Self examination

Lately our life has been crazy. I usually work 12-15 hours most days and have to force myself to take time off.

Being so focused on my work, it's all too easy to become inward-focused. I've been asking myself, "What am I doing to reach out to those around me with the love of Jesus? What effect am I having on my neighbors, or the baristas at Starbucks, or the clerk at the grocery store?" Okay, I'm nice. I engage them in pleasant conversation. I try to encourage them in their work. That's all good.

But is there more I can be doing? Do they know that they are loved by the Creator of the universe? Do they know that their lives have meaning beyond the menial, daily tasks of making a living?

I was challenged this morning as I read this in Greater Europe Mission's Vision and Mission Blog:

"We must always remember that as Christians, we carry Jesus’ light wherever we go. When we enter the local grocery store, coffee house, or restaurant, we can take Christ into that situation with us. We can choose to use every simple transaction or conversation to bring a touch of Jesus into others’ lives. Will we keep Him under wraps or will we, in faith, reach out and bring the Kingdom into the establishment?"

Shyness is no longer an excuse. Fear is no longer an excuse. Lack of time is no longer an excuse. Pride is no longer an excuse.

All these things... I must leave home without them.

Living in the South

Never really intending for things to end up this way, I have now spent more than half of my existence in The South. My mom grew up in Dallas and we kids always enjoyed making fun of our grandparents' accents. I grew up in Kansas, where there really is no accent, unless you're truly country folk. Then there is this kind of western twang.

Upon landing in Nashville, TN in '82, I was struck by the fact that even news anchors and radio personalities had drawls. I must admit that, despite my best efforts (and prideful denial thereof), I was a snob and thought the local broadcasters sounded unprofessional at best. You see, I had grown up equating a southern drawl with a lack of education or refinement. What I didn't think about then was that a few centuries of refinement had gone into developing the twists and turns of the English language that define a Southern accent.

You may be thinking, "But wait - you live in Florida..." This is true. But what you may not realize is that "The South" extends well into Florida. In fact, Tallahassee has one of the most endearing timbres of all the Southern accents.

Another thing that I've come to learn is that the rest of the English-speaking world is fascinated by a good Southern drawl. This is evidenced by northern tourists who, upon being greeting by their waitress insist she repeat whatever comes out of her mouth.

"She said 'y'all!' Say it again!"

While it is rather obnoxious, they mean no disrespect. Come to think of it, I've actually been on the receiving end of this scenario. While in Cork, Ireland, a few young kids, upon hearing my foreign accent, encircled me demanding, "Say 'Ireland'!" When I did so in my best Cork brogue, there was a unison "Aaah" of disappointment.

There are a couple of Southern colloquialisms that I love. For instance, anywhere else we might say "excuse me?" or "I'm sorry, what did you say?" Where we live, the thing to say is, "Do what, now?"

But I think my favorite is when you have something that isn't working properly, it's "done tore up."

Now, apart from linguistics, there are other oddities you may find only in the South. Here are a few examples of actual business names:

Flags and Afghans Galore

Barstool Variety

Le Salon n' Spa

And my favorite:

St. Nick's Christmas and Knives

The South has such an interesting mix of personalities and cultures that can be at once off-putting and endearing. It's rich in tradition, steeped in history.

You gotta love it.

The Aftermath

I was reliving Sept. 11, 2001 last night, thanks to the help of the History Channel, which was running a real-time account of that morning's events.

THC made it such a human story, utilizing a lot of footage shot at street level that really focused on the people of New York. The thing that struck struck me so strongly was the innocence on the faces of those witnessing events that were beyond their comprehension.

There was no frame of reference. Nothing like this had ever taken place on American soil. With sympathetic reactions to the tragedy unfolding before their eyes, they had no idea what was really happening. Okay, so an airliner flew into the north tower of the World Trade Center. We had seen accidents like this. Rare as it was, it was not unbelievable.

But when the south tower was struck 17 minutes later, whether first-hand or by way of broadcast, every person watching it was snatched out of reality into a surreal landscape that resembled nothing in his or her experience. Suddenly we were in a cinema watching yet another doomsday flick. Right?

But all too soon, we realized that this was reality, strange as it was -- painful as it was A new reality was thrust upon us.

Yet still we had no idea how our world was about to change.

Looking back over the eight years since then -- it really was a different world wasn't it?

That innocence will never be regained.

belief?

I have this scripture on my desk: "For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

Do I believe it?

"...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17)

I'm not sure the Luke passage - although I've read it, thought about it, contemplated it, examined it - has quite sunk in. If it had, I would be living every moment of every day under the conviction that anything is possible and doing all I could to prove it.

I think I need to begin a study of scripture wherein I REALLY test what's there. What better way to build my faith than to act on what I'm reading in scripture? I think my tendency is to think, "Yeah, that's good stuff," and pray that the Lord would help me live it out. Not that it's a bad thing to do, I just don't think it's always making a immediate, tangible difference in my behavior. If it is, it's slow, minute movement. I'm talking about reading it and immediately putting it into effect.

I think I'll call it my "Believe-What-You-Read-And-Test-It-In-Faith" study.

Anybody want to join me?

(I must clarify here that I'm not meaning to promote any theology that puts "us" in control. God is the author of all things and I strive to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in all things. God is not my co-pilot. No, indeed, He is in the driver's seat - when I let Him - ideally.)