Daily pages of reflection...for knowledge, understanding, to wisdom
Section of The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci Section of The Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci

The Good Fight

November 16, 2018
Year 3, Day 320 | No Comments
Section of Christ and the Woman of Samaria, Benedetto Luti, 1715-20

We need to remember that every person begins life at ground zero.  No matter the generation into which the babe is born there is no hunching life’s starting line.  Socrates, Einstein, Johnny, even Jesus had to learn for self that 2 plus 2 equals 4, and 2 pencils plus 2 chairs does not equal four-of-a-kind.  (Luke 2:52) Einstein got to E=mc2 after learning the 2+2 equation, while Johnny was still struggling with the meaning of 3.1416 (Pi).  As one runner has longer legs and better coordination than the lad next to him will arrive at the agreed upon finish line at different times so the gifts of our lives, the coaching, the application, the practice, and the will may mean… Read more

Freedom To Truth

November 15, 2018
Year 3, Day 319 | No Comments
Section of The Crucifixion, Pedro Orrente, ca. 1625–30

Mankind has a strong conviction favoring freedom (personal choices).  It is a driving force for which some persons are willing to die.  It is carried over into the social context so that groups are willing to unite to gain it for a group.  Persons close to freedom in the context of their lives can be happier, healthier, and more successful to their purposes than those who are more distant from the ideal application of freedom.  Our basic problem is that we may not perceive that everything of importance to the balanced life requires some yielding to the responsibility of life.  In my view, life is the evidence of God.  Wherever there is life that reflects the nature of God that… Read more

Life and Planning

November 14, 2018
Year 3, Day 318 | No Comments

One of the most important bits of life information that parents ought to impart to their children is to give some attention to what those children want to be and do when they have completed the responsibilities of their professional and family lives.  Too many persons are bereft after their wage/salary days are closed.  Not only do they miss the paychecks, but the job, the exchange with colleagues, and the feeling they are contributing in some way to the advancement of society, perhaps their communities.  For many persons growing old is something like moving to another country with a different culture than they have known.  Their own society sends a mixed message to them in both gracious and demeaning ways. … Read more

Media Madness

November 13, 2018
Year 3, Day 317 | No Comments
Section of The Descent from the Cross, Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1435

Whatever the human context an analyst may decipher, that context is not simple – if it is real and speaks to the needs of persons.  We rightly concern ourselves with what is right for the individual (self), and for society (all other persons, among whom I am included).  There are too many variables to permit simple responses.  We are not helped in the long range of matters by those who oversimplify the human condition.  Complexity plagues us and invites combinations of proposals and presuppositions for belief and actions, as well as conflicts with other beliefs and proposals in conflict with our preferences.  The conflicts invite emotional responses that often have their own way, overpowering any considered treatment of the issues… Read more

Logic and Life

November 12, 2018
Year 3, Day 316 | No Comments
Section of The Descent from the Cross, Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1435

Much of my life has been used up in contexts relating to logic: teaching it, warning about it, finding it, doubting it, believing it, defending it, diluting it, even fearing it.  I have felt the beauty of the logic of the Godon people of Africa, cast in parables, and hated the logic of the Nazis, cast in ugly presuppositions like the alleged superiority of the Aryan race.  The Godon logic protects feelings, invites response in its open-ended ways, and leaves conclusions to each other.  It is not practical, perhaps not usable, in a scientific world, but it serves a culture rather well for those who accept it and live in it.  The Nazi logic might have served some people well… Read more

Alertness In Maturity

November 11, 2018
Year 3, Day 315 | No Comments
Section of Sistine Chapel ceiling, Michaelangelo, 1508-1512

Have you noticed in growing older . . . . – that when persons smile they are beautiful or nearly so, and when frowning look ugly or nearly so? (Perception) – that when persons take responsibility within their families they are more loving, or seem so?  (Attitude) – that when persons truly seek to solve problems, they are more gracious, or seem to be?  (Maturity) – that when persons are not judgmental, they leave evaluation of humanity to God, or seem to?  (Acceptance) – that when persons are generous, they have the better understanding of materialism, or seem to?  (Giving) – that when persons love children, they are more like the children of God, or seem to be?  (Humane) –… Read more

Temporary

November 10, 2018
Year 3, Day 314 | No Comments
Section of The Descent from the Cross, Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1435

The most practical and perceptive persons in the world are well aware of the temporary context of virtually everything in nature, and especially meaningful for all that touches their lives.  The temporary factor touches rocks that erode, no matter how hard the granite.  Even the magnificent Mount Rushmore faces formed by the visionary artist, Borglum, when I was young, had to be repaired a few years ago to counter erosion, especially the cracks that were threatening the refinement of the great sculpture.  More than sixty years ago, a forensic student of mine gave a reading of the centuries-old Great Stone Face of New England, a story that cemented itself in my mind.  The natural formation fell and disappeared a few… Read more

Clues To Mature Theology

November 9, 2018
Year 3, Day 313 | No Comments
Section of Noli me Tangere by Hans Holbein the Younger

Related to our life’s objectives is the investigation of lay theology.  For this there are key words/concepts to consider: Bible, theistic, eclectic, philosophy, culture, language, faith, God.  There is only enough space to offer suggested directions for laypersons of limited Bible/theology education to attend.  The following merely touch the issues.  Christians ought to resort to the underlying presupposition that Scripture offers what we need to know as authoritative background for our present beliefs and actions.  Further, that our present beliefs/actions should not violate any of the teachings of Scripture, rightly interpreted, especially in areas which are vital to effective faith.  That is a large enough assignment, but after that the details may prove difficult to agree upon for consistency.  If… Read more

Clues To Life Success

November 8, 2018
Year 3, Day 312 | No Comments
Section of Adoration of the Magi, artist unknown

After several decades of professional life I discovered from the thrust of Scripture, the clarification of biblical principles, and the discoveries of what worked in the maturing process of my personal life including both natural and spiritual meaning – that God is an affirmative person.  He has no negatives. He can use negatives in his communications with mankind because, as many knowledgeable communicator knows, effective communication is in the terms of the persons receiving the communication.  In such an understanding Moses set up the extravaganza of Mounts Ebal and Gerizim.  The negatives (curses) were shouted from one mountain and were acknowledged from the other with Amen registering that both they and God know the message.  The other mount shouted affirmatives… Read more

Scholarship

November 7, 2018
Year 3, Day 311 | No Comments
Section of Christ and the Adulteress, Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop, ca. 1545–50

Man yearns for certainty.  This yearning is likely exacerbated by the lingering feeling that there is so much of life that is changing, transient, guessed, and uncertain.  Why can we not nail things down?  We start at this corner of life, and a neighbor starts at another corner.  There follows considerable sauntering around in the hope that we can settle.  Instead we find that the complications are even larger than we thought when we discover there are many others starting at other points, and the milling about becomes even greater than we thought sincerity, search and work would permit.  We settle assuming that there may be some relief, agreement and assurance.  For reality implications that mix of matters becomes common… Read more

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