Forgiveness

Too often when people say they are sorry or apologize, what they want is not forgiveness but for you to brush their sin away as if it never happened (I'm sure there's a single word for that but I don't know it). They want everything to be okay again with no consequences or restitution or even real repentance.

I think forgiveness has become just a word sometimes. You see it when tragedies occur, like school shootings, and immediately people start forgiving the perpetrators. First, I'm not sure you can forgive someone for what he has done to someone else; second, this sort of "forgiveness" allows the person to side-step repentance or even apologies. He's already been forgiven so there is no need to even acknowledge guilt.

I think that for forgiveness to be real, repentance must also be real. It includes admitting that there was sin and hurt and this needs to be dealt with. Otherwise it becomes meaningless.

Bits and Pieces

The first full week of summer classes is over at work. I'm so tired....every year I forget how tiring the first week or two can be. After that things settle down, there are fewer new students, and time flies. It's still busy, but I adjust to it.

Some of the tired may be from the concert last night! A group of friends and I went to see Kenny Chesney and it ended very late. There were a couple of minor opening acts, then Taylor Swift, then (finally) Kenny Chesney! It was amazing.

In 8 days I'm leaving for school! I'm so excited (although I have a pile of homework to do still). Five full days of classes and being with people who understand why I'm there! The teaching and the fellowship are both great.

My friend Sarah is coming tomorrow night. She used to attend my church until she moved away for work. She's heard that our pastor isn't well and is finally able to make time to come visit. Sarah and I don't see each other often and we don't talk or email often but we have one of those friendships that can just pick up again when we see each other.

That sums up my life right now.

Simple Logic

I was reviewing the alphabet with our youngest student (she's not yet five). She got stuck on one letter and told me she had to think about it. She explained it like this:

"I need to think about it. If I can't think of it, then I'll have no idea what it is."

The List

A couple years ago at a work retreat we were encouraged to make a list of 100 things we want to do before we die. It was one of those "you can do/be whatever you want if you just believe in yourself and think positively" things. Anyway, eventually I tried to make a list (I only got to 86 things) and put it aside.

A couple weeks ago I was looking at the list again. What struck me is how completely self-centered it is. That makes sense, right? It is a list of what I want to do. And there was nothing bad on the list. But it bothered me that everything on there was to make me happy and bring me glory. That isn't supposed to be my goal in life; it's supposed to be to serve God and glorify Him.

So I tossed the list. I'm not sure what exactly I should want to do before I die, only that it has to focus on what God desires: obedience, service, sacrifice.

O Canada

I was over at challies.com and learned some things about our national anthem. When I learned it in French I never actually learned the words or what they mean. I just learned to sing it based on how it sounds. Here are the actual words translated into English:

O Canada! Home of our ancestors,
Your brow is wreathed with glorious garlands!
Just as your arm knows how to wield the sword,
It also knows how to bear the cross;
Your history is an epic
Of the most brilliant feats.
And your valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights;
Will protect our homes and our rights.

I really doesn't resemble the English version at all, does it? So, when we mix the two, which has become very popular, we end up with this:

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
Just as your arm knows how to wield the sword,
It also knows how to bear the cross;
Your history is an epic
Of the most brilliant feats.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

It's a bit too militaristic and proud for a Canadian anthem, don't you think?

To Think About...

"It is always helpful to fix our attention on the Godward aspect of Christian work; to realize that the work of God does not mean so much man's work for God, as God's own work through man."

~Hudson Taylor

Finding the Words Again

I know, I know, it's been a long time.

For a while I seemed to have run out of words. All of my writing was for school and I was too tired to think of any other words. In fact, I was tired.

I'm rested now. I took a few days off and hid from the world and rested. I read and walked and wrote again. I've missed writing. It's how I sort out my thoughts. For too long I haven't been finding or making time to pick up a notebook and pen to just write, and I haven't been able to find any words anyway.

I'm back now and determined to keep writing just because. I'm not promising anything insightful or even interesting; I'm not even promising to share it all with you. I'm just saying, I seem to have found my words again.