Hear Say

“In the time honored tradition of email, just ignore the question.” ~ John Dobbin, principal at NEXUS IT

It was gossip pure and simple, but it was still a story too juicy not to listen to. Bob had begun by saying, “Now whatever you do, don’t tell anyone,” which simply guaranteed my rapt attention. We spoke in hushed tones. Periodically Bob would pause and glance around carefully to make sure no one else was listening in. 

 He finished his tale with a flourish. “That’s the absolute truth,” he said with a wink. “I heard it directly from the source.” “Wow, that’s really something.” I responded. “Now remember, don’t tell anyone about this,” Bob finished with a nod indicating I was to agree. I nodded back. “Got it!” I whispered and headed down the hall.

Bob and I were both juniors in college. It was a time before email, laptops and cell phones. Gossip was spread by the “one on one” method. Of course this meant the story got “a little better” each time it was told.

Within hours I had broken my promise to Bob not to tell anyone. By the end of the week, I had forgotten how many times I had told the story. Each and every time I finished my rendition with the catch phrase, “And whatever you do…don’t tell anyone else.”

It was Wednesday afternoon, nine days later and I was sitting in the campus center, drinking a cup of very bland coffee; talking to one of my classmates. Looking around to make sure no one was listening in, I leaned toward my friend and whispered, “Do you wanna hear a good story?” 

My friend looked around as well then muttered, “Sure,” nodding his head. It was the same story I had been telling for the past week and a half so my delivery was now perfected. Unfortunately, my audience of one seemed less than entertained. Undeterred, I pressed on to the conclusion; finishing with the prerequisite, “And whatever you do, don’t tell anyone.”

I gazed across the table awaiting a gratifying response. Instead, I received a deadpan stare. “What’s wrong?” I inquired. Then came the unexpected response: “I told you that story and I told you not to tell anyone.” Then I realized my mistake. I had just told the story, the same story he had told me, to Bob.

The world has been blessed with instantaneous electronic communication. In no time at all, we can send a text or email to any number of people and they, in turn, can forward it along even more quickly. Weekly, I receive any number of emails which with a plea for me to forward it along to all of my unsuspecting friends. If I do so, I lend my own credibility to a document, the validity of which I can no way verify.

In all the English-speaking courtrooms of the world, this is aptly called “hearsay.” And, in most cases, it is inadmissible as proof of anything. Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” Today we might first check the tabloids, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and a plethora of other electronic sources to answer His question.

Then Jesus asks the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” This question cannot be answered by “friending” Jesus on Facebook or “following” him on Twitter or “connecting” with him on Linkedin. “Who” Jesus is, is intensely personal. After all He was willing to die for us before we ever came into existence.

Stories and gossip may be entertaining, but in an age when communication has become so succinct, it is easy to forget our beliefs go much deeper than an email. Our beliefs are a part of who we are and our relationship with a loving God.

Who do you say Jesus is? The answer to that question can only be found at the center of your being.

Dear God: Remind me daily who you are to me.

“Silence exists so that we might speak to God. And it is in silence that God communicates His graces to us.” ~St. Vincent de Paul, French Catholic Priest dedicated to serving the poor (1581-1660)

 ©2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

“90 Second Stewardship”  All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the “© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.

Flawed Execution

“Clutter and mess show us that life is being lived.” ~Anne Lamott, American nonfiction writer and novelist (b1954)

John sat nervously in the posh waiting room, fumbling with his Smartphone. His shoes were polished to a lustrous shine. His shirt was freshly pressed and his suit had only been removed from the dry cleaner’s bag that morning. The job description, along with his resumé, lay on the chair next to him.

He knew he was the right person for the job. John had a spotless work record and excellent references. This was his big opportunity to move up. Suddenly an interior door opened and two men stepped into the room. He recognized Bill, the company VP for whom he hoped he’d be working. The other one was an older man. His sports coat and tie didn’t quite go together and his hair was a bit disheveled. John thought he detected scuffs on his shoes.

Bill finished his pleasantries with the man, shook his hand, and then said goodbye. “I’ll call you later this afternoon, Matthew,” he said as the man exited.

The VP turned to John. “Are you ready?” he asked. “Absolutely,” John replied, trying to appear nonchalant.

They made their way through a series of hallways, arriving finally at Bill’s modest office. John was invited to take a seat at a small, round conference table. Bill offered him water or coffee. John declined politely. With that, Bill sat down at the table and the interview began.

For the next 45 minutes John regaled his interviewer with stories of corporate wins, flawlessly executed projects and well managed operations. Near the end of the interview Bill remarked, “Wow, you have had a very successful career so far, but tell me about a time when things went wrong and how you dealt with it?”

John’s mind went blank. He hadn’t anticipated such a question. Besides, who wants to talk about the things that went wrong in your career? He certainly didn’t. Panic set in as John stumbled through a couple of attempts to answer the question; none of which hit the mark. After several minutes of “circle talk” he simply stopped.

Bill wrapped up the interview cordially and, after asking John if he had any questions (of which he had none), escorted him back to the waiting room.

In the waiting room Bill shook John’s hand. “John you are obviously very competent and have a bright future, but I don’t think you are the person for this job.” “I’ve decided to give the position to a man named Matthew.” “You mean the guy who left just before my interview?” John blurted out.

Bill read the surprise on John’s face and in his voice. “Yes,” he replied. “And here’s the reason.”

“I have no doubt you would run a great operation. But we are a high risk operation here. Things break badly sometimes. More often than we like. Matthew has managed through his share of disasters and we need someone with his experience. We already have too many people in our organization who have experience in flawless execution. We need someone with life experience. Matthew knows what it’s like when things go really, really bad, and he knows how to deal with them.”

“Thank you for coming in. We’ll keep your resumé on file for six months in case another position comes open.”

Much as we would like it to be, life is not about flawless execution. The advertising industry has sold us on the idea that life can be effortless if only we purchase the right car, the right “smart phone” or the right set of kitchen appliances. In point of fact, life is messy. Things break bad more often than we care to admit.

John thinks a job is about always looking good. Bill, on the other hand, wants someone who understands the realities of his business: the difficulties and the troubles.

Is it any wonder that Jesus selects the odd collection of men he does for disciples? Why doesn’t he just go to the temple and choose the 12 holiest men he can find for his disciples? Instead he recruits the modern equivalent of dockworkers, a loan shark and day laborers. The answer is that life is lived on the streets and not in the church.

So Jesus recruits people with “street cred.” People who have experienced and understand the hardships of life. This also tells us that God understands us. His Son, Jesus, is willing to go everywhere and anywhere with us, and to travel in the company of everyday people.

While faith is lived out in the marketplace, on the freeway, in the office and at home, it is renewed at church and through our religious practices. Our spiritual activities provide spiritual nourishment for life’s journey. As stewards of our God-given time, we are called to refresh and renew ourselves through worship, prayer, study and contemplation.

Our faith is renewed in church, but it is practiced on the streets. And in this day and age, as in every one before it, there are plenty of opportunities to practice.

Dear Lord: Teach me to take my faith into the world.

“Too late, I found you can't wait to become perfect, you got to go out and fall down and get up with everybody else.” ~Ray Bradbury, American fantasy, science fiction, horror and mystery writer (1920-2012) from Something Wicked this Way Comes

©2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

“90 Second Stewardship”  All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the “© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.

Resolution Solution

“Beware the sound of one hand clapping.” ~Will Rogers, American cowboy, vaudeville performer, humorist, social commentator and motion picture actor (1879-1935). 

It was time to settle things once and for all. I had had enough of putting up with Billy Barker. We were friends once, but that ended when he started going behind my back.  He had been lying about me and it was going to stop.

Try as I might, Billy was not to be found though I had searched the entire building.  He must have discovered I was looking for him and made himself scarce.

I headed out the front door to search the grounds when I caught sight of Billy. He was standing just outside the glass double doors talking to Melissa Gilbertson. Having found my tormentor I crashed through the doors and headed straight for him.

“You jerk!” I yelled. Billy turned to face me. “What’s your problem?” he asked with a sneer. “You’re my problem!” I taunted back. “Everything about you is a problem!” We squared off opposite of one another. Melissa wisely disappeared.

“I’m tired of you sneaking around behind my back,” I snarled accusingly. “You’re tired? I’m tired of putting up with you.” Billy was facing me, arms folded, his cheeks turning scarlet. 

“Well if you’re so tired why don’t you lie down and take a nap?” I barked.

“Not until you lie down first,” Billy shouted, stiff-arming me in the shoulder.

The taunts grew louder, and the shoves got harder. Before I knew it we found ourselves on the ground wrapped in mortal combat. Moments later I felt hands, other than Billy’s, grabbing me, pulling us apart and leading us away. 

We found ourselves sitting on a hard, unforgiving, wooden bench outside a foreboding door, with opaque glass. We could hear muffled voices coming from inside the office, but could not make out what was being said.

Finally the door swung open and Jim Simpson appeared in the doorway. He silently motioned to Billy and me with the first two fingers on his right hand, indicating we were to enter the office. Once inside he indicated we were to sit in the chairs opposite his desk.

Mr. Simpson sat down behind his desk, crossed his arms, leaned forward and stared at us. “OK Barker, Carper, what is it this time?” Mr. Simpson was our grade school principal. Billy and I were eight years old.

The playground mentality of escalation is alive and well in the adult world. I call you a name, you call me something worse. I push you, you push back harder. We see this approach in business, foreign affairs, political campaigns and all too often in personal relationships. This approach creates an insidious dynamic that can only end badly unless the cycle is broken.

Jesus broke this cycle by dying for us on the cross while giving his persecutors and us unconditional forgiveness. It was the consummate de-escalation. It is an incredibly radical departure from what we would consider “the norm.”

Sometimes we find ourselves believing that, as long as we stay out of the fray, as long as we behave ourselves and keep our heads down, we are fulfilling our part of the bargain. But I think we are called to something more than that. As Christian stewards we are not only responsible for the care and use of our own gifts of time, talent and treasure, but we are called to help others realize theirs as well.

What if tomorrow, Mitt Romney walked into the Oval Office or Barrack Obama appeared at Romney’s campaign headquarters and they decided to take the billions of dollars being spent on the presidential election and worked together to fix the problems in our country? What if the Tea Partiers and the Occupy Wallstreeters chose, instead of protesting, to use their collective volunteer power to eliminate poverty in America?

Clearly escalation is not the answer. It was not the answer for me when I was eight and it is not the answer to the problems of the world today. It is only when we begin to value one another and use that new found respect to work toward mutual resolutions that things will change. We are called to be stewards of all…not just ourselves.

Dear God: Help me to stop worrying about whose right long enough for me to help save the world.

“Between an uncontrolled escalation and passivity, there is a demanding road of responsibility that we must follow.” ~Dominique de Villepin, French politician and former French Prime Minister (b1953)

©2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

“90 Second Stewardship”  All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the “© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.

Who I Am

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it and he will. ~Psalm 37:5

We were seated at a center table in “Vegan Glory,” on Beverly Boulevard, with our friend Poppy. I was tucking into my order of Mee-Krob (crispy rice noodles, bean curd, and fried soy shrimp caramelized in a sweet sauce, garnished with bean sprouts). Teresa was happily munching away on her spring rolls stuffed with cabbage, carrot, mung bean noodles, baked tofu, and shitake mushrooms, and served with sweet & sour sauce.  

Poppy was chowing down on a Japanese Seaweed salad with a side of Miso soup. Suffice it to say, the Seaweed salad is what I fondly refer to as a “don’t ask, don’t tell dish.” 

Teresa and I do not usually eat vegan, but we are adventurous when it comes to food. So when Poppy invited us, we decided to give it a try. So far, it had proved to be unique but tasty, though the carnivore in me still felt something was missing (like a nice slice of brisket). 

“So how do you like it so far?” Poppy asked with a grin. Poppy is fifty-something, but looks thirty-something. She is slender and tall, with a glowing complexion and lustrous hair. The humorous thing about Poppy is that she is her own best caricature, looking as if she had just stepped out of a Mary Engelbreit greeting card. 

Teresa and I responded to her question by simultaneously making an “hmm-hmm” sound; our mouths still full of food. “Eating Vegan was not what you expected, huh?” she continued; taking a quick slurp of her Miso soup.

“You know, more and more of our friends are becoming vegans,” I managed to say between bites. “Are they vegans? Or do they just abstain from eating meat?” Poppy asked with a bit of an edge to the question. Missing the slight tone of irritation in her voice, “I didn’t know there was a difference,” I replied.  

Our friend patiently wiped her mouth with her napkin, carefully laid it on the table and looked at me with her luminous blue eyes glittering. “Jim, there is a big difference.” 

“Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, in one’s diet, but also in other areas. I am a ‘lifestyle vegan.’ That means, not only do I follow a vegan diet, but I follow a vegan philosophy in all areas of my life, which includes the rejection of all animal products on the premise that the exploitation of animals is environmentally damaging.” 

I sat there stunned, feeling as if I had just been read the “Vegan Manifesto” from a pamphlet. Poppy stared at me for a moment, and then smiled. She replaced her napkin on her lap and resumed munching on her Seaweed salad, chattering happily away between bites.  

“You need to try the mango with sticky rice for dessert,” she chirped energetically, waving at the server. Though I wasn’t exactly sure what it was, I wasn’t about to ask any more questions.  

Most of us try a great many new things in the hope that the “latest thing” will make our lives better or at least make us happier. These new things may be products, diets, self-help strategies, or even philosophies, but in the long run, we rarely commit to anything new, at least for very long.  

Our faith can be like that. Many of us can quickly become “Christians of convenience” depending on the circumstances. Our Christianity becomes “something I am,” rather than “who I am.” 

Poppy made a wonderful point when she called herself a “lifestyle vegan.” As Christian Stewards one of the many gifts we receive from God is our Christian faith – a faith we are called to attend to and to pass along. It is not something we “do” just on Sundays and high holy days; it is who we are and how we live on all days.  

Just as our friend Poppy is a lifestyle vegan, we are called, by God, to be lifestyle Christians, a lifestyle which affects all aspects of our lives.  

Dear God, teach me to live the Christianity I profess.

 “Men cannot make Scripture conform to their lifestyle; they must make their lifestyle conform to Scripture.” ~Edwin Louis Cole, American founder of the Christian Men’s Network (1922-2002)

©2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

“90 Second Stewardship” is a reflection on being a Christian Steward in a secular and sometimes harsh world. This reflection is written by James E. Carper of Simi Valley, California. All rights are reserved. You are welcome and encouraged to forward this e-mail to family and friends provided the”© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” is included along with this message. Organizations, whether for or non profit, are required to receive written approval before reproducing these reflections. If written approval is given the “© 2012 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.