InSIGHTful words from Helen Keller:
“I who am blind can give one hint to those who see: Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind. And the same method can be applied to the other senses. Hear the music of voices, the song of a bird, the mighty strains of an orchestra, as if you would be stricken deaf tomorrow. Touch each object as if tomorrow your tactile sense would fail. Smell the perfume of flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow you could never smell and taste again. Make the most of every sense; glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty which the world reveals to you through the several means of contact which Nature provides. But of all the senses, I am sure that sight must be the most delightful.”
Great football the past few days.
No, not the Cowboys. We enjoyed being at the game, even though the Dolphins dominated. And not even the Longhorns, though that game went much better. (I have great memories of Matt playing two years against Cedric. It was obvious then that Benson was going to be gaining a lot of yards past high school!)
I’m talking about football in our front yard. I tried to make myself all-time QB, but it didn’t work. Whether as QB, receiver, or defender, though, I can’t think of many things I’d rather do than play ball with my boys.
Tomorrow we’ll be in Dallas for the Cowboys game against the Miami Dolphins. Since I’ll be out of computer range on Thanksgiving Day, then, I want to jump one day ahead.
He would have been 20 tomorrow. Jantsen Barrett Cope was born November 27, 1983. And for fifteen years and seven months, he made this world a better place to live.
Here are some of the words I spoke at his funeral in June of 1999 (following his sudden death from heart failure–which came with no warning):
“I’d give anything if Jantsen could come out today for a curtain call. I’d be standing and cheering, applauding wildly for one of the best performances I ever expect to see. And as I applauded, I’d tell him thanks. I’d say, ‘Thank you for teaching me about what’s important in life. Thank you for exposing some of the insanity of this world by focusing on what really matters.’
“Most of us have a way of living such a frantic, serious pace that we miss the blessings of God that are right in front of our faces. But not Jantsen. He preferred a slower pace. Why mow now if there is apple butter remaining to be eaten? That’s not a bad philosophy of life–especially since scripture says that this is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. So many of us can’t enjoy today because we’re living in the nostalgia of yesterday or because our lives are on hold while we wait for something in the future. But not Jantsen. He always enjoyed the moment. Hanging out with his cousins and friends. Playing golf. Fishing. Telling knock-knock jokes. Playing pool. Swimming. Playing hockey and skiing. . . .”
I still miss him. I miss his bear hugs, I miss his gentle spirit, I miss his humorous imitations.
It’s fitting that Jantsen’s 20th birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day. My nephew blessed my life in ways that I’ll cherish until I see him again.
I’m looking forward to another bear hug!
I’ve been thinking the past couple days about a phrase I picked up from a Bill Bryson book: “low-level ecstasy.”
Sure, we get our kicks from the big events: the exotic trips, the romantic getaways, etc.
But what about daily, low-level joys? Isn’t there ecstasy in those moments as well?
How are you helping your family experience low-voltage ecstasy?
A great weekend in Montgomery. Last night 1200 people from four congregations combined for a joy-filled evening. Jerome Williams led the singing and I preached. The extended praise team (trying to avoid the word “choir” here) of about 40 was made up of singers from the four churches.
Someone told me recently his grad school prof speaks disparagingly quite often of “happy clappy churches.” Most profs I know don’t take cheap shots like that. They remain supportive of the tough work of leading churches. But occasionally there’s one who has to run down churches that aren’t his preference or aren’t THEOLOGICAL enough for his tastes!
Anyway, this was a pretty “happy clappy” weekend. People seemed pretty convinced that Jesus is still alive. They seemed to value Christian community. And they seemed to love praising God.
Landmark is an amazing church. They’ve made some bold decisions about who they are, keeping a laser focus on mission: on reaching out to the broken-hearted and oppressed and on helping people come to faith.
I’m in Montgomery, AL, today. Today is almost a state holiday in Alabama: the day the Iron Bowl is played between Alabama and Auburn. The whole state is dressed in either crimson red or orange.
I spoke at the Landmark Church this morning. (The revival is Friday night, Saturday morning, and then Sunday. They knew there was no way to compete with the Iron Bowl on Saturday PM!! I respect that.) Buddy Bell had asked everyone to dress to support their favorite shirt. The audience was about half crimson red and about half orange and blue. Just as I began, I took my denim shirt off to reveal my Texas Longhorn burnt orange shirt underneath! I told them I was sorry that I didn’t have a UA or Auburn shirt, but I don’t have time to keep up with Division II football. They responded with good-natured hissing.
By the way, Sports Illustrated just named this the best rivalry in college football. That’s saying a LOT when you think of Ohio State/Michigan, USC/UCLA, Texas/Oklahoma, Florida/Florida State, etc.
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Today on the 40th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination, I recall one image that testifies to the strength of our constitution. LBJ stood with Lady Bird on his right and Jacqueline Kennedy (wearing a pink jacket spotted with the blood of her husband) on his left and took the oath of office. It was an image seen around the world — an assurance that, despite the catastrophy, there was stability.
Megan Diane Cope died nine years ago today. Who — in our success-driven world — would want her genetic make-up? She was, after all, mentally retarded.
And yet . . . she changed our worlds. She was a quiet, loving witness to the gospel. She was an incarnation of God’s love. She received whatever gifts of service we offered to her without expecting more. She embodied the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:7: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Her ten years here were too short. So today, again, we grieve her absence, and we look forward to seeing her again to thank her for helping to set our worlds right.
Last night Ralph Krazer, one my older elders, said to me, “I sure appreciate what you do. I can’t do that.” He and Anita have been some of the biggest preaching supporters of my life. I replied, “Ralph, that’s all right. Because I can’t fix anything!” (Ralph, on the other hand, can fix EVERYTHING!)
I appreciate the sign on a plumber’s truck: “WE REPAIR WHAT YOUR HUSBAND FIXED!”
Question for today: Is “fixing stuff” a spiritual gift?
I’m reading an amazing book by Tracy Kidder called MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS. It’s about the life of Dr. Paul Farmer, “a man who would cure the world.” This incredible man bounces back and forth between Boston and Haiti, using all his time and energy to help the poorest of the poor in the Western Hemisphere. I’ll probably write much more about this later. But for an introduction to some of his work, check this site.
Today at our staff meeting I asked everyone where they were when they heard (40 years ago this Saturday) that President Kennedy had been shot. Everyone who was five or older knew exactly! The two who were two year olds had no memory, and several weren’t even CLOSE to being born. (Is this what people mean by SENIOR pastor?)
I was a second grader at Field Elementary School in Neosho, MO. I remember like yesterday Mrs. Ferguson coming in to break the news to us. Time stood still for day after day, even for a seven year old.
How about you? Where were you on 11/22/63?