Faith Venture

I was running along the path out at the park the other day. Three women were walking toward me. They were walking at a fast pace while talking boisterously, animated hands, loud but not obnoxious. Actually like most groups of women I see in the morning. Out with friends getting some exercise.

We greeted each other. Nothing special. I always say hi to people I meet on the trail.

They all said hi. But the one I remember (and I don’t think I know any of their names even though it’s a small town) is the one with the joyful smile. 

Isn’t it true that meeting someone who has a pleasant, genuine smile can make your day?

Maybe you are not awake yet. Or lost in thoughts and withdrawn.

Its like the times I’ve broken some of the tension in a queue at a gate when weather interferes with our convenience on a trip and you’re rescheduling. Offer the frustrated person a smile and greeting.

Maybe we can all make it one of life’s little gifts to offer a genuine smile when we greet people.

Have you ever used the phrase, “Hiding in plain sight”?

You were searching, and there it was on the table, out in the open, right there for you to see?

Or you are solving a problem and realize the answer is right before you?

A good joke take you down one path only to spring into an entirely different direction with the punch line.

So, as I wrote last week, I’m puzzling out Jesus’ comments about who he is as reported by John (chapters 6, 7, 8).  I thought, why was Jesus talking in riddles?

Then I re-read the passages several times. This time, I filtered out all the background noise and focused only on what Jesus said. And it came to me, he wasn’t speaking in riddles. The answer is right there. Hiding in plain sight.

Jesus plainly said, using the “code words” that his audience at the Temple should have known well, that he came from God and was indeed the Son of God.

Test it. It’s right there. Only his listeners were entirely focused on another thought. They were thinking and indeed entirely focused on the things of this world. Jesus, as always, was focusing the discussion on the spiritual world.

It’s like Matthew records (13:13), “This is why I speak in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ ” Jesus here is quoting from Isaiah (and probably other places, as well).

Take this example from the prophet (Isaiah 6:9), “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing but never understanding; be ever seeing but never perceiving.’ ”

Don’t be that guy.

“Some say English instruction must get back to the basics, with a focus on grammar. But won’t that stifle a student’s personal voice?”

I saw this lede in The New York Times yesterday. 

I remember the movement by some probably well meaning, if overly sentimental, teachers who thought that first just let students of whatever age just write ideas and not worry about spelling or grammar. Then they would be creative.

That is just so much [crap].

Writing is communicating thoughts, ideas, opinions. It may be in prose, fiction, or poetry. All can be creative. 

In poetry writing (I’ve actually published a couple in my life), you learn that free verse is the hardest to write because it is too easy to drift. You learn to write in a structure, and it sets you free. Try writing Haiku. Three lines–five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables. Or write in ballad structure. It is great practice for the mind.

Use an outline or mind map to organize thoughts. When someone reads what you say, they can understand where you’re going.

Grammar is important for conveying meaning.

A bear walks into a bar. He orders a sandwich and eats it. Pulls out a gun. Shoots the bartender. Leaves. He left a guide book to bears on the bar. It said–Bears eat, shoots, and leaves. (There is a book by that title.) Had it said bears eat shoots and leaves, the meaning would be entirely different. And the bartender wouldn’t be nursing a bullet wound.

Clear thinking and clear writing may not be a spiritual discipline as defined by my guides–Richard Foster and Dallas Willard–but it should be.

God knows this. A long time ago he was forming a society out of a group of people raised as slaves. He gave them the 10 commandments and other laws to teach them how to live. Later he said that the laws should be written on their hearts–in other words we live out the rules as a natural part of our lives. From structure to freedom.

Pointy-Haired Boss: Can I ask a dumb question?

Dilbert: There are no dumb questions.

Pointy-Haired Boss: When you delete software, where do all the ones and zeroes go?

Dilbert: I stand corrected.

Have you ever been subjected to one of those overly enthusiastic consultant type people where you waste a day “brainstorming” or “bonding” or whatever the fad du jour is? Or, an overly enthusiastic teacher maybe? “Go ahead. There are no dumb questions. Class, don’t laugh. All questions are good.”

Gimme a break. 

We should all know that good leaders ask questions.

Curious people ask questions.

Students of whatever age can ask questions where the sole purpose is to divert the teacher/leader away from the topic.

There is actually an art that requires reflective practice to becoming a good questioner.

I think it is a spiritual discipline.

Jesus taught by asking questions (it was the Rabbi style of the time). Read the Psalms. Full of questions. Even Paul who seemed to know everything about everything asked question.

Interestingly, I was way down this line of thinking this morning when I took a break and scanned email (I know, a bad thing to do). But I see Jon also thinking about questions. Jon’s one of those guys who asks good questions. You can’t blow them off without thinking. Check him out.

Today he asks, what do you ask God. 

Hmm. Do we approach God intentionally? Or do we just shoot up thoughts?

Thanks, Jon. Now I know what will be on my mind today.

Meanwhile, the thing about no dumb questions lies in intent. Do we ask questions to learn? A leader asks people in the organization about their ideas and dreams and how’s it going. Learners read something or hear something and ask hundreds of questions–how do you know that, what do you mean, what’s the definition of that word, who was involved, when did all that happen, why should we care, where did it take place.

Rudyard Kipling:

I KEEP six honest serving-men

 (They taught me all I knew);

Their names are What and Why and When 

 And How and Where and Who.

I was given a nickname at birth. Dad determined a nickname based upon a sports book he’d read. Mom came up with the full name. (For the curious, Dad named me “Al” after a book about a minor league pitcher by Ring Lardner. I’ve never read the book.)

Some nicknames are more natural. Surely every “Rhodes” family has a “Dusty”. Every Smith family must have a “Smitty”.

Do you know anyone who has a nickname derived from their character?

Suddenly a number of vulgar ones popped into my mind. But we’ll let them pass.

A speaker I listened to yesterday pointed out that Barnabas, the apostle, was really a nickname for Joseph. It meant encourager. 

Jacob in the Bible became Israel (one who struggles with God–there are other meanings, too, I guess). Simon became Peter (the rock). Abram became Abraham and Saul became Paul to signify life changing events.

In some places even today, they don’t name newborn babies. They wait to make sure they will live. That’s sad.

In many ancient cultures boys were given a sort of place holder name until they proved themselves one way or another and then they received a name befitting their character.

What would people call you? 

Maybe a name for you to grow into?

Or, a reflection of who you have become?

I hope it’s a good one.