Two Stories

As a teenager I taught Sunday school in my local church, with a co-teacher who was a 40 year old woman. One day a 10 year old asked how we know which religion is true. He was basically repeating a question that he had heard at home from his father. Tough question kid. I didn't even have time to decide how to answer this inquisitive child before my co-teacher instantly became vehement and started to argue, very loudly, with this 10 year-old boy (in front of 20 other little kids) that Christianity was the only true religion and he was awful and rebellious to even suggest different. However, she never proved her point she just lost her temper. In the end, I, the teenager had to calm everyone down, and stop the argument before it got worse.

In High school I would try to share my belief in God with my friends. I once invited a girl I knew to church. She was a Wiccian. Our youth group teachers spent the better part of an hour telling her that she worshiped the devil and was going to hell. The only problem with that, besides the obvious, is that Wiccians actually don't worship the devil, at least not directly. They worship a goddess. She tried to explain about her religion. But the teachers told her she was wrong (about her own beliefs?!), they didn't seem to care about her or anything she believed--just about her conversion.

These people served God. They were even in leadership positions and I think that they really do know and have a relationship with God. But they are obviously missing something. They didn't care about the person involved, or about learning anything new. They knew what they knew and that was law.

I'd like to suggest some new sins for us as a church to work on.

Because neglecting the poor is actually sin.

Hating a person or groups of people is sin. -Homosexuals, Jews, and secular rock musicians all included.

Materialism, a form of idolatry is a sin.

I'd like to discuss about using tithes to help people who need it and provide help to hurting people here and in other countries; rather than getting comfier pews and a coffee bar (though I do like and have nothing against coffee).

I'd like to have conversations about how we can love better, and put aside prejudice.

But more then anything I don't want our hearts to go cold like I have seen so many others who were much stronger and better than you and I.

a story in progress

"Always love, hate will get you every time, don't wait till the finish line."
-Nada Surf

Dear child, let me tell you a story so you may understand life.

In the days of magic and lore, 2 young mystics[who were once the closest of friends] fought a battle that nearly destroyed their world.

It all happened over a disagreement of the most serious kind.
The future.

You see they had each looked into their crystal balls and had seen a different vision of what was to come. So being good friends and having great respect for one another's skill; they came together to learn what the other had received about the future.

And when it came time to tell what he had seen, the first mystic said "I have seen the great apocalypse and have seen the devastation of our earth. Come we must build a shelter and a food storage because great tribulation is coming."

The other prophet was at a loss for words, but solemnly said to the other, "I disagree. For in my vision I have seen a land of great blessing flowing with plenty, and much joy abounds in the world. And what we must do is plant our fields and vineyards because the harvest will be great."

Each knew in his own heart to be right, and now having never differed on anything(other then tea flavors), both were at a loss.

"But aren't we now both great mystics having been guided right before", said one. "And yet we both feel like we have seen a vision of the future, much like those we have in the past. How then do we find ourselves at odds? Why do our visions contradict each other so? One of us must be wrong, or at least partially wrong." But neither felt it was them who mis-saw. So with nothing else to say to each other, for they were both sure of what they had seen, they left from one another's company. With this the silent war began.

Soon over time feud began to erupt, for though their friendship had been strong it would not hold against the prospects of the future. [For the future can even rip the strongest bonds apart.]

And it was so until one day a wise wizard walked through those parts. And hearing of this, one of the mystics [it matters not which, for both were tired of the feud] sought out the great wizard. The mystic had heard of the wizard's wisdom, and thought to himself "surely such a great wizard will know that I am indeed right, and he will find a great wise way to make peace with my friend"

And so the young sage found the wise wizard in the forest communing with the gods. Passionately, the young sage told the story of what had happened. But when asked for advice, the wise old wizard smiled a knowing smile. As wise old wizards often do.
"You are both wrong." said the wizard rather dispassionately
"You were stupid to put so much stake in knowing the future, when it is you and the other who will determine it."
'You are foolish to worry about what will come. Though neither of your visions are incorrect. There will be terrible famines, and there will be beautiful harvests; there will be great tribulation and there will be great joy.
But who knows when it will all come too pass, other than the gods themselves. And so I say to you, what use then is knowing the future but not knowing when it will come?
'So I say to you both now, throw out your crystal balls and enjoy each other's friendship. For that is the now.
"The heart of a good friendship is love, and when the time of famine comes[for it will come] and when the times of joy and blessings come[for they too will come] hold fast to each other's side, because through it all at least you will have a friend. First to share pain, and then to share joy. Then if a time comes when you and your companion must part; then part, but do so knowing that you traveled as far as you could with one another. --For you must not part ways only for the hope and the worry of the future."


And so my child learn from this example and examine your own heart, for I will not tell you any more of this story. No, I will not reveal if the two young future-seekers ever followed the wizard's advice, or what was the result, because that is only for the future to determine. And it hasn't been written yet.

Inside

Its raining.
Hard.

And I am stuck inside eating canned clam chowder.

So I'm sorta upset about this, since I was supposed to be camping now.

I was really excited about camping for the last couple weeks, but it kept getting put off, again and again.

Instead of quiet time with God[the point of the trip] , I've watched way too much tv.

I have at least had some good conversations with people, while here.
And some rather random ones.

Sometimes noise is really important-people, music, books and tv can all serve great purposes. If we all had to be quiet all the time I'm sure we'd all go crazy, well at least I know I would.

But sometimes we need to be still to hear the still voice.


Maybe I'll go for a long drive.