The Impossible Becoming Possible

On a recent fall vacation with my daughter and her family, we were reminiscing about how much our grandchildren had grown and changed. In the course of the conversation, we recalled when our granddaughter, Meg, was about three. A babysitter asked my daughter if Meg’s vision had ever been checked. Regular physicals by the pediatrician had not noted any vision problems so my daughter assumed Meg’s eyesight was OK. However, the babysitter noticed Meg put her head close to books when they were reading. My daughter had also noticed that occasionally Meg would bump into things or trip and fall. To put our daughter’s mind at ease, Meg was taken to an optometrist for an eye exam. The report was startling. The doctor discovered that Meg was almost legally blind. Evidently since birth she had been compensating for her poor vision with her other senses. A prescription for glasses, that seemed to be as thick as the bottom of soda bottles, vastly improved her limited vision. She had a vision of life as she saw it without realizing it was a distorted view. Now she proudly wears a stylish pair of glasses and enjoys seeing things that she previously had never clearly seen.

     As our conversation continued it became apparent Meg was uneasy about us talking about her former vision problem. She shyly and quietly said, “I didn’t know that I didn’t see.” Assuring her that we were not making fun of her, we told her she had nothing of which to be ashamed. We were sorry her vision problem had not been noticed earlier and corrected.

     That event prodded me to think about my spiritual vision. Do I have distorted spiritual perspectives and am I unaware of my situation? Perhaps I am so used to having a spiritually distorted vision that I assume that the distortions are reality. It is only when one’s spiritual vision is corrected that one realizes how inept perspectives have been. There have been times I thought I knew how God operates only to discover that “His ways are not our ways” (Isaiah 55:8-9). I may be so convinced that God must work according to certain human procedures and constraints that I do not see how God might work in a situation I have deemed impossible.

     When I read the Christmas story in Luke, I see how a person’s spiritual vision may be distorted. Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would have a baby (1:31-33). Her response was, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (1:34). Distorted spiritual vision caused her to look at the news she received and conclude, “That’s impossible!” Focusing upon her current condition would not allow her to accept the announcement she heard. The vision she had only allowed her to see life through natural processes not by supernatural intervention.   

     God graciously corrected her vision by giving her the “lens” of divine revelation. God revealed Himself as one who could intervene in life, control processes, and produce His desired results (1:35-36). The angel assured her, “For nothing is impossible with God” (1:37). In that instant God was saying, “You need to see life differently than you have ever seen it before.”

     What did she do with this new vision? She accepted life as God saw it, not as she saw it. This allowed her to submit her life to God as a willing servant. No longer did she see things as unimaginable or as impossible. She now saw life through the unlimited perspective of a God who could do all things in any way He saw fit. Such a vision eliminates the barriers of conventional wisdom, expands the dimensions of probabilities, and explodes the myth that God does not intervene in His world. With her expanded and corrected vision, is it any wonder her perplexity was turned to praise (1:46-55)! Joseph, who was pledged to Mary, needed his vision adjusted too. He received a revelation that God was working in an unimaginable way in his betrothed so that a Savior could be born “to save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21). God was providing for humanity’s greatest need in a way that people would conclude was impossible. Joseph, however, was now seeing life in a new way. Thus he also obediently submitted his life to fulfill God unimaginable plan (1:24-25).  

     Certainly in all of our lives there are times we think a situation in life is impossible. Personally our financial situation may look bleak. Perhaps we have received a disturbing medical prognosis that shrouds us in anxiety. Maybe a relationship is in crisis and it appears like things are hopeless. Nationally and internationally the news may be depressing and the hope for peace and security seems elusive. In all likelihood you could suggest many other scenarios that one might label “impossible.” Perhaps these occasions require that our vision be adjusted so that we look at life beyond the natural and consider God may have a supernatural plan in mind.

     In these moments we need to recall the message given to Mary that cleared her distorted vision, “Nothing is impossible with God.” The message of Christmas is that God intervenes in His way, in His time, and in unimaginable and impossible ways. God is not limited by the conventional, the practical, the normal, or the way things are traditionally done. He steps into a messy world marred by sin and provides deliverance according to His sovereignly designed plan. Our response must be like Mary and Joseph. Once their vision was adjusted to see their situation the way God did they yielded to His plan for their lives. Faith in what God can do allows us to see the impossible as possible.    

Leadership Characteristics of the Past Needed for Present Challenges

Recently PBS aired the series “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History” which chronicled the lives of three significant political influencers of the early 20th century, Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Response to Ken Burns' series was impressive. For PBS it was their largest viewing audience for the past several decades following the popular series "The Civil War" and "Lewis & Clark." According to the Nielsen rating each two-hour segment had an average of 9.2 million viewers and an impressive 11.7 million on the first night. Why such a popular series? I wonder if at least a portion of the success was related to a longing for a time where America’s national leaders reflected a different character and spirit than what is portrayed by current leadership. Joseph Palermo concludes that placing the Roosevelts beside the current political scene reveals, “The utter failure of our current ‘leaders’ is glaring by comparison.”
     The Roosevelt dynasty was by no means perfect. They made plenty of mistakes, failed in numerous endeavors, and had many detractors. Yet, many people in our current population long for leadership like the Roosevelts, one that is not ruled by political handlers and correctness, and bereft of courage to assume personal responsibility for decisions and actions taken. Courageous, compassionate, collaborative, and well-conceived decisions seem to be something we perceive in leadership of the misty past, not something we observe in the chaotic present. Many in our country perceive there is a leadership paralysis that is causing the nation to flounder in its responses to the worldwide challenges that seem to surface daily. Could the popularity to the Roosevelt series reflect a desire for a new norm in our political leadership that would be more reflective of a distant past rather than the disastrous responses of the current status quo? 
     One of the Roosevelts that impressed me was Theodore. He was a complex character wrapped in a cloak of both macho activism and pensive spiritual reflection. He was the man who would lead a military charge involving hand to hand combat and in the next moment send men into military action challenging them with a spiritual insight. This was illustrated in 1917, as American troops prepared to leave for the battlefields of France and Belgium in the First World War. Former President Theodore Roosevelt was asked by the New York Bible Society to write a message that would be inscribed in the pocket New Testaments that each of the soldiers would be given. He called his comments the “Micah Mandate” based upon Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” 
     He concluded his inscription with these words, “Remember: the most perfect machinery of government will not keep us as a nation from destruction if there is not within us a soul. No abounding of material prosperity shall avail us if our spiritual senses atrophy. The foes of our own household will surely prevail against us unless there be in our people an inner life which finds its outward expression in a morality like unto that preached by the seers and prophets of God when the grandeur that was Greece and the glory that was Rome still lay in the future.” George Grant concluded Theodore Roosevelt’s words, “called for a three-fold demonstration of moral and practical balance: a stringent commitment to justice, a tangible concern for mercy, and a reverent humility before the Almighty.” 
     Some might argue that our current political environment and cultural perspectives would not allow for such statements. As an objection they would raise the politically correct interpretation of the “establishment of religion” clause of the Constitution to prohibit any such biblical language. Perhaps, however, what the people of our nation want is a leader like a Theodore Roosevelt, whose courageous character is concerned more that there is a soul in our nation than that the words he speaks are cloaked in political correctness. Political leadership in our day seems to carefully wordsmith speeches and statements to make them politically correct and in the process make them devoid of moral impact. 
     We have just elected political leaders for a term of service. Let’s now pray for them as commanded in Scripture (see 1 Timothy 2:1-2). There are numerous things for which we might pray like wisdom, integrity, humility, a heart for justice, etc. Perhaps we could also pray that they might be like former President Theodore Roosevelt and have a concern for the soul of the nation. Pray we have a nation of leaders filled with courage, compassion, and conviction. Such leaders are needed for the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Seasons of Life

This is “fair season.” I usually make the rounds of the local fairs ostensibly to look at the varied displays of livestock, agricultural related items, homemade crafts, various culinary entries, and art works. I also like to see people I have not seen for a while. Fairs strike me as having something like a reunion atmosphere to them. My wife believes my attendance at fairs is really connected to the various food stands. She suggests I eat my way through the fairs. I confess I usually skip dinner on the day we visit the fair, unless I decide to eat something healthy to offset the unhealthy choices I make. There is something about the smell of fried food wafting in the fall breezes that completely nullifies my dietary common sense. I am waiting for some creative genius to deep-fry an Oreo stuffed Twinkie and serve it in a bowl smothered with hot fudge, whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry. My cholesterol count just went up as that picture formed in my mind!

            Fair time always reminds me that the season will soon be changing. In my opinion, the best weather for a fair is a sunny day, but not too warm so that you are comfortable wearing a light jacket. I have one light jacket with over-sized pockets that I like to wear to the fairs. The pockets are especially handy for collecting the free giveaways from the display tables. I get enough pens and note pads at the fair to carry me over to the next year’s fair season. The candy at the tables never gets to the pockets. Either my grandchildren kidnap the confectioneries I pick up, or the sweet treats act as an appetizer until I get away from the display tables and over to the “fair-food” stands!

            The cool ting of the air at the fair is for me a pleasant harbinger of things to come. I prefer the cold of winter over the heat of summer. My body’s thermostat is the exact opposite of my wife’s. Therefore, soon we will be having a tug-of-war over the thermostat governing our home’s heating system. She looks at 68 degrees as a starting point when heating the house. I consider 68 degrees the setting for the furnace to shut down providing the perfect temperature to sit around in a tee-shirt and shorts. She needs a quilt to generate heat in the house. I have my own padding that I carry with me all the time and it is somehow connected to the consumption of “fair food!”

            The Bible talks about the seasons. One reference to seasons deals with temperature and the changes of seed-time and harvest (Genesis 8:22).  Scripture also address other seasons through which our lives pass (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). In the 1960’s the rock group the Byrds released the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” The lyrics were almost verbatim from this passage in Ecclesiastes. In fact, the author Peter Seeger donated 45% of his royalties to a humanitarian cause realizing he only contributed 6 words and the music to the biblical words! The song became an international hit in 1965 as it captured the way the 60’s generation viewed life – a cyclical unending process.

            Since life passes through many seasons, it would be wise for us to ask, "What is the God-given purpose in this season of life?" Too often we live unevaluated lives. We just sort of meander from one day to the next without answering the essential questions of life: Where did I come from? Why am I here? And where am I going?  Seasons will come and they will go. The issue to reflect upon is, “Why am I here right now? What is my purpose?”  The Bible speaks to this issue. Life is to be lived with meaning which ultimately glorifies God. If life is not lived from that divine perspective we might conclude like Solomon, who wrote the words of Ecclesiastes, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping after wind” (1:14). He concluded if all we have to gauge life by is what happens on earth i.e. “under the sun” – then life’s seasons don’t have much purpose. However, seeing life from “above the sun” – i.e. God’s perspective – gives meaning to life’s seasons here on earth “under the sun.”

            Some people feel that their goal in life is simply to make a point, share their perspective and have people buy into their opinion and agenda. Andy Stanley presents another alternate and says we are here not to make a point but to make a difference. I would add to his insight, “a positive difference." All attitudes and actions make some kind of difference – some more impactful than others.  We want to do more than make a difference. After all, Adolph Hitler made a difference – a destructive one. The difference he made was related to hatred, egomania, oppression, and a host of other influences. To make a positive difference we need to be under a positive influence. I would suggest we only make a positive difference when we come under the positive influence of Our Creator.  His influence enables us to fulfill God's purposes for us and His plan for our lives. This purpose and plan for our life is revealed in the Bible.

            On one occasion Jesus was asked by a religious leader, “Which is the greatest commandment in the law?” We might say he wanted to know what Jesus thought was the most important thing to focus on in the seasons of life. Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-39). Here Jesus connects one’s life to relating properly to God above and people below. When we are in right relationship to God and are seeking to please and honor Him, it will enable us to be able to fulfill God’s plan and purposes on earth as we relate to others. This combination allows a person to make a positive difference. Such attitudes and actions are good in every season of life.

            It is still fair season. Let me see… which fair do we attend next week? So many fairs, so little time!   

Life in a State of Change

I lived in a suburb of Philadelphia in the 1950s. In those early years of elementary school, the neighborhood boys spent most of their days playing cowboys and indians. We knew nothing about political correctness so we used the term “indian,” pointed toy guns and rifles at one another saying, “Bang!” and wore masks to depict ourselves as outlaws. Our parents were not abusive because they allowed us to run around outside unsupervised from mid-morning until supper time. They were following the cultural norm of that day. Frankly, they were just glad to see us getting fresh air, playing with other kids, and most importantly, getting out from under their feet. Generally we carried an old Army canteen filled with water in a WW II army surplus backpack. The canvas pack contained among other treasures a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to be eaten sometime in the afternoon around an imaginary campfire. Frequently we traded portions of our lunch with someone else who seemed to have something more appealing – maybe a ham and cheese sandwich or a chocolate brownie. The question of food allergies was never raised in the trades, just the fairness of the trade. Oddly enough, we went through those days reasonably healthy, and mostly emotionally well-adjusted – although those who know me may question that last description!

     Later elementary years were spent in pick-up sports that matched the seasons. The guys in the neighborhood would rush home from school and change into clothes that our mothers had defined as “old clothes.” We then sat on our front porch, clutching the appropriate seasonal sporting gear even if it was just a taped-up baseball bat, unraveling baseball, underinflated football, or a scuffed-smooth basketball. Guys would walk by and yell, “You wanna’ play?” Magically a team of players materialized as we headed to a vacant lot, a less traveled street, a distant school playground, or a neighbor’s driveway that had a backboard and hoop attached to a garage. No adult supervision was there to explain the rules, officiate the game, settle disputes, or make sure we were being fair. We stood in a line, two guys picked team members, and everyone played. Character building took place when you were the last guy picked!  I never saw a face mask in a baseball game, a helmet in a football game, or a team shirt in a basketball game. The games were not measured in innings or time. They ended when we were called to supper. In later years organized league programs became dominant in our neighborhood and it seemed that fewer guys played together informally. Was it because we got older or were there other factors? Certainly things changed.
     Nostalgia has a selective memory. We recall pleasantries we chose and conveniently forget what was less enjoyable. Looking back often simply catalogs change and does not explain the causes nor interpret their impact. Sometime the reason for the change is so obscure we are hesitant to single out one factor as the agent of change realizing it may only be a minute ingredient in the entire process. I suppose one could say, “Change is often easier to see than it is to define or manage.” Perhaps that is why so many are either annoyed or threatened by change. Change confronts the status quo, and offers unfamiliar alternatives which some individuals evaluate as good and others perceive as harmful. The common denominator is that something is different and we react to the alteration.
     In today’s world we are facing a rate of change that is unsettling for many individuals. We feel we are in a state of chaos as we adjust to one change only to discover what we have just processed has already changed. According to Dr. David Schilling, until 1900 human knowledge doubled approximately every century. By the end of World War II knowledge doubled every 25 years. It is surmised that now human knowledge is doubling every 13 months. Should our aim be to keep pace with the knowledge explosion or develop wisdom that enables us to process knowledge as it expands? It seems to me that developing wisdom is the best way to process rapid change. Where does that wisdom begin? The Bible suggests that, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7). By way of analogy perhaps we could say that God needs to be both our software and the processor of all the knowledge that streams our way. When we refuse to allow Him to fulfill that role in our lives we may simply be smart people who make dumb decisions.
     King Solomon, who was described as the wisest of all of his peers, was a discerning observer of life. He knew he would face changes as he ruled a kingdom. He was wise enough to seek divine wisdom to help him process all this change (1 Kings 3:5-9; 4:29-31). Unfortunately, toward the end of his life, he ignored the wisdom of God and chose instead to live his life by his changing passions (1 Kings 11:4-6). Many have concluded he wrote Ecclesiastes at the end of his life when his wisdom and knowledge had become vanity (1:16-18).  He ends the book by challenging youth to learn from his mistakes and, “Remember their Creator in the days of their youth,” and to “Fear God and keep his commandments” (12:1, 13). These admonitions are the key to making adjustments as we process the changes of life. In all of life’s changes we should rely upon the One who says, "For I am the LORD, I do not change (Malachi 3:6 ).
     Our childhood experiences are not the only things that change! Life is a series of changes interrupted with an occasional crisis! That is what it is like to live life in a state of change.