimate pathway to happiness. You certainly are free to disagree with me. But, only the Holy Spirit can ultimately comfort and completely fill the emptiness---the spiritual unhappiness---that humans inevitably weather. 
      That haunting whistling from the song is reminding you not to worry, but simply being happy doesn't cut it. It won't work. It's just not life. It's a lie. Our expulsion from the Garden of Eden (however you want to interpret it) made true happiness impossible till finally comes the comfort of the Holy Spirit. That whistling will just echo quietly somewhere in your consciousness---occasionally thrown to the surface to refresh your awareness of your need for happiness. The indwelling Holy Spirit is what you need and long for. I'll continue to pursue happiness myself---but, I have a most amazing Helper!




           
      

Leaping Like Calves from the Stall

      I can't help but laugh at the convoluted arguments supporters of abortion and other sinful behaviors use to justify their beliefs and actions. It would be funny were it not so sad . . . well, I decided a few weeks back to lighten up, to intentionally remove stress from my life.  So, my resolve is to pray genuinely for these people (and covet their prayers for me) . . . then, quietly leave it (and them) in God's hands. However, I get a kick out of replying very succinctly to all supporters of Planned Parenthood: Abortion is wrong.  They have no real argument at that point.  All they can do is rant illogically or walk silently away thinking me a fool or shrug their misguided shoulders. Our God respects life. However, despite myself, I find the sinful lifestyles about me very disquieting (and I do not dismiss myself from the guilty).

       I have dozens of outside yard-and-house tasks I'd like to get done, but I'm determined to complete the treasure boxes and cars/trucks that I've started for the Christmas Shoebox Drive at church. Anything that can go wrong, has.  And, I'm expecting more missteps still to come.  But, I will finish this project before the deadline---short of some disastrous interruptions. I'm determined to fight off the creeping apprehension that's crawling into my life as a result---feeling I need to be working at other tasks as well. Again, another thing I'm turning over to my God. No more stress.

      Health issues have begun to weigh down upon us a bit.  Jan's thyroid cancer and consequent removal and treatment with the wait to see if all is basically contained was very intense; my not-so-debilitating cold that is interfering in its own minimal fashion; worries about children and grandchildren; the threat of a major health problem for one of Jan's brothers: These are all completely out of our control, but nevertheless encumber us with concerns and . . . yes, stress. In Malachi 4:2, it states, "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." I just love that image! It speaks more to me than a 100 words on peace and serenity would speak. Once again, I have opportunities to leave my burdens at the feet of my Lord . . . and I elect to do so (I might add, in a hopping fashion).

       We are admonished over and over in our Word not to live worried lives.  " . . . do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:6-7). We are to be " . . . casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you" (1 Pet 5:7). So, I'm trying to figure out just how to go about completely "leaping from my stall" and living with a much more simple, yet constant faith in Him.  I invite you to take this journey, too.

The Pivotal Moment in All of History

      Some people assign events in their lives to fate or chance or luck. That is so foolish. So shortsighted. So disenfranchising. Happily, God is willing to work in our lives and has purposes in our lives. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11). Many folks nowadays dismiss that idea out-of-hand. But, if Christians doubt that God has plans for our lives, we need to reconsider our approach to life and worship. I'm convinced He is continually readjusting and coordinating possibilities for us, as we are constantly making our moment-to-moment choices: "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps" (Prov 6:9). God lets us choose our own path, but helps us deal with day-to-day living. As a result, our spiritual lives are very complicated, nuanced affairs and, therein, lies a necessity for continual prayer.  
       So, tell me to get real---that this is too mental, that you don't want to think about it in this depth. That's fine; I'm speaking mainly to myself anyway, I guess. With that, I wonder what God's overall purpose is for us? "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccles 12:13). 
       God's desires for our lives include some really difficult (yet basic) requests. "So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, . . . Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Phil 2:1-4) was the way Paul stated it. Jesus put it more simply and completely disarms us by commanding us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Just try that (really try that)  day-in-day-out, year-in-year-out: Talk about a challenge! God's plans for us are good, just as He is good and that makes it easy to love Him, but people are intrinsically evil and very difficult to love. That's my personal challenge; I'm critical (just one of my deficiencies) and sometimes overly demanding to the point of being merciless. But, I'm working on that weakness with the help of the Holy Spirit. At the end of my days here on earth, I would love "to be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith---that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection . . ." (Phil 3:9-10).
       I completely believe that the pivotal moment in all of history occurred when Jesus was resurrected---that was it! And that is why we have a hope and a future. Our time here on this earth is troublesome---yes, indeed. Nevertheless, my Christianity is supernatural; I have a personal relationship with Him; He is actively involved in my life. "Commit your work (your life, your being) to the Lord, and your plans will be established" (Prov 16:3).  Yep, I believe God has purposes for our lives and that He actually cares about us.

Enjoyed Breakfast Four Times One Morning

      Woe is me! I find myself less and less able to stick to any given activity for long periods of time, e.g. reading or watching a movie. Hopefully, this decrease in my attention span isn't indicative of some larger problem.  My memory has failed 21 times this past month. Three separate times I have forgotten to turn on my signal light while turning at an intersection.  I even enjoyed breakfast four times one morning this week. Perhaps, I may have even forgotten the major tragedies in my life . . . I don't know. Unfortunately, now that I've put these words on paper, I may have jeopardized my  very existence.

      The U.S. Dept. of Planned Do-Away-with-Incompetent-Old-Folks may soon add me to their registry of Unnecessary Human Life.  The head of that department is every bit as cold-hearted as the head of Planned Parenthood.  And, Planned Parenthood is having more and more trouble supplying needed body parts to outfit the "more deserving amongst us" crowd. So, we older folks, in a show of proper altruism, should even be volunteering to stand in the gap. Our dogged selfishness is part of the problem; plus, there are just SO many of us nowadays. Perhaps, I should just turn myself in. Maybe, you should consider doing so as well.

      Many people have meditated heavily about growing older:  Ade Santi--Why did you leave? Am I not good enough? Where did you go? When did it happen? Who are you? That could be me. Gabriel de Tarde--Forgetfulness is the beginning  of happiness as fear is the beginning of wisdom. I am feeling pretty happy most of the time. Craig D. Lounsbrough--To forget is to blithely toss aside the hard lessons that were hard won by others before us, thereby needlessly dooming us to endure the hard lessons that are likely to be forgotten by those who will follow us. So, you see, (Soloman perhaps was right---all is vanity) the elderly have a blurred sense of existence and might not even realize what the Department was doing to them.

      I turn 70 tomorrow . . . maybe that's the age they've set as the upper limit (don't know---they are so darned secretive).  Hey, but who knows, maybe they've set it at 90, and I've several somewhat blurred, yet productive years ahead! Guess I'll just have to live day-by-day appreciating the opportunities God sends my way! Hmm . . .

Pseudo-ism

      I want to speak a bit about disingenuousness---hypocrisy, deceit, artificiality, phoniness . . . whatever you want to call it---deception, pretentiousness, pseudo-ism. I suppose one can be too bluntly honest; I may be guilty of that at times (along with several other crimes). But, I constantly encounter people who are remarkably two-faced and slick in their speech and actions, failing to grasp that those around them for the most part really are aware of their posing. It seems to me to be perhaps more prevalent in the generation just behind mine (I don't know why, and I'm not absolutely sure I'm right).  
      "So, what do you call a fake noodle? An impasta." Look around you please and start calling out the "impastas" who are trying to use their social skills and fakery to reign---to control the people around them and to satisfy their personal wants and to get by doing next to nothing, instead of striving for perfection. These fake noodles need to be tined by a thousand forks of genuineness. They are worthless and unnecessary, and they hold people back from achieving their complete potential. They make life miserable for those around them, while they gallivant about merrily. They cause immeasurable pain and trouble for innumerable numbers of folks. It is inexcusable to leech upon the good will and love of those in one's world---shame and blame may not be adequate punishment.
      Perhaps, lack of intelligence can lead persons to focus upon themselves and their needs and wants to the exclusion of every other motive. Evil can do the same! "No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes" (Psa 101:7).  Hate leads one to disguise himself as something other than what he is. In Romans 16:18, we're told: "For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." Phoniness is completely unacceptable: It is not a minor fault to be casually overlooked.
      If you find yourself entwined in the grasp of a pretentious controller, cut every cord. Jesus never once said we should enslave ourselves to someone else. We are free in Him. Pseudo-ism (my term) is a way of life for the politically correct and those who mouth concern for others, yet in no manner, really do anything other than serve themselves. Fakes are always superfluous. Pardon me, I warned you early on that now and then I would rant . . . and so I have.

It's Quite Simple to Put Into Words . . .

      Jan's recent thyroid cancer surgery, needless to say, got me to thinking about all kinds of things.  Sitting in a hospital room just "waiting around" is a cruel, harsh way to spend one's time.  Getting older each day, the whole health thing, the entire aging process thing, has come closer to the surface of my brain; I can officially call it a fact---I'm getting old. I also look around me and see more and more of us elderly, and I may be wrong, but I think more and more I'm seeing the silver ones being treated, as it were, as outsiders---the "honor" is missing for so many. I don't want to spend my final years simply avoiding being a burden on others nor do I want to be so aggressive and ardent, yet unaware of the contemporary, as to become an embarrassment to my loved ones. Just what is the pathway of proper aging, the way to age best? (Yes, as a friend has said, I'm thinking too much. I know. But, this is just who I am, I guess.)

     I've decided that it's quite simple to put into words though quite difficult to actualize, that all one really must do to age properly is to keep loving intensely those you love, to be even more passionate about your special interests, to keep doing well whatever it is you do. (My father-in-law epitomized this so very well.) Sure, sometimes we will not feel well enough to do that. But, so what. It's a matter of being real, of being genuine, of laughing when laughter is available, of crying when grief is appropriate, of dealing with the pain one encounters as quietly and patiently as possible. I want this for me. That's what I want from the rest of my life---just to be bona fide, authentic. To allow others to accept me as I am or to avoid me if they will.  It's okay.

      No, I'm not directly facing death and not being intentionally morbid. But, BJ Miller speaks of "what is really important at the end of life," and he says:  We know, for example, from research what's most important to people who are closer to death: comfort, feeling unburdened and unburdening to those they love, existential peace, and a sense of wonderment and spirituality.  Isn't that just neat!  I wish all younger people with elders in their lives could keep that fixed in the very front of their minds. For me, three of those four "wants" I have covered in my good friend Jesus Christ---the peace that goes beyond our finite understanding.  The fourth is tougher for me to foresee, but I pray God will not let me become a burden to my family---and I must leave that in His capable hands. 

      So . . . that's the way I want to finish out my life, and I hope other aging folks can realize we must strive, must persevere, to truly live until we die---not merely crumble away. I pray the youth of America will properly respect their elders. I love Robert Frost's remark: "The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected." God bless.

      

The World Needs a Wanda

      Did a couple of hours of weed-eating today and mowed one not-yet-completed area of the yard. Vacuumed the pool and shocked it. Picked a bunch of cherry tomatoes and emptied scraps and trash. Getting ready to make a groceries run here in a minute. Then, later this evening, I plan on planting some thornless blackberries.

      Now, I'm not saying all of this just because I know you're fascinated with my daily activities. I just got to thinking that a whole lot of bully groups today, imperious and distressed about their "rights" and seeking media coverage, could better have spent their time going about with me and helping me work a bit, instead ---a little sweat, you know?! They wouldn't think so, I'm sure, because they really prefer "helping themselves" and moaning about "their" difficulties. I know any number of people in this area who could use some helping hands to make their lives easier. 

       Selfishness comes easy to us all. When we finally discover that we are warped humans, it is easier still to grab hold of, to embrace, that basic human fault (the almighty Me) and focus our whole life around it. Most of us dramatize certain aspects of our character and/or personality. When those aspects are evil (you may not believe in evil---but I think perhaps you just haven't seen much of life), then one tends to behave in an evil manner and usually tries to justify that evil activity.
      We need heroes to combat the bullies of this sinful world.  I recollect my first day of school; before the starting bell sounded, I hesitantly, but excitedly (pretty proud of my bravery), seated myself on the merry-go-round, holding on for dear life. Suddenly, after a few times around the circle, someone grabbed me from behind and yanked me backwards off my seat to the ground. Straddled on top of me, he swung twice at my poor little head just missing; he was yelling that I had knocked his little brother's lunch off the seat. Then, a huge shadow appeared over us; my 4th-grade cousin, Wanda, yanked him off me, saying "You leave my cousin alone!" He slunk away. I sighed with relief.
      The world needs a Wanda---plain and simple. But, their aren't many around anymore. Maybe there aren't any . . .