Hi Guys,
Just wanted to let you know that I am publishing my Daily Moments on iTunes EBook Store. The preview & preorder date runs from December 16 to December 25.
Tell your friends about it and go on line to get a short preview. I am sure there will be some adjustment to the initial issue, but updates will be reflected on your device. As of now the book will only be available in ebook form. I hope later to get it formatted for Amazon and other sellers.
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Ephesians 4:15b ..speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Last Thursday night I met Shirley in Greensboro to spend the night and take my Friday (day off) there. On the way in I met her at Red Lobster (Valentine’s Day) for a special meal. I couldn’t believe it. It was just about 5:00pm and there was a 45 minute wait. If it weren’t for the garlic biscuits we would have gone somewhere else. Our ideal meal at Red Lobster is to order 2 dozen biscuits and asked them to bring them out two at a time every 5 minutes. Haven’t tried that order yet but maybe we will one day before they come in the white coats to take us to our own little private (padded) rooms.
Before going home we had to stop by Harris Teeter because we needed some things for the house. I went into Starbucks and wrote my devotional while Shirley shopped. On the way out of the parking lot (Shirley was in her car and I was in mine) I noticed this man and his wife looking at her car as it passed them– really staring at her car and laughing. I was right behind her watching this unfold. I rolled down my window and said: “She is a crazy woman. She is my wife.”
What caught their attention was all the Duke stuff all over her car. It is a white Kia with a Blue Devil Head inside the D on both front doors; a Duke National Champion sticker on the back driver side window; a Duke Gnome on the gas tank lid; a small Duke in a circle on the back bumper; a Duke Alumni sticker on the back window; an oval circle with Duke inside it on the back of the trunk; a Big Blue Devil inside the D on the hood, and finally a big Blue Devil Fish eating a Tarheel Fish. I think that is all – except for whatever Duke outfit she may be wearing. I told her that all her car was missing was a sign made buy our friends, Mike and Angela Drum (Iron Dukes) which says “Official Duke Car!” (Signsontime.com)
On my car I have a small oval circle with Duke in the center and an Alumni sticker on the back window. (Shirley put a Blue Devil D on the passenger side door – so I wouldn’t know it was there). I went to school at Duke. I am quite proud of having a master’s degree from there. But I don’t put that stuff all over my car. I guess I am shy about what I believe or like or support. Do you think Shirley is shy about what she believes, likes or supports? Not a chance! I have grown accustomed (whether good or not so good) to being more diplomatic in my approach to my beliefs.
Shirley simply tells it like it is. Don’t ask her what she believes if you don’t want an answer – a full, complete, long version answer. In other words, if you give her a soapbox she will speak from it. Everywhere I have served people have liked Shirley – most people say more than me – because Shirley is Shirley – she is real, plain, and straightforward – what you see is what you get.
You know it is refreshing to have someone like Shirley in your midst. No pretense. Just someone you know will tell you the truth in love. I know where I stand with her – often times she lets me know where I stand with her – but at least I don’t have to wonder. I hope you have a friend like Shirley. I am glad I do. Be thankful for whoever is in your life that is real and honest.
We have been married for over 49 years and I love her more every day. We have shared many anniversaries and birthdays together over the years…. and they have all been good ones. Happy birthday dear. I really never have too much wife!!!
Dear Lord, I run into all kinds of phony people these days who play all kinds of political games which I can’t even begin to understand the rules or the purpose. I try to be the same around everyone and treat everyone with the same respect. Thank you for sending me a real person who has been a real wife and friend all these many years. I know it has been in and through Jesus that this marriage has been so blessed. Amen.
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Ecclesiastes 8:16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)
Shirley snores – I am sorry – Shirley purrs, and I am told that I snore. We have both awakened ourselves with our own snorts. If you know us you know that neither one of us would do or say anything to hurt the feelings of the other… that is just not us. So what do you do when the other one is snoring so loud, so off key, and so irregular that you cannot get anywhere near sleep?
I have tried just lying there and ignoring it. But that doesn’t work. All I do is let the steam build as I flip back and forth sleepless in Greensboro. She just continues to enjoy her purring.
I have tried quietly clearing my throat. That doesn’t work either. It starts out quietly, progressively getting slightly louder, eventually ending up sounding like I am coughing up a hair ball. It produces slight changes in her rhythm and some volume reduction for a moment or two. But then she is back to full force purring.
Finally… and I do mean finally, I nudge her just a touch. The results are akin to what the angel Michael said (in the movie Michael) when he saw the bull: she lifts her head and says something that means “Battle!” It is followed by staunch denials of snoring, even to the point of saying: “I can’t be snoring, I am awake.” Sure you are now but you should have heard yourself a moment ago. Do you see the places on the wall where the paint is chipped? Men, it does NOT help to make that comment either. I have even used the nudge ploy to wake her enough to ask very lovingly: “Dear, are the ear plugs over there?” Battle!!!
I have awakened many mornings only to find that Shirley was sleeping in another room. When asked why she doesn’t kindly say: “I wanted to read some more and I knew the light would keep you awake. Noooooooo. She just gives me her “signature” look, says: “Why do you think?” and I understand that I was snoring too loudly. I say why didn’t you wake me and she replies I tried several times. Guess what, I don’t remember any of it.
Yes, this Scripture is a stretch and it is an eisegesis not an exegesis. Shirley and I have been happily married over 49 years. We have had a lot of fun times together. We haven’t had all that much materially, but we have had each other and family. The majority of our lives have been filled with hard work, study, and laughter. We love to laugh and we love each other. I don’t think we have ever had a real argument…. we pick at one another for fun’s sake but we don’t get angry and say things we can’t take back.
Do I love her purring? No. It keeps me awake. Does she love my snoring. No. It keeps her awake. So what do we do. If it bothers us so much whoever is purred upon goes to another room and realizes that this stuff happens in life… get over it, get some sleep, and laugh about it tomorrow morning.
Dear Lord, I know a lot of people who snore and purr. I know a lot of people who have habits that push other people’s buttons. I know people who can’t stand to be in the room with someone else. We all rattle the walls with our imperfections. Help us not to take them or ourselves so seriously that we allow this to mess up our lives or the lives of someone else. Help us to lie down in green pastures, beside the still waters, knowing that you hold us in the palm of your hand. In and through Jesus. Amen.
P.S. Steve really does SNORE and after a while it lulls me to sleep. I very rarely punch him to make him stop. Ah, the sounds of love.
LOL, Shirley
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he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.Faye, our next door neighbor for 30 years, enjoys her granddaughter, 26 year old Whitney, living with her. Whitney is going to South University seeking to become a medical assistant. She is doing well in school. There is only one large problem; Whitney has terminal liver disease.
Whitney has always been a sickly child with no understanding of why. Around the age of 12 she almost bled to death. The tests run from that scary episode revealed that Whitney had Sickle Cell Anemia. The signs and symptoms vary from mild to very severe pain and anemia. This disease causes the body to produce sickle shaped red blood cells which are stiff and sticky, tend to block the flow of blood to limbs and organs and can cause organ damage. Many patients have acute pain from sudden Sickle cell crises that last from hours to a week or more. Repeated crises can damage major organs.
Whitney has been on the liver donor list three times and been taken off each time. She wanted to finish school before the transplant. Thursday, a week ago, she came home after about a 10 day stay at UNC Hospital. While there the doctors told her that her liver was shot from all this damage over the years, and that there was nothing they could do for her. It takes about 6 months to go through the liver transplant protocol, but if she comes back to the hospital in another crises there will be nothing they can do.
Last night around 8:30pm an ambulance pulled up in front of their home – lights flashing – no siren. Shirley went next door to be with Faye as the EMT’s worked with Whitney and took her to the hospital. She had been throwing up for two days, and even went to classes yesterday. Remember, she has only been home from UNC Hospital for a week.
She has been fighting this on a regular basis since age 12… for 14 years. Back and forth to the hospital, on tons of meds, probes, prods and scores of tests. Chronic, severe acute pain had become a monthly diet. Now, at 26 years of age, it has all come down to this: will she live until she is able to get through the protocol? Each crises brings with it more damage to more organs. We have not heard how she did through the night nor what the doctors are saying as they treat her and confer with the specialists in Chapel Hill. We hope and pray for good reports.
The message I need to hear and share about Whitney (and all of us) is whether we are in this world or the next we are safely in God’s loving care. I remember after heart surgery my fear of going to sleep because I was afraid that I would not wake up. I struggled and struggled to stay awake until I just fell asleep. The struggle and fear continued until I realized that either way I was in God’s hands. Once I realized that (that which I had preached for many years) I was able to get the rest I needed. Here comes that old reliable 23rd Psalm to the rescue once again. The Lord is with us ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE VALLEY to the other side. I think what we all need at Christmas time or any other time is the PEACE that comes from knowing that God is with us no matter what.
Dear Lord, we pray for Whitney and all the Whitney’s of the world to be healed of diseases that cause death. We don’t want anyone to have to suffer, especially during holiday seasons (that seems to make our pain worse). We pray that you allow the sick to feel the gentle embrace of a loving heavenly Father and the comforting peace and grace of a compassionate Jesus. Let that peace wash over them to give them the calm assurance that you walk with them, hold them, love them all the way through every time of trial. In and through Jesus. Amen.
Luanne’s Smile
P.S. After I finished writing this post I went through the room where we have Luanne’s Smile (A collection of colored crystals named after Luanne Hinshaw) hanging in the window and she was smiling all over the wall. I took that as her amen… God is always with us.
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9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.…Perhaps you are a little like me, you have come to that point where you have almost become numb to what we call the news now days. I use to be a CNN junkie. I would watch it just about all the time. I liked CNN because it gave both sides of the issue. Somewhere around election day, or just before, I simply had my fill on all this stuff… so many problems and only lies (from all sides) for solutions. I have actually come to the point where I do not believe anything – at face value – any politician says. I have actually come to believe that all politicians are working for their next election or the election of someone in their own party. It is NOT about the people. The pork the congress is trying to pass in the spending bill is proof positive that Congress is not interested in the people, only in themselves, their own agenda, and their own power.
Washington again is playing games with the report on the CIA’s illegal use and cover up of tactics of torture against terrorists prisoners. Supposedly this report is being released now because when Republican’s take over in January 2015 the report will be put in the back of some lawmaker’s closet.
I see on the news people protesting, demonstrating, rioting, looting attacking police because of what they believe is police brutality. I know the police go overboard at times. But I also know that they have a different standard than civilians do because of their oath to serve and protect the public and to seek not to be killed themselves. We all know things went wrong in all those places and we know (if we are honest with ourselves) that people are using this for their own political gain. Why can’t we sit down and have a civil conversation with frank and truthful words, come to a consensus and share that finding with America.
Isis, the Middle East, and all that goes with it are absolute nightmares. We have seen the evil beheadings on the news. We know they kill all the men in towns and villages who will not convert to their evil brand of religion, carry the young women and girls away to be sold or given as wives to their fighters. We know how brutal these people are. And we know the real answer may involve many US troops on the ground with the complete and unreserved backing of the American people – a backing that carries us all the way to victory. This evil must be eradicated from the world if this world is ever to move toward peace and brotherhood.
We could go on for days or weeks describing the wows of our country’s lack of moral integrity, spiritual well-being, and care for our brothers and sisters in need. Perhaps we to are waiting with the shepherds in the field for some announcement that the time has come for a new light… and real light… that will shine in the dark places of men’s souls. A Light that will come to bring redemption from the past, restoration to the present, and hope for the future. In the midst of all this darkness I need to hear that angel say: “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. For to you is born… a Savior who is Christ, the Lord….”
Dear Lord, fear is filling the world, tearing it apart, stripping it of any sense of peace, hope or security. Parents fear for their children and what they might face in this world. Husbands and wives wonder if they should have children at all… in a world like this. Evil seems to have the upper hand as never before in our life time. Help us to remember that this is not our world but your world; the outcome of situations and circumstances are only partially in our hands, but completely in yours. Announce to us once again that we need not fear for Christ is still the Lord of heaven and earth. In and though Jesus. Amen.
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Mark 3:3 …2They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!”
Today was the much anticipated annual physical with my primary care physician. I see the eye Doc twice a year (got to make sure the diabetes is not affecting the eyes), my cardiologist about once a quarter (gotta keep the old out of rhythm ticker in the best shape possible), my kidney specialist twice a year, and my VA Doc when I make an appointment. I only have to see my GI Doc about once every three to five years – depending on the findings of the latest colonoscopy.
I have found that one must take charge of one’s health, ask questions, and be the one who manages your care. There were some meds the cardiologist wanted to put me on and I said no. Reason being, I was allergic to that med – it even stated that on my chart which he was writing on at that very moment. I talked with several of my docs and PA’s about one med that I believed was causing me to swell by retaining fluid. All of them said this med will not do that. It must be something else. Cut back on fluids, salt, and take more fluid pills. None of that worked. I finally convinced one doc to take me off that med – and he did not believe it would work. I lost 12 pounds in two days and we could actually see my ankles again.
I had just been diagnosed as a borderline diabetic. So the doc put me on 1/2 of this pill each morning 30 minutes before breakfast. I went to a class at the Winston Salem VA Clinic teaching me how to deal with carbs. Here is the deal: Taking that pill 30 mins before breakfast drops your sugar. Eating breakfast (with 65-70 grams of Carbs) refills your sugar tank – so to speak. However, and this is a BIG however, if you do not eat a mid-morning snack with 35-40 grams of carbs you are likely to pass out from low sugar. This almost happened to me three days at the beach. I decided that I simply could not manage juggling the carbs and meds to keep from passing out. Seems to me that what I would be doing is eating more carbs, which would cause me to need more meds, which would cause me to need more carbs, and on, and on, and on. So I stopped taking that 1/2 pill each morning and just watching eating sugary foods. Today my A1C was 6.3 which is in a pre-diabetic range. (A1C is a 90 day average of sugar).
Since around 45 my cholesterol has been high. The overall count was 193… not too bad. But the good is bad and the bad is good. There is still concern about these counts because I do have coronary Heart Disease. I am also allergic to statins – those meds that work on cholesterol make my liver counts triple. I have been off all statins for several years. They are now trying me on a lower dosage to see if it will make any difference. The good news for all of us is what Dr. T. told me about today. He said next year there is a whole new set of meds coming out that should reduce cholesterol by 60%. And this new medication will not adversely affect the liver. I am really looking forward to the introduction of these new meds.
The doc asked me what every doc has asked me since my by-pass surgery: “How much exercise are you getting?” My standard answer is “With my neuropathy it kills my feet to walk.” Then they retort: “Are you looking for a pool?” After this accepted and expected banter the doc says something very important: “I don’t want you to get old on me. I don’t have a pill for that.” In other words, you have got to find a way to exercise in order to keep up your endurance. I can’t fix that. WAKE UP CALL!!!
You’re not too bad for the bad condition you are in…..
Our new room (here at the house) was renovated to help with a space for the treadmill and the stationary bicycle. With this new incentive (to live longer and feel better) I am going to attempt first to fight through the pain to walk on the treadmill and/or use the bike. I may not get back to my 3 miles a day, but I plan to increase my endurance and do what I can to assist my move to better health.
I guess the word I have for all of us today is this: Participate in your own better health. Be smart about what meds you are taking, know what protocols are being put into place for you and why. Do your homework and know about your health. Find a way to help and not to hinder your health. I remember Jesus reaching down to the man with the withered hand and saying get up and come forward. That man worked with Jesus to bring about his own healing. I have often thought that if he had not gotten up and moved toward Jesus, he may not have been healed.
Dear Lord, I thank you for doctors even when they tell me stuff I really don’t want to hear. I know they are called to be healing hands. Bless them and give them the energy, drive, curiosity, and compassion to continue to fight for better health for all their patients. In and through Jesus. Amen.
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the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”Shirley and I (and our family) have gone through 49 years of putting up some sort of Christmas tree. Some were Charlie Brown trees to be sure, while at least one other (my doings) was most unusual (that is the nicest thing Shirley will say about it.
It was last year, six months after we retired. Our house still looked like a hoarder’s paradise. If we could even find the tree there was no place to put it. Sooooooooo, someone had an idea. This someone ordered from a company in California a tree (complete with ornaments, lights and garland) that sticks to the wall. Not quite like the pull down shade kind that I was looking for but one that mostly stuck to the wall. I got some very strange looks from the grandkids and my son and daughter-in-law didn’t say much at all… they just stared at me from time to time. I was like the old eccentric (crazy) uncle the family just doesn’t talk about. Needless to say, I was not on Santa’s good list last year, nor the naughty list. I was on the “Never Do That Again” list.
This year, in preparation for Christmas, we had the closed in back porch renovated to look
like a real room. Mark just finished it last Friday. Early Saturday morning Shirley and I were out in the building looking for the Christmas tree box and all the Christmas decorations. We dug through the boxes, found most of the stuff we thought we had, and put the tree together. On the box lids we placed all the ornaments we were going to keep. A smaller box held the ones we wanted Joy to go through, and the other box was one we were going to discard… (take to Goodwill).
Around 1:00pm Noah and Abby came over (while mom went to the grocery store and accomplished some Christmas shopping) to help us decorate the tree. It is a good looking tree because of who helped. It probably wouldn’t win any contest, like some of the award winning trees some of you have posted on Facebook, but it is our little tree and has special meaning and memories for our family.
I remember my grandmother Martin’s Christmas tree. I would sit there and look at it for the 
longest time. She had some very special ornaments… ones that made bubbles inside the glass. I had never seen anything like that. I would look very hard, almost study them to see if I could find out how they were making those bubbles. I remember when Shirley and I bit the bullet and finally bought an artificial tree at Meyer’s Dept. Store. It was 1970 and it cost the outrageous sum (we thought we were committing some sin) of $25.00.
But over the years I have found it so soothing and peaceful to take the time to sit in the room, in the dark, with just the lights from the tree and look deeply into those lights. Perhaps it reminds me of “People who walked in darkness have seen a great Light….” Perhaps it reminds me that I, too, am to be the light of Christ to those around me… to allow others to see the light of Christ through my words and actions. Perhaps it reminds me that in a world filled with awful things, I can bring a word of hope, be a word of hope. Perhaps it reminds me that God will have and has had the last word… Love will win and has already won.
Take the time to look into the tree and allow your heart to warm and wander into the presence of Christ.
Dear Lord, Thank you for coming to live among us and shine your light on a darkened world. We still need your light today. There are a lot of dark places still out there. Illumine us, brighten us up and send us out to be a light to the world, in and through Jesus. Amen.
P.S. We did have some additional help… the little monster cat!!!
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“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
A couple of weeks ago I received a blog comment from an old time friend suggesting that we get together for lunch. Today was the day I was visiting with Mark in prison, in the early afternoon, so my friend and I got together for lunch in Salisbury. I started work on the Western NC Conference secretarial staff the year before he became Conference Secretary. That means I worked for Denny White for 25 years. Over the years of taking minutes, running errands, chasing down names of people who did not clearly identify themselves before speaking on the conference floor, printing the Daily Digest, I gained a tremendous respect and admiration for Denny and the way he so effortlessly went about doing the tremendous and complicated work of Conference Secretary.
This is not a job just anyone can do. He advised the bishop on the Discipline and Robert’s Rules of Order. He made sure that the conference followed Disciplinary order. He helped to plan the order of annual conference proceedings. He kept the statistics on all the churches and clergy of the conference. Yes he was big with numbers and statistics, but behind every number was a clergy member or a church. He knew almost every church in the conference, something about their history, who had served them, and even some of the members. Being secretary of the conference was a refining of God’s calling upon Denny’s life. He led this conference well for 25 years and deserves our greatest thanks.
My dad, a United Methodist pastor, also worked for Denny for 20 years doing the printing of the Daily Digest and other printing jobs needed by the conference. My dad dearly loved doing that and working for Denny. When my dad died several years later Denny came to the funeral. It was a deeply touching moment, as I looked out over the congregation during the eulogy, and saw Denny took the time to come and be there for my dad and family.
Denny has no idea I am writing this tonight. If it is out of line I am so very sorry. Everyone who has met and knows Denny already know this, but I want people to know that this man is such a wonderful man who knows more about the church and Methodism than I ever tried to know.
Today we talked, reminisced, laughed, and became reacquainted. I hope we can do this once a month. We all need someone to share with as we traverse this journey. I came away from our time together feeling much better about myself and the circumstances though which I am living.
Let me suggest a very special gift to give yourself this Christmas. Look up an old friend, maybe someone you haven’t seen in a while, and take him out for lunch. Talk, laugh, cry, and remember why you are so special to each other. Celebrate it and enjoy the day.
Dear Lord, thank you for friends who have walked with us over the years, touched our hearts, filled us with inspiration, and been there in times of greatest need. Today I thank you for Denny and all the ways he has given himself to and for the church, in and through Jesus. Amen.
FYI: Mark is doing well and will soon be sending a devotion to share with everyone.
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From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
Born Thy people to deliverI remember the good old days when excitement about the expected coming of Christmas was simply through the roof. Everything seemed to add to and point toward that growing excitement. Back then, if I remember correctly, the Christmas push didn’t start until after Thanksgiving. Back then we kinda did things in order. Didn’t hear about Santa in July or see Christmas ads or decorations in September.
I remember the Sears catalogue toy section and then later on the special smaller edition of the toy catalogue. That catalogue was the real starting point of big time expectancy for the coming of Christmas. We, as kids, would spend hours on end going back and forth through that book. We knew every page, especially the pages that had that special toy that spoke to us. We would circle those items we wanted included in Santa’s big old red toy bag. But that one toy that we just couldn’t live without, that is the one we circled with big bold lines.
I remember the one Christmas I wanted more than anything else a pair of roller skates. 
For those who don’t remember, these skates were medal and fit (by way of a skate key) on the outside of your street shoes.There were straps on the back of the skate to hold the skate around your ankles. I had told everyone I knew as often as I could. Everyone in the world knew I wanted roller skates. On Christmas Eve my family had made the trip to Madison to spend the night with my uncle Charles and Aunt Louise. That night, after supper and television, I was sitting in the floor beside the Christmas tree. I saw a box that had my name on it. Of course I picked it up and shook it. It sounded just like skates. I announced to my dad and uncle Charles that these were the skates I wanted. I just know it. I am absolutely sure. I went to bed knowing what was in that box.
What I did not know was that I had a tricky father and uncle. After I went to bed they went out into the garage, found a brick, put some nails in the holes of the brick and rewrapped that package. Christmas morning, I came running into the living room, snatched up that box, opened it and instead of finding what I absolutely knew were skates, I found a brick and nails. I know my jaw dropped, my expression changed to one of great confusion and wonder. What happened to my skates? FYI: I did get the skates before the wonder turned to tears.
The Israelites had been under oppression from foreign rulers of many years. They were not able to live out their faith except under threat of persecution. They longed for a Savior to come and set them free. This Savior had been promised since the time of Isaiah. People of faith knew that the time was near when this long-expected Jesus would come to set their people free. Oh, how we long to be free of those things that hold us in slavery. How we long to spread our wings and soar to the heights of faith.
Do we long for the Savior as much as I, so long ago, longed for those roller skates? If we shake the box we may not find exactly what we were expecting. However, as we receive the gift we will find everything we ever needed.
Dear Lord, who came to us so long ago in the birth of Jesus, the Christ, be born in us anew today. We offer our lives as home to you and ask for your grace and strength to live as your faithful, joyful, expectant children, always in and through Jesus. Amen.
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This past weekend college football was billed as “Rivalry Weekend.” It is that time of the year when you and your team’s rival fight it out on the gridiron. The winner gets one year’s bragging rights and some sort of trophy that goes back and forth to the winner each year. Some schools rivalry is more fierce than others. I went to Duke, so our rivalry is always UNC. Matter of fact my wife describes us as ABC fans (Anybody but Carolina). But that comes from those UNC fans that can’t take it when they lose but love to dish it out when they win. We got the stuffings beat out of us on Thursday night a week ago. We lost the “Bell” and missed out on our divisional championship because of that loss. It was an ugly, ugly, ugly game for Duke fans.
I remember the story told about the Ohio State and Michigan rivalry. Coaches could/would be fired over a loss, children’s choice of mates was determined by where their allegiance resided. One was classic: the son of a Buck Eye graduate signed up to go to college at Michigan. When his father found out he went to Michigan, found his son, drove him to Ohio State and enrolled him. Nuff said, right!!!
Being a preacher’s kid, we moved a lot. But in the town I call home, Madison/Mayodan, the big rivalry was Morehead in Eden, and it seems everyone’s rivalry was Reidsville. The feelings were so strong with them that at their home field almost every year fights broke out, cars were damaged, and arrests were made.
I like healthy, good spirited rivalry. I think it pushes the players to give more of themselves than they may normally. It is kinda like the Alabama – Auburn game Saturday. That was a high scoring (99 point) game with many really good plays. I am sure there are some who took things too far. Hopefully most accepted the game as a very good game of which both schools could be proud of their efforts.
We have rivalries in life also… at work, in the community, even in our own families… and we need not mention politics. We do everything we can to best them in all things. We have to be number one: biggest house in the best neighborhoods, most celebrated and brightest kids, best jobs and fanciest cars.
In the world of religion and faith I have a hard time seeing a proper place for rivalries. We should not compete with each other. The story is told of a small town with a church on three corners of the main square: Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist. One hot summer Sunday night the Baptist started singing: “Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown.” The Presbyterians responded with: “No, Not One” and the Methodist finished with: “I’m So Glad.” I’m sure that probably did not happen. But it does point to the senseless things we do, as denominations within the Christian Faith, to try to outdo one another.
If we should want to outdo one another in the faith, let’s outdo one another in love, understanding and acceptance. Wouldn’t it be great if people actually did say: WOW!!! Look at those Christians, how they love one another. Perhaps if Christians had loved one another when Ghandi was looking into becoming a Christian he and most of India would be Christians now. Perhaps if we loved as Christians should love there would be no one starving right now in Syria only a couple of miles from food and medicine. Perhaps if we loved as Christians should love there would be no hungry and homeless and unemployed people in the richest country in the world. Perhaps if Christians loved as Christians should love people would actually believe they are equal, worthy, and loved.
Dear Lord, I know I give in to rivalries that I shouldn’t and even make up ones where they were not before. When I do I know that I am not being the person you created and called me to become. Help me to put rivalries aside and seek to be loving in everything I do. Only in doing that will others see you living through me. In and through Jesus. Amen.
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The Journey 