WHAT I MIGHT BE WRITING ABOUT — IF I WAS WRITING

Friends, today I’m off celebrating my birthday. (Fire up.) But if I wasn’t off celebrating my birthday (and one of those big ole’ decade ones at that), one of these headlines is what I might be writing about…
How the Chattanooga Shooting Unfolded — appearing in the Washington Post

ISIS Suicide Attack Kills 115  — as reported by the Associated Press

Why They’re Cheering in Tehran — appearing in the Wall Street Journal

Chaos: Athens — appearing in the Huffington Post

Re-Re-Re-Introducing Hillary Clinton — appearing in the NY Times Magazine

Obama Profoundly Misjudged Regime in Tehran — appearing in the Daily News

Iran & Obama: A Day That Will Live in Infamy — appearing in the American Spectator

The Bloody Business of Abortion — appearing in National Review

Planned Parenthood Isn’t Hawking Baby Parts — appearing in the Daily Beast

Online Porn to Boom in Next Five Years, Thanks to Smartphone Growth — appearing in India Today

Have Mantle, Mays & Aaron Returned? — appearing in Real Clear Sports

What a Woman President Should Be Like — appearing in Time

GOP Debates — Why Not a Two-Night Mini-Series? — appearing in Real Clear Politics

Socialism, RIP — appearing in the Washington Times

In my desire to focus on what’s good and true and right, sometimes it’s hard to wrestle with the things of this world… on what’s in the news… on the subjects that so easily fill up both social media and mainstream outlets.

Thank God this day I’m off celebrating my birthday… even if it is one of those big ole’ decades.

Respectfully…
AR

let’s make a deal

photo-1431051047106-f1e17d81042fLet’s see if this makes any sense. From Twitter on Tuesday, in the immediate hours after the U.S. and Iran agreed to some sort of deal supposedly limiting Iran’s nuclear development program — thus, these are immediate, non-poll-tested, non-filtered reactions:

Stephen Hayes @stephenfhayes  The #IranDeal finalizes US shift from preventing an Iranian nuclear weapons to managing the process by which Iran goes nuclear.

Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani  Upon #IranDeal implementation all sanctions will be lifted — not suspended. Otherwise,there was no need for 18-day round-the-clock #IranTalks

el Sooper ن @SooperMexican  Obama says sanction relief staggered, conditional: @HassanRouhani says immediately OFF

Jake Sherman @JakeSherman  Boehner doesn’t seem like he’s a fan of this Iran deal. Says “this deal is likely to fuel a nuclear arms race around the world.”

Bill Kristol @BillKristol  “This deal cannot stand.”
Special @weeklystandard editorial: A Very Good Deal—for Iran.

Dan Merica @danmericaCNN  Hillary Clinton was just asked about the Iran deal as she entered the Capitol today. “Good morning, good morning,” she said in response.

David Chalian @DavidChalian  President Obama welcomes robust congressional debate on #IranDeal and issues veto threat within 90 seconds of each other.

Philip Klein @philipaklein Obama says 2/3 of centrifuges will be eliminated. So, that means ~ 6k will remain. WH original claimed it would be limited to 500-1500 tops.

Seung Min Kim @seungminkim  Rubio weighs in on Iran: “Based on what we know thus far, I believe that this deal undermines our national security.”

Omri Ceren @cerenomri  “Where necessary / when necessary” = a far cry from “anytime/anywhere.” Congress is going to want to know why they were lied to.

Michael Wilner @mawilner  Senior administration official tells me: “We don’t think that anytime, anywhere inspections are feasible.”

Stephen Hayes @stephenfhayes  Bottom line: With the #IranDeal, the Obama administration is giving vast power & money to the world’s leading state sponsor of terror.

Other immediate comments…

From Pres. Obama: “Today after two years of negotiation the United States, together with the international community, has achieved something that decades of animosity has not: a comprehensive long-term deal with Iran that will prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.”

And yet Sen. Tom Cotton calls it a “terrible, dangerous mistake which will pave Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon.”

Former Clinton administration State Dept. official, Jamie Rubin, called claims that the deal will lead to better Iran behavior “nonsense.”

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said it’s “a bad mistake of historic proportions.”

Gov. Scott Walker identified it as “one of the biggest disasters of the Obama-Clinton Doctrine.”

And MSNBC immediately reported that there is a “very angry reaction” in Israel over this deal.

These were just the immediate, initial reactions.

Easy to know what’s good and true and right? Is the truth clear? Make any sense?

Nope… not to me either.

Respectfully…
AR

just a game

IMG_4630Games are supposed to be games. There are some things that are not games — that are serious — but people still seem to play. I think of politics… I think of all the skirting of hypocrisy that is rampant in far too many… where we each seem to sigh and slowly mutter under our individual breaths, “oh, the games people play.”

There is one game the Intramuralist has always loved. There is no logical rhyme or reason for my semi-healthy obsession. It’s a long and sometimes complicated game… sometimes boring… and sometimes those who play — including my two oldest boys — get really, really, unattractively hot and sweaty… and even more hot and sweaty.

Also true in this game is that sometimes the parents get a little nutty. Let’s face it; any parent who gets thrown out when 12 year olds are competing against one another is a little nutty (… and, uh… maybe something more than that).

But truth told, the Intramuralist has always loved the game of baseball. Maybe it was the Big Red Machine in the mid 70’s; maybe it was Reggie Jackson and the surnamed Mr. October; maybe, too, it was the young, innocent heart I had that so admired Rod Carew and Roberto Clemente.

Maybe it was the forced humility witnessed on the ostentatious grand stage when Boston’s Bill Buckner allowed that ground ball to trickle between his legs in the ’86 World Series… or when Angels’ reliever Donnie Moore gave up that playoff home run, that sadly seemed to haunt him the rest of his life… or maybe it was when the Cubs floundered again in 2003, blaming a fan infamously named “Bartman,” instead of wrestling with their multiple miscues that occurred thereafter. Baseball is a funny game. But then again… it is just a game.

I remember when the game was just a game
And you could count on your home team
And know all the players names
But now it doesn’t seem like anything stays the same

But I’m so glad one thing hasn’t changed
Hot dogs and a nice cold brew on a nice hot summer day
And the thrill of my team going all the way
On that October stage
In a game that doesn’t change

In the field of dreams
Bases loaded two out home team down by three
And yeah that’s me with the chance to be your hero
I wanna be your hero in the field of dreams

I’ve love that Blessid Union of Souls song… reminding me of my home team and how I’ve always known all the players names — ever since I was some seven years old… reminding me of a game being just a game… reminding me of the joy of healthy competition… reminding me of the strategy instilled… reminding me of my youth — when my brothers and I would purchase a complete Topps card set each year — and then roll the dice enacting out our own version of taking ourselves out to the ballgame.

Tonight in Cincinnati is the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It will be the 86th edition of our national pasttime’s summer exhibition. For the first time ever, the Intramuralist will be in attendance. We will take our boys. We will “oooh” and “ah” at the likes of Pujols, Trout, and youngster Bryce Harper. We will cheer on hometown favorites Todd Frazier and Aroldis Chapman.

We will also stand and cheer when the spotlight briefly beams on all time hits leader, Pete Rose — a man understandably banned because of betting — even though the filter of morality is rarely applied consistently.

But more than all the pomp and circumstance and publicity and fanfare, there is one thing I will remind my boys of this night — embrace it; get it; there is one thing that stands out…

Remember… this is just a game. Never allow a game to become more than it is. Never, too, allow what’s serious to become a game.

Respectfully… kind of excited, too…
AR

belief vs. behavior

QoR8Bv1S2SEqH6UcSJCA_TeaAs duly noted, the Intramuralist has a long stated obsession with the question mark. It’s the only piece of punctuation, friends, that requires a response. The exclamation point is for the shouters — who listen to few others — and the semi-colon, creative as it may be, is for those who tend to ramble and keep on talking; they keep talking; and they keep talking.

Let me be clear: it doesn’t have to be me that asks the question. I stumble upon great, thought-provoking questions daily. For example (with the help of CNN, the International Business Times, National Geographic, and Yahoo News), this week the following questions each gave me pause:

“What’s a ‘sanctuary city,’ and why should you care?”
“Does Greece prove Margaret Thatcher correct that ‘the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money?’ “
“How good is Serena Williams?”
“Now will you believe Bill Cosby’s accusers?”

And (one of my favorites)…

“Did you see that on ‘Shark Week’?”

One question, though, stood out far more than any of the above. Is was a simple question asked by a respected friend. It was a question that combined how we behave with what we believe. I must also acknowledge: it was beautifully profound.

Does your morality dictate your theology — or — your theology dictate your morality?

In other words… do we base how we behave upon what we believe? Or… do we change what we believe because of how we behave?

Do we change what we believe because of how others behave? Or… how people we love behave? Do we change what we believe? Is that wise?

Perhaps no example of such moral relativism stands more poignant in history than England’s King Henry VIII, who ruled from 1509 to 1547. Note that in English tradition — as actually established by Henry VIII — the British monarch also holds the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

While further study of this topic is both deserving and insightful, history shows that Henry VIII had multiple disputes with the Roman Catholic Church and papal authority. Hence, during his reign, he separated from Rome, establishing the Church of England as the official, state-endorsed religion, and he then inserted himself as the church’s head — the perceived moral leader of England.

One of the key, revealing areas of conflict for the King was the Roman church’s teaching on the sanctity of marriage — a problem because Henry VIII no longer wanted to be married to his wife. In fact, there were many wives Henry wished to no longer be married to. After separating from Rome, and thus any strict adherence to the Catholic church, Henry VIII was married six times — four of which ended with the divorce, annulment, or even the beheading of his spouse. He was rumored to have multiple affairs… obviously completely contradicting any sense of sanctity of the marital union and commitment.
King Henry VIII led a nation. He is described in “The Tudor Monarchy,” a historical account depicting the power and politics in England’s history, as “one of the most charismatic rulers to sit on the English throne,” a powerful, attractive, and accomplished king. 

I wonder how he would have answered the question: did his morality dictate his theology — or — his theology dictate his morality?

What do we do? What do we change because of how we wish to behave?

As always, great question.

Respectfully…
AR

shout!

unsplash_5252bb51404f8_1(Tapping first into my deep appreciation for 80’s music…)

“Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I’m talking to you, come on

Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I’m talking to you, come on…”

What is it with the plethora of people on Facebook, Twitter, media and social media who feel a need to shout at the rest of us? What is it about people who feel tolerance only goes one way?

Whether it’s about how we should feel about Bruce Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, same-sex marriage, religious freedom, gun control, the Confederate flag, white privilege, black oppression, immigration, activism…ugh… can I simply state the obvious?

 Some of you are shouting at us.

Let me state the next most obvious — a huge point that I believe the shouters totally miss:

None of the rest of us will change our minds because of your shouting. In fact, it is more likely that we will become more entrenched in our positions precisely because of your shouting.

You can shout, shout, and let it all out, but the rudeness of your shouting — the fact that you only are good at loving some people well and have little respect for those who may or may not believe differently — means the rest of us will be minimally encouraged to act and think like you.

Let me say that again…

When you shout… when you’re rude… when you’re mean… when you say you don’t care that you’re being rude or mean — whichever side you’re supposedly on — when you engage in such disrespectful articulation, very few outside your small circle of influence will want to adopt your opinion. You are doing more damage than good.

Not only are you embracing the above Tears for Fears’ mantra from 1985, you also seem to embrace the The Isley Brothers in 1959…

“You know you make me wanna (Shout!)
Kick my heels up and (Shout!)
Throw my hands up and (Shout!)
Throw my head back and (Shout!)
Come on now (Shout!)…

(Shout) yeah, yeah, yeah…
(Shout) yeah, yeah, yeah…
(Shout) yeah, yeah, yeah…”

While both songs share the same simple title, I’m thinking our shouting friends need to re-read the lyrics from the entire Isley Brothers melody. Two-thirds of the way through the song, they share a message to our shouters. In fact, they say it 17 times before giving way to continued shouts:

“A little bit softer now.”

Yes… a little bit softer now. Please.

Do we each want us to discuss the legitimacy of our perspectives or points? Do we want to make progress? Do we want to move toward solution or peace? Or are we incapable of respectful debate? Are we simply more comfortable being loud, justifying disrespect, and hearing our own selves think?

May I humbly suggest we begin by stopping the shouting.

Respectfully… always…
AR

reasons to love america’s team

photo-1413787489051-bcbb6209ece1Ok, ok… I must admit… these past few weeks I have been a total bandwagon jumper — my entire family, in fact.

[No, not for Bernie or the Donald… with all due respect, doubtful either of those will be happening anytime soon.]

We just couldn’t get enough of the 2015 American women’s World Cup team!!

Setting our days and schedules around each match, we found ourselves again huddled Sunday night, when the women won the cup, dominating reigning champion Japan, 5-2.

There were so many reasons to love this year’s team — starting, of course, with the women’s oh-so-cool, glow-in-the-dark, neon yellow socks…

There was first the obvious manifestation of perseverance and hard work — a lesson all students and athletes and young entrepreneurs can learn from. Note that World Cup qualifying began in April of 2013. Then — out of 134 teams — only 24 made the field. That means the athletes had to work hard, fight through adversity, and keep their eyes fixed on the prize… for over two years. I am struck by how that completely contrasts with current culture, which way too often embraces entitlement and instant gratification — equivalent to the total absence of perseverance and hard work.

The women also modeled how success is found in teamwork. Said arguably best by the Hope Solo, awarded the cup’s best goalkeeper, who has notably faced significant off field controversy: “As for my Golden Glove award, I’d like to dedicate it to my teammates and all the coaches that have stood by me all this time, in good times and bad, when I needed their support. It may be an individual award, but there are a lot of people who enabled me to be here holding this trophy today, which is the greatest moment of my career, and I thank them. I dedicate it to my coaches and my teammates, especially my defenders.”

[America’s team won this cup. How often in American do we forget we are a team?]

I also jumped on this enthusiastic bandwagon because I was attracted to what seemed to be just the right amount of pride laced within the accompanying patriotism… Too many proclaim themselves as “patriotic” but still shout insults at others. Too many scream at others and their flags. Too many from the left and the right adopt a sense of patriotism that excludes any opposing viewpoints on our team. Too many are too arrogant. My sense is that those “too many” don’t know what patriotism really is.

[How awesome, no doubt, it was to witness the women wave and wear the flag, running around the field, as the victory was sealed.

]

A few more random notes…

I loved the pomp and circumstance. I loved the national anthems. I loved the kids in the crowd and the creative, painted faces. I loved the respect and civility between the countries — between the players. I will not quickly forget soccer great, Homare Sawa — the 36 year old beloved icon in Japan, who found a way to smile and sincerely congratulate the American women even in her disappointing defeat.

And one more thing…

America loves a good hero. I think that’s why we too quickly fall prey to worshipping a candidate or celebrity; we’re always looking for that deserving hero — the one that’s “gotta be strong… gotta be fast… gotta be fresh from the fight.” And Sunday we found one.

 Amid this totally team game, captain Carli Lloyd emerged as the hungry, humble star. Lloyd scored 3 goals within 16 minutes. She scored one goal from approximately 60 yards away. She was the best player in the biggest moment on the biggest stage. And when her teammate, soccer legend Abby Wambach entered the game as a substitute in the 78th minute — playing in her last World Cup — Lloyd took off her captain’s armband, wrapping it instead around Wambach. The crowd swooned.

[Again, we all love a good hero.]

It was a fun month and a special, American team — one the bandwagon jumpers will always remember… such great reasons to love them…

[… did I mention the neon socks?]

Respectfully…
AR

the end

10580961_888226557873468_262660009435600209_oAs expected, I spent our nation’s annual Independence Day pretty much consistent with the past dozen years — as any baseball parent will tell you — dust flying, sweat dripping, lots and lots of testosterone, at the diamond with a complete slew of games. With tournaments for the older two boys and my youngest proudly fulfilling his role as a “batboy” (not too far a stretch from his revered perception of a “batman”), our day was full.

Amidst the fullness, however, one significant moment stood out…

There was my interaction with the opposing coach… who when I conferred with him at the end of an inning to ensure our individual scorekeeping was in sync, he was silent about an inaccuracy in the scoring — because, as he soon acknowledged, he was “hoping you didn’t catch it.” I wondered how often are we silent… because a miscommunication benefits self. But alas, this wasn’t the moment that stood out.

There was the umpire who made an obvious wrong call, calling a ball “foul” after it touched the catcher in fair territory. He didn’t see it, but upon confrontation, he simply entertained no dissent. I saw the ball. My angle was actually clearer than his. It mattered not; as said, he entertained no dissent. How often do we simply refuse to entertain dissent or opposing viewpoints? … especially if it means being humble enough to acknowledge a mistake? Again, alas, such was not the moment that stood out.

There was also the interaction with the fans in the stands of the opposing team. Over these past dozen years, at times it’s been my privilege to coach third base. Yesterday that meant a proximity far closer to persons I knew not nor with whom I shared the same passions or loyalties. It mattered not; we were able to talk about things more important than baseball (…yes, there are things more important than baseball, sports, games, you-name-it…). Still, though, this was not the moment that stood out most to me.

For the second in our slew of games, my oldest son was on the mound. Ever since those initial, teeny tee ball days, Jake has found solace and success on the pitcher’s mound. This game, however — if lost — would be his last. (Note: church softball leagues come next.) As the tight game continued on — and as victory was in jeopardy — this moment began to stand out.

Let me first note that this is a recreational league. After years of select baseball and select, select baseball, my boy and his buddies simply decided it would be a blast to play rec after the completion of their high school season. The goal was to play hard and have fun. That, they accomplished.

But as the game continued and I was keenly aware we were nearing the end, my mind rapidly sorted through the past 18 years. I sorted through Jake’s successes… his failures… and his failures that have led to obvious growth and successes…

I thought through all the moments we cheered… and still, too, the moments we walked away… in silence, tears, even disgust.

I must say I wondered how I would feel in this moment. Would I grimace? Would I cry? How would I feel at the actual end?

 Friends, I understand the tears. I get the many who find the moment — the end to a past mainstay activity as sad or bittersweet. But that wasn’t how I felt yesterday. Maybe it’s been all that’s happened in the past few months. Maybe its been the depth of our sorrow and the height of our joy. I wasn’t sad.

 I see the end of Jake’s past, promising baseball career as the necessary entrance into what’s next. At 18, there is obviously so much ahead of him — for each of our youth — so many good things! Jake’s solace and success on the mound has thus helped prepare him for what’s next. My whole heart celebrates whatever that is.

Hence, as the final innings evolved and Jake was still on the mound — now going longer than expected, Jake told me he unfortunately needed to leave the game early; he had to get to work. Duty calls, as the summer before freshman year, these kids have to raise money for college. Work comes before recreational sports.

And so there Jake went, pitching through a final inning, striking out the last batter he would ever face for out number three. He walked off the mound a final time. High fives. He then left the field… and went to work.

Fitting…

Well done, son. Happy Independence Day…

Respectfully…
AR

yearning for connection

photo-1428865798880-73444f4cbefcConsistent with my daily routine of scanning diverse news sources, yesterday I read an editorial in The Washington Post debating the possibility of VP Joe Biden running for President of the United States. Yes, I find it fascinating…14,000 people running for the Rep’s… one waiting to be coronated by the Dem’s… and neither scenario currently, totally appealing.

But as the editorial weighed the prospects of a Biden candidacy, I stumbled upon this huge a-ha:

“In a lot of ways, Biden would be the true anti-Hillary. He is completely uninhibited, he is impossible to script — which makes him seem authentic — and he has a human appeal that everyone can relate to. Clinton, on the other hand, is running a surreal campaign that avoids crowds, media and spontaneity of any kind. She is protecting her lead in the most standard, unimaginative way possible. Compared with Clinton’s robotic, stiff approach, could having a reputation for occasionally saying the wrong thing and hugging too much work to Biden’s advantage in an era where voters want the real thing?

The Democrats appear to be yearning for an emotional connection with their candidate, which could explain the flurry of excitement surrounding the Bernie Sanders campaign. Sen. Sanders seems to have an outsize appeal, which could be a product of how his outside-the-box approach contrasts with the stale Clinton march. But whatever Bernie can do, can’t Biden do it better? Maybe Sanders’s candidacy has exposed the opening that exists for Biden in the Democratic primary. Maybe this is Biden’s moment.”

Friends, this post is not intended to address any aspect of partisan politics — nor to again aver the Intramuralist’s stated desire for ideas fresher than those hailing from a Clinton or Bush. What fascinated me in the above editorial was this line:

“The Democrats appear to be yearning for an emotional connection with their candidate.”

Let’s remove the partisan reference…

We want an emotional connection with our candidate.

We want an emotional connection with our President.

We want an emotional connection with our celebrities, sports figures, politicians, you-name-it.

My sense is we crave connection.

Years ago I remember laughing when ABC found unique success positioning their “Bachelor/Bachelorette” series as “reality TV” [insert big grin here]. I laughed further still at the vocabulary they added to our colloquial conversation.

..

  • “I still feel great about Courtney because when I’m with her, I feel really connected to her.”
  • “Thanks to everyone for hanging in there with me this season. We totally had a connection.”
  • “I truly thought we had a connection, but I never seem to be anyone’s number one.”

Connection… connection… connection. We crave emotional connection.

It’s why many appreciated Pres. Obama singing “Amazing Grace” last weekend in Charleston; many connected with him emotionally. It’s also why many have not appreciated his leadership on healthcare; he has not cared about emotionally connecting with the majority of people.
It’s why the people of Cleveland root for LeBron James — because of the emotional bond they share, as he admirably returned to the city they love. It’s the same we feel with women’s soccer and this year’s national team — connecting with them — and their patriotism, as they represent us all.
A Joe Biden candidacy? The Intramuralist isn’t here to weigh the merits of any one candidate’s qualifications; we make no endorsements. But I will say this… as a man who often puts his foot in his mouth, a man who seemingly knows how to laugh at himself, a man who has made some major mistakes, and a man who knows deep, deep, recent sorrow — on a totally, nonpartisan level, I feel like we connect.

To me, that’s important… in reality… and not reality TV.

Respectfully…
AR

#LoveWins

photo-1430747562296-5556d17a15a5So let’s run with social media’s perceived favorite new mantra: #LoveWins. I agree. Nothing is bigger, better, more poignant or powerful. Above all things, there is love. My question is if we know what love is.

I am not attempting to be flippant or ambiguous. I just think we’re wavering in our definition and inconsistent in our application.

In Sunday’s post, for example, I referenced those way too many who followed their hashtags of “LoveWins” or “SinWins” with a self-justified “TakeThat.” My solemn sense is that any who embrace that style of communication have both a limited comprehension of the unspeakable depth of love in addition to the true depravity of sin. There is no place for a “TakeThat”… by any of us.

We don’t know what love is.

Love is not selective. Love is not oppressive. Love is not limited. Love means all lives matter.

It does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

Love means no “in your face” style of communication — a style, which unfortunately, immediately diminishes the credibility of our point. We can’t say “I don’t care if I offend you,” “I don’t care if you don’t feel respected,” or simply an “I don’t care” and truly comprehend what love is. Friends, that is not love.

There is no place for these self-justified, rhetorical slams…

  • against our LGBT friends who’ve felt oppressed for far too long
  • against our Christian friends who genuinely believe homosexuality is wrong
  • against Pres. Obama
  • against Bristol Palin
  • against the 2016 Presidential candidates
  • against the black community
  • against the white community

(… against… against… against…)

Let me be clear; it is completely ok to disagree with someone, and it is completely ok to disagree passionately with their opinion and/or behavior. What’s not ok is to embrace such hate-filled rhetorical slams. That’s not love. We can’t preach hate against any group and expect to be a non-hypocritical voice in regard to what love really is. Love is the only thing on this planet that prevails, but our inconsistent application shows we don’t really know what it is.

In one of the early weeks of the Intramuralist — geepers, some seven sweet years ago — we posted the following, (in my semi-humble opinion) exceptionally clever but true insight:

“We live in a culture where all we need is supposedly love, yet still, at times, it seems rare indeed. There exists way too much oppression, bigotry, and worship of man-made concoctions an earring short of a golden calf. Too many leaders have embraced a leadership style that values speaking louder (more than listening), subduing dissenting opinion (more than learning), and surrounding self with like thinking (more than being sharpened by another). To me, those contradict a love that makes the world go round.

What is real love?

I’ve heard it’s a splendored thing; it’s a verb; and it will keep us together. They say you can’t buy it, can’t hurry it, and some will stop in the name of it. Others question how deep it is, if it will still exist tomorrow, and what it really has to with anything. Some love rainy nights. Some rock ‘n roll. Be careful, though, as several will say it stinks, bites, and claim you’ve lost it. Yet as I ponder the wisdom in knowing the power of love, I am spurred on by something that’s real.”

May we each be spurred on by what’s real… by a splendored and powerful thing.

Respectfully…
AR

an honor & a privilege

IMG_4603There are some moments in life that change us. Let me rephrase. There are some moments in life that have the potential to change us — that is, if we intentionally pause… hesitating long enough to grasp the sobriety of the situation… to recognize all that’s going on… to learn from the moment and say “I want to change this now.”

Friday was one of those moments for me. While state senator and pastor Clementa Pinckney was eulogized in Charleston, South Carolina, police officer Sonny Kim was honored in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Each man was widely respected in his community. Each man led others by the depth and consistency of his character. Each man believed, as was said so eloquently at the funeral in Cincinnati, that “service is the rent you pay to live on planet Earth.” Each man came face-to-face with evil. Each man did not know the day he would die. Each man sacrificed his life. Each man loved Jesus. “Amazing Grace” was thus sang at the funeral of each man.

Attending the service in Cincinnati was an honor and a privilege. Several observations moved me…

  • Upon arrival, a stranger greeting an unknown policeman, hugging him, thanking him for his service.
  • The massive outpouring of policemen; some 6000-7000 attended the funeral; some 4000-5000 were officers.
  • The three teenage, surviving sons… no words.
  • The charge to each of the boys… courage to the youngest, embracing his father’s example to the middle, and duty to the oldest.
  • The brother, remarking how he saw his sibling change the moment he held that beautiful, oldest son.
  • The blessed widow, reaching out to touch the casket, as it rolled away a final time.
  • The grieving mother, shaken.
  • The diversity of the audience… black, white, Asian, Latino…
  • The oldest son’s show choir singing… “Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
  • The teens in the audience, supporting their friend, learning about the tougher moments of life.
  • The minister’s message, acknowledging how the officer’s life reflected Jesus, pondering how we can reflect God more, too.
  • The 750 police cars included in the processional to the burial.
  • The thousands who lined the streets, saluting one more time.
  • The pending rainstorm, that seemingly kept no one away.
  • The riderless horse.
  • And the final dispatch… “Communications to Badge P396″… and then the acknowledgement of no response.

It was an emotional, powerful day. My words do not say enough.

When I returned home five hours later, I was drained. Instead of immediately grappling with the truth of the day, I numbly turned on my computer seeing what else was in the news. I immediately read the reports of Rev. Pinckney’s service; it, too, seemed bittersweetly beautiful.

And then I encountered all the tweets and status updates surrounding the Supreme Court. Many were fine, but too many others had “#lovewins” or “#sinwins” followed by a “take that” at the end of their rant. Hence, I turned my laptop off.

Instead of the crud that too often pollutes our world, I wanted to stop, sobered by the reality of the day. I want to honor both Pinckney and Kim by wrestling with aspects of my life that I have opportunity to change, if I’m willing to pause and examine where I reflect God well — and where I do not. Changed lives keeps sacrifice from being in vain.

Some posts are harder to write than others. This was one of them.

Respectfully…

AR