Becoming human: A fairytale

There once was a teddy-bear named Patches. Who lived in the land of ump-pala. He loved to learn and could often be found reading in his cave. He also treasured telling a good joke. To this day many say he still needs help with the jokes. He was odd to many but enjoyable to most: A novelty, with his brown tweed jacket and wire rim glasses. He had a small tare just below the knee that caused him to wobble when he walked.

One morning patches was walking in the meadow and he heard the most beautiful sound. It filled the meadow and lifted patch's heart to thoughts of his king. He followed the sound to a tree on the edge of the meadow. It was the song of a bird greeting the morning. As he moved close patches saw the bird was a dove. She was a small bird with eyes blue as the sea and bright as sunshine. On her feet were big black galoshes that caused her to slowly slip off the branch she was perched on. Her white feathers had the appearance of silk. There color seemed to renew itself moment by moment. Patches had never seen a creature of such beauty and grace, especially in galoshes.

"Good day." Patches said, "I did not know doves could sing!"

The bird looked down and smiled. "Normally, we can't but the king made me a song bird."

Patches asked "You know the king?"

"Oh yes" said the dove. "And I know you too!"

Patches thought back to his days in the forest of nowhere. when he sharded a treehouse with a slender water pry named tommy. He remembered a raven that flew far away but this was no raven, she was a dove. Confused Patches asked "Do tell me this mystery." The singing dove told him her story. She told him of the day she met the king. How she was a raven, black as night and how the king touched her and made her a dove. How he made her to worship and now each morning as the sun makes its way into the sky she can't help but sing. His mercies are new ever morning. Patches stood in awe as she told him the story. His heart filled with mercy and joy. But now everyone knows teddy bears don't cry, so he smiled and wrote it in his journal.

Each day Patches would come back to the tree at the edge of the meadow and talk with the dove. Patches, was known to stay in his cave but the dove taught him there was more to life than books and caves. Something he has forgotten but his heart had not. Patches heart was always made for adventure. He always wanted to be the first Indiana Jones type Teddy bear.

They would take long walks in the meadow because the dove did not like to fly. She would smile and say, "I am more suited to ground travel." They laughed and laughed and laughed at their laughing. The two became great friends.

Then One day As Patches was reading a book the dove came running up to him with a card in her beak. It was an invitation from the King. He was inviting them to come enjoy his blessing but he warned that the way is narrow and full of danger. Many attempt the trip but most turn back. Without hesitation, the two friends packed up there things and set out on the adventure of a life time. The dove took little more than her galoshes and a credit card. Patches took the time to pack a change of close and his journal to record all the nuggets of truth to be found on this adventure.

They walked for two days, taking the way by the sea then they turned north to cross the salt flats till they came to the arknon swamp. A place of darkness and confusion, where maps were no good and even the rocks found some thing to complain about. The two adventurers trudged on and soon became lost.

Dove said "what are we to do, Patches? We could die in this place?" Patches scratched his head while thinking over the problem.

"Dove you must fly!"

"No I can't." Dove replied as her feathers bristled and shuttered.

"You must or we will never find our way out of here."

Dove sighs and with a deep breath for courage nods in agreement. She slips off her galoshes and rests them by a tree. Patches watches as Dove flaps her wings, "You can do it! I have faith in you!" Dove begins to lift off the ground first in inches then in feet. She became accustom to the wind and disappeared from view as Patches keeps watch. Then as quick as she had gone she was back landing just past where she had left.

"Patches there is a path just over the next marsh it leads out. We will be OK!" Dove left the galoshes in the swamp. From that day she never settled for less than what she was made to be. Later, Patches wrote in his journal: Today I learned that having faith in someone and having faith for someone is no different when what you trust is the king's wisdom that created them.

After walking all day, the two friends camped for the night near the hollowing caves of Mishva. Caves known to suck all happy thoughts from ones mind. Late in the night, Patches awoke to the sounds of evil surrounding them. He tried to remember His home, His books, and His king. All that came to mind was his worry, his fears, and the memory of bad days. Dove woke up and asked Patches what was wrong?

"Everything - nothing will work out. All is - Oh dear things are so Dark. We will never see the king!"

Sadness came to Dove too, but she jumped to the air and flew above the caves control. Her heart filled with a confident assurance for she could fly again. She focused on things that are noble, and true, pure and right. She thought about the goodness of the King and flew down to remind Patches of the king's goodness.

"We can have confidence in him. He is a good king, Patches!" But a dark cloud circling around Patches head blinded him to any light of hope. Dove raised her voice and began to recount to Patches all the good times in the meadow. She told him of her hopes and assured him of what she knew was the king's good plan. She reminded him that there is always a reason to hope for the king is on the throne. The darkness lifted and Patches found his way back to hope. Later he would write in his journal: Today I learned that hope is found in focusing on the King, the good and the true and that the unselfish heart is a spring of hope.

As day broke, Dove and Patches continued on in their journey. As the road stretched on, in the distance they saw a great wall drawn up and out from east to west. Coming up to the wall the two companions where saddened by what they saw. It was a solid wall of glass, at least 10 stories high. They could not walk around it or break through it and Teddy bears just can't climb glass walls. Patches stood their gazing at his reflection. His jacket dirty, his glasses a little crooked, but his heart renewed.

Dove says, "Maybe I can fly you over it?"

Patches spoke up, "Dove, I want you to hear me out. This is your time now. Take the invitation and go see the king. On the road the wind told me that this moment was coming and though it hurts to part, you are being called higher. You will run and not grow weary. You will rise up like eagles and soar on their wings." "You will worship before the KING and see his good pleasure. This is promised you. This is your invitation."

Dove stood still not saying a word slowly she spoke up, "the wind told me too. I do not know what the future holds-"

Patches butts in "But that is what makes life exciting, you taught me that. Now here me, Always Remember in Faith Hope and Love we are all bound to the King and to each other. Now Go - the King is waiting! You can tell me about it when you get back."

Dove begins to fly, looking back one last time, she turns her eyes to the city who's founder and maker is God. Patches watched her fly away and mutters a prayer as little bear tears wet his tweed jacket, "Thank you my king - it was worth it all!" Turning Homeward he picked up his journal and wrote: Today I learned love is setting some one free even if it hurts. He paused bitting on his pen for a moment then continued.

This love never ends only the knowing ends, only the knowing of the "other" ends in the distance created when space and time spit two souls, but love never ends. For the God never ends. That’s the way of the king, the Good king. My King

Patches wobbled around to catch one last glimpse as she passed behind a cloud. He said to himself "Now these three things remain Faith Hope and Love and the greatest of these is Love." Smiling, with a heart swelling with hope, His faith resting in trust and his love overflowing in devotion, Patches and his King went home to his books and his cave.

Salt, Light, and Baby powder!

"You are the salt of the earth; ….."You are the light of the world. …..Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matt 5:13-16 (NASB)

A Mother was 3 months pregnant for the third time yet this time it was different there was danger. She was in her mid-thirties and not in perfect health. The doctor’s claimed that both the kidney medication and thyroid medication she had to take for her own health, could and should cause severe retardation. More than likely the child would be retarded or deformed unable to ever fully take care of itself. The doctors requested serious consideration as to the possibility of an abortion. To the husband the doctors added that the chance of him loosing the child and loosing his wife where significantly higher than usual. They may both die if this child is taken to term.

“At best, your child will be mentally retarded. Worst case, you loose both of them. I suggest you abort the pregnancy – the risk is too high!”

The Couple takes a moment to think things over. The doctor is not out of the room before the mother speaks up, “Dead or alive, I am keeping this child! ” In the time it takes a butterfly to open its wings the choice was made. The husband explains to the doctor, “You heard her. We will take whatever the Good Lord chooses to give us. He is smarter than all of us anyway, even you, Doc! ” That night as the mother lay sleep less in bed she thought of a story she had read about a woman named Hannah. Hannah was a praying woman. She was child-less but in her prayers gave to God the fruit of her womb. And God gave her a child after she had first, given the child to God. Laying her hand on her stomach, the mother prayed,

“God – I give you the fruit of my womb! Whatever it be, I give you this child, I consecrate this child to you and your service. Jesus, let this child be a witness of you, whatever it be. In frailty show yourself mighty. In weakness display your glory. I give this child to you, whatever it be…… And Lord, don’t let me die… I like the smell of baby powder. Amen”

The mother roles over on her side the saltiness of her tears wet her lips. This is how the salt of the earth live and how the salt never looses it savor. The mother smiles, for her God is God and her God is Good, whatever it be!

In the time it takes to smile, my mother was given her answer. On September 12, 1976, six months later, she received back to herself, what she had given. She was alive, I was pronounced a healthy baby boy and life smelled like baby powder. The same doctor who reasoned my death marveled at my life. I have been told that at my discharge, he waved good bye with a bible in one hand and a clip board in the other. The doctor called me his little light; the light that showed him God is real. His little night light that helped him to read the book as true. It is a family joke, that he is the first person I ever led to the Lord. My first convert: a southern doctor that tried to kill me. All I did was be born, yet in the plan of God, I was born to the salt of the earth; people that know how to believe, pray, and bring light into this world.

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. ….Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

Matt 5:13-15 (MSG)

Don't hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.

Matt 5:16 (LB)

The Necessity that make life, worth breathing.

"Toil together, fight, run, suffer, rest, and rise up together as God's stewards,companions of His table, and his servants!"

- Ignatius, Letter to Polycarp,

A young boy sat on a park bench deep in thought. Every few moments taking a deep breath holding it till necessity demanded a new one. His slightly frustrated yet inquisitive expressions showed the action to be something of an experiment. One passer by stopped and asked, “Son what are you trying to discover?” the boy with dogmatic certainty stated, “If I can live without air!?” Holding back a chuckle the passer by plainly spoke, “Good luck with that” and continued on his way.

By this time another man strolled up, an older gentleman tall and regal with gray hair and a big smile, The kind of man that bares in his stride a humble dignity, noble and honorable. The gentleman paused for a moment as he observed the odd experiment. Eyes meeting the older man smiles and warmly asks, “What or should I say, Who is it that has you playing such the scientist?” Immersed in his investigation, the boy blurts out, “My brothers!” “Well what could they told you to make you such a seeker?” Looking off down the park path the boy sheepishly begins, “They told me I can’t live without air? I think I can BUT they said I’m 7 what do I know. So I’m going to run away to find how I can live without air.” Thinning his eyes and clinching his jaw he whispers through his teeth, “That will show them.”

The older man wise and willing speaks up, “Sounds like, Air is not your problem? Sounds like Necessity is!” “Necessity?” the boy perks up, “what is that?” The old man again smiles and sits down next to the boy. “Necessity is how life works. It is when we can’t get away from something? Like maybe Air, or older bothers, or the way Brussels sprouts are good for you. But such “Necessities” may not be all bad, we need food...” the boy questions, "like jam and chocolate?" "well Ok yes, those too." The boy smiles softly thinking of jam and chocolate. “They are necessities too; in fact you can see the line that connects all of life in the things we all need to be alive. Take your “air” problem. Though it maybe colorless, odorless and a bit mysterious, you can’t run away from it and no matter how hard you try. We breathe it now and you breathe it if you move to china, no matter how long we hold our breath, we always comeback to thirsting for a new breath. This is because we need it to live. We desire it for it is life. We breathe, we live.” The old man’s eyes sparkle as he tells of his brothers and how he had to learn they where just part of Him learning to breath. With the skill of Merlin the man makes every jester magic every syllable captivating. Now spell bound the boy listens attentively to the words that remind him of home. Seeing the longing in his eyes the old man, unwraps a piece of peppermint the old man asked, “You like candy don’t you?” the boy nods in agreement. “It’s a Necessity!” They both smile.

The boy with child like honesty tells the man that he did not understand most of what was said but that he felt better and wanted to go home now. Leaving for home the boy looked back to see the old man holding his breath. With a wink and a gasp the man sent the young scientist on his way. With the boy to far off to hear, the Old man whispers to himself a small phase in Latin, “Lavdem virtvtis necessitati damvs,” [1] “Enjoy the journey, young scientist of life, Go with-God. Find him and discovery the necessities that make life, worth breathing.”

Community is the air we are to breathe as Christians. All around us it fills the context of our breathing and is by design the mode of our being. The Old man in the story was right in his comparison of other and air. The necessity of Community is comparable to the necessity for Air. Community is a necessity like air is a necessity. This should encourage all of us to find a place where the air is clear and the moments sweet. A place made necessarily for you and me.

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notes

[1] When translated means, “We give to necessity the praise of virtue finding the benefit in what's needful”