Certain Doubt

"You can only apprehend the Infinite by a faculty that is superior to reason." ~ Plotinus, Mafor philosopher of the ancient world (204/50-270 CE)

“That just can’t be true!” Elias rocked back in his seat and folded his arms in disbelief. His college biology professor, Dr Hosea, peered at him over his dark, horn-rimmed glasses. “Why can’t it be true?” the wizen old professor asked. “This is the 21^st century!” Elias shot back. “How can you say we don’t know where babies come from?”

Dr. Hosea smiled to himself. “I never said we didn’t know where babies come from. I said, we didn’t know what caused them to be born.” The professor secretly liked his sometimes impulsive student. His agile mind and quick-wittedness reminded Dr. Hosea of when he was a young biology student. But the boy’s edginess could also be irritating at times.

He scanned the rest of the class. “It’s two o’clock. We’ll resume again on Thursday,” he announced. “Don’t forget that your projects are due. Elias, could you stop on your way out?”

Elias slung his backpack over his shoulder and sauntered up to Dr. Hosea. “What’s up, Professor?” he asked casually. “Mostly everything,” the professor replied as he placed his notes in his briefcase. Elias didn’t get the joke.

The professor snapped his briefcase shut and set it upright on the desk. “Elias, you are a bright young man and will probably make a pretty good research scientist someday.” This sudden observation by “the Prof” caught Elias off-guard. “But to accomplish that, you need to work on your thinking processes; otherwise you will be perennially frustrated.”

The young man tried to interject a comment but Dr. Hosea pressed on. “All of us are aware from whence babies come. We also know that the birthing process is caused by a hormone which is released into the mother’s system which triggers labor. What we don’t know is how the brain knows when to tell the body to excrete the hormone. In other words, how does the brain know the baby is ready to be born?”

“Well, thanks for that clarification,” Elias responded as he adjusted his backpack and headed for the door.

“That’s not my point.” Dr. Hosea said quickly, stopping Elias with his words. Elias turned to face the old man once more. “What is the point?” he asked impatiently.

“The point is, if you are going to be a first-rate researcher, you are going to have to learn to embrace uncertainty.” There was a glint in the old man’s eye. “Seriously?” Elias shot back. “Science is about certainty, not uncertainty!”

“Au contraire, it is uncertainty which keeps us in business. The more unanswered questions we have, the better off we are. Uncertainty is not our enemy; it is our ally. If you are going to be a great researcher, you must learn not only to embrace uncertainty, but to welcome it.”

Elias wondered if he had unwittingly stumbled into Philosophy 101. Maybe his old professor had finally gone “round the bend,” mentally speaking. “I thought it was the scientist’s job to eliminate questions and uncertainty. If I am to embrace them as you say, what do I rely on?”

Without a word Dr. Hosea picked up his battered old briefcase and headed for the door. At the doorway, he stopped and turned to face Elias. “What do you rely on when you have more questions than answers? Faith, my boy! Rely on faith!” With that, he disappeared out the door, leaving behind a perplexed Elias wondering what he meant.

The Letter to the Hebrews describes faith as “the evidence of things unseen” (Hebrews 11:1). Science and religion are often seen as being at odds with one another. Science relies on what can be proven, measured, tested and observed. Faith, on the other hand, relies on none of these things.

We can offer explanations of why we have faith in an unseen entity we refer to as “God,” but empirical proof of this entity is sparse, if not non-existent. As the writer of Hebrews puts it, our evidence that God exists is our faith in this unseen God.

Ironically, those of us who have faith in a supreme being often don’t seem to tolerate uncertainty very well. When unanswered questions arise, we are quick to employ literal interpretations of scripture or church law. Historically, the result of this approach has been the justification of atrocities such as slavery and the subjugation of women.

Science, on the other hand, approaches unanswered questions with relish. They are seen as opportunities to grow, rather than distractions which must be quickly dispatched.

Uncertainty is not a threat to faith. Christians, like scientists should also see questions and uncertainty as opportunities for growth – as a means of deepening our faith.

Dr. Hosea’s response to Elias is prophetic. “The more unanswered questions we have, the better off we are. Uncertainty is not our enemy, it is our ally. If [we] are going to be a [great Christian we] must learn, not only to embrace uncertainty, but to welcome it.”

Dear God: Help me to be satisfied with the things I know and the things I don’t know.

“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” ~Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Christian philosopher (1623-1662)

©2013 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

Gifted and Called

The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live. ~ Ethel Percy Andrus, long-time educator and the first woman high school principal in California (1884-1967)

Brother Bartholomew was finishing his lecture on reconciliation when he noticed Peter John, staring out the window. The sun, which shone through the window, gave his face an angelic quality. But Peter John DeAngelo was anything but angelic.

“Can you recite an act of contrition, Peter John?” he asked sharply. Peter John looked at Brother Bartholomew for a moment. “I wasn't aware there was a play named ‘Contrition,’” he responded, gazing out the window once more.

The class giggled, but Brother Bartholomew silenced them with a look. “Have you heard anything I've said today, young man?” This time Peter John didn't bother to look away from the window. “How is an ‘act of contrition’ or ‘reconciliation’ or anything else you've said today going to help me be successful? It all sounds like a bunch of hocus pocus to me.”

Brother Bartholomew’s bushy gray eyebrows arched sharply at this last comment. “Come with me!” he snapped motioning toward the door. “We’ll see if a visit to Mr. Chuska’s office will get your attention.”

This wasn't the first time Peter John had spent an afternoon in the Principal’s office. Unfortunately he had become a fixture there of late. He seemed almost manic-depressive. At times he could be extremely creative and insightful, but at other times he was bored, unmotivated, and even snarky.

His trips to the principal’s office had become more frequent recently, however, and Mr. Chuska was considering a two day suspension if things didn’t straighten out soon.

Father Dolan appeared in the outer doorway. Father Patrick Dolan was a spry cleric in his early 60’s. He was effervescently happy and perennially positive. Bidding a cheery “good afternoon,” to Miss Wickham, the secretary, he headed straight for Mr. Chuska’s open door.

Catching sight of Peter John, he paused for a moment in front of the boy. “Have you taken up residence here?” he asked with a broad smile. Peter John responded by fiddling with his hands. “You spend much more time here, they’ll be given’ you a desk and puttin’ ya to work.” Still no response. Father Dolan paused another moment, then continued to the Principal’s office.

“Anthony Chuska! As I live and breathe!” Father Dolan nearly shouted as he entered. Mr. Chuska didn’t even look up. “What do you want, Patrick?” he replied. “Now is that any way to greet your chaplain?” Dolan chirped.

Mr. Chuska looked up from his work. Pushing his glasses into place and crossing his hands over the papers in front of him, he stared at Father Dolan. “I am very busy; how can I help you today?” he said with a forced smile.

“That’s much better Anthony. I’m glad you asked. I need a volunteer or two to help me in the sacristy for about an hour.”

“Sorry, Patrick,” Mr. Chuska responded, returning to his work. “It’s the end of the semester and most of the students are full up on service hours.” “What about the fine young man in the front office?” Dolan fired back quickly. “Who, you mean DeAngelo?” “I’m filling out the paperwork to suspend him for two days right now.”

“Why don’t you let me save you the trouble of suspending the boy and let him work for me for a couple-a-hours instead? You can always suspend him tomorrow, if ya like.”

Mr. Chuska stopped writing and thought for a moment. He looked up and steepling his hands he smiled insincerely. “OK, Patrick, he’s all yours; but if he doesn't straighten out, it may end up being a lot more than a two-day suspension.” He spoke this last phrase loudly enough for Peter John to hear.

“Thank you, Anthony!” Father Patrick said with a grin and out the door he went before Mr. Chuska could respond.

Father Patrick returned to the front office. “Mr. DeAngelo?” he said with a grin. “I need an assistant this afternoon and you’re just the man for the job!” “What do I have to do?” Peter John asked. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I’ll show you when you get there, and you can decide for yourself.”

Peter John and two other boys who had been dubbed “disciplinary problems” helped Father Patrick in the Church, Sacristy, and Parish Office every other Friday for the rest of their time in school. Peter John went on to graduate with honors and later graduated from college.

Years later, at a class reunion, Miss Wickham asked Peter John what it was that Father Patrick did that seemed to turn troubled students around. Peter John looked at her thoughtfully. “Most people in school tell you what they think you need to know. Father asked us what we thought and what we wanted to know.”

I have often thought that the term “volunteer” should be stricken from church vocabulary.  The word “volunteer” implies a very one-sided relationship. It suggests that the impetus for sharing one’s gifts of time and talent rests solely with the person who possesses those gifts. But It is really a two sided relationship. Jesus called His disciples, and we too have a responsibility to call (invite) others into service.

Calling people into service accomplishes two very important things. It is both a way of recognizing the value of others and a way of validating their gifts for them. It is also a very effective way of developing more helpers for parish projects and ministries.

The Father Patricks of the world know that it is not about relying on the same people over and over again. There are many “diamonds in the rough.” It is about calling people forth – calling them into service, even when they seem to be the most unlikely candidates.

Dear God: Help me to be like Jesus and to look for help from the most unlikely people.

“There are two ways of spreading light - to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.”  ~Edith Wharton, Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, short story writer, and designer (1862-1937)

©2013 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

The H Word

 

“How can I clearly see what’s wrong with someone else, and then look at myself as though I’m standing in front of a fogged mirror?” ~Jerod Kintz, American author and blogger.

A child-sized riot had broken out on the kindergarten playground. Everyone had been playing together happily when Amanda looked away.  Now, a moment later, when she looked back, chaos had descended on the group. There was crying, yelling, stamping of feet and pointing. Quickly identifying the source of the conflict, she waded into the epicenter.

Alejandro was in the midst of a full blown melt-down – wailing, wiping away tears and pointing at Beatrice. Beatrice had squared up to Alejandro. Her hands were fisted on her hips. She punched the air with her right index finger repeatedly. Beatrice’s posture reminded Amanda of her German grandmother when she was angry with Amanda’s brother.
Amanda expertly segregated the non-combatants and focused her attention on Alejandro and Beatrice. “So what’s this all about?” she asked calmly. “She called me a name,” Alejandro replied, choking out the words through heaves and sobs.

Amanda turned to Beatrice. “Did you call Alejandro a name?” she asked. “Yes, I did,” Beatrice replied, crossing her arms defiantly. “Why did you call Alejandro a name?” she asked patiently. “Because it’s the TOOTH!”

Amanda brought her hand to her mouth in an attempt to smother a chuckle at Beatrice’s pronunciation of the word “TRUTH”. Alejandro couldn’t restrain himself any longer. “She called me a ‘Hairy Tick;’ I’m not a Hairy Tick!” “Yes, you are!” Beatrice yelled back.

“Settle down!” “Why did you call Alejandro a Hairy Tick?” Amanda asked calmly, though slightly amused. “I ask Allie if he liked my new ‘Pretty Princess’ backpack. He said he didn’t think it was pretty. That makes him a Hairy Tick.”

“That’s not an appropriate thing to say,” Amanda responded firmly. “Our neighbor Mr. Galvin says it. He told my Mommy she was a ‘Hairy Tick’.” Now Amanda was curious: “Why would Mr. Galvin say that Beatrice?”

“Mommy said Mr. Galvin is a Christian, and because we don’t believe what he believes he calls us ‘Hairy Ticks,’” Alejandro doesn’t believe my backpack is pretty so he’s a Hairy Tick, too.”

Amanda stared at Beatrice in disbelief. “Beatrice, the word is heretic. You and your Mom are not heretics and neither is Alejandro.”

Amanda negotiated a truce between the two youngsters through a pair of reciprocal apologies. The children resumed their play and Amanda returned to her playground observation point, pondering the damage a word can do.

“I have a couple of words for Mr. Galvin,” she thought to herself. 

In a recent survey, 72% of non-believers surveyed said that the church is full of hypocrites. Just as Christians find the word “hypocrite” offensive, the word “heretic” is equally offensive. In a society with ever increasing complexity, it is ironic that there are those who find it expedient to dismiss the entire belief systems of others with a single word.

One of the three pillars of stewardship is “Evangelization” (Stewardship: A Disciples Response 1992). To some, evangelization has come to mean correcting the beliefs of others by replacing their defective beliefs with the “correct” beliefs; in other words, by “fixing them.”

Evangelization is however, more about similarities than it is differences. If we are going to be successful, it will require that we first find common ground with non-believers. If evangelism is going to become a normal part of our lives, it will have to be something we enjoy doing. And there are few things more enjoyable than making new friends.

The two greatest commandments can be distilled into four words: “Love God, Love others.” Evangelization means “loving” people into the Church, not beating them into theological submission.

Dear God: Help me to love others into faith.

“One century's saint is the next century's heretic ... and one century's heretic is the next century's saint. It is as well to think long and calmly before affixing either name to any man.” ~Ellis Peters, non de plume for British author Edith Pargeter (1913-1995)

©2013 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

 

Something's Fishy

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” ~Mahatma Gandhi, preeminent leader of Indian nationalism through non-violent civil disobedience (1869-1948)

Hosea slammed on the brakes as the monster SUV cut across two lanes of traffic and into his lane. He tooted his horn to alert the driver of his presence, of which he appeared to be unaware. The SUV’s driver glanced in his rearview mirror then instantly responded to Hosea’s horn by extending his middle finger. A moment later the giant vehicle sped away down the 405 freeway bearing the driver and his family with it.

Hosea couldn’t help but notice the “Jesus loves you” license plate frame and the “See you Sunday @ Resurrection Church” bumper sticker as the vehicle disappeared into the traffic. Alan, who was seated in the passenger seat, had been silent during the whole incident. “Another ‘fish person,” he said suddenly. “Fish person?” Hosea asked, wondering what his long-time carpool buddy meant.

“Yeh, you know, a fish person,” responded Alan. “One of those people who sticks a fish on the back of the car and thinks it’s OK to drive like a jerk just because he’s Christian and we aren’t.” “Wait a minute,” replied Hosea, glancing over at Alan. “Is that what you think that symbol means?”

“I don’t know what it means.” Alan’s voice had a slight edge to it. “All I know is that every car that I see with that fish seems to be driven by someone with an attitude. “f they’re so Christian, why don’t they drive better?” They drove for some minutes without speaking

“Ichthys!” Hosea said finally. “Huh?” said Alan. “Ichthys,” replied Hosea. “The fish is called Ichthys. It’s an ancient symbol which means ‘Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.’” Alan stared at Hosea. “You’re one of them!” he said finally. “One of who?” Hosea shot back. “You’re one of the fish people!”  Alan replied stifling his laughter, though not very well.

Hosea fell silent again. Alan suddenly realized Hosea was serious about this. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you were a Christian?” Alan asked finally. “Because I figured I would get exactly the response that you just gave me…  That you would laugh at me.” “I wasn’t laughing at you,” Alan said seriously. “After all these years of riding together, I was surprised you hadn’t said something sooner.”  “Yeah well, we get a lot of flack these days for what we believe,” Hosea said quietly, still staring out through the windshield.

“What do you believe?” Alan asked seriously.

How would you respond to Alan’s question if you were Hosea? Several years ago, in a survey conducted by LifeWay Research, 78% of the respondents said they would be willing to listen to someone who wanted to share what they believe about Christianity. Even more surprising was that 71% believed that Jesus made a positive difference in a person’s life. Not so surprising was that 72% also said that the Church was full of hypocrites.

As Christians we are often reticent to speak openly about our faith. Unfortunately, when we do speak we are often stridently asserting that someone else is wrong. Real  evangelization begins when we allow Christ to accompany us out of the church and into our lives.  Our lifestyle then becomes our evangelization, and we will are happier and more fulfilled. More importantly, we find that others want what we have.

Christian author, Shane Claiborne, once wrote: “As Christians, we should be the best collaborators in the world. We should be quick to find unlikely allies and subversive friends, like Jesus did.”

We can ill-afford to allow our evangelization to take on a bumper sticker mentality.  We, not our license plate frames, are the living testimony to what Christ can do for us, After all, “they will know we are Christians by our love.”

Dear God, let the way I live my life be my sermon.

“When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven." ~Dr. Maya Angelou, American author and poet (b1928)

©2013 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

 

Eternally Grateful

“Instant gratification is not soon enough.” ~Meryl Streep, American actress (b 1949)

It was sleek, shiny, black and really, really big. It was something to be both admired and envied at the same time. In our case, it was mostly envy. Bob had brought home a brand new monster SUV complete with spinner hubcaps. It was so big it seemed a small family could have moved in quite comfortably. He had strategically positioned the vehicle in his driveway so it could be seen, regardless of which direction one was driving.

Bob called it his “Babe Magnet.” Ironically the only people attracted to the car at the moment were the men of the neighborhood. The hood was propped open with five male heads peering inside. I couldn’t help but wonder to myself how Bob could afford this gas guzzler. He was a tradesman and his wife worked in the local elementary school office.

“It’s got a Vortec 6.0L V8 engine and a 300-volt battery pack,” Bob was saying. “Since it’s a Hybrid it’ll get 23 mpg highway and it utilizes a strong coil-over-shock front suspension for a tight turning radius and a smooth ride.” “Bob sounds like a Super Bowl Commercial,” I thought to myself.

“Sweet ride Bob,” someone crooned. “Yeah nice wheels,” responded another. “Can I take it camping next week? It could sleep my family of five.” We all laughed.

Bob finished the tour with a demonstration of the sound system. As “Paint it Black” by the Rolling Stones boomed over the Bose Centerpoint Speaker System, we congratulated Bob on his purchase while secretly wondering to ourselves how he could afford it.

Bob was obviously enjoying the attention. “Now it’s time to break it in,” he announced with a flourish pulling the keys from his pocket. We all anticipated we would be invited to climb aboard for a test drive. Instead, to our surprise and bewilderment, Bob walked purposefully to the back of the vehicle and made a small scratch in the left rear quarter panel with his key.

We all gasp. “Wadya do that for?” someone exclaimed. Bob turned to face us. In a voice, that sounded a bit too much like an evangelical preacher, he explained: “Sooner or later this beautiful beast is going to get a door ding or a scratch on it.” It always upsets me when that happens to a new car; so this way, if I do it myself, I never have to worry about getting that first mark on the finish. Understand?” Frankly, we didn’t.

It is all too easy to mistake gratification for gratitude.

Gratification is “the act of pleasing or satisfying oneself, especially the gratifying of one's own impulses, needs, or desires.” Like drugs or alcohol the initial effect is pleasant, even euphoric. But, with the first scratch, the first stain or simple familiarity, the effect quickly dissipates.

Most of us would be satisfied with being happy; even if we were happy only some of the time. Unfortunately, happiness borne out of gratification is, at best, shallow and short-lived. Possessions, as nice as they are, provide us with a sense of gratification, but will never provide us with happiness.

Jean Baptiste Massieu once described gratitude as “the memory of the heart.” Unlike gratification, which arises out of individual experience, gratitude is a state of being. In other words, gratitude is an attitude.

True gratitude arises out of a realization that everything is a gift from God; even the breath we just took and the next. When, by the grace of God, we receive His gifts gratefully, we will find ourselves living a life filled with gratitude. It is an attitude which sustains us in good times and in bad, even when our new car gets scratched.

Dear God: Remind me that gratified is not satisfied.

“When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?” ~G.K. Chesterton, English writer and Christian apologist (1874 – 1936)

©2013 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”© 2013 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 “© 2013 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.” must be included along with this message.

Workaholism

“Work is the refuge of people who have nothing better to do.” ~Oscar Wilde, Irish poet, novelist, dramatist and critic (1854-1900)

Aaron sat at his desk, staring at the pile of work that lay before him. He was only half listening to his wife, Mindy, who was on the other end of what seemed like a one-way conversation. “I know Nathan likes me to watch him play soccer, but he’s only six for God’s sake.” The words were out of his mouth before he realized he had said them.

Mindy launched another verbal offensive. Aaron continued staring at his desk, occasionally glancing impatiently at his watch. He needed to get this project done this evening. The boss had asked about it twice this week already. “How’s it goin’ with that development project you’ve been workin’ on for me?” he had said punctuated his statement with a slap on the back.

“So are you coming to Nathan’s soccer game or not?” Aaron barely heard his wife. “Mindy, how many times do I have to tell you, I need to work on this project! It’s important!” “So is our son,” she replied tersely.  “So is my job,” he fired back. “Or have you forgotten whose paycheck pays most of the bills?”

This was going badly and getting worse by the moment. “Look, the sooner I hang up and get to work, the sooner I can come home this evening.” His voice hung there in silence. “Mindy?” he asked quietly, “Are you still there?” “I’ll see you when you get home,” she replied finally and clicked off.

Aaron now had two things to fret about, the project which lay in front of him and his marriage. “Didn’t Mindy understand how important this job was?” he thought. “What if I lose it, then what?” Fear started to well up inside of him. He was in a “lose-lose” situation.

Then he remembered how he had felt as a boy. His Dad was a construction worker and took jobs when they came. He was frequently gone, and Aaron remembered what it was like when his Dad didn’t show up for his baseball games. The memories stung him.

He should call Mindy back, apologize, and tell her he was coming to the game, he thought. The project could wait till the morning. He would come in early and get it hammered out before anyone else came in.

His finger hovered over the redial button. Another wave of anxiety flowed over him like an acid bath. What if his boss came in early too? The lyrics of a song played in his head –“Should I stay or should I go?”

The term “addict” brings to mind images of the wino lying in the gutter or the junkie in a back alley with a needle sticking out of his arm. Both images are harsh realities in our modern world. Drugs and alcohol are not, however, the only addictions in today’s society. Addictions are not fueled by the object of the addiction. Rather they are driven by the feelings of fear, anxiety, and inadequacy that the alcohol or drug masks or suppresses.

Drugs and alcohol are not the problem. Trying to live our lives is the problem. Drugs and alcohol are solutions, and not very good ones at that.

Like many of us, Aaron is a workaholic. He is, in fact, addicted to work. Fueled by his fear of losing his job, work provides him with a sense of value and security. He fools himself into believing “if I’m here I must be needed, and if I am needed, I can’t lose my job.” The job gives him a false sense of purpose. It is his “not very good solution” to life.

As grateful stewards, we trust that we are created by a loving God who has a special purpose for each one of us. This “calling” requires some discernment and the cultivation of our gifts, but it also gives us a wonderful sense of value – a sense that we belong to something much bigger than ourselves.

We are called to be happy, joyous and free; something we can’t find working late at the office. But, it might be something we find spending evenings with our loved ones or watching our sons or daughters play soccer.

What things in our life prevent us from being happy, joyous and free?

Dear God: Help me to live my life in balance.

“The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” ~ Samuel Johnson, poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer (1709-1784)

©2013 James E. Carper. All rights reserved.

 

 

Control Freaks

“Sometimes, there is a lot of darkness in this world. As I see it, you have two choices. You can be a part of that darkness or you can be the light. Be the light.” ~Tom Giaquinto, American author.

It was 5:27 AM the day after New Year’s.  Darkness still enveloped the neighborhood. Except for the very occasional car, our street was quiet to the point of silence.

I could hear the quiet hum of my laptop as I stared at the screen in shock and amazement. My eyes blinked only occasionally in amazement as I sat there in stunned meditation.

Several months earlier I had begun working with a social media guru (and friend) to help increase my “electronic presence.” The plan was to lay the ground work before I published a book and to generate a few more speaking engagements. At the very least it would help me find a job, something I was lacking at the moment.

The result was two websites, a blog, a Facebook page, Google-plus circles, a LinkedIn account and, of course, a Twitter profile. At first it had been interesting and fun, connecting and communicating with people around the globe. But, there was an aspect to it all that I had not anticipated. This dark, quiet morning, I had been made horribly aware of the more serious side of making my electronic presence felt.

I had “tweeted” a comment about accepting God in one’s life. A number of positive comments and “retweets” had bolstered my resolve to Tweet more. Now, I wasn’t so sure.

There on screen, in response to my “God Tweet” was the following statement: “If you believe Jesus was anything but a Jew on a stick, you are simply delusional.”

I typed three different responses, ranging from confrontational to conciliatory, and then promptly deleted each one in turn. My finger hovered over the delete key for only a moment before I sent the offensive tweet into electronic oblivion. I vowed to be more careful in the future.

People often fear what they cannot control, or at the very least, what they can’t explain.  Accepting that there is a supreme Power at work in our lives means, among other things, that we are not in control. Those of us who are people of faith welcome a gracious and loving supreme being. But not everybody does.

Unfortunately those who are unwilling to accept this "higher power," often express their fears through ridicule or derision. Sadly they are like the little boy who quickly passes his hand through the flame of a candle and is proud because he wasn't burned. He doesn't realize the fire could have easily consumed him.

The irony is that the best -- and perhaps the only -- response is to be the best possible example of what it means to be a person of faith. In short, that means we are called to love the offending parties even when they are the most offensive.  One aspect of being a good steward of our faith is loving those who seem the most unlovable. And sometimes, this is someone who is critical of our beliefs.

We are called, not to escalate, but to expiate. We are called to be living witnesses to our faith.

Dear God: Remind me I don’t have to like them; I just have to love them.

“There is trust in there being a Spirit who loves me and wants me to have love in my life. I trust in this higher power, it is what keeps me moving forward no matter what happens.” ~Kenny Loggins, American singer and songwriter (b 1948)

©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.