You are looking at posts that were written in the month of May in the year 2010.
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I have been blessed in my life to have lived in two battlefield towns, Manassas, VA and Vicksburg, MS. I have spent many hours exploring and imagining in both fields of war.
During my time in the US Navy, while stationed at Dam Neck Navy Guided Missile School in Virginia Beach, VA , I took the time to walk all over the battlefields of Yorktown. Call me silly, but that place evoked some of the strongest and eeriest feelings and maybe even a sense of Déjà vu.
A little over twelve years ago I took a week long field trip with Kyle to the Washington, DC area. The Navy Memorial, The Vietnam Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial are all places pregnant with meaning. And then there is Arlington National Cemetery… if you have never seen the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, you are missing a singularly powerful and evocative ceremony.
Preaching here in Gulfport has afforded me far too many opportunities to participate in graveside services at Biloxi National Cemetery. No matter how many times I hear taps, my emotions are always stirred.
Whether ancient battlefield, historic monument, or military cemetery, it’s all sacred ground.
It’s all worthy of our remembering.
It’s all deserving of our honoring.
Sacred ground made sacred by the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who gave all.
Sacred ground, sacred memories…
Fair winds and following seas to all those who have gone on before.
Your memory has not been forgotten.
Les, Jr.
Ok. So I watched from the very first night. And I was hooked.
Lost is the reason why we have a cable DVR at our house.
I did not look forward to the series finale last night–I really did not want the show to end. At the same time, I was eager for some answers to mysteries that were ever present.
Not sure I got many answers to the mysteries.
Not really sure I am happy with the ending.
Very sure I was surprised in the process.
What was most surprising to me was the emotional reaction I experienced.
I’d like to tell you I am a very tough guy who is never moved to tears by any sappy movie or show. I’d like to tell you that but I cannot. Occasionally, Mr. Hard Heart gets his emotional knickers all twisted up. Last night was one of those times.
I am sure it sounds silly–especially to those who are not fans of the show. Certainly there are way more important things to get emotionally invested in.
Truth. And I know it.
Still, the emotions are there. Maybe it’s like the ending of a friendship and I am sad to see it go… or maybe, I got suckered into the lives/ characters in a way I hadn’t experienced before… or maybe, the lives and loves and relationships lost moved me because they mirror this world.
I’ll go with the last one.
Last night I lay in my bed and felt incredible sadness at the loss of a young man two years ago. He was 18. The son of one of my closest friends, his untimely passing seems to never be far from my thoughts and heart on any given day.
So last night I watched Lost for the last time on network TV as a first run show and when it was over, I cried/ mourned/ hurt all over again for the pain of my friend–my pain–and for all of us who sooner rather than later suffer loss.
This afternoon I have a bit more perspective. Part of the story that resonates so well is the thought of lives and hearts brought back together again. That was the ending–at least how I perceived it–of Lost.
I am thankful that God wrote a story of redemption/ restoration and hope/ promise.
Jack Shepherd may have saved his world; Jesus saves mine.
Come Lord Jesus, come!
For whatever reason the No Perfect People Allowed theme keeps coming up in conversation after conversation. If you are tempted to think it is all me, it is not.
Even at that, I admit No Perfect People Allowed resonates with me.
It resonates because of all people, I know my imperfection, flaws, faults, and worse.
I know.
I know my shame.
I know and I am reminded every day.
Being a preacher is no boon either. Not only do I get to experience my own failures, I get to live the same things in the lives of those whom I love and minister with.
Because we are flawed, how do we make this ideal or this attitude of No Perfect People Allowed/ Come As You Are work when we are just as messed up as the next person–whether we know and acknowledge it or not?
We have to begin with honesty–being honest with ourselves–admitting we can be mean, hateful, spiteful, impatient, harsh, and judgmental. In many cases, we have to recognize–honestly recognize–our expectations are often impossibly high–even higher than what we expect of ourselves. When that is the case, no one can measure up.
And then it might be best to remind ourselves of some important lessons taught by Jesus in Luke 6.
Specks and planks? Absolutely. We can be extremely judgmental and intolerant because of the speck in another’s eye while a plank of ugliness juts out of our own. Since when were we given the authority or right to discriminate based on whose sins are worse?
Just before Luke 6:41-42 where Jesus talks about the specks and plank, he tells us to Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38) Could Jesus be talking about mercy and grace, understanding and patience?
I believe so. When you give grace, you receive grace.
Knowing my flaws, I recognize a need for all the mercy and grace available.
How about you?
No Perfect People Allowed/ Come As you Are means being like Jesus taught. Anything else misses his view of how we treat each other…
Les, Jr.
One of my oldest friends fusses at me kindly when I say things like what I will eventually say in this post. He means well and I understand where he is coming from…
At any rate, our family is undergoing some changes again. Yesterday was Cole’s last day on hospice care. And that really is good news. Physically, he has stabilized—he doesn’t seem quite so frail and has a bit more energy. We are thankful. However, we are going to miss the help and care.
While he is doing some better physically, mentally and emotionally, we think he is getting worse. There are days when it seems like he is sliding faster rather than slower into a state of pure dementia.
Last week, we had daily and nightly freak outs over Karen going to a Mother’s Day Tea this past Saturday. When I say freak out, I don’t suspect you can come close to imagining how crazy it is.
Last night was another physical battle with him trying to hurt anybody he could grab… and none of it makes any sense.
It is heartbreaking and stressful and well, painful for all concerned (his brothers feel a whole different burden).
Rather than indulge in self-pity, my typical response is to deal with it, shrug it off, and accept that at this point in time, it is what it is. We can’t change it, but we can love him anyway, pray for strength, hope for tomorrow and trust that God is doing something in all of us in spite of our extraordinary fatigue and normal feeling of helplessness.
Life goes on. The world rocks on. And Cole? One day, this will all be better–he will no longer be subject to frustration.
Please keep him and us in your prayers.
On the other hand, life is still sweet. Conner turned thirteen last Saturday, four year old Casey keeps us in stitches–the laughter kind, and Kyle turned twenty-four today. We are looking forward to his wedding on June 19th to the greatest future daughter-in-law imaginable… Seeing Kyle and Karissa embark on a life of ministry and service is simply the best feeling in the world.
So while there is pain, one can still have and behold great joy–I am thankful!
Les, Jr.
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