Mars' Hill

From this rocky outcropping, the Apostle Paul--having beheld the city (Athens) "wholly given to idolatry"--made his appeal that the "unknown God" they unwittingly served was Him in whom we live and move and have our being.

From our vantage point, removed by much time and great distance, we can tend to relegate idolatry to what we know of the remnants of Greek mythology; quaint and fairly harmless at this point.  Yet in its roots lie the very human tendency to worship the past, raise to doctrine the dogmas of men, and constrain God to something we can hold in our hands, understand, and control.

The Ten Commandments weren't issued with an expiration date nor the suggestion that any of them might not be highly relevant at some future time.  So how does "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" and "Thou shalt not make any graven image" apply today? And how might we be just as blind as those Paul derided on Mars' Hill?

Busy

"How are you doing?"
"Busy. It's really crazy right now."
"We should get together sometime."
"Maybe when things slow down."

Busy, busy, busy.  It's an epidemic if not an addiction.  We boast of how many emails we get, how full our calendar is, how sleep-deprived we are...how busy.

All in stark contrast to:

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Ps. 46:10)
"Come ye...apart...and rest awhile." (Mark 6:31)
"In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30:15)

Lord save us from ourselves.

Autumn Postcard

I hesitated in posting this one knowing that my friends in Connecticut had their Fall cut short by a crippling snowstorm.  But maybe they can get some vicarious enjoyment from the reflective interlude of a little "New England" postcard from the Midwest.

Fall has that same sense of beauty tinged by angst that I feel in viewing a full moon.  The greatest explosion of color coincides with the begin of the fading glory, however slight.  Yet what a deception the Spoiler offers in the accompanying lure to avoid beauty, love, warmth just because it might fade or diminish.  And even in earth's disappointments lie the seed of hope that God's love never wanes nor fades away.

And we are going to a city where the roses never fade!

Smarte

I confess to less than complimentary thoughts when I have seen these cars on the highways of the U.S.  They seem toy-like and downright dangerous as they share the road with SUVs and other behemoths that rumble through our land.

Our recent trip to Greece and Italy changed my paradigm.  These cars were born to ply the narrow streets of Athens and Rome! 

Limited parking?  No problem.  And if even the compact spacing afforded in the above image isn't available; you have other options...

Still not buying or recommending one for stateside, though.

Pillars

Pillar: a supporting, integral or upstanding member or part. (Merriam-Webster).

From a child, I've heard the term pillar used to refer to those who provided support, often in a quiet and unassuming manner, and especially in the context of the church. It always struck me as a high compliment.

Some of the columns are in the sun; up front and visible.  Some stand in the shadows and carry their load unnoticed.  Removal of any one of them would put a greater load on the others.  And who knows how many could be removed before the structure would collapse.

Acropolis

Acro (top), polis (city): City at the top.  T'he semester of Etymology I had with Mr. Tripp back at Hinsdale South was one of the best classes I ever took.

No surprise, I guess, that those Greek roots show up in Athens.  This happens to be from the vantage point from which Paul beheld the city wholly given to idolatry and challenged the Mars Hill gathering that the God they acknowledged as "unknown", was Him "in whom we live and move and have our being".  No less true today.

Soulmate

There's a look that you only give to your heart's love.  A smile that only years of knowing and loving can evoke. 

I love to make her laugh.

Bridges

Actually shot this with my cell phone on an early  morning bike ride recently.  I'm in a race against time as the sun rises later and later each day.  Always some sadness as the days shorten.  Yet peace in the promise that the seasons will follow in sequence until the Lord's return.

I like bridges, roads...connections.  Are we building connections?  Some good advice I heard a good while back; never burn a bridge.

Sometime We'll Understand

Not now, but in the coming years,
It may be in the better land,
We’ll read the meaning of our tears,
And there, some time, we’ll understand.

"Sometime We'll Understand" (Maxwell N. Cornelius")

R.I.P. Patrick Mizwicki, 1997-2011

Watching...waiting

I've been wondering if or how to use this image ever since I captured it in New England last summer.  Though it's not a true "widows walk", it reminds me of that lonely roost where the wives of seafarers would pace; watching and waiting, often in vain, for the return of their loved one.

This week, our son Nelson lost a neighborhood buddy in a tragic accident.  At 14, Pat was "too young to die".  Yet he's gone.

At the same time, my dad is continuing his recovery from open heart surgery.  Doing well at age 70, all things considered.  So thankful; especially in light of Pat.

These things send our minds in a thousand directions.  We hug our kids a little closer. We say our "I love yous" a little more freely.  We resolve to let the unimportant things pass a little easier.  To value each day a little more.

We realize we are all watching and waiting; for the return of something lost.   But while we wait, we must live.  With hope.