This is what it looks like at night when it’s the end of the day and Wendy has a lot words left. In this case, our friend Dave was listening to the words – so I got to take the picture.
Monthly Archives: October 2011
Grand Rapids Skyline
Chapter-a-Day Zechariah 1
“And where are your ancestors now? Dead and buried. And the prophets who preached to them? Also dead and buried. But the Message that my servants the prophets spoke, that isn’t dead and buried.” Zechariah 1:5 (MSG)
As I write this post I am looking back at the sections of God’s Message through which we’ve been journeying the past ten months. Jeremiah, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. With the exception of a brief side-trip through Matthew, we’ve been striding through some of the most ancient texts in human history dating back thousands of years. And each day there’s something for me there: a thought to chew on, an inspiration, an example to follow, an action to avoid, or a conviction on which to act.
As the verse from today’s chapter describes, the scribes of these words are long gone. The people about whom we are reading were dead and buried a couple millenia ago. And yet, the story that God is telling continues to this day. The Message God delivered is alive and well and making a difference in my life in the 21st century A.D.
Very cool.
Chapter-a-Day Deuteronomy 34
“No one knows [Moses’] burial site to this very day.” Deuteronomy 34:6 (MSG)
In a graveyard in France is the burial plot of Jim Morrison, the charismatic, drug addicted lead singer of The Doors. When my friends travelled abroad in college, it was a favorite tourist spot. I would get pictures sent in letters of the gravesite covered with graffitti. Songs have been written about it. I’ve heard countless stories of people going to join the groups who continually sit arond the grave, hold vigil, and party to memorialize the poet and musician.
I compare that to the childhood memory of going to the cemetery before each Memorial Day with my mother and grandmother. We’d place flowers on the graves of great-grandma Daisy and my grandmother’s sister, who died at a relatively early age. When my daughter’s were small, they accompanied my mother as she continued the tradition of visiting the graves of family and placing flowers there as a Memorial.
Throughout the journey I have presided over many funerals from strangers to loved ones. I’ve watched many different ways that people handle the death of the body, how families respond to that death, and how the dead are remembered and memorialized. It’s prompted me to think about my own death and how I would like to be remembered.
While I fully understand the tradition of visiting graves and memorializing the dead, I have come to prefer the idea of cremation and the scattering of ashes in a special place. The truth of the matter is that when this journey is over and my body breathes its last, my spirit will arrive at my eternal home in heaven with Christ. My wayfaring sojourn will complete. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I don’t want loved ones visiting the burial place of my body only to have it subtly reiterate a message of death, burial, and grief. I would rather have family and loved ones gather at one of their homes to feaest on a good meal, drink good wine, share good memories, and raise their glasses to toast those memories, laugh together, and celebrate my eternal homecoming.
Reading today’s chapter, I was glad that Moses’ burial site was lost and forgotten. I can only imagine the gaudy religious spectacle it would have become by now. Because it is forgotten, the story of Moses can live in my mind free from the struggle of idolization that occurs when burial plots become religious shrines.
Artist Date
A month or so ago I wrote a post in the 30 day blogging challenge I was doing about a date I would like to go on. Wendy and I finally arranged the “Artist Date” a few weeks ago and headed out on a gorgeous autumn afternoon with our friends Sam and Candace. We spent about and hour or so wandering through the Des Moines Art Center, taking in the collection on display. Each of us then split up and spent just over a half-hour with one work of art that stood out to us for whatever reason.
Being a beautiful, warm, sunny afternoon, I spent my time in the courtyard with the DMAC’s iconic statue of a man launching himself off of a pegasus. I’ve seen this sculpture a million times and it had sort of morphed into the background of the Art Center’s surroundings. I didn’t think much about it. So, I took some time to really study it. It spoke to me of the relationship of myth and culture. I realized that the statue, now surrounded by the three very different buildings making up the DMAC, had layers of meaning for me that the artist could have never envisioned since it was conceptualized and installed well before its present surroundings. I thought a lot about the meaning of artwork that gets layered upon it over time and the changes of culture compared to the artist’s original intent. It spoke to me of courage, faith, and adventure.
We stopped for coffee and casual conversation at Zanzibar’s on Ingersoll. It was a great time of building relationship and friendship as the process of knowing and being known deepened between the four of us. We then took a walk through the sculpture garden downtown before ending up at Noah’s for a wonderful dinner.
Over dinner, each of us shared about the work of art with which we spent time. It was really interesting to hear how each piece affected the viewer and intersected with our current life experiences. We had a lively conversation with great food and good wine, topped off with rich, dark chocolate cake for dessert.
The ride home flew by as our conversation continued. Wendy and I could not have enjoyed ourselves more as we looked back on the day. It fulfilled what I’d blogged about and envisioned back in August. Great experiences with great people certainly serve to fill life’s well.
Chapter-a-Day Deuteronomy 33
Thus God became king in Jeshurun
as the leaders and tribes of Israel gathered.
Deuteronomy 33:5 (MSG)
I have two very different daughters. While each of them possess a sweet spirit, their personalities have been strikingly different since they were young. As they grow and strike out on their own, they share a common, passionate faith in God. They each have their own unique bent, however. One is not good and the other one bad. One is not blessed while the other has blessing withheld. One is not loved and the other hated. They are simply different as different musical instruments, while being part of the same orchestra, provide a uniquely different sound to those who listen. God will use each of them to accomplish his melodius purposes in the orchestration of Life’s great symphony.
As their father, I am proud of both my children with their unique set of abilities and corresponding accomplishments. I appreciate each off them for their individual personalities. I love both of my children deeply and honor the strong, individual women they have become. I bless them both as I see God leading them on their respective paths.
In today’s chapter, the lyrics of this Song of Moses continue as all the tribes, representing the children of Israel, gather together. The lyric establishes that God is the king of the nation. Then, one-by-one, the children of Israel and their tribes are given words of blessing. Each and every tribe is blessed even as each tribe has their own unique personality, bent, strengths and weaknesses.
Along the journey I have known those who have experienced the pain of a parent’s disfavor. I have watched parents, especially fathers, shower blessing on one child even as they drew back the hand of blessing on his or her sibling. I have listened to the crying of both men and women who have never received their father’s blessing. Those tears eminate from a deep place within the soul. That particular pain can have a profound effect on a person’s life.
Today I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who spreads His blessing upon all of His children. I pray that I have followed his example well.
Chapter-a-Day Deuteronomy 32
Read up on what happened before you were born;
dig into the past, understand your roots.
Ask your parents what it was like before you were born;
ask the old-ones, they’ll tell you a thing or two. Deuteronomy 32:7 (MSG)
Last week I had the pleasure of visiting a small group of historians at the Van Raalte Institute in Holland, Michigan. These distinguished academics have dedicated themselves to researching and preserving the history of the Dutch in America. It was one of their books, Iowa Letters, that provided the source material for a play I wrote a few years back and I wanted to express my gratitude. It was a very pleasant visit. I even learned a thing or two.
I love history on both a large and small scale. History on the larger scale has given me a better understanding of human nature and taught me valuable lessons with which I’ve been able to make better life decisions. As it is said, those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it (usually to tragic ends). On a smaller scale, researching and learning about my family, my family’s history, as well as my ethnic heritage has had an even greater impact.
In researching my family and my heritage I have gained a greater perspective of who I am. It has afforded me the opportunity to see myself in a larger context of the community and family system that helped form me. It has helped me understand the community in which I live. This, in turn, has given me insight into both the cultural, familial strengths I want to exercise as well as the generational sins I wish to address and to avoid.
God consistently tells us in His Message to look back and remember. In looking back, digging into the past, and understanding our roots we gain context in which we better understand ourselves. We are also reminded of God’s faithfulness throughout the generations, encouraging us to trust that faithfulness in our own.
Chapter-a-Day Deuteronomy 31
Then God commanded Joshua son of Nun saying, “Be strong. Take courage. You will lead the People of Israel into the land I promised to give them. And I’ll be right there with you.” Deuteronomy 31:23 (MSG)
The company that my partner and I now lead was founded and led for twenty years by the man whose name is still on the company. The general plan of succession had been well established for many years and the actual period of succession had relatively few problems in comparison to other companies with which I’m familiar. This did not, however, mean that there were no issues. For everyone involved in our small firm there was a period in which emotions ran high, even if they ran high under the surface. I can still remember grappling with feelings of anxiety, fear, and stress as everything changed.
Whether it happens in family, church, business, or community, change always creates all sorts of anxiety on a system. There are many kinds of change, but the change from a strong and instrumental leader to his or her successor can be among the most critical. Moses was not only a great leader, he was the leader for his people. While Aaron, and later Joshua, had been by Moses side for many years, it was Moses who led the people out of Egypt. It was Moses who stood up to Pharaoh. It was Moses who led the people through the Red Sea. It was Moses who met with God on top of the mountain. It was Moses through whom God had given the law. It was Moses who carried the staff. It was Moses who spoke with God’s authority. Now, at the most climactic moment since leaving Egypt, the people are standing at the river getting ready for the monumental task of entering and taking the Promised Land. For the first time in over forty years they will face a task without Moses. Moses is stepping down.
Imagine trying to step into those shoes.
It is no wonder that both God and Moses continue to remind Joshua and the people over and over again to be “strong and courageous.” The important piece of this commonly repeated encouragement is not the “strong and courageous” part, but the tag at the end: “I’ll be right there with you.” Moses may die, but the same God who led and empowered Moses would be right there to lead and empower Joshua. Tremendous change would take place in the leadership ranks, but God was the true leader of the nation – not Moses. And, God wasn’t going anywhere.
In times of profound change, when I’m feeling the stress and anxiety of things shifting all around me, it is good to know that God is a solid rock who isn’t changing and isn’t going anywhere.
Fall Road Trip to Michigan
Wendy and I have been trying to get to Michigan for the past few years to see our friends there. Wendy’s former roomie and bridesmaid, Jodi, and her husband Judd live just outside of Grand Rapids. Judd pastors a church there. One of my best friends and best man, Dave, and his wife Maria live in Grand Rapids and teach at Grand Valley State.
So, Wendy and I spent the better part of a dreary, cool, rainy week in Michigan. We didn’t mind, too much. The colors were beautiful and our hosts were warm and inviting. Grand Rapids is in the middle of a big public art contest/celebration called ArtPrize, so we spent a lot of time wandering Grand Rapids and viewing a small sample of the thousands of works of art on display around the city. I also took Wendy out on a date; We had dinner at the New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, MI followed by a performance of the River North Dance Company out of Chicago who were performing at the Knickerbocker Theatre as part of Hope College’s Great Performance Series. We had tickets to see RNDC in Des Moines a few years ago but the performance was cancelled. When I saw their name on the marquee in downtown Holland I figured it was a moment of synchronicity and jumped at the opportunity to take Wendy. It was a wonderful performance.
We spent two days with Judd & Jodi and their kids Jayla and Jax. We then spent a couple of nights with Dave and Maria. It was great to sit and visit with friends we don’t get to see very often. This morning we got in the car and headed to Judson where I’m helping emcee a big tribute event for some of my alma mater’s long time professors.
It’s been a nice week, but we’re both looking forward to the return home tomorrow!