Mount Monadnock

This is a place I have never been. However, I received a blessing from having visited there in a recent reading. I felt compelled to share it in this forum. I am in the midst of reading “Practice Resurrection: A Conversation On Growing Up in Christ”. Eugene Peterson is a gifted and prolific writer. In this book he encourages the “saint” to maturity by drawing truths from the book of Ephesians. Peterson concludes one chapter by sharing a poem by his friend, Robert Siegel

“Looking For Mt. Monadnoc" by Robert Siegel

We see the sign, “Monadnock State Park”

as it flashes by, after a mile or two

decide to go back, “We can’t pass by Mondnock

without seeing it,” I say, turning around.

We head down the side road – “Monadnock Realty,”

“Monadnock Pottery,” “Monadnock Designs,”

but no Mt. Monadnock. Then the signs fall away –

nothing but trees and the darkening afternoon.

We don’t speak, pass a clearing, and you say,

“I think I saw it, or part of it – a bald rock?”

Miles and miles more. Finally, I pull over

and we consult a map. “Monadnock’s right there.”

“Or just back a bit there.” “But we should see it –

we’re practically on top of it.” And driving back

we look – trees, a flash of clearing, purple rock -

but we are, it seems, too close to see it

It is here. We are on it. It is under us

Then Peterson writes, “this resurrection-life, this growing-up-in-Christ life, this Christian life that some people talk about and many others read about is a Mt. Monadnock kind of life”. He goes on, “we read the words, we see the signs. We hear the talk, we read the poems, sing the hymns, pray the prayers”. “We never see the mountain”. Why do we never see Jesus? “Why” like Peterson asks “does He not advertise Himself?” Peterson concludes with “the short answer”. “God reveals himself in personal relationship, and personal relationship only. God is not a phenomena to be considered. God is not a force to be used. God is not a proposition to be argued. There is nothing in or of God impersonal, nothing abstract, nothing imposed. And God treats us with an equivalent personal dignity. He isn’t out to impress us. He is here to eat bread with us and receive us into his love, just as we are, just where we are.” Why do we not see God? He is here.

Affirming Trust

It is easy to find the solid truths of faith and life when looking back. After all, "hind-sight is twenty-twenty".

This is a thought that has personal application. It is usual that I come to discover God's grace and provision in the above manner. It is easy to trust His grace when I can comprehend it and the warmth of His assurance when storm has ebbed. His  presence can be affirmed by tracing where His hand has been.

The poem "Footprints" reminds me that the grace and provision of God are realized when the believer views life in retrospect. He or she can find the evidence and testimony of God's sustenance.

The work of God viewed in retrospect is affirming, but does this equate to trust? Yes, affirmation is an essential part of God's redeeming work. Affirmation strengthens the potential of trust by mooring us to the faithfulness of God. However, affirmation and trust are not the same attribute.

In light of this, how capable am I to arrive at complete trust? Does my heart truly "trust God" in wilderness days? Do I only endure until the time I can "look back" with clarity and am able to "trace the hand of God". When the storm rages, do I trust?

While this thought is personal, I apply it corporately. I believe "a challenge to trust" is something that rings true in the life of most every believer. My journey with fellow believers sustains this proposition. Many, me among the first, know affirmation but have not yet found a distinction between it and trust.

Why draw a distinction? Why not allow trust to stand in general harmony with affirmation?

There is a reason I consider a distinction between affirmation and trust. It seems likely I have completely misunderstood what it means to trust. It has been my thought that I needed to trust God to provide peace. Recently I have been challenged to consider a different perspective. I'll attempt to develop this thought further.

I'll use the miracle of Jesus calming the storm as an example. In this miracle fear of the disciples was assuaged when Jesus calmed the storm. He removed  the obstacle that drove their fear. Jesus calmed their fear by calming the storm.  This is reasonable interpretation.

It seems reasonable that if Jesus calmed their storm He would calm mine. My reasoning says I should trust Jesus to calm the storm that might rage around me. If Jesus calmed the fear of the disciples by calming the storm then I need to trust in God to calm my storm.

Then comes the poignant statement Jesus makes. He asks, "where is your faith?" Like the disciples I stand amazed at the miraculous work of Christ to calm the storm but what have I done with His question, "where is your faith?"

I have long realized that faith is not measured by whether or not the storm is calmed. Trust is not measured by the presence of suffering. Faith and trust do not dictate the metaphorical weather.

I can trust God to be "the provider of peace". God is provider but if I trust only for provision, peace will be absent. God calms the storm, but if only trust Him to control the weather then I'll know calm, but not peace.

I must trust God to "be peace" not just provide it. The finiteness of this world compels it to chaos. Perhaps if I trust God to "be peace" instead of "trusting in God to bring peace" then "that peace that supersedes all of my understanding" will be cultivated.

Just a though.

Christmas Past

To speak to memories on this Christmas Eve is somewhat overwhelming. I'll let the "1,000 Words" each picture is worth speak.

Happy Advent

Over the past several years I have been in a habit of wishing those I pass a “Merry Christmas”. Your immediate response might be “so...what’s the big deal”. “Merry Christmas” is a staple during this season. But......

It is not uncommon for me on January 9 or March 23 or some other arbitrary day to say “Merry Christmas” to individuals I encounter. This is atypical. My out-of-season “Merry Christmas” often evokes the response of...”aren’t you a little late for that”. My usual response is “no...I wanted to be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas for this year”.

Anyone who has gone through this script (at least has gone through it for the first time) almost always responds with a smile. With the smile comes an affirmation that this is indeed their first “Merry Christmas” for the year. My intent with this exercise is to offer levity and encouragement. I certainly have no intent to treat the holiday flagrantly.

This exercise was recently turned “on its head”. Earlier this fall a new friend emailed me an innocuous question. He was in need of some pertinent information. I recall I did not have the information but referred him to someone who might have it. I added to the email something to the effect “that if no one has wished you a Merry Christmas this year, allow me to be the first....Merry Christmas”.

Until earlier this fall I had only known this friend through business. It was business that provided the opportunity for us to become more acquainted. Through business I found a friend who dwells in a genuine and profound Christian faith.

My friend responded to my forwarded recommendation with “thank you”. He responded to my “Merry Christmas” with a wish for the blessing of a Happy Advent. His response was gracious and intended.

My initial response to his return email was a quaint nod, inward smile and quick dismissal. I recall a brief thought that “we expressed a mutual wish”. Merry Christmas and Happy Advent are the same, aren’t they?  With that I archived the email and marked our business complete. I moved on to other tasks. I gave no further thought to the comment.

It was  few days later in the course of my morning routine I heard the echo of “Happy Advent” and my immediate thought was “Merry Christmas is insufficient; it’s  incomplete”. Merry Christmas and Happy Advent ARE NOT NECESSARILY same.

Southern Baptists generally are not acquainted with the Christian Liturgical Calendar. Its cycle is not familiar and its symbolism and meaning are generally avoided.It was not too many years ago that I developed even a minimal understanding of Advent and the Christian Calendar in general.

I can blame my lack of liturgical heritage for my ignorance and subsequent lack of regard for the great celebration that is the season of Advent. I desire to no longer confine my remembrance and celebration to the birth of Christ only. I pray my remembrance encompasses His coming.

Like the prophets, may I anticipate the redeeming work of Messiah.
Like the angels, may I proclaim His coming.
Like the Shepherds, may I kneel before HIm.
Like the Wise Men, may I worship Him.
Like Mary, may I surrender in obedience to the will of the Father.

Emmanuel---God with us!

Happy Advent.

I Will...

...Always Be the Baby!

From Left to Right Dede (Darsey) Holden, Steve Darsey, Rusty Darsey, T.R. Darsey

From Left to Right Dede (Darsey) Holden, Steve Darsey, Rusty Darsey, T.R. Darsey

Deliberate Pause

When a child is given a piece of candy or has kind words spoken to him or her or is given a gift, the parent might well say “now what do you say to the nice person?” The child, following script, says “thank you”.

This is not an unfamiliar script. Most of us, whether child, parent, teacher or significant adult, have more than likely played the role both as child and adult.

This script provides a “deliberate pause” in the child’s agenda. It is a “deliberate pause” that is designed to encourage the child to “thanksgiving”.

Thanksgiving Day brings a “deliberate pause” in schedules and lives. It is a time afforded to“give thanks” for abundance and blessings. Thoughts and voices will speak this day to bounty and provision.

The United States government established “Thanksgiving Day” as a legal holiday. It was established to “prompt” Americans to say “thank you” to “the nice person”.

“When I was a child, I said thank you as I child, I was grateful like a child, I was limited in my understanding of gratitude like a child. Now that I am grown, may I put away childish thanksgiving and ‘give thanks’ from a heart that is a ‘grateful heart’”

From a heart that is at this moment filled with gratitude I say “Thank you Heavenly Father. Thank you for your bounty and provision. Thank you for heavenly relationship with you, with family and with loved ones.”

Echoes

There are a few things I remember about the lake. I recall there was a water well with a hand pump. There were two reasons a very young boy would be attracted to well pump.


First, it was fascinating to figure how this mechanism could cause water to come out. Second,...I was constantly being told to “leave it alone”. Those are the real magic words to make it irresistible.

I remember the lake because Rusty found a “snapping turtle”. He put it on top of a “coke can”. I step away for a moment to share this editorial. Just as we do in the south today “coke can” was generic. It could have been any flavor soft drink. For all I know it could have been beer can. “Coke” meant any beverage.

In my early years drink cans were made of “tin” instead of recyclable aluminium. It was opened by a removable “pull tab”. Some purported to have actually collected “pull tabs”. This may be true but I never believed it.

The “utility” or “multi-function” of the “coke can” is what is called to attention. Rusty was able to put the turtle on top of the can. Once again, two things were accomplished. First, it kept the turtle from escaping. Second, it created the penultimate platform for “close-in” turtle observation. The “close-in” part is what established this turtle to be a “snapping turtle”. Nuff said.

I step aside from the narrative again. The "turtle on the can" reminds me of an idiom I heard several years ago. “If you see a turtle on a top of a fence post, you can bet he didn’t get there on his own”. This is a truth I have stated in other conversations on a regular basis.

I once remember swimming in the lake. I repeatedly opened my eyes under water and developed “pink eye”. (Yes..I actually remember opening my eyes under water)  By the time we got home I would not open my eyes. I remember how sensitive my eyes were to the light. Mama and Daddy had to literally force my eyes open to treat them with medicated drops.

There are facts about the lake that remain unclear. I cannot recall who owned the property. “Uncle Earl”?. There was a second man who would come to the lake. Perhaps he too was an owner.

I recall this second man because he always had mints, gum or a bag of Funyuns in his car. They represented a potential treat for me. He kept them “to eat to cover up the smell of drinking if ever stopped by the police”. Funny how I remember that detail.

I seem to recall a structure on the other side of the lake. Maybe it was an old rail car or something unique that had been moved to the property. Daddy spent time there working. Once he was  was using a welder or cutting torch. Something happened and the structure burned.

Early memories for me are generally impressions. Details and specifics are limited.The integrity of details is “up for grabs”. However, there is one vivid and irrevocable memory I have about the lake. It is the first memory I have of an echo. I can see the lake and vista spread before me. I can hear the return of the voice. It is one of my most fascinating memories.

Over recent days I have been plagued with the “sinus crud” suffered by others; the runny nose, the sneezing, the coughing and hacking....the coughing and hacking...the coughing and hacking. Daddy must have it too because I’ve heard him coughing and hacking....or is there an echo in here?