I LOVED that bass!

“Thanks for the lovely rendition of Happy Birthday. I LOVED that bass!”

This is a kind, thoughtful, and much-appreciated reply to an electronic birthday card recently sent.

Right. Sometimes I’m just quirky - at best.  Brain activity now decrees that this one simple sentence provides a launching pad for yet another rambling discourse.  And what exactly will this monologue be about?

Well, Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D major".  Naturally!

I use a traditional strings version of this baroque masterpiece as my alarm clock. For the past week, like many of you, I have been starting each morning without rushing to the office.  Because I can now sign-in from home, I’ve allowed myself time to listen to the entire instrumental before beginning my day.

For peaceful awakenings, I give You thanks.

Groups of 10

I am aware that thousands of you are more qualified, more creative, more engaging, and more influential than I.  But whether you are a mover, shaker or dreamer, please finish this article and then point your inexhaustible talents toward creating hope and light for those around you.  I apologize in advance for the extended length.

Life has changed and for how long, we don’t know.  Looking forward to what a post-pandemic future might look like can only be called conjecture.

I am not interested in contributing more gloom to the discordant noise we hear daily.  News that reaches us from every source is foreboding and somber as we endeavor to keep up with moment-by-moment changes.  We learn what to do and what not do.  We examine current situations in neighboring communities and those of distance.

I think we’re called to more.

It’s not enough to talk about this around the water-cooler.  Oh right, we won’t find anyone at the water-cooler.  It’s not enough to soak up information from every authority available.  It’s not enough to ‘shelter-in-place’ tightly clutching our form of worry beads.

Millions are wrapped in sudden, unexpected turmoil as they experience the pain of head-snapping, almost violent change even if untouched by this virus.  As we pour over constant updates, we need to remember that the information we absorb is not only about statistics, restrictions, closings, layoffs, and quarantines (self-imposed or otherwise).  Beneath all of that, are people.  It should always be about people – close neighbors and those of distance.

I think we’re called to more.

Pop Quiz

You’re a good person.  You go to church every week.  You donate resources to help others.  You spend time in prayer and even read the Bible. As far as you're concerned, you do all the right things.

Having been triggered by a couple of situations, I mentally embraced a ‘reflect-on-this’ question earlier in the week. I recalled an article written long ago by Seth Godin when I was challenged with, "Answer me this, my friend'.  In his publication, Seth points to our desire to be noticed while we strive to succeed.

The question that sparked this recollection pointed toward living life as Christians.  The presented quiz might help to determine how successful we might be in our quest to live like Jesus.

Should you wish to play, answer honestly.

Midweek Moments: Timeline

This week, I again listened to a talk about the character called Mr. Roger's.  This particular message asked, “What does it mean to love your neighbor?”

The promoted answer was, “Be interruptable." In other words, be available and listen to the nudges you hear in your head.

Shaken, Not Stirred

        

Well, if you’ve been reading these postings lately, you might suspect that I’ve been a little bit off-center.  It seems that I’ve been buried under a mentality of “you-need to-be-more-like-this!”  I’ve worked to see God in every place I go and I’ve enjoyed this journey.  However, when applying a bit of thought, I’ve been overwhelmed by my shortcomings.

I sincerely want to be the right kind of person.  I desire to be the type that loves neighbors, is generous, compassionate, non-violent and, well you get the idea.  There is a LOT to aim for - too much, sometimes.

But this week, I’ve noticed something.  A little bit of what I’m trying to work on - worked! 

Prayerful Considerations

Feelings of trepidation and fear occur throughout our lives.  We are bathed in the stress and anxiety of what will or won’t happen at life’s major intersections.  We are consumed with needs and desires.  The future is in question and we desperately seek answers as we pray, “Please God!”

We’ve spent years of formative schooling and college applications have now been submitted.  We will either be accepted by our chosen university or be denied.  We will live out the dream we set before us or will soon downgrade to settle-status.  For weeks we await the decision while we pray, “Please God!”