Introductions

introduce- in-truh-doos

to present (a person) to another so as to make acquainted.
L intrōdūcere  to lead inside, equiv. to intrō-intro-  + dūcere  to lead
from Dictionary.com




It's a long life, baby,
when you reach out broken hands and feel
that there are no hands reaching back for you.
When the worlds gone crazy,
I make a cry of desperation
and hear my echo bouncing off cold walls.
All I know, is it's a long life baby.
Chorus- Mile Long Driveway
by Jeremy Current


A necessary part of being human means meeting other humans. Sometimes we introduce ourselves, sometimes we are introduced by others. This week I finished reading two books- My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok and What God Starts, God Completes by Michael Milton. Both were autobiographies, the one about an imagined person, the other real. Since childhood I have enjoyed reading biographies, especially autobiographies. Everyone has a story. It takes courage to share the story with others.


I will never meet Asher Lev, though I was introduced to the fictional character by my friend Amy AcNelis (a fellow bibliophile and extraordinary teacher of English). I did meet Michael Milton. My good friend Glen Robinson invited me to attend a dinner with him; a celebratory introduction to the Chancellor/CEO Elect of Reformed Theological Seminary, Dr. Michael Milton. When Dr. Milton introduced himself to me he gave me a bear hug. He exuded joy that cannot be faked. As I watched and listened that evening, the words of Jesus came to my mind, "Behold a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile!" RTS is blessed indeed.


Relationships begin with an introduction.
Sometimes those introductions lead to a better understanding of ourselves.


"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness how will people taste godliness...you're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world."
Matthew 5
The Message

To Sing,To Laugh, To Cry

After the Song

The Evening Muse stage

"Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto-"

I am a man, and nothing human is alien to me.

Terence, Playwright, c.190-158 BC

"But we have this treasure in earthenware vessels to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

Paul of Tarsus, Tent maker, 1st Century AD

I am a creature of habit- my day begins early with a jog/walk around the lake, cups of coffee, reading and, most importantly, silence. And then, time shifts into chronos cruise and the silence is ended. Routine can be good. Routine can also form ruts. I praise God for surrounding me with people who are helping me understand the condition called human. They help my "social jet lag", defined by Wired magazine as  "chronic exhaustion due to persistent conflict between your scheduling software and your body clock." They help keep me from becoming a curmudgeonly teacher by reminding me that to live is to sing, to laugh, and to cry- so, in this bit of rambling I reflect on and share insights from a few of the fellow travelers that enrich the journey.

Sam, my youngest son, amazes and impresses me. Funny, clever (when Sam was a child we disciplined him by giving his bottom a smack with a wooden spoon until, one day, all the spoons were gone. When asked about this, he replied, "I threw them away!") and talented, Sam keeps me apprised of new music. Thursday night, I went with Sam and Emma to listen to a couple of Sam's favorite musicians- Jeremy Current and Flagship. The venue was The Evening Muse in the NODA district of Charlotte, NC. The evening reminded me that my heart yearns for live music, which leads to my friend Hugh Gill.

Jeremy Current

Live at The Evening Muse

Hugh Gill is working on a collection of original worship music- songs for soaking. Sunday afternoon I was privileged to record a vocal track on one of the songs- reminding me there is goodness in singing, and, as my friend Karen Kolzow reminded me, in singing there is life. Karen told me that while reflecting on Matthew 10:29, 'Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.', the heart of the Father said to her, "With every bird that falls there is one less song in the world." Shift the focus from death to life!

Hugh playing a new song

                                       

Hugh and me

In this life there is sorrow. Job said, "Man who is born of a woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil." The poetry of Tedd Galloway is a ministry to my soul- his words remind me of the frailty of my humanity. As Melissa Helser said, "I cry because I am alive." There is a time to cry. There is also a time to be silent. "Of You, silence is praise." Psalm 65:2 Hebrew Bible.

J.D. Mosiman is in the throes of making prophetic art- paintings that speak with a praise of silence. He stands on the threshold of a series that will impact many lives- one more reminder that we were made to make.

So, thank you Sam and Hugh and Karen and Tedd and J.D.

You are much loved and much needed. 

Fans of the morning, generally annoyed by my jog

Afroduck and friends