It is loud in my head!

 Good morning,

I pray the day finds you well.

I woke up today and (maybe because of the rain) I was feeling a bit blah, a bit like my cat. If I pick him up first thing in the morning he is just as likely to bite me as purr, it is a crap shoot what will happen. Normally I am a morning person, happy to see the day, and ready to take it on, kind of like my dog wakes up. Ben wakes up ready to give kisses and hugs. Excited for the day.

But today I woke up feeling like my cat. 

As I shuffled through the dark house getting ready for work and really not feeling like doing anything a thought came to mind. A thought I hadn't thought in years. 

It was my "Pet Diaries" thought. I wrote about it years ago and had not thought about it in just about that long. But the thought of it snapped me out of my funk. I thought I would share it again, just in case you are in a funk too. 

Here it goes:

Pet Diaries: Dog vs. Cat...
The Dog's Diary:
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
------------------------------------------
The Cat's Diary:
Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Jerks!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now.

I will be a dog today!

Sometimes I need a reminder of the gift of life and the wonderment of a new day. 

This is the beginning of a new day.

God has given me this day to use as I will.

I can waste it or use it for good.

What I do today is important,

Because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever,

Leaving in it’s place something that I have traded for it.

I want it to be gain, not loss;

Good, not evil; Success, not failure,

In order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.

Anonymous

Did I tell you I am a plethora of useless information!

I remember random quotes and many thoughts, but I can't remember where I put my keys. 

Have a great day, and remember God loves you.

Blessings,

Roger

Words are important, but actions are telling

 Good morning,

I pray the day finds you well.

Friday was my brother's birthday, Happy birthday Kim. 

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day. Her name is Cricket (Not her real name, but every story goes better with a name attached). How did I come up with Cricket as a pseudonym? I am glad you asked. I googled fun names and Cricket came up on top, that's how. 

I have known Cricket for a long time and we have had many wonderful conversations. Cricket is a ragamuffin, she likes Jesus but has been negatively impacted by people that call themselves Christians. She grew up in the church, was hurt by the church, was looked down on by those in authority as less than because of her hurt and the fact that she had a hard time believing in a god that was unloving, judgmental, had favorites, was hypocritical...

Just recounting the conversation makes me sad. 

I told her I don't believe in a god like that either.

One of the classes I teach in the university is Worldviews, and the first thing I tell my students is, "Don't tell me what you believe, your actions will show me what you believe."

Brennan Manning wrote in his book The Ragamuffin Gospel, "If you really want to understand a man, don’t just listen to what he says, but watch what he does."[1]

We are the hands and feet of Christ. We are His mouthpiece. What we say, and what we do either draw people closer to Him or push them away.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be that guy who pushes people away from God. Somebody wrote in a book somewhere that it would be better to have a millstone put around your neck and thrown into the sea than turn one of My children away from me.

Brother Lawrence once said, "Whether God regulates me to Heaven or to Hell, that is His business, I will not worry about that. I will focus on loving Him." 

God is the gatekeeper, not me.

How do I put actions to my belief? I am so glad you  asked. 

Kouzes & Posner said it best, "Here are some of the common phrases people use to describe how they know credibility when they see it:"

1.      “They practice what they preach.”

2.      “They walk the talk.”

3.      “Their actions are consistent with their words.”

4.      “They put their money where their mouth is.”

5.      They follow through on their promises.”

6.      They do what they say they will do.”[2]

I will work on doing this, because as Brennan once said:

"Perhaps the real dichotomy in the Christian community today is not between conservatives and liberals or creationists and evolutionists but between the awake and asleep.  The Christian ragamuffin acknowledges with Macbeth, “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.”  Just as a smart man knows he is stupid, so the awake Christian knows that he/she is a ragamuffin."[1]

Don't worry Cricket, God loves you. I am a ragamuffin too.

Blessings,

Roger

---

 

---

[1]Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah Publishers, 2005), 71. 

---

[1]Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah Publishers, 2005), 72. 

[2]James Kouzes & Barry Posner, The Leadership Challenge 4^th Edition, (San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, 2007), 40. 

---

---

---

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

 Good morning,

I pray the day finds you well.

I got to the "Y" this morning, hit the start button on my computer, opened my browser, opened my BibleGateway site (I just realized how many things I opened first thing this morning, and that does not count all the doors!) and my verse of the day was Psalm 23:1-3. 

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me besides still waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for His name's sake."

God is a funny Guy!

All that Rabbi, Troll, mountain and Twidd talk yesterday, and today we get green pastures and still waters. 

Actually, at least for me, He connected yesterday and today at a deeper level (have I mentioned that connectedness is in my top-5 of my StrengthFinders profile?). 

Most people have read Psalm 23 multiple times, it is a reassuring, and peace giving Psalm. People tend to refer to it when they or someone they are with is going through a tough time.

Most people do not read Psalm 22. Psalm 22 is a bit tougher, quite a bit tougher, I might add. 

Have you ever heard (typically it is a pastor or churchy person, usually in a bible study, when talking about the Passion of Christ, Christ on the Cross, when Jesus says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(Ma27:46) say that God cannot look upon sin; so God turned away from Jesus when Jesus took on the sin of mankind.

I cannot tell you how many times I have sat with someone going through a really tough time, it could be cancer, it could be addiction, it could be any number of things, but they are hurting, scared, feeling alone; and they remember, or have been told, this story of God turning away from Jesus because of the sin He took on. 

They say, "If God cannot look upon Jesus and His sin, how can He look upon me and my sin? How can I believe in a God that turns from me during my time of greatest need?"  

As they sit in, what has been affectionately named, the crying chair (the chair in my office where people sit and cry), crying and feeling alone and I look at them with compassion in my eyes I say, "Oh you silly goose, do you really think God isn't big enough or strong enough to look upon sin?"

The usual response is a sniffle and a shaky, "No"

I tell them, "That would be a pretty small god, and I don't believe in that god either."

You see, as I am sure you already know, up until the early 20th century most of the world was illiterate. While we have had the written word for over 2,500 years, most people could not read. We had what we like to call oral tradition; a tradition where people memorized sayings, verses if you will (something else we didn't have during the time of Jesus). A rabbi or priest would start to say words from the scroll and people would automatically know what he was referring to. 

Think of the pledge of allegiance. If I say, "I pledge allegiance to the flag." Most likely you can carry on from there and finish it. 

Well guess what, it was the same 2,000 years ago. 

Jesus said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and people didn't think God had turned away. No, they went automatically to Psalm 22, which just happens to start, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 

Why would Jesus go there, you might ask?

Great question, He went there because Psalm 22 depicts Jesus on the Cross 500 years before it happened, thus fulfilling another prophesy. But He doesn't stop there, because after Psalm 22 people naturally went to Psalm 23, which ends with Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Giving a hope and a future. Jesus was teaching about His Father all the way up to the end.

You see yesterday I wrote about people who were afraid that I might lose my faith when going through a tough time. a time when some people might have said, "God gave you cancer to teach you a lessen."

 Ok, friend of Job! Just another one of my theological jokes. 

No, God did not turn away from me. In fact He was there with me the whole time, whether I could see Him or not, feel Him or not, hear Him or not. 

And this morning He reminded me that even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff--they comfort me (Psalm23:4)

Wow, did I have a talking attack or what!

Blessings,

Roger

Silly Rabbi, kicks are for Twidds

 Good morning,

I pray the day finds you well.

I am still catching up on all my pent-up thoughts from not talking with you for so long. I guess you will just have to put up with my ramblings.

When I was actively, and outwardly, (As I am still going through cancer, just, as we want to be politically correct, I am not cancer presenting) going through my cancer thing, people would often ask me, "How does this affect your relationship with God?" We have to remember that these people were truly concerned about me, and worried that having the big "C" would cause me to question or even lose my faith. 

My typical internal response was, "Silly Rabbi, kicks are for Twidds." 

I know I just left you in the dust and are wondering, "Just what the heck is that?" For a complete explanation you will have to ask my son David; he loves that joke. Just know that there is a Rabbi, a Troll, a group of Twidds, and a mountain involved.  

Sorry, did I mention that I am an internal processor; when I am forced to externally process it is a hot mess. 

Anyway...My external response was and is, "It doesn't, Me and God are still like peas and carrots." 

You see, I don't blame God for my cancer. He didn't give me cancer so He could then cure me to show how wonderful He is. Even saying this causes me to cringe. We have all known manipulative people and even had some in our lives. 

God doesn't manipulate, man does. 

In fact, people often ask me, when we get to talking about God, "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? I can't believe in a God like that." 

I respond, "Neither can I." And I follow this with, “Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.” and, because they think I have a bat-phone to God they say, “Well why don’t you ask Him?” 

I come back with, “Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

This is just me, you can disagree if you like; this is just us talking. 

God did not make carcinogens for us to take in (remember the, for us to take in part) whether intentionally or not, man did.   

So the whole, "I don't believe in God because bad things happen to good people" doesn't fly with me.

As Yuval Noah Harari wrote so well in his book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind:

"Homo sapiens held the record among all organisms for driving the most plant and animal species to their extinctions. We have the dubious distinction of being the deadliest species in the annals of biology."[1]

If God wanted to stop bad things from happening to good people then He would have to take us all out, just sayin. 

So I am pondering the question, "Why do we allow poverty, suffering, and injustice when WE could do something about it? 

This is what I have been pondering lately.

Blessings,

Roger

---

[1]Yuval Noah Harari, Yuval Noah. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. (New York: Harper Collins), 2015. 74. 

---

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night in a closed room with a mosquito.

 Good morning,

I pray the day finds you well.

Well, it is that time again. I was reminded (the older I get, the more reminding comes my way. I will have to figure out why this happens one of these days. I am sure I will have to be reminded to look into this). It is time for me to write my little blurb for the YMCA Newsletter for April. I seem to do a lot of writing; after this I will have to write a What a YMCA chaplain does document for an upcoming all staff training. More than likely I will have to be reminded to do that as well. 

Oh yes, the newsletter and the being reminded conversation.. I asked what the value of the month for April was going to be. I was told it is Service, that got me to thinking, actually it got me to thinking about Jim Buckley my dad. Actually, Jim is my wife Laurie's dad which technically makes him my in-law. but, as you know, I don't have in-laws. If one has in-laws, then they must have out-laws. there are no out-laws in my family, so I only have family. For more on this topic you can read one of my old posts where we talked about In-laws and Out-laws. I would tell you when I wrote it, but I forgot. 

Back to Jim.

Jim was the Executive Director of the Mankato Minnesota Family YMCA. Jim was a humble man. To meet him you would think that he had not done anything remarkable in his life, other than raise some fantastic kids. 

Here is a quick list of Jim's accomplishments:

• 1962'ish-Helped bring Martin Luther King Jr. to Mankato to speak.
• 1969'ish - Walked a 100 mile walk of reconciliation to reconcile the Sioux with:
• The city of Mankato
• Blue Earth County
• State of Minnesota
• 1972'ish-Held the first Pow-Wow at Sibley Park and it still goes on today.
• Hired the first Catholic nun to work in his YMCA (remember back in those days Protestants and Catholics didn't hang around together (I do remember that!). 

Jim had many obstacles to overcome, many conversations to make these things happen, late nights, early mornings. These things were not easy to accomplish.

There were many people that told Jim, "You will never make that happen." Jim never let them get him down. He just did it anyway. I am reminded of a quote, "The one who says it can’t be done should get out of the way of the one who is doing it."[1]

Most of us are paralyzed by the Bystander Effect. The bystander effect, or our tendency to wait for others to act rather than acting ourselves.[1]

Don't be derailed by the, "It can't be done people." Don't be a bystander. No matter how small you think you are, you can and will make a difference. If you think I am wrong, just remember, "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night in a closed room with a mosquito."

--African Saying[1]

Something to think about.

Blessings,

---

[1]Stearns, Richard. The Hole in our Gospel. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson), 2009. 250. 

---

[1]David Wallace-Wells, The Uninhabitable Earth: Life after Warming. (New York: Tim Duggan Books), 2019. 159. 

---

[1]Stearns, Richard. The Hole in our Gospel. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson), 2009. 274. 

Don't be a Coprolite!

 Good morning,

I pray the day finds you well.

Yesterday, we talked about how long it had been since we last spoke and I mentioned that it is one's response to a challenge, and not the challenge itself that defines them. 

I am being nudged to continue this conversation. I guess He wants us to get this point.

He said, "Roger, sometimes you can be such a coprolite!" I shook my head and said, "Sometimes you sound just like my sister."

When I was going through cancer, and the subsequent Chemo treatments, I was surrounded by people that where much farther down the road on their journey with cancer than I was. It was awfully hard for me to feel bad, or sad, when these wonderful individuals where handling their diagnoses with such grace and dignity. 

My father used to say, actually he still says it, "Before you start feeling sorry for yourself, take a look around. You will see people that are going through much tougher stuff than you are." Good ole' trucker wisdom, you can't beat it.

Yet, when I look around, or simply jump into my car, I am confronted with people that are aggressive, angry, and just not nice; Coprolites. 

When I talk with people I seem to run into more people that are self-centered, myopic, and mean; Coprolites.

I watch people be horrible to people to the service industry. They say nasty things to waiters, waitresses, flight attendants...They are being Coprolites. 

Don't be a Coprolite!

We will all face challenges in our lifetimes, some easy and simple, some difficult, some seemingly unbearable. It is then that we need to lean into God, talk with Christ, listen for His nudges and wisdom. 

Proverbs 2:6 says, "For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."

I don't know about you, but when I lean on my own understanding and my own knowledge I too can be a Coprolite. I don't want to be a Coprolite. 

I will work even harder on giving Grace, giving people space to process, being loving and less judgmental, and not being a Coprolite.

I just realized that not everyone knows what a Coprolite is. Coprolite is an paleontological term for a fossilized turd. 

Something to think about.

Blessings,

Roger

1-year, 4-months and 7-days. Let's not wait so long next time.

 Good morning,

I pray the day finds you well. 

It has been a few days since we have talked last. 

I got to thinking, "How long has it actually been?", so I looked it up.

It has been:

• 1-year, 4-months and 7-days

Or

• 1.4 years

Or

• 16.3 months

Or

• 70.6 weeks

Or

• 494 days

Or

• 11,856 hours

Or

• 711360 minutes

Or

• 42681600 seconds

No matter how you calculate it, it has been awhile.

The last time we talked I was visiting the Dairy Farm (Chemo treatments). 

Since then I have:

• Finished Chemo
• Went into remission 
• Had a back procedure
• Had a full-blown back surgery
• Had knee surgery
• Grew my hair back
• Told countless "dad" jokes.
• Talked with God
• Yelled at God
• Apologized for yelling at Him
• Laughed at and forgiven by Him

If you haven't noticed I have grown fond of bullet points, mainly because it drives Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor crazy!

My wife, Laurie, wants me to write another book, "Life after cancer." She was talking to me one day. Yes, she still talks to me. She said, "When you got the cancer free card from your oncologist, people started talking like everything was over. In fact, you had a number of things left to go through. You should write about trials and tribulations of recovering from cancer." Maybe I will someday, but not yet.

I was talking with a friend the other day, actually I was complaining about something, I can't remember what it was, I am sure it was important, so important in fact that a few days later I can't remember what I was complaining about. She looked at me and said, "Someone once told me, It isn't the challenge that defines you, it is your response." I said, "Who told you that nonsense!" She said, "A very wise man."

I told her, "He sounds like an idiot to me!"

She was right. How we respond to the challenges in our lives is more important than the challenges themselves. If I am to be congruent with what I say I believe, I must continually work on becoming more like Him. I have not arrived yet. I still struggle, it is a journey. 

Good thing I have a canoe!  

Anyway, I have missed our conversations and I hope you have too.

Talk soon.

Blessings,

Roger