This-worldliness

“I discovered later, and am still discovering right up to this moment, that it is only by living completely in this world that one learns to have faith. By this-worldliness, I mean living unreservedly in life’s duties, problems, successes, failures. In so doing we throw ourselves completely into the arms of God, taking seriously not our own suffering but those of God in the world. That, I think, is faith.”

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(thanks to my friend, Julie — one of her favorites)

MIPOTW: Temperamental Ideology

Shock. My last Most Interesting Phrase of the Week was posted on March 23. I’d say I’m a little behind. It’s not that I haven’t seen anything interesting–quite the opposite.  More accurately, I’ve been so interested in so many things that my mind’s been a little muddled.  You’ve heard it before. It’s a chronic problem that sometimes results in fruit rotting on the vine, creatively speaking.  But, MIPOTW is back with a thought-provoking vengeance–so much so that this one is showing up in the big wide column in addition to its typical spot in the wander zone to your right.  Why the special treatment, you ask?  Well, it’s because this one relates to my 2009 theme word concept, harmony.

The phrase: “It’s not about ideology.  It’s about temperament.”

I heard it while watching a recent segment of Charlie Rose on PBS.  It’s a quote from Joe Scarborough, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC.  His subject was the Republican Party in “crisis”, and I agree. But, the statement prompted my thinking on wider issues of temperamental ideology.

Ideology is temperamental.  Try as we might, we can’t always fit it neatly into every situation and make it come out all pretty please with sugar on top. Ideology is a tough nut.  Sometimes it’s the life of the party. Sometimes it’s a loner. Sometimes it doesn’t play well with others. Sometimes it walks softly. Sometimes it carries a big ‘ol stick and doesn’t mind whomping somebody’s noggin with it. Ideology is a squirly beast.

My handy dictionary.com tells me that ideology is “the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.”  And, I suppose the large group status there gives ideology its particular tendencies toward watering down, blind leading the blind, or zealot crusading as individual iterations emerge.

I started reading a book this weekend called The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning. The introduction began a dialogue on the challenge of why beliefs don’t always play out in actions. It highlighted the difference between belief and faith (half-baked for now, but more to come), and reminded me of the harmony (and sometimes disharmony) found in temperamental ideology.

I’ve been pondering beliefs quite a bit of late–in particular, maintaining harmony in beliefs across a variety of situations and social issues. “It’s about temperament.” Trusty dictionary.com tells me that in addition to “the combination of mental, physical, and emotional traits of a person,” temperament also refers to the musical “tuning of a keyboard instrument… so that the instrument may be played in all keys without further tuning.” It’s early meanings include “to mix properly” like in tempera paint. [music and paint--two things I can easily get behind] Ideology in harmony with living–where the rubber meets the road–requires some fine-tuning in order to be played equally across any musical key.  It requires proper mixing. Apt combinations. Stretching out the tiniest variations from the pure tone of truth. The smallest additions and subtractions.

Don’t misunderstand me.  I’m not searching for an all-inclusive amalgamation of beliefs where anything and everything goes and where to be is to be true. That doesn’t work for me.  I’m talking about defying situational ethics and beliefs in favor of standing behind true God-defined realities that stem from the heart of an all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-now, ever-loving righteous Creator.  Tall order.  But, I’m more convinced each day that if it’s true at all and true for me, it’s true for everyone. If it was ever relevant, it’s still relevant. If it can be mine, it can be anyone’s. If it works here, it will work there.  And if it doesn’t, likely it’s my own temperament about the issue that needs to be brought into harmony with the Flesh-clothed Word’s intent.

Still Dad, and Still God

One month ago today, my dad had his stroke.  Although he doesn’t have some of the same skills he did (yet), Dad is still the same dad he was one month ago plus a day.  And, God is still the same God he was on February 7.

My dad and my family are in a season of change–again.  He’s been in the hospital for the last month undergoing physical and occupational therapy to regain movement in his left leg and arm which were primarily affected.  We and the doctors are very hopeful that in time he will be able to do many of the things he’s always done.  Each day he is making improvements and becoming more like “himself”, shifting again the reality of what his daily life is like.  Regardless of how close he gets to his full potential with additional therapy and sheer will of character, life has inevitably changed.  Dad’s can dos have changed.  His schedule has changed.  His independence has changed.  Both Dad and Mom’s jobs have changed.  How they spend their time has changed.  Where they can go has changed.  The scale of their lives has changed, time and energy focused on more basic tasks.  The appearance of their home has changed.  Their ability to visit in my home has changed.  The ease of holding my children has changed.  Their presence in our lives has changed.

Throughout this month, two thoughts have persisted in rising above the din of confusion and adjustment, of sickness and care-giving, of schedules and sleeplessness.  Despite the changes, a family is a family regardless of time, abilities, presence and the space between.  And, we will remain a family.  We will adjust, and life and love will continue.

And this:
“I, the Lord, do not change; therefore, you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” (malachi 3:6)

Right now, Dad can’t move as he once did.  But, God is still moving in strong support of His own. Therefore, we are not consumed by helplessness.

Though we are beginning to see movement in his shoulder, Dad’s arm has been greatly weakened.  But, the same outstretched arm of God that made the heavens and the earth is still reaching.  Therefore, we are not consumed by impossibilities.

In the days after the stroke, Dad had a slight slurred speech that has thankfully subsided.  But, the words of God were and are crisp and sharp.  They stand forever.  Therefore, we are not consumed by the silent unknown.

Next week, Dad will come home sitting in a wheelchair, at least for a time.  But, God is still sitting on the same throne of righteousness He inhabited 29 days ago.  Therefore, we are not consumed by paralyzing fear.

It will be some time before Dad may be able to enjoy the same activities he once did.  But, the uncommon joy of God is our strength.  Therefore, we are not consumed by sorrow.

Dad may not be able to work again.  But, God has not stopped working in us for His good pleasure.  Therefore, we are not consumed by inactivity.

Dad is slowly relearning to put one foot in front of the other.  But, the rock of our God still enables sure footing.  Therefore, we are not consumed by dark stumbling.

The comfortable assumption of a parent I’ve relied upon to be strong has been weakened.  But, the God of comfort is still the abundant Father of mercies.  Therefore, we are not consumed by anxious unrest.

God has not changed. He remains. Our healer. Our protector. Our light. His love and His reach will continue as it always has.  In this, alone, are we steadied from the consuming tide of change.

Dangerous

“If you believed God is good, if you believed God has a plan for you that is good… If you really believed… You would be dangerous…
~ Bob Kilpatrick, as heard on KLOV this morning
bobkilpatrick.com

Gift Tag: Cars, Rain and Manna

From Little Drummer Boy’s first driving to daycare “Good Morning Prayer” of 2009:

Dear God
Thank you for today.
Thank you for the sunshine [although it's cloudy/drizzly today] and everything You have made.
Thank you for the cars that drive [in response to Squiggle's insistence that we look for a bus going by?]
and the rain that pours
and the drops that pour
and manna…

I didn’t catch the rest because I was scrambling in my purse (while navigating the green arrow light) for a pen to write down the words of wisdom from my 3 1/2 year old…

Cars. Thank You, God, for the vehicles you park before us to get us to the place you want us to be. Thank You that You’ve continually kept the engine running on your plan while we go back in to take care of this and that.

Rain. Thank You, God, for the downpours that wash away the excess and the unnecessary–the stacked up clutter of our lives and spirits that slows us down as we get to where you want us to be. Thank You for nourishment disguised as storms, inducing the growth needed to put down roots where you want us to be.

Manna. Thank You, God, for shining the light on this day’s provision, this day’s step toward where you want us to be.  Thank You that enough is sweet like honey and ripe for savoring.  Thank You that though we are not yet where You want us to be, Your provision in the wandering is steadfast.

And, thank You for the countless bedtime Bible stories that have incorporated “manna” into my baby’s vocabulary. Thank You for for the sponge-like stage that calls such a word to his mind unexpectedly.  Thank You for the innocence found in the unlikeliest of teachers.

Gift Tags are the tiny messages God continues to include with our gifts — 2 little joys of boys and 1 little jewel of a girl, each with open eyes, open ears, open hearts, and much to teach. “Behold children are a gift of the Lord…” (psalm 127:1)