Traveling For Christmas

I think I'm ready for Christmas now, although I don't really know exactly what it means to be ready. If it means that the tree is trimmed, shopping is done, gifts are wrapped, hot chocolate is...hot, and the travel itinerary is set, then yes, I'm ready. It seems the older I get the harder it is to be in the Christmas spirit and actually be heart and mind ready. All this preparatory stuff gets in the way of enjoying the celebration and significance of Jesus' birth. I can do without the distractions. Give me peace and good will toward men.

Christmas Day is just a few away and as I read the Christmas story according to Luke I am struck by how much travel Jesus endured in his early infant days. His parents, Joseph and Mary (pregnant with Jesus) traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to check in with the local government. Jesus was delivered here in a stinky barn. From there the family traveled to Jerusalem for the baby dedication in the temple. Then at the urging of an angel, the family was exiled to Egypt (part of Mark's narrative) because the king wanted Jesus dead. Once King Herod was dead, the family returned to Nazareth where the trip first began.

The traveling for Jesus didn't end, in fact it continued for the remainder of his life. I don't know that Jesus ever called a place "home" in the same way we do. Jesus never go too comfortable in any one place and often wore out his welcome. His life was a journey of purpose not places. Click here for an outline of Jesus' life journey as he made his way from town to town. As one reads the gospel narratives, Jesus seems to be a homeless drifter.

I don't know why this particular point has been raised with me other than to remind me of the places I've been. This doesn't seem to be a traditional or even poetic Christmas theme I know. Hilary and I will periodically talk about our map and discuss what led to the various places we've made home and what ultimately led us some place else. Even our plot here in Cincinnati, questions have been raised as to why we are here. We feel like we have moved alot and wonder at times if we have made life difficult for ourselves. Our immediate families are far enough away that our lives cannot blend together as we'd like at times. Admittedly there are times we (mostly me) are glad we're far, far away.

For Jesus and all the stops he made as a homeless drifter, it was never about the location or the circumstances. He didn't complain about the housing market or the tax base or even the condition of the public schools. Jesus didn't worry about a job with benefits or how far away he was from his parents. He was content with his purpose as God's Son.

As I spend Christmas here at home and then travel to both sides of family I'm asking the Lord to repel circumstances and to reveal purpose. I don't know if there will be any more moves in the future but either way, my prayer this Christmas is to understand his purpose for me in the place he has prepared, as God the Father did for his only son (Matthew 1:20&21, NLT).

...and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

110words #017

Unction of the Sick

"...from ashes to ashes and dust to dust", pronounced Father Fredrick solemnly. "This concludes the ceremony of last rites."

As Father Fredrick closed the book, the guilt swelled within. When parishioner Christopher asked for counsel about his dilapidated car Fredrick did not foresee this misunderstanding. Father Fredrick had advised against repairs due to the condition and the expense relative to its years of service. Strangely depressed and mournful, Christopher requested the unction of the sick sacrament. Caught off guard and painfully empathetic, Father Fredrick agreed. Leaving the priesthood was something not dared considered, until that day.

Why I Love Baseball, Part III

This week at the MLB winter meetings Greg Maddux announced his retirement. As a baseball fan in general, looking at the statistics, you realize very quickly the greatness of "Mad Dog". As a Braves fan I had a direct interest in paying close attention to his career. Greg Maddux was the best pitcher I ever saw (arguably the best pitcher in history), but his greatness was not as a result of superhuman athletic prowess. Maddux was a master craftsman; he used perfected skill and brain power to execute success. He is a terrific example of another reason I love baseball. Although Greg Maddux was a good athlete, he didn't use his physical attributes to propel his success. Baseball at it's best is a game of routine skill. Often the best athletes in the game are not the best performers.

That reminds me of a story I once heard about John Kruk, former Phillies first baseman, who tells of an encounter he had with a lady on the street. As the story goes (and my memory of when I heard it), a lady recognized him as they passed on the street. Kruk was a big, burly guy and he happened to be smoking a cigarette. Surprised he was smoking, the lady asked him why since he was an athlete. He quickly responded, "I'm no athlete, I'm a professional baseball player."

I love baseball because it is a skill sport. Throwing, hitting, pitching, and fielding are all mechanical skills that can be developed even among those who cannot run fast, jump high, or who lack superior physical strength. Just about anyone can play baseball regardless of athletic ability. Those who are most successful are the ones who have trained their bodies to move and respond in a certain way so as to participate in the action of the game itself. Of course the combination of trained bodies and refined skills attached to peak physical attributes allows the player to advance to the upper levels.

It's fun to watch these skills in action. Base stealing isn't about speed, it's about timing the pitcher and getting a jump. To steal a base is to master the crossover step and to read the incoming throw in order to prepare for the most advantageous slide. Hitting isn't about body strength and how hard the bat is swung. Hitting is about pitch recognization, balance, and quickness to the ball. To hit a baseball is to see the movement of the seams as the ball approches and then to move the hands through the zone in as quick and short a motion possible. Pitching isn't about how hard the pitcher thows the ball. 96 mph and straight is easier to hit than a 89 mph pitch with movement. Pitching is about keeping the batter off balance and guessing. To pitch is to control the ball by manliputing the speed and location in the strike zone.

I had the opportunity to play baseball at the college level and it was a thrill. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed playing so much and why I became such a fan was because I worked my way onto teams. I was always the smallest and slowest guy on the team but my skills continued to develop. Playing baseball required hard work but it was possible because I was willing to practice and develop the necessary skills. All I can say is that I held my own. Truly I wasn't a very talented player but I played, not because of any athletic ability but because of a few skills that I was able to learn. I had fun.

110words, #016

The results of entry week 016 are now published on the 110words blog. Check it out! The story had to explain why the item was placed in that backyard. My feeble attempt below.


Star Launcher

Grandpa Les worked 40 years at the pipeline company. He got a gold watch and a handshake for his time. I remember when he brought home an old metal pipe and some sheet metal. He spent a whole Saturday pounding and welding. He built the "Star Launcher" for my sister and me to play on. We had so much fun pretending we were space pirates blasting off deep into the galaxy. That is until Uncle Bobby got caught with his girlfriend late one night having his own space odyssey. We'd never seen Grandpa so mad. We starting calling it "The Love Shuttle" and never played on it again.

A Review of First Nephi

I received a copy of the Book of Mormon from a friend and have begun reading with hopes to better understand the LDS church and in particular to gain insight into the divide between my traditional Christian faith and the faith of my friend. Thus far, I have only read the introductory pages which gives a brief history of the writings and First Nephi, the first book of the LDS Scriptures. I admit my approach is not from a seekers vantage point, so I'll try to be fair. My goal is not an effort to prove anything but simply to dig around and pose questions. Questions stir up thoughts, feelings, and remind us of personal experiences which in turn promote dialogue and personal reflection.

On to the review, beginning at the introduction which gives an extremely brief account of how the writings came about and concludes with an appeal to accept the testimony found within. Right away there is a big question that arises. That question derives from the statement,

The record is now published in many languages as a new and additional witness
that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that all who will come unto
him and obey the laws and ordinances of his gospel may be saved.

On what basis is salvation granted? This statement from the introduction makes salvation seem highly conditional. Those conditions being to "come unto him" and to "obey the laws and ordinances of his gospel," although if met doesn't seem to secure salvation as the statement ends with a hint of uncertainty. There are a few passages in the New Testament that limit the conditions of salvation to one, that being grace. How can this apparent difference be explained especially since the introduction to the Book of Mormon identifies itself as "holy scripture comparable to the Bible"?

The formation of the LDS movement quickly emerges in 1 Nephi, the first book. Nephi makes the argument of how he and his fathers are set apart from the Israelite nation that emerged from Egypt and were lead into the promised land, that is Canaan and later Jerusalem. Apparently the people of Jerusalem wavered in their obedience to God with "hardened hearts" and "iniquity" and the faithful were lead out in preparation for Jerusalem's destruction. Nephi writes in chapters 17 & 18 the account of God's instruction to build a ship which would lead the faithful across the sea to a "promised land." Is the promised land the Americas? If so, how would this historical account fit into basic, generally accepted American history? The introduction made a point to say that the Lamanites were Jerusalem refuges and direct ancestors of the American Indians. The religion of the Native Americans is no where near similar to the Mormon faith or of traditional Christian faith which begs the question, "What went wrong?"

This narrative authored by Nephi are of course his writings concerning the history of his days. These writings were inscribed on "plates" for preservation I presume. The formation of the various plates seems a bit confusing. Immediately in chapter 1 Nephi begins with his personal history which clearly shows that he is documenting for a purpose; making permanent for an audience both present and future. But chapters 3 thru 5 describe Nephi's successful attempt at capturing brass plates at the command of God. Whose writings are preserved on these plates? Are these writings published as another book(s) in the Book of Mormon? In chapter 9, Nephi outlines the plan for the creation of two sets of plates that he would author. Seemingly, Nephi is finding holy plates and authoring them. I suppose as I read more of the LDS scriptures I will find answers to these questions concerning the plates.

To conclude, what little I have read so far is interesting. I want to say again that my hope is not to be an arrogant Bible thumper but to give a critical analysis so that even I can be sharpened and moved to a greater and heightened understanding of my own relationship with Christ. I look forward now to Second Nephi.