Amnesia

poem by William Wordsworth, Intimations of Immortality

What though the radiance which was once so bright 

Be now for ever taken from my sight, 

Though nothing can bring back the hour 

Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; 

We will grieve not, rather find 

Strength in what remains behind; 

In the primal sympathy 

Which having been must ever be; 

In the soothing thoughts that spring 

Out of human suffering; 

In the faith that looks through death, 

In years that bring the philosophic mind. 

The Vine and the Branches - John 15

John 15 contains a brilliant analogy for the relationship between God the Father, Jesus the Messiah, and the Church and its believers.  The first 5 verses get us started and should be very familiar:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."  ----- ESV

In most versions of the Bible, there is an unfortunate translation choice that confuses the analogy, and that is the use of "he takes away" in verse 2.  An equally proper, and I think better, translation of that Greek word (airei) is "he lifts up".  If we are going to apply Jesus' analogy to our lives, let's at least do it correctly, understanding fully the context.  That same Greek word is used in Acts chapter 1 to describe Jesus' ascension into Heaven.  When Jesus was lifted up into Heaven, we surely wouldn't refer to Jesus as being "cut off" or "taken away" with a connotation of judgement. Yet that is what conventional interpretations often do.

This article from a vineyard owner really says it well.  The gardener "lifts up" any branches that trail along the ground, and ties them on to the support structure so that they grow upward.  They are pruned as well, of course, but there's no pruning until they've been tied on and trained to go upward.

Also, the word for "prunes" in verse 2 is also the same Greek word (katharoi) as for "clean" in verse 3.  Those two verses should be translated using the same word (and I think pruned is the better word for both verses).

Later, when the analogy shifts to cutting off branches that are no longer abiding in the vine, and bundling them up to be burned, it's a very appropriate translation.  If a branch breaks off at the trunk, or at the cordon (arm), it loses its connection to the vine and becomes dead.  Nothing for it at that point than to be burned up.  But there's no cutting off and burning for a branch that is trailing along the ground.  Instead, it gets the Vinedressers loving attention; he tends to it in such a way as to help it to grow properly, and produce good fruit.

Falling Upward

During this process of evaluating how to approach the next few years - retire, work part-time, work full-time (same industry or a new one) - I have found myself thinking about what's truly important to attend to in the remainder of my life here on this planet.

(Ha.  That reminds me of listening to an old Larry Norman album I owned with the title: Only Visiting This Planet.  True that, Larry.)

In a recent visit with my pastor in which we compared notes on self-examination, he recommended to me the book "Falling Upward" by Richard Rohr.  In it, Rohr posits that there are two halves to life, the one in which we discover and form ourselves into a unique container called "who I am", and the one in which we make the best use of that container and contents to accomplish that which we were set on earth to do.

Seems to me that right now is an excellent time to think about that idea, settle on a definition of self and on a second-half-of-life mission, and then lay out a plan to execute that mission.

Okay then.

Let's begin.

Refugees, their motives, and the Scripture

My wife and I just returned from a 3800 mile driving vacation which took us from Iowa to Branson to Hot Springs to Shreveport to Dallas (Fort Worth, actually) to Austin to Brownsville & South Padre Island to Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country to Abilene in West Texas to Wichita and back home.

While in Austin we stayed with our eldest kid in her new house, and were there over a Sunday, so went to her church as well.  A guest pastor was preaching that day and the message was on the refugee and the Biblical case for compassion for, and acceptance of, them.  Here are the particular Scripture passages invoked in that message:

The Refugee

Psalms 46:1 ESV
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
http://bible.com/59/psa.46.1.ESV

Psalms 59:16 ESV
But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
http://bible.com/59/psa.59.16.ESV

Psalms 68:5-6 ESV
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
http://bible.com/59/psa.68.5-6.ESV

Psalms 91:4 ESV
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
http://bible.com/59/psa.91.4.ESV

Leviticus 19:33-34 ESV
"When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
http://bible.com/59/lev.19.33-34.ESV

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 ESV
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of Lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
http://bible.com/59/deu.10.17-19.ESV

Hebrews 13:1-3 ESV
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
http://bible.com/59/heb.13.1-3.ESV

Galatians 5:14 ESV
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
http://bible.com/59/gal.5.14.ESV

Acts 17:26-27 ESV
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
http://bible.com/59/act.17.26-27.ESV



Now, a statement and a question. Every Scripture used to urge compassion and acceptance toward refugees has an underlying assumption - that the refugee's motives are benign.  What if they are not?

The parallel is made in many passages to the Israelite nation being captives in Egypt (or in Babylon).  Israel's motives were benign - they had no intent to undermine that government or to infiltrate the culture in order to do harm.

Because of this core assumption, the Scripture says nothing about how to treat an alien or stranger in your land whose intent is to cause harm.  (i.e. sent by a hostile government or a terrorist or a criminal organization).  The only example of an immigration policy decision in the Bible that is even close to such a situation is in Joshua chapter 9, and the result was not compassion and acceptance.

One has only to look at Europe to find instances of immigrants intending to cause harm.  It seems to me that we need an immigration process which is like the Ellis Island approach we used to have: no one is admitted unless then can demonstrate that they have 1) a month's wages on them, 2) a relative already in the USA to vouch for them, and 3) a job offer.  Those requirements alone, plus a 30 day quarantine period to give time for background checks, would eliminate most of the risk that anyone with malicious intent would make it into the US.

Spiritual Gifts - A Harmonization of the "Gift Lists"

Some time back, I was listening to a sermon by our Pastor, when as often happens a thought struck me, and I had to explore it.  So I sent myself a note on email, and it sat there in my inbox for months, waiting for a time when I could do the research.  Now, being unemployed, I finally have the time.  :)

The idea was this: there are several passages in the New Testament that list what are known as "spiritual gifts", the definition of which is abilities (often supernaturally endowed) that are given to Christians at or after their conversion, for the purpose of edifying and building up the local church.  Since English translations of the Greek New Testament writing often are contextual, there may appear to be more of these "gifts" noted in English translations of the Bible than the original languages allow for.

The solution for that would be to go to the Greek language versions directly and note the words used there to create a harmonization, and then convert the surviving terms back to English.  Seminary training certainly helps with such an endeavor, and online tools make it easier than it was a couple of decades ago.

So, here's what I found by trying to harmonize the following passages:

Romans 12:6-8
I Corinthians 12:8-10
I Corinthians 12:28-30
I Corinthians 13:1-3,8
I Corinthians 14:6,26
Ephesians 4:11-12
I Peter 4:11
I Corinthians 7:7-8
Exodus 35:30-35
I Chronicles 25:1-8

You might wonder how I can examine Greek words in the last two passages, but there are online tools for that, too.  :)

The complete table is below, but here are some insights.

1) Prophecy in the Old and New Testaments are from the same Spirit, and are the same gift; just the context differs.  In the Old, prophecy was mostly speaking God's truth to power.  In the New, it is speaking God's truth to the church about a specific issue or need.
2) The gift of evangelism is better thought of as a Gospel Preacher - not one who expounds the Scripture, but one who simply brings the Good News, with power.  Televangelists get a bad rap, but Saint Paul was one - just without the technology of TV.
3) The modern-day position of Pastor is really unnatural.  We think of it as combination of Preacher/Teacher/Counselor, but the word used for pastoral gifts is the Greek word for Shepherd - one who cares for the flock.  It is not the same gift as Teacher, nor is it the same as Evangelist (preacher).  Yet in our modern pastoral ministry, we expect the Pastor to do all three. There are separate gifts of Teaching, Shepherding, and Evangelistic Preaching.  As Saint Paul says clearly: none have all the gifts, but we expect pastors to have at least 3 specific ones.
4) The idea of spiritual giftedness in music and the arts has been hotly debated, but it's clear to me that there is an Old Testament precedent for it, confirmed by similar use of the Greek New Testament words for both Wisdom and Prophecy in the context of arts, crafts, and music.
5) There is a gift of singleness, but not of celibacy per se.  The text in question says nothing about sexual activity or the lack thereof (it's implied, not stated), but rather of being partnered with someone in a committed relationship (which would necessarily draw them away from complete devotion to Christ.
6) Hospitality appears not to be a spiritual gift, but rather a command, along the same lines as "live a quiet and godly life" or "give no one reason to accuse you".  All believers are commanded to be hospitable to other believers, especially those traveling through.

	Greek Word	Strongs #
Romans 12:6–8
Prophecy	prophēteian	4394
Serving	diakonian	121248
Teaching	didaskalia	1319
Exhortation	paraklēsei	3874
Giving	haplotēti	572
Leadership	proistamenos	4291
Mercy	eleōn	1653
1 Corinthians 12:8-10
Word of wisdom	sophias	4678
Word of knowledge	gnōseōs	11108
Faith	pistis	4102
Healing	iamatōn	2386
Miracles	dynameōn	1411
Prophecy	prophēteia	4394
Distinguishing between spirits	diakriseis	1253
Tongues	glōssōn	11100
Interpretation of tongues	hermēneia	22058	Note, a connotation of                  .   translating, not of                          .   determining the meaning
1 Corinthians 12:28-30
Apostle	apostolous	652	Note, an emphasis on
Prophet	prophētas	4396	an emissary, a delegate,
Teacher	didaskalous	1320	one who is commissioned   .  to go (i.e. a Missionary)
Miracles	dynameis	1411
Kinds of healings	iamatōn	2386
Helps	antilēmpseis	484
Administration	kybernēseis	2941
Tongues	glōssōn	11100
Interpretation of tongues	diermēneuousin	1329	Note, an emphasis of 2058,                  .  fully/accurately translating
1 Corinthians 13:1-3,8
Tongues	glōssais	11100
Prophecy	prophēteian	4394
Seeing	eidō	1492	Note, metaphysical seeing  .  (as in a Seer); used in                .   context of understanding              .  Mysteries (mystēria                                 .  http://biblehub.com/                .  greek/muste_ria_3466.htm     Strong's 3466                                        .  http://biblehub.com/                        .  greek/3466.htm)
Knowledge	gnōsin	11108
Faith	pistin	4102
Feed the Hungry	psōmisō	5595
Martyrdom	kauthēsomai	2744	Note, context of "to be                   .  burned" is to hand over the     .  body (paradō to sōma,                .  Strong's 3860 and 4983) for          .  torture, but literal meaning .  of 2744 is to be lifted up, as          .  in Christians on the crosses         .  set on fire in Nero's day.
1 Corinthians 14:6,26
Tongues	glōssōn	11100
Revelation	apokalypsei	602
Knowledge	gnōsei	11108
Prophecy	prophēteia	4394
Teaching	didache	1322	Note, also a lesson                      .   (teaching - didachēn                .   Strong's 1322)
Worship	psalmon	5568
Interpretation of tongues	hermēneion	22058
Ephesians 4:11-12
Apostle	apostolous	652
Prophet	prophētas	4396
Evangelist	euangelistas	2099	Note, this word has the             .  connotation of herald or            .  news announcer (i.e.                  .  preacher)
Shepherd	poimenas	4166
Teacher	didaskalous	1320
1 Peter 4:11
Speaking	lalei	2980	Note,
Serving	diakonei	121248	.  this is teaching - normal      .  speaking, but about                   .  Theology (logia Theou,      .  Strong's 3051 & 2316)
1 Corinthians 7:7
Celibacy (Singleness)	agamois	22
Exodus 35:30-35
Wisdom (trans. Skill)	bə·ḥā·ḵə·māh	2451	4678	sophia
Understanding (trans. Intell.	biṯ·ḇū·nāh	8394	4907	synesin
Knowledge	ū·ḇə·ḏa·‘aṯ	1847	1990	epistēmōn
Craftsmanship (wise works)	mə·lā·ḵāh	4399	2041	erga                              Note,  "works" is modified by wisdom "Sophia"
Design	wə·laḥ·šōḇ	2803	753	architektōn
Teaching (Training Others)	ū·lə·hō·w·rōṯ	3384	4264	probibazó
1 Chronicles 25:1-8
Prophesy (Utter) with Music	han·nib·bā	5012	6669	apophtheggomai
ecstatically via the Holy Spirit			4396	prophētas

Outward focus in retirement

Much as I would love to retire - right now - I'm not sure it's a good idea unless I have a clear objective to reach while being retired.  So far I've thought about a routine to keep body, soul, mind and spirit all exercised during retirement, but that's pretty self-focused.  There's an outward focus that's just as necessary, I think, but I haven't figured that part out.

Listening to the sermon on Sunday, something the Pastor said got me to thinking about my life objective and about my abilities and skills - do they cease in retirement?  Were they only for the workplace?

For several years (decades, really) my life objective has been to leave relationships and organizations better than I found them.   That still has merit, and I would want to continue that life objective even when retired.  But ... how could I do that if I am not involved in relationships and organizations?  What's there to "leave better" if I am holed up in my house concentrating on body, soul, mind & spirit ... as a disconnected individual?  I'm introverted, and love time alone, but I can't have a positive impact on others if I don't get out of my house.  :)  I will need involvement with people and organizations, even though it's hard for me to initiate, and wears me down when it happens.  A friend of mine from church has invited me to come to some regular business networking meetings he has, and I dread that stuff.  But... it may be exactly what I need to do during retirement to stay connected with people and potentially have a positive impact on them.  

My innate makeup is a combination of both an intuitive and an analytical nature, instinctively applying pattern recognition to observations, and turning that into creative, strategic thinking.  These have been hallmarks of my work life for, again, decades.  How do I use these things in retirement?  Well, I'd have to think that some non-profit organization could use that skill set to advance their causes.  I suppose that businesses could use that same skill set on a part-time, consulting basis.  But both of those require getting out in the community and the business world to interact with organizations and find out what they need.

Finally, there's the area of spiritual gifts.  For those unfamiliar with the concept, take a look at Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 3, 1 Peter 2.  God gives to his people certain gifts to be used to encourage and build up his people.  Their use is in the context of the Church, but they do have some spillover into non-church settings.  Consistently over decades, mine have been gifts of: teaching, edification through music, and leadership ("shepherding", usually as an Elder in the church).  Teaching, leadership and music have application outside the church, and God has allowed there to be some spillover of those gifts into the secular world for me.  Of course, continued involvement in church has nothing to do with retirement, so I expect those to continue to be used in the church so long as health, mind, and voice hold up.  Beyond that, though, teaching and leadership have potential for use in the secular world during retirement, too.  Loaned executives, adjunct professors, Board members, all are possible outlets for those gifts.

So, while retirement seems deliciously tempting right now... there will need to be no lack of engagement with others during retirement, in order to continue to have a healthy outward focus.  There's an old analogy I can use here, and that is the difference between the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee.  The former is called Dead for a reason.  No life can be sustained in it because of the high mineral content there.  One of the reasons that the Dead Sea's mineral content is so high is that it has no outlet.  No river flows through it.  The Sea of Galilee, however, has both an inlet and an outlet.  It has fresh water flowing through it all the time, and as such it supports life.  No wonder several of Jesus's disciples had a booming fishing trade there.  If I in retirement simply take in and don't give out as well... I will become like the Dead Sea.  I'd rather have a fresh and vital life, even if that means getting out of my house and interacting with people.  :)

Sabbatical or New Direction?

The Pastor of our church just returned from a Sabbatical.  He has now begun to write about the experience and the lessons learned from it.  This made me think about my current period of unemployment (even though it's only been 2 weeks so far!) as potentially a type of sabbatical.  My severance agreement grants me 7 months of salary continuation, one month for each year of service.  I've worked for GuideOne for 7 years, and now have 7 months off.  Seems like a sabbatical to me, except for the part that my job isn't there to come back to.  (a key difference, I'll grant you)

Right now, I am feeling like I need to busy myself with searching for work rather than calming myself, letting the adrenaline high (from the work challenges I faced) slowly dissipate, and search instead for insight and wisdom.

One of the ideas we are discussing is whether or not I could move straight into retirement.  Of course we can, but it may be a strain financially, and wasn't in our plan (which had me working for another 4 1/2 years).  So I don't yet know if this is a sabbatical, a period of rest from which I will come back to the workforce reinvigorated, or if it's a transition into a new career: retirement.  I love the sound of that last phrase.  I have such plans for retirement!

Among those plans is a daily routine that addresses body, soul, mind, and spirit, at least a half-hour of each.  Body: 30 minutes of exercise daily, varying among movement, strength, and endurance; Soul: 30 minutes of creativity daily, whether contemplating beauty, appreciating music, writing or making music; Mind: 30 minutes of reading daily, with a variety of literature: fiction, non-fiction, poetry; Spirit: 30 minutes of devotional reading, bible study and prayer.  More possible in each of these categories, of course, but no less than this in each.

These last two weeks I decided to try the routine as if I were retired and see if it's sustainable.  I've done fairly well with it so far - usually 3 of the four categories handled, with the one missing being different each day.  I've found that the search for work intrudes and disrupts the routine and is mostly what causes me to miss one area.  So, it's a half-hearted effort at best, but it seems that if I didn't have a work search intruding, it would be sustainable.

I've even written another children's book already.  :)  This will be my third, and it's focused on my boyhood experiences making maple syrup with my Dad and brother down in the woods behind my childhood home.  At this point all I need is an illustrator.

And that writing exercise just scratches the surface.  I've laid down 6 song tracks in the last two weeks as well.  There's poetry in my head just waiting to be let out onto paper.  I have a longing to help lead a small group, to do more teaching.  All I need is the time.

Will it be now?  Or in another 5 years?

No way to tell right now, so I'm not quite sure how to treat this 7 months of salary continuation.  Sabbatical?  Or a new direction entirely?