January Sixth

  After the events of January, the sixth, I felt compelled to say something to my students. How could I let such a seminal event pass? Armed interlopers had not invaded our capital since the War of 1812. And as we watched, a lawless group of our fellow citizens battered down the doors of our capital and rampaged through the dome, chambers, halls, and offices, forcing a halt to government activities. But what could I say that would not be incendiary to one group or another? And more importantly, what could I say that truly addressed the situation? So, after much prayer and gathering my thoughts, this is what I shared. As I tend to ramble, I’ve edited my lesson for brevity. Perhaps they might help clarify our response to the past few days. As I teach in a parochial school, I framed my remarks as a response from scripture.

Watching the news, I could not help but feel a sense of turmoil. But then I remembered the words of Jesus, “…In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b (ESV). Prayer seems an obvious first response, prayer seeking the peace that comes with trust and faith. As Christians, we face adversity armed with the knowledge that Jesus walked this path first, overcoming the challenges he faced. Prayer puts us in touch with the peace we need to handle the turmoil we face. His peace provides calm which enables us to see with clarity the path before us. So, what do we pray for?

Solomon faced great adversity and disorder upon the death of David. Malignant forces threatened to destroy the kingdom. One night the Lord visited him in a dream, asking him what he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom, admitting his own weakness and insufficiency. As we consider our response to such chaos, we must start with an admission to our own inadequacy. Whatever our response, we ought to be the people that work to bridge gaps and bring people closer. Listening to others requires a certain humility, a tacit admission that their story is worthwhile, their needs justified, and their hopes relevant. All too often we approach others from a position of surety based on prideful assumption, and when we do so we inhibit effective communication. Instead, let us humbly seek the wisdom required for profitable engagement. In James, we’re reminded that if we lack wisdom, we should ask in faith. When sorting through such nettlesome issues we need all the help we can get as we consider our words.

During the latter half of my military career, I worked in close proximity to General officers. This is not unusual. When one reaches the field-grade ranks, you normally spend a considerable amount of your time serving on flag officer staff. In one assignment we had a new one-star general. He was a font of “good-ideas.” In any meeting, he would throw out several different ideas to the staff. Of course, we would beaver away, developing these ideas into viable courses of action. During the next meeting, when presented with our draft ideas, he would usually say, “Oh, I did not mean for you to work on that. I was just thinking out loud.”

He never understood that as a General Officer, people paid attention to all that he said and would take his words seriously and start preparing to execute them immediately. His loquacious tendency caused no end of problems for us. Sadly, he was an eminently forgettable General and never attained a second star. And then there was General Austin.

You may have heard of him. Now retired, he is being considered as the next Secretary of Defense. I served on his staff during my last tour in Iraq. He was the exact opposite of the previous General. During a briefing, he rarely spoke and then only to ask a penetrating question or two. He guarded his speech very carefully. He spoke so infrequently that we often longed for a few sentences of guidance; but, he never changed. He well understood that when he spoke, someone would start taking action. So, he kept his own counsel, knowing that in our situation lives hung in the balance. We need more of such an attitude.

We bandy our words about with very little consideration. We rarely stop to think about the repercussion of what we say…or forward…or share. We are responsible for the results of our speech, digital or verbal. Influencing others is a grave responsibility. That is why James, the brother of Jesus, told us to be careful when serving as a teacher. As he said, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness,” James 3:1 (ESV). We must carefully consider what we say. Those of us with influence and audience must take care to communicate well and to communicate worthwhile information. The greater our level of influence, the greater care we must take. We cannot be reckless with our words and then hide behind the fiction of freedom of speech. With freedom comes responsibility. We must seek and use discernment.

This discernment should include those things we take in. We should avoid the contemporary cultural penchant for only listening to things that please us or fit our particular worldview. When our total intake merely reinforces our biases we damage our ability to helpfully engage in the dialogue needed to address the problems that vex our country. We must gird up our intellectual loins and find an input that delivers truth and not just those things that fit our position. Echo chambers do not educate. They are propaganda organs, and as such, are not truly accountable for the material they put out. When we share or forward those items without ascertaining their veracity, we participate in rumor and innuendo.

Participating in rumor is no minor thing. Rumor diverts a community away from real issues, prolonging solutions, and separating communities. Rumor keeps us from the effective communication needed to find common ground and executable solutions. We must make sure that we take in and share truth. When we orient our lives around truth-finding solutions becomes less problematic. When helping Israel better understand how to live in community, the Lord told them, “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness,” Exodus 23:1 (ESV). Sharing in rumor, even ones that seem to support our position, damages our ability to work together with others to find appropriate solutions to challenges, not to mention degrading our witness as Christians. Paul echoes this in his letter to Timothy, saying, “23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels,” II Timothy 2:23 (ESV). If we dedicate ourselves to truth and shun rumor, we better represent our Lord and will find working together much easier. 

Ultimately, we will only find success when working together. We must dedicate ourselves to peace and finding equitable solutions. Shouting at each other across divides created by intransigent and slavish dedication to a particular view will not solve anything. Instead, we ought to listen more and be willing to cooperate more, working to find solutions that provide equitable results for as many people as possible. This is challenging and often requires sacrifice and always requires patience. Our current situation requires this. We cannot continue to limp along like this. We must find our way to a better place.

Goodbye 2020

As the clock winds down on 2020 and we get ready for 2021, I thought I’d share a few thoughts from my foxhole. As a teacher the school year consumed me, so for much of the past few months, I simply watched as events unfolded. Here are my observations, such as they are.

We need to embrace what it means to be a culture of diversity. This necessitates a willingness to share our nation with those that view things differently. Different does not mean bad and to expect some sort of cultural homogeneity is unrealistic and unfair. Tolerance is a virtue and more of us need to exhibit it. Long ago, before we had considered forming a new nation, we championed a culture of plurality and with varying degrees of success have struggled to cultivate it. It is hard, but necessary, work. As long as we view those who are different as “the other,” we will not reach our full potential. Our Creator endowed us with choice, and all the perils it entails, we need to remember that. 

We need to eschew win at any cost politics and those that place party loyalty above serving the common good. Solving national problems requires a willingness to compromise. A successful, thriving, body politic requires a vigorous conservative and liberal wing. Each group brings something important to the work of crafting national policy. Those that hold a different political philosophy are not my enemy. We should stop punishing those politicians who willingly work across this aisle and instead reward bold initiatives that secure the best possible outcome for the most. Creative workable solutions will come from different places. Listening to others uncovers wisdom. We need solutions, not sound-bites. Successful solutions include the reality that I will not always get my way and that I may need to sacrifice some of my wealth and position in order to advance the blessings of liberty for others. 

We must invigorate the willingness to sacrifice some of what we have to lift others up. We do not lack resources. We lack a readiness to share with those that need help. We must jettison the failed idea that if only they worked hard enough, they would succeed, and instead set the conditions for uplift through equitable pay, affordable healthcare, high-quality affordable education, and the other hallmarks of a just society. And yes, this necessitates higher taxes, but that is a small price to pay for a more equitable and honorable society; a moral one that protects the weakest and most vulnerable.

We need the intellectual honesty to shun those echo-chambers which serve only to reinforce our prejudices and fail to educate. Those platforms which merely enflame and propagandize the faithful believers serve no useful purpose in crafting a thriving society. We need calm thoughtful voices that open windows to new vistas, ones that at times challenge our sacred cows but that ultimately lead us on to a better reality. In reality, those sources that work to reinforce a narrow set of thoughts mitigate against rational thought and enrich those who damage our republic. We should not haunt their platforms and generate their income. 

We need to relearn the lesson of good sportsmanship hammered out on dusty playgrounds and weedy sports fields. We should respect and honor a well-played game but abjure pettiness that leads to acrimony and distracts from solving the problems at hand. When we lose, we take our lumps, dust ourselves off, and move on to what’s next. None of us always win and how we handle defeat reveals the quality of our character, good or ill. 

Lastly, we need to spend more time in self-examination and less time criticizing others. My grandmother used to say, “Tend to your own knitting.” I understand what she meant, and I never took up knitting. Too much of our time is spent pointing the accusing finger at others, finding fault in what they think, say, or do. Perhaps, if we look in the mirror and address some of our own problems, we might spend less time tearing others down. 

I believe that, as a nation, our best days lie in front of us. The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that it is not through wisdom that we say the old days were better. 2020 was a challenging year, and that’s an understatement. But, if we take a deep breath and address some of the things that vex us, we will find the solutions necessary to make 2021 a better year.

Demetris' Story, Epilogue

Demetrius’ Story Epilogue

Enosh sat on the terrace, sipping a glass of wine. Years had passed since the night in the sheepfold near Bethlehem. Much had changed. Demetrius, Alter, and Timur still worked as shepherds taking care of the flocks. Enosh had given Demetrius his freedom, yet he still worked for Enosh. He still struggled with his anger, but the outbursts were fewer and further apart. He had embraced Jesus and his teachings. Alter had refused Enosh’s offer of freedom, saying that he was content with things the way they were. 

Things had improved between Enosh and Avishag as well. Enosh was not always comfortable with the changes in their relationship. She was still a very good wife, but more willing to speak her mind about things. She and Nuria had grown quite close, something that gave great pleasure to Avishag, but often proved difficult for Enosh. They seemed to enjoy sharing secrets, secrets that seemed to involve jokes at his expense. But, the joy they shared improved his life. Then there was Timur.

Timur filled the gap that a son would have filled. Enosh enjoyed teaching him about the wool business. Alter had trained him well as a shepherd and Timur had proved a very able pupil. Enosh took great pleasure in their growing relationship. Timur and Enosh enjoyed spending time together. Respectful and kind, Timur helped Enosh set aside his pain at being childless. In fact, Enosh planned on adopting him as a son. Of course, Avishag would demand the same for Nuria, something he was willing to do. They would have to discuss all the particulars. All of this because of a strange wandering Rabbi he’d never met.

Slowly, surely the teachings of Jesus seemed to infiltrate his world. He liked what he heard, though they were often strange. Forgiving one’s enemies, for example, did not seem to be practical. Alter shared the teachings in bits and pieces, as the need arose. Avishag and Nuria seemed particularly taken. And Enosh could not help but be drawn in as well. He could not deny the improvements in his own household. Indeed, things had grown much better over the past couple of years. Enosh drained his cup of the last dregs as the stars winked on. Yes, soon he’d need to speak to Avishag about adoption. 

Demetrius' Story, Step 28

Step 28

Silhouetted against a brazier full of glowing coals, Demetrius loomed over the prostrate Enosh cudgel raised, anger seething in visible waves across his face. Enosh cowered before the furious slave, his arm raised as a desperate shield. 

“Demetrius, stop,” Alter cried!

“I must, he deserves to die,” snarled Demetrius.

“Perhaps, but not for anything he’s done to you,” replied the older slave, “He’s not the best master, but he’s done nothing to you deserving death.”

“He owns slaves. That’s enough.”

“No, it’s not, and you know it. You’re still angry at your parents and former owners. Do not blame Enosh for all the wrong that’s been done to you by others. It’s not right.”

“It’s not fair,” moaned the young slave, his club dropping slightly. By now, the commotion had roused Timur who sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

“No, it’s not fair. Life is not fair. The world doesn’t work right. But you cannot let your anger control you. You must learn how to forgive. If you do not learn how to forgive, then you will always be a slave…to your own anger,” said the older man.

“I never wanted to be a slave,” murmured Demetrius, the bludgeon dropping a bit more.

“We are all slaves, even Enosh. The only real choice we get is who will be our master, darkness, or light. Right now, your true owner is your dark anger. Enosh has no true control over you. Consider carefully what you do next. Will you let your anger control you or will you control it” cautioned Alter? 

With an incoherent cry, Demetrius hurled his club over the wall. It landed with an oddly hollow thud. He dropped to his knees, covering his face with his hands. Enosh slowly got up and started to say something.

“Be careful of what YOU say next Enosh. Your words and actions carry weight and will either create or destroy, your choice,” admonished Alter.

Enosh paused, turned, and stalked outside the fold without a word. Timur watched the exchange wide-eyed. 

Alter walked over, placing a gentle hand on Demetrius’ shoulder, “Come, get some sleep. We can talk about this tomorrow.” Without a word, Demetrius heaved himself to his feet, shambled over to the lean-to, and collapsed on his pallet. Quiet soon enveloped the fold.

Demetrius' Story, Step 27

Step 27

Demetrius seethed. The day started well enough, for a slave. Demetrius enjoyed the colder weather. Being a shepherd provided easy access to wool. He, and Alter, were able to trade raw wool for thicker cloaks, making the cool nights much more bearable. Then, late in the morning, Enosh arrived with a new slave. The new slave was a mere youth. His name was Timur, and Enosh planned on leaving him to help with the growing flock. It was evident that Enosh liked Timur. He gave him the best portions at mealtime and talked to him as if he were a favorite son. Demetrius resented the preferential treatment. He’d worked well for Enosh and believed that he deserved consideration instead of this new…interloper. Enosh’s presence put Demetrius in an awkward position.

He had been giving serious consideration to running away. He felt sure that he could join himself to a passing caravan and work his way back to his home. What he would do once he returned, he did not know, but he did want to try. Enosh’s arrival threw his plans into disarray. Soon, fewer caravans would pass through, making an escape problematic. Though their frequency would grow again in the spring. The more he thought, the greater his anger and frustration. He focused all of his stored up rage at Enosh. If he could just get rid of Enosh, he might just get away. He would have to act quickly.

Demetrius gently shook Alter, whispering, “Alter, wake up.”

Alter grunted and slowly sat up.

“Shhss, don’t wake Enosh,” Demetrius whispered, “We need to talk.”

Waking quickly, Alter asked, “What is it?”

Without preamble or explanation, Demetrius whispered, “I’m running away. Come with me. Two are better than one.”

Alter paused, “No, I cannot. I owe my master.”

“Enosh?! He’s a jerk,” alleged Demetrius.

“No, not Him. My real master,” replied Alter.

“Not more of that savior, great shepherd, talk. Now is not the time,” whispered Demetrius fiercely.

“Now is exactly the time,” said Alter, “This will determine what kind of man you will be for the rest of your life.” Suddenly, without any noise, Enosh loomed out of the darkness and grabbed at Demetrius. Dodging to the right, Demetrius stuck out his foot and tripped Enosh. Stumbling forward into the low stone wall with a thud, Enosh fell to the ground stunned. Demetrius raised his hardened cudgel to finish his tormentor off.

“Demetrius don’t,” shouted Alter!

Demetrius paused, club raised and chest heaving from exertion and excitement. 

Demetrius' Story, Step 26

Step 26

Demetrius considered his options. He did not believe that he could continue to remain the property of Enosh, or any other man for that matter. As a gentile, Enosh was under no compunction to free him. A few lucky slaves could earn their freedom through diligence and good service. No such possibility was open to him. He knew that if he continued to work for Enosh, sooner or later his anger would get the best of him…probably sooner. His thoughts returned to running away, a perilous course of action.

“Demetrius, what are you thinking?”

Demetrius glanced over to the older shepherd, wondering if he should tell him of his plans, “I was thinking of the future.”

“Near or far?”

“I’m not sure,” Demetrius mused.

“Be careful, Demetrius,” Alter replied, “Do not do anything rash, something you might regret.”

“I regret this life.”

“Yes, but here you are not a fugitive. Here you have food, shelter, honorable work, a place. If you run away, you will have nothing,” Alter said.

“I know, but I don’t believe that I can serve Enosh any longer. He’s a bad master,” muttered Demetrius angrily.

“I know, but if you would accept Jesus as your master Enosh’s issues would not trouble you so. You would see things in a different light,” said Alter.

“You make it sound so simple, old man,” replied Demetrius wryly, “How can I trust this craftsman turned into a teacher you talk about. Didn’t you say he was crucified for his teachings? That doesn’t say much for his teachings or reputation.”

“No, it doesn’t. But all the same, he’s a better master.”

“Alter! Demetrius! How do you fare?” 

Alter and Demetrius turned and saw Enosh waving at them from the small limestone studded rise just to the east. As they stared a small youth topped the rise and stood with Enosh.

“I did not expect him for a few more days,” muttered a shocked Demetrius.

“Nor I,” added an equally shocked Alter, “Nor I.”

Demetrius' Story, Step 25

Step 25

Avishag felt great peace, unexpected, and perplexing. Initially, she’d resented the presence of Nuria. She had never wanted a servant. She wondered, was Enosh somehow displeased with how she conducted household affairs? Did he want her to be more efficient? She dared not ask him. He’d become short-tempered and uncommunicative. Whatever the case, Avishag found Nuria pleasant and obedient. She completed the chores Avishag assigned quickly and without complaint. Slowly, without fanfare, bit by bit, step by step, Nuria and Avishag developed a relationship, one that seemed to provide both of them deep-seated contentment. A gentle spirit settled over the house. Avishag and Nuria enjoyed long companionable conversations as they took care of the household needs. She and Nuria learned about each other during these long exchanges.

“So, you are from a small hamlet near Jericho?”

“Yes,” Nuria replied, “Our parents belonged to a merchant there.”

“And were you treated harshly?”

“Not really. As little children not much was expected of us. Light housekeeping mostly,” said Nuria, “But there was not enough work for us as we got older. The steward recommended that we be sold off when we became old enough to start doing real work. Our owner agreed. He wanted to make a profit before we consumed too much food.”

Nuria’s matter of fact tone of voice surprised Avishag, “What did your mother think?”

“Well, she told us to be brave and pray for a good master,” Nuria said thoughtfully, “But I could tell that she was very sad. I think I heard her crying as we left. I guess that was very hard for our mother. But of course, you know that will eventually happen when you are a slave.”

“You don’t seem to resent it,” said an astonished Avishag.

“Well, God answered my prayer. He sent me to a nice home with a good master,” answered Nuria, her head bent over some lentils she was sorting. The little stones she picked rattled on the table, as she sorted the lentils for supper. The ensuing quiet weighed heavily on Avishag.

“Poor dear child,” she said, reaching out to gently stroke Nuria’s glossy black hair.

“My mother used to do that,” said Nuria quietly, looking up and gracing Avishag with a slight smile.

Avishag quickly turned away in order to hide the sudden, hot tears that trickled down her face.