Living In The Moment

A good friend of mine, Skip, visited a couple of months ago. We spent a long weekend together. Mostly, we golfed. And Skip was a true gentleman, bearing with my inept attempts at the game. He really wasn't there so much for golf, as he was to spend time with me. It didn't matter so much if I hit the fairway solid with my first drive off of the tee, or if I ended chasing my ball in the woods. I tried to convince him that I spent more time in the woods looking for my ball because I liked the woods, I AM a Forester. He wasn't buying it, although he encouraged me just the same. And we had a guest join us, another superb golfer who was nearly text book perfect. Whatever. Neither of them bought my ruse, although I thought it sounded good! We did have fun however.

We spent time together in the kitchen, I was more like his understudy. Watching the master as he sliced, diced, and managed all of the components of the meal so that they peaked together at just the right moment. Cooking is like music, if you understand that. It is truly an art, requiring you to move with the rhythm, to watch, listen, taste and adjust the tempo to arrive at your desired result.

Anyway, Skip and I had plenty of time to talk, visit, and just enjoy each others company. And he brought some very rare and unique IPA's that we needed to devote some attention to. In short, we had a great time.

But the whole purpose of the weekend, I think, was to take to heart some very simple, but wise words he had for me. Surrounding Matthew 10, and living in the moment. Being present where I am now, not worrying about what may or may not happen. And he made some good points that simply showed how we can miss what God is doing, here and now, when we are not present. When we borrow trouble, vain imaginations, from the future. When we worry, and try to figure out the future before it ever gets here. I needed to hear that. Because I don't want to miss the future, while I'm looking down and fumbling with how I'll get there. I don't intend to derail myself, but think of Caddy Shack...

"Danny. Danny, I'm going to give you a little advice. There's a force in the universe that makes things happen; all you have to do is get in touch with it. Stop thinking...let things happen...and be...the ball." na-na-na...

Simple, incredibly valuable lesson from a man who has really learned how to do that.

And I came away that weekend with a better understanding of how we mature and grow. How we ripen.

It's a slow, gradual process, generally. We don't see it ourselves well, though others may. And by our own definition, we may not get there entirely "in this life".

I look at myself, and think how unfinished I am. Lots of rough edges for God's love to polish away. But if I wait around until I am "presentable", "whole", and "polished", I'll never step into the water that's there waiting to do the job. "Take me to the river, wash me in the water..."

I have to be content, accepting of the fact, that I may not be all that I "should be" in this life. And that learning to accept that about myself, and others, may be THE lesson I need before I do walk into the next chapter.

The next several posts are going to be on Calling & Destiny. A few things have happened lately to stoke that fire, feed those thoughts. But I'm going to put these in the cooker for a few days first, let the flavors and aromas intensify. They deserve more than a quick, sloppy half-cocked shot.

Calling and Destiny have been two intertwined subjects that I honestly have wrestled with for a while now. Now more than ever since the heart episode a few months ago.

There are a few things going on that all point to this, whispered directions that I am straining to catch. I've learned that God is very patient and persistent with me however. If I miss the first one or two softly spoken turns, His GPS has me right back on track at the next mention if I am listening.

So... safe travels!

BTW, I think I am about to have the search feature on my blog all fixed up. Seems like I had a number of conflicting tags, and my Google search function here just didn't like the disorganization. Another day or so, and you might be able to search for some things in the archives here and actually find them.

He-Man Women Haters Club

Without going into the details, I'll just say that I was reminded of this episode of "The Little Rascals" several weeks ago by someone who is very dear to me. And I've not been able to get it out of my mind.

It is really a stab at the Gentlemen's Clubs of yesteryear. The social establishments created so that men could get away from the women-folk in their lives, and have quality "guy time". You know, smoke cigars, drink their beverage of choice, and let their hair down. Or worse.

But I think the underlying concept is generally sound. You do need to have friends, a social support network, comprised of members of your own gender. One person cannot possibly provide all of your social needs. Nor should they be expected to bear that burden. And we should be mutually supportive of one another in seeking this. It's good for each of us, and if used wisely makes a couples time together as man and wife that much richer, valuable. It allows us to enter that space more "us", able to give from a full storehouse within. Not out of lack, or a thin margin. It helps us keep perspective, maintain a healthy concept of "self', and allows us to bring that healthy self into the relationship to the glory of God, and in the best interest of our partner. It's all about balance.

But, as ridiculous as the clip above looks, this is the risk we run if we seek to redeem and restore masculinity on it's own, in our own strength. All on its own. There are examples enough. In fact, our history is more about this club than the new one Jesus came to establish.

But masculinity doesn't exist in a vacuum. As odd as it seems, it's only recognizable and valuable because of its counterpart, the women in our lives. And they can make the same claim toward us. We are two halves of a whole, and can't see ourselves clearly apart from each other. Apart from what appear to be our differences, but which can become the individual strengths we bring to one another. At least that's my perspective on it.

Jesus took time apart, not in an effort to get away from those he was called to, but in order to rest, recharge, and spend time before the Father. So that He could live in the present before them, aware and involved in all the Father was doing on behalf of those he was called to serve. So as men seeking out mentors, and fathers, and guides, we need to keep in mind Gods design. His purpose in this. If we stray too far afield, flexing our muscles and trash talking like the barber shop guys in Gran Torino, we miss the real reason for our being. Our original calling.

We are simply blessed to be part of Gods perfect design. One half of the whole, complimentary forces for mutual good.

The Yin to their Yang.

Seth Godin on Curiosity

Seth has some interesting comments on curiosity, and makes a comment on Fundamentalism as a way of thinking that doesn't consider truth unless it fits into a narrow, predefined framework. I'm not sure that I agree with that assertion, although I understand where he's coming from with it.

But this is interesting to me, because believing in an All Powerful, All Knowing God, I don't have that fear. All truth, real truth, is God's truth. So a careful study of a thing can only confirm and enrich what I already believe. :)

Now I am so glad that my mom tolerated the little boy who was constantly dragging home radios, vacuum cleaners, and televisions in order to perform circuit board lobotomies. Just to see what made them tick. She allowed me to feed my curiosity, to let it breath.

Thanks Ma, for the freedom to exercise curiosity.