BIZZY

We go to work.
Climb the corporate ladder.
Bring home the bacon.
Fry it up in the pan.
Sort through the mail.
Read the paper.
Do the dishes.
Remember the laundry.
Take our kids to practice.
Sometimes multiple practices.
Even coach.
Drive kids to violin lessons.
Even Tae Kwon Do.
Ensure they are adequately socialized.
Answer the phone.
Go out to eat.
Attend church on Sunday.
Watch the game.
Invite friends over.
Dabble on Facebook.
Join our teens on Guitar Hero.
Read the latest John Grisham novel.
Be sure to watch Sportscenter.
At least the top 10 plays.
Keep track of the market.
Watch it plummet these past 3 months.
Redecorate.
Plan.
Purchase.
Purchase more.

We are busy.

I heard once that if satan can’t make you “bad,” he’ll make you busy. (Yes, I am aware “satan” is not capitalized, but I am not one who feels he deserves it.)

If we remain so busy throughout our lives, when our days on Earth end, what will we have missed? What will we regret? Will we miss accomplishing just one more thing? Will we miss attaining an additional piece of “stuff”? Or rather, will we regret not taking time to wonder... time to worship... and time to focus on what is good and right in this world?

When we are so busy, our lives are dictated more by circumstance. I have a strong suspicion that a life lived as a response to circumstance - as opposed to a life intentional in that wonder and worship - is one that has the highest potential of netting regret.

Here’s to finding what is good and right in this world. Here’s to finding it now.

AR

OUTTA' MY HOUSE

Remember that sophomoric cheer? “U-G-L-Y... You don’t need no alibi. YOU’RE UGLY... ab-so-lute-ly UGLY!” Granted, even accompanied by a teen chorus, no shreds of wisdom are necessarily evidenced in the previous articulation. But at least as teenagers - even though not the most respectful in regard to semantic selection - we were not afraid to call a spade, a “spade,” and the ugly, “ugly.”

Disrespect.

Chastisement of the poor or disabled.

Celebration of arrogance.

Whatever that was left in my refrigerator last week.

And let me offer one more: polarization.

Polarization is “U-G-L-Y.” Polarization incites, manipulates, and encourages nothing that is good and pure and right in this world. Polarization is a strategic initiative covertly utilized for a person or party’s own agenda. I read yesterday morning where one political party has already created advertising specifically designed to encourage the public to vote against the opposing party. Never mind that the elections will not take place until November of 2010. What is the purpose? How can one accurately assess the credibility of my congressman without discerning the effectiveness of his voting record over the length of his term? The reason is that the party operatives are solely attempting to polarize. Accuracy is irrelevant.

The worst offenders? The U.S. House of Representatives. We have leadership on the Supreme Court. Leadership in the White House. Leadership on many state and local levels. While several of those leaders hail from a specific party, bipartisanship remains a stated goal. But in the U.S. House of Representatives, polarization seems like a celebrated art form. Leadership seems wrought with polarization, and it negatively impacts their daily operations. With terms of service only 2 years, representatives fail to ford one another common decencies... listening, learning, being sharpened by one another. Perhaps they feel they do not have enough time to listen... knowing re-election opportunities will be soon be upon them. Unlike the Senate, no less, where the “good ole’ boys” seem to appreciate one another more and actually work to find effective compromise - the House leadership seems to encourage hunkering down in their ideological bunkers. This weakness in our House is concerning, especially, for example, when they felt called to craft the original stimulus bill. It fails to surprise that said bill included by far the greatest amounts of pet project, “smells-like-pork” spending.

My point? Truthfully, the point exhausts me. Few seem to mind the polarization of the House when their favored fulfills the majority. Yet my point is that it matters not who holds that majority. Our laws would be better crafted if the majority and minority of any tenure would learn to surrender polarization and work together... if partisanship and polarization were set aside in the name of the better good.

Maybe then we would witness less alibis - and ugliness - in Washington.

AR

PURPLE PASSION

Some see red. Some see blue. Most of us see a blend of purple in there somewhere, but others are so narrowly focused that any tint of purple is offensive.

Several weeks ago I witnessed an adult man who was particularly blind. He was loud. Vocal. You know the kind. Very unattractive. He had a favorite candidate - his chosen one - and come hell or that rising water, he was going to offer whatever assistance he could to spur his choice on to victory. Many of us witnessed his erratic affection. Even those who also shared his passion and cheered on the blue - who actually agreed with his opinion - wrestled with distancing themselves from this man who found disrespectful articulation appropriate. When his favorite won, he celebrated loudly, regardless of any disappointed in his immediate audience. Also, even amidst victory, if a single word was uttered even constructively critically - a potential negative in regard to his primary candidate - the blinded man became predictably hostile.

It was ugly. I saw the blind man four inches from another’s face, fulfilling all aspects of Seinfeld’s “close talkers” rendition. The voice was raised and the finger fiercely wagging. He spewed at the teenager, who at a young age still logically opined that he felt the blind man’s candidate engaged in a stimulating action worthy of a foul. The blind man would have no part of it. The resulting confrontation led me to question who behaved more as the adolescent.

A week later the disrespectful spewing found itself solely directed at someone else, someone, too, who had concluded the blind man’s candidate was not quite as perfect as publicly acclaimed. This confrontation reached a new level, and our agitated blind man was actually asked to leave the public forum. In a moment that proved that age and maturity are not always coexistent, the blind man continued his jeers and jabbering jabs throughout his ejection.

Sometimes our passions get in the way of seeing rightly. Sometimes they get in the way of being respectful. Sometimes they tempt us to justify ugliness as a righteous behavior... just as it did for the aforementioned parent... at my 10 year old’s basketball game.

AR

OH, HOW WE LOVE EVERYONE

There rings a familiar refrain in our household. The first justification goes something like this: “Everyone’s doing it!” The less than enthusiastic response echos as follows: “Just because everyone’s doing it, doesn’t make it right.”

Just because “everyone” owns a Playstation 3, XBOX 360, and/or a Wii, does not mean our children will be deprived without the latest unveiled gaming system.

Just because “everyone” determined Heath Ledger deserved the Oscar for his supporting role in “The Dark Knight,” does not mean we need to ignore that the role generated the nightmares that potentially precipitated his death.

Just because “everyone” is either a Yankees or Red Sox fan, does not mean we must avoid cheering for the less heralded underdog.

Just because “everyone” has adopted an attitude of political correctness, does not mean tolerance of all things is appropriate.

Just because “everyone” likes mushrooms and pickles, does not mean I need to relish them on my hamburger.

Just because “everyone” is overjoyed that their state government is a bailout recipient, does not mean we should withhold questioning the appropriateness of an Arkansan donating his taxpayer money to an unemployed Californian.

Just because “everyone” thinks Ashley Judd and Sean Penn are “cool,” does not mean we should think their shaming of those who articulate an alternate opinion is evidence of using their celebrity status well.

Just because “everyone” thinks global warming is now fact, does not mean the many scientists who have come to a conflicting conclusion need to be silenced.

And just because “everyone” calls the Dallas Cowboys “America’s Team,” does not mean we have to concur with T.O., Romo, and Jessica Simpson in their Super Bowl pick.

My point is this: wisdom triumphs over opinion; that includes all polling data. “Just because” our main man, “everyone,” feels a specific way does not equate to “rightness.” There was a time when “everyone” thought the world was flat. There was a time when “everyone” thought Hitler was ok. And there was a time “everyone” thought slavery represented a respectable employment opportunity.

“Everyone” is not necessarily wise. To equalize “everyone” with wisdom is simply a popular exercise... in foolishness, that is.

AR

SHOW ME SOME MONEY

As we humanly attempt to wrap our minds around the billions of dollars bank bailout... the billions of dollars auto bailout... the somewhat lesser mortgage bailout... and the zillion dollar economic bailout... it seems only logical to ask what you hope has been included in the bailing... I mean, it is our money. (Part of me wonders how I became so instantly wealthy... oh, wait... I am not... I do not possess said zillions... uh, problem is the government does not either...)

And so (...according to a very UNscientific poll...), here is what some of you clamor for:

* A $4000 check.
* A $5000 check. (Personally, I like 5 better than 4.)
* ”I'd like some money towards my college education...if I had more help with that, then I'd stimulate the economy with other purchases rather then having all my money tied up in student loans & horrid interest rates.”
* ”My house paid for.”
* A live-in masseur.
* 40 BOGO (Buy-One-Get-One-Free) coupons to Applebees, Outback, Olive Garden, and Cracker Barrel... “We have to eat, but our freedom to choose how to spend our money should be limited.”
* Money for restaurants that don’t serve pork.
* Unlimited gift cards to Walmart.
* The Governorship of Illinois. (I heard it can be bought.)
* $100 Starbucks gift certificates... “How can we shop without caffeine?”
* Lattes for $13/week, “if you buy the small size.”
* More Starbucks. (Caffeine is stimulating.)
* Childcare for older, autistic kids.
* “Money for car washes. Then we would use less gas, because clean cars slide through the air better.”
* A check “in proportion to the amount of taxes I have paid in.”
* No pet projects.
* Money for the dairy farmers.
* Money for small market baseball teams.
* Accountability partners for all Senators and Congressmen!
* A proclamation encouraging the purchase of my book. (See ”Essential Survival Guide to Living on Your Own” by S.Siepel on www.amazon.com.)
* A house cleaning service “ so we can go out and shop, work, and stimulate the economy!”

And on the high end of creative thinking, listen to the following wise readers from Ohio and Texas respectively:

* ”All government workers should have 5 days of unpaid leave this year (this includes the President). We will then hold a national lottery (at $1 a ticket) to see who gets to run the country on the days Obama has off!” (Note: includes the potential to stimulate both the economy AND the ego.)

And...

* ”I would like federally funded pedicures for all. It is close to sandals season and well-groomed feet are something we should NOT have to live without. Plus, I don't want to look at anyone else's gnarly toes!”

Here’s to no gnarly toes... amen to that... they provide ZERO stimulation.

AR

UNCOMMON POLICY

Ok. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe you, too. But somewhere along the line, probably due to my Judeo-Christian heritage, I learned that lying was wrong. It was not exactly one of those gray areas in life that our parents disagreed on which path of wisdom to impart. I mean, none know with certainty if Washington’s proclamation was factual, but honesty is a virtue.

So if it’s a virtue, why do so many adults avoid its possession?

I have been figuratively racking my brain... attempting to discern the motivation for such deceit. We have each heard some seemingly noble explanations for dishonest intent; however, the idea that therein lies any nobility makes it appear the deceit only continues. My best stab at intent is this: people lie because they wish to control what we think of them.

I’ll say it again. People lie because they wish to control what we think of them.

One of my favorite authors is John Ortberg. I especially appreciate his book, “The Life You’ve Always Wanted,” subtitled “Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People.” (One note of disclosure: I’m pretty ordinary, and I need discipline!) But Ortberg introduces the concept of how we individually attempt to control what others think of us... attempting to “convince them that our motives are pure, that our accomplishments are impressive, or that our life is in better shape than it seems.” The technical term for this manipulative behavior is “impression management.”

Sometimes the attempts simply are the forewarners of our conversation... For example... “You know, I would never cheat on my taxes, BUT...” “Obviously, I am not a regular viewer of soap operas, HOWEVER...” Each initial phrase is articulated in order to control the conclusions of my audience. Unfortunately, however, sometimes impression management plays out on a grander scale.

Like some notable, national politicians.
Like multiple Illinois Governors.
And like those who discovered steroids help the ball go a little farther.

The New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriquez has at times been considered one of the best players on the planet. He was named the 2003 Major League Baseball MVP - and since has become the youngest player to hit 500 home runs. He was marveled in the public eye. He also lied in that same eye about taking steroids. Granted, steroids were not illegal in MLB at the time of A-Rod’s admitted usage, but obviously A-Rod lied in order to manage the impression the public possessed in regard to his athletic prowess. He wanted his accomplishments and character to appear more impressive than they actually are.

Honesty is a virtue. Not all adults are virtuous. Perhaps like Mark Twain’s assessment, referring back to George Washington’s proclamation: “I am different from Washington; I have a higher, grander standard of principle.  Washington could not lie.  I can lie, but I won't.”

Sounds like a wise path for us all.

AR

OH, LORD, IT'S HARD TO BE HUMBLE

I had 2 interesting visitors last week. They were warm, amiable, and eager to share. It was fascinating to listen to them... fascinating as it is to converse with those who speak with a distinct, respectful passion... like those who’ve gone before us... Jimmy V., Og Mandino, and women’s basketball’s Kay Yow. Their passion prompted them to share... to hopefully sharpen those around them. These specific 2 expected to sharpen whoever answered my door.

As the religious walkers stood at my door, they found themselves encamped on tangents that diluted their message. In my desire to encourage them to hone the message (and thus said passion), I decided to gently challenge them: “You know, if I felt called to walk door-to-door, sharing hopeful news, knowing this may be my lone opportunity for personal interaction with a specific person, I would attempt to steer the conversation to what’s most important. What’s most important that you would have me know?”

Still amiable. Still eager. But their ambiguity fogged the dialogue. So I again repeated, “What’s most important to you? Is it most important that I have an authentic faith and know who God is - or is it more important that I join your church?”

God bless my 2 visitors, but they still rambled in some kind of familiar-talking-point kind of answer. I tried once more: “I mean no disrespect, but the 2 of you are not answering my question. Let me make it easier for you: do you equate having a saving faith with being a member of your specific church?”

Finally, with great hesitation (and after 1 more acknowledgement of not answering my question), the more experienced of the visitors said, “Ok, I’ll answer you,” and amid her discomfort she said, “No, BUT this is the best way I’ve found to have a saving faith.” Ah, finally... an answer. After encouraging my newfound friend to refrain from starting sentences with the word “but,” I decided to be a little transparent...

“My friends... I have great respect for what you are doing. I have great respect for your passion and for your desire to know God and make Him known. But I get frustrated with your denomination because there exists such a perceived arrogance - perhaps unintentionally - but an arrogance is presented that assumes your manmade denomination has God all figured out... I can’t tell if it’s more important to you if I have an authentic faith or become a member of your church.”

As the dialogue continued respectfully but now building in intensity, my friend tried to share with me that biblically, there exists support for only one “people group” that has ever rightly worshipped God. I then asked how she reconciled such teaching with the intentional grafting in of the Gentiles - IN ADDITION to the Jewish nation. (The stunned look on her face told me the talking points failed to cover that question.)

There are lots of aspects we could dwell on from this encounter. There were more words, waves of comic relief, and multiple moments in which I was thankful for my equipping study of the Hebrew and Greek. But knowing God is at work in our lives in ways that speak loudest to each of us - that are thus different for each of us, my conclusion today is simply this: there is no place for arrogance within authentic faith. Authentic faith means loving God back for all He has done for us. That’s not an arrogant thought. Rather, it should blow us away.

My husband was funny. He said to watch out. “They’ll either be back with their supervisor or they made a note on their way out... ‘We’re never going back to her house again!’”

Either way is fine with me. They will be welcomed with warmth. Not to mention humility.

AR