In September of 1915, one year into the First World War, eighteen-year-old John Kipling (known as Jack) died during the Battle of the Loos. Grieving his son's death, British author and poet Rudyard Kipling wrote his poem, "My Boy Jack." It begins:
"Have you news of my boy Jack?"
Not this tide.
"When d'you think that he'll come back?"
Jack never came back. His death was among many and it was the result of a war that his father felt was worth fighting.
Exactly one year prior to Jack's wartime death, Rudyard composed a poem entitled, "For All We Have and Are." In verse, Kipling speaks to the dignity and necessity of facing war; of standing for family, nation and freedom. Hear his poetic word here in part.
For all we have and are,
For all our children’s fate,
Stand up and take the war.
The Hun is at the gate!
Our world has passed away
In wantonness o’erthrown.
There is nothing left to-day
But steel and fire and stone!
Though all we knew depart,
The old Commandments stand—
“In courage keep your heart,
In strength lift up your hand.”
***
No easy hope or lies
Shall bring us to our goal,
But iron sacrifice
Of body, will, and soul.
There is but one task for all—
One life for each to give.
What stands if Freedom fall?
Who dies if England live?
I can't help but wonder if the gifted poet's words from September, 1914, played in his head in September, 1915. He stated with conviction that:
For all we have and are,
For all our children’s fate,
Stand up and take the war.
Then his child's fate led to a grave. His boy Jack died for his nation, England . . . for family, nation and freedom.
Listen to the theme. A father who recognizes the perilous situation in which his nation stands, advocates for the war effort - a war effort in which his son engages. In fact, the father used his influence to ensure that his son received a commission in the war. In other words, the father sent his son into the war.
Does that sound familiar?
On Christmas Eve, we will pause in the midst of holiday chaos to celebrate a birthday - the Lord's birthday.
Everyone's birth is unique. Babies are born in hospitals, homes, and cars that hit too many red lights. Parents hold their newborns close and, if they call on the Divine, pray for their child's safety and health. A proud father soon thereafter puffs out his chest and parades his daughter before all who will attend (and even a few who care not to). A thankful mother soon thereafter feels a healthy sense of pride that that child is her son.
Jesus' birth was likewise unique. Yes, it took place in an unlikely location - a manger. And, yes, the first visitors were daunted heaven-struck shepherds. But those facts are not the most interesting examples of his birth's uniqueness. Even the fact that his mother birthed a child without having known a man - while certainly, interesting - is not, I believe, the most astounding piece. Rather, the most interesting (indeed startling) aspect of Jesus' birth is the fact that, as Paul wrote in Philippians 2 . . .
#ordinarylives
He spoke in extremes.
"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon"(Matthew 6:24).
No wiggle room there! The Lord Jesus chose the Aramaic word “mammon” in reference to riches because the word’s root is associated with the act of trusting. His message is clear. Each person who would follow in the Jesus Way cannot simultaneously trust in God (the Provider) and riches (the stuff on earth).
You and I, however, live in the world of Black Friday, zero % interest loans, endless credit card offers, and the American Dream. Considering that stores opened before the Thanksgiving turkey meal was digested, most of us find it difficult to count our blessings without doing the math to figure how soon we can buy and therefore count higher.
It is time to trust in Who rather than What.
I delight in knowing that I will join with my church family on December 24th to sing praises to God for His gift of Jesus.
I look forward to ripping wrapping paper and reaching into my gingerbread man-adorned stocking.
I smile in anticipation of watching my daughter and sons bolt down the stairs on the 25th.
I pray that my wife likes what I picked out.
Eagerness for Christmas, however, should not overshadow Advent. The season of Advent helps us to avoid the trap of mammon. It helps us focus on what really matters - to trust the only One worth serving.
December 2nd marked the first Sunday of a four-week observance of Advent (a coming).
Christian believers look forward to that day which the Apostle Paul referred to as “the blessed hope – the glorious appearing” (Titus 2:13). On that day the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will appear.
While Christmas reminds us of Jesus’ first arrival, Advent declares the promise of His return - His second arrival. Christmas without Advent is a reflection on an historical event alone. Advent, while allowing time to look back, draws our attention forward so that we can look forward to God coming to set all things right.
No matter how much we buy, even if everything in our shopping bag is 40% off, we will tire of the gifts sooner than we think. How many shoes do you really need? How many rifles does it really take to bag next year’s game? Do you really just have to have the newest iPhone? If you must, go ahead and buy it. But don’t count on any purchase to bring you happiness.
I am no Grinch. I will buy and open as you do. Yet, I sure hope that I will remember to count my blessings before I do and not pout if the number, as it increases, does not include that certain “must have.” Join me, won’t you?
#ordinarylives
Three hundred and ten years ago, Issac Watts penned the lyrics to the still-oft-sung hymn, "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross." In one verse, Wells wrote . . .
Were this whole realm of nature mine
That were a present far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
Love so amazing!
Two blogs ago I focused on the need and value of platonic love. Last week, the focus was on romantic love. Today I write of Divine Love, the highest love of all. Watts was willing to give up "the whole realm" for love. All other loves flow from God's love.
We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19 (NIV)
Because of Jesus, His followers live on a two-way road of love -- God's love toward us and ours toward Him. While His love is perfect, ours is flawed; yet, He receives it nonetheless.
Two days ago, the Christian Season of Advent began. Advent celebrates anticipation. Advent observers imagine the anticipation of those BC "waiters" upon the arrival of the Messiah and imagine with equal anticipation His AD return. He will return with love at the ready. He, as Creator and Savior, will welcome His followers home.
While we wait, we anticipate and we (if we are doing as we should) love as He first loved us. That kind of love begins with worship. To love God is to worship God.
During this season of Advent, determine to love God through worship. How? I share some suggestions.
1. Attend a worship service.
2. Read Luke, chapter two.
3. Read Colossians, chapter one.
4. Read 2 Peter, chapter three.
5. Listen to (and sing along with) songs of worship.
6. Drive to a spot of beauty and thank God for His craftsmanship.
7. Thank God for helping you through your difficult time.
8. Write a "thank you" note to God.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
1 John 3:1a (NIV)
#ordinarylives
Keep those fancy things
Keep your magazine
I don't even want what I'm chasing
Because all I know isn't ordinary love is
What we're made for
So Ben Rector croons in his song, Ordinary Love. In his lyrics, Rector penned . . .
gimme an ordinary love
that I touch
that I hold
Far too often, people miss out on tangible love because they fail to recognize the value of ordinary love.
In regard to romantic love and the Ordinary Life, how does one go about enjoying an ordinary love? To answer that question, one must first answer another. Namely - what is ordinary romantic love? Ordinary romantic love is . . .
one based in the desire to share life with another
one based on shared giving and receiving
dependent on trust
realistic in expectations
exclusive
God-honoring
Now, back to our first question. How does one go about enjoying an ordinary love? I offer some suggestions. (I base them on my twenty-two and one half years of marriage experience to the woman of my life, my bride.)
- Be kind.
- Listen.
- Hold hands.
- Speak words of encouragement and love.
- Date your spouse.
- Know what your spouse enjoys.
- Know what your spouse dislikes.
- Be patient.
- Be realistic.
- Be thankful.
I agree with Rector that "ordinary love is what we're made for." In any healthy romantic love, a couple will experience times of great joy and true pain, surprisingly amazing moments and profoundly frustrating events, and they will do so together.
Ordinary love falls apart when one person (or both) in the relationship chooses "me" over "we." Those who choose "me" abandon their life partner when their frustration with the one they love drives them into a life of romantic distancing or the arms of another. Those who choose "we" continue in their commitment to love their mate even through the most trying times. "We" trumps "me"! Those who choose "we" live in a manner that provides a 3D picture of Ephesians 5:21.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
#ordinarylives
That intriguing question rests within U2's song, "Ordinary Love." As with so many areas of life, the area of love (one's relationship with others) is littered with neglected relationships. One or the other or both individuals took one another for granted or simply stopped tending to or fostering a relationship supported with pillars of trust, devotion, and compassion.
Some ordinary relationships are lost in the glare of extraordinary expectations.
Enjoying the Ordinary includes welcoming smile-generating surprises when they come one's way, as well as the often less-than-appreciated joys in life. Ordinary things live in plenty in the relationships of love - platonic, romantic, and divine.
I dedicate this week's blog post to the platonic relationships. I will address the other types of love in two subsequent weeks.
In order to appreciate a platonic relationship, one must learn to give attention to the less noticed gifts within the friendship. In your friendships, you can live your ordinary life to its fullest by . . .
- Offering to help your friend by listening.
- Buying your friend a coffee.
- Loaning your truck to a friend as he or she moves.
- Or, better yet, load the truck and help pack.
- Remembering to say "thank you."
- Practicing grace, aka "I forgive you."
- Speaking truth (please remember "truth in love").
Are you tough enough for ordinary love?
You answer that question, in part, by practicing acts of kindness such as these. You answer the question in part, as well, by loving your friend when he or she acts in less-than-lovable ways. In one of His most straightforward teachings, Jesus voiced to Peter this charge.
"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34b-35 (NIV)
A matter of just a few sentences later, Peter boldly declared to his Lord, "I will lay down my life for you." Peter thought he could love his teacher and friend in such an extraordinary way. As the story continues, we learn that his bold declaration proved false.
Then the story of the fallout grows rather interesting. Eight chapters later, we find Jesus loving Peter, His friend, after the less-than-bold disciple acted (through three denials) in less-than-lovable ways. We then read . . .
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
John 21:17-19 (NIV)
Jesus explains to Peter that, sure enough, he would die; he would "lay down [his] life" for Jesus. But, first, Peter was to love in a more ordinary, and no less important, way. He was to feed Jesus' sheep.
How could a disciple not yet loving in "small" ways die with courage as a martyr? He needed to first love through ordinary ways.
Are you tough enough to love in ordinary ways?
#ordinarylives
The smallest three-digit number draws attention to itself. We mark significant events in history by their centuries. We celebrate when one of our own (fellow human beings) reaches the status of "centurion." When teams like the World Series Champion Astros (and, for that matter, the Dodgers) reach 100 in the W column, we salute their accomplishment.
Prior to today's post, a good friend drew my attention to the fact that this post would be my one hundredth blog post. While #100 is no more extraordinary than #9 or #99, I delight in knowing that my words in support of the Ordinary Life continue to be read by fellow "appreciators" of the everyday, ordinary events of life.
In celebration of the 100th birthday of The Ordinary Life, I devote today's blog to the words of Psalm 100.
1-2 On your feet now—applaud God!
Bring a gift of laughter,
sing yourselves into his presence.
3 Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us; we didn’t make him.
We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.
5 For God is sheer beauty,
all-generous in love,
loyal always and ever.
Psalm 100 (The Message)
The psalmist applauds God and invites his readers to do the same. He attempts to lead a grand parade for the God who is God. I enjoy the simplicity of this psalm. It's call for a worshipful party relies not on a list of "becauses." The psalmist acknowledges God's greatness while feeling no compulsion to provide the Creator's resume. That He is God is reason enough for a parade. When the writer chooses to add a footnote of reason (as a "because"), he keeps it simple.
God is loyal. God is all-generous. God is sheer beauty. We stand and applaud Him, knowing all three of these attributes stand the tests of time and truth.
The psalmist surely could have listed 100 reasons to applaud God. I imagine that a number of them filled his thoughts as he quilled the psalm.
Check out Psalm 104. He listed thirty-five verses of "becauses." As you applaud God, think about your "becauses." Then, with a pen in hand, a lyric in your heart, or a gift of laughter,
"Make yourself at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him."
Here's to what God, who is God, is doing in your everyday, ordinary life!
#ordinarylives
