Predictability okay?

Yes, I saw Indiana Jones & the Crystal Skull and liked it. Not loved it, but liked it. And yes, it was predictable. However, I want it predictable. I purposely went to the movies with every intent to see watch Indiana Jones pull an escape out of his hind parts every time (i.e. in the warehouse, in a refrigerator). When I went to see U2 in concert, I wanted to hear their songs from "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," but also wanted to hear songs from previous CDs, All That You Can't Leave Behind, Joshua Tree, War, etc. Also I was expecting and heard their song at the end of their concert- 40. The same was with Billy Joel - I wanted to hear "Piano Man" sung at the end of his concert. I knew that if I did not hear either of those songs at the end of either one of those concerts ... I would have been disappointed.

Yes, I was not let down, disappointed by how predictable Indiana Jones. I would have rather the Speilberg and Lucas team created a short lived series for a couple seasons with Indiana Jones - but not young Indiana Jones with River Phoenix. Predictability is good. We want stories of perseverance, awesome special effects, and happy endings. Yes, we want twists and turns in our movies however with closure. We want surprise endings - but isn't that predictable? Not where aliens are involved - kind of surprise endings.

There are moments where I yearn for predictability in my life because life can seem so random and be so uncertain. Yet, I realize how bored I would become with life and how stagnant my relationship with God would become. Its in those challenges that I learn more about God's faithfulness and redemption; I learn more about myself and my lack of control of the world around me. I have control of me that is just about it.

In Philippians 4:11-12, Paul wrote, "... for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

In those challenges, I want to learn how to be content. The question is, "do I want to experience circumstances that will force me to accept what is happening around me - then learning contentment?" Will I be able to say, "It is what it is," believing that I am content? I want to appreciate my circumstances because I want to grow and need to grow as a follower of Jesus which then affects every area of life as a dad, as a husband and as a chaplain. A little pain never hurt any of us.

To quote Princess Bride, "Life is pain. If someone tells you otherwise, princess, they are selling you something."

Father's Day

For Father's Day, I received a hammock. Wow, it is the best gift ever. I lay in it after a draining day at work and stare into the sky, at the trees, and the occasional plane, circling to land in Philadelphia. I actually "space out." Literally, my psyche quiets, and I stare off thinking about nothing. Until ... I hear the shrilling voice of my youngest son Luke, you know him ... he is the "what you said" kid. The shrilling voice asked if he could lay in the hammock with me. I wanted to implement the "no talking rule" in the hammock and the "sitting still" rule. However, what I am realizing is that the greater gift is that my children, all of my children, still want to lay with me, be affectionate with me, and simply take in life with the "old man." So the real gift has been that my children presently and at least for a while longer want to hang with the "old man" and miss him when he is late coming home from work and have a meeting at church. Life is good.

Good Times

I was driving through Deptford and an aroma grabbed my attention. No, it was not the former pig farms. It was the aroma of baseball clay and dirt mixed with the beautiful scent of freshly mowed grass. Wow, I love that smell. I love the aroma of marsh on one of the back roads to the shore. I love the smell of fire burning in a fire place. What about a steak on the grill? Someone needs to make a candle smell like that. Chrissie fills her nose with the freshly bathed children. What is your favorite smell? Cookies. Father's cologne. Wife's perfume. This may not resonate with you, but my strongest scent is my sense of smell. What these trigger in me, simply, is to slow down and not to take any moment for granted. Think about it what do these aromas provide - we slow our pace; we say to someone else, "do you smell that?" Then we remember. Whether it was your first baseball game, or your first catch with your dad, uncle, or simply a friend. Whether it was your first summer vacation, or first date, or the fact that we are headed for vacation. Whether it was roasting marshmallows for s'mores, camping, or throwing another log on the fire. So the dirt mixed with clay with freshly mowed grass - makes me slow down and think about good times. Good times that happened, that are happening, and will happen. Laughter, legacy, and lessons. Good times. Good times. May you fill your nose with those pleasing smells that cause to slow down and live right in the moment.

Maybe its me ...

Good t.v. night and I am stoked that I have "last" ("recall") button on my remote. I went from watching Open Range to Any Given Sunday to Glory Road. I have already seen all three of these movies, but I sit on the edge of my seat every time. I know the outcome but these movies suck me right into its reality every time. I love the rush, the connection with perspective, and the story behind each character. Sometimes I wish that I brought that same excitement, connection with perspective and story behind each character to the scriptures. At least, I wish that the scripture always brought that to me. Its probably not the scripture, but maybe its me. I read the scriptures with old eyes. I have read the scriptures, at least the easier sections: most of the New Testament, half of the Old Testament, and have not read much of the prophets or Job. Maybe I don't read as much because I struggle with my voice reading the scriptures. Maybe I don't trust God enough to still speak to us, to me, to the culture, to life in a life giving way. I know that it isn't true; I know that God still can speak however God chooses to speak. And, I trust that God speaks through the scriptures. God does and can speak through the movies. Through these movies, I gain a deeper perspective on truths from the scripture - redemption, justice, and grace. How did I hear about these truths originally? Scripture. Prayer. Holy Spirit. Possibly what I need to realize is that both can and should happen: scripture and the silver screen. I cannot have one without the other, especially scripture.

I found this scripture on the day of my Dad's catheterization, "Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom," Psalm 90:12. Good stuff.