Leave It Better Than You Found It

DateLine (6/28/06 – Ponce, PR)

I grew up on a farm. Farmers are known for their interdependence, often borrowing and loaning items of necessity to aide the neighbors in getting by. Accommodation and neighborliness are hallmarks of rural living. Out of my own necessity I’ve continued this practice, borrowing items from friends and family. There is an inviolate rule to this practice as far as I’m concerned; leave it better than you found it. I consider it the “code of the borrowing”, not absolutely required but a matter of gratitude and respect for others’ property.

I’ve not always lived up to this charitable code, but it is a goal for every material loan; sharpen the blade before you return it, grease the implement, replace the light bulb, buff the sheet metal, blow off accumulated dirt with the blower – you see what I mean. Stay in the good graces of the loaner, develop a good reputation for taking care of others’ property, and you’ll never be short of neighbors and friends willing to help you out. Be slow to take it home, refuse to replace broken parts; don’t compensate for wear and tear and you might find it hard to get your neighbor to the door the next time you knock.

Now the “code” that I’ve described is not overtly Christian. I’ve known many a good neighbor who was not church going folk who would give you the shirt off their back. But the nobility of taking care of other people’s possession is not what I want to focus on. It should be expected that we at least match good behaviors in the culture. The horizons for a Christian are much broader. It is our privilege to “leave it better than you found it” with purpose. In 25-30 years nobody will ever remember that sharp, greased, clean borrowed item that you returned to the loaner. It was important at the time but the importance faded with time. As a Christian we have the privilege of having an eternal significance.

Your church is an opportunity, your job is an opportunity, your family is an opportunity, your relationships are opportunities, and your chance encounters are opportunities. You will be remembered for the quality of what you do in a few things rather than the mediocrity of lots of things. Every place that we go, every person that we meet, every thing that we do, every organization that we join, every job that we do; “Leave it better than you found it,” now that’s “salt and light.”

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:13-16

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” I Cor. 10:31

Welcome Home

DateLine (6/21/06 – Ponce, PR)

One consequence of hanging out in the airport is the opportunity to witness a lot of homecomings. Almost every return flight that I’m on these days has a serviceman coming home. Since my flights into Greenville-Spartanburg are typically only 20-30 minutes flights from either Atlanta or Charlotte, these travel weary soldiers are often flushed with renewed energy as the anticipate the short remaining wait for their homecoming. I’ve overheard many an anxious soldier during the flight recount a grueling ordeal; 16, 18, 24, 32 hours of extended travel on the trip home from Afghanistan or Iraq. The travel weariness dissipates as the reality of what awaits draws near. This is the first clue; talkative anxious solders.

The next clue is the peering faces in the terminal as they strain to catch that first glimpse of their loved one. First the kids, then the spouse, followed by parents, brothers, sisters, and I suspect aunts and uncles and family friends. In the old days family reunions use to occur right at the exit of the Jetway in the concourse, now that is not permitted by the TSA. I witnessed an exception to this rule a few weeks ago when the entire family was waiting right at the Jetway exit, just like in the old days. Obviously some local TSA agent fell victim to sympathy with the family and granted permission for their presence past the security station.

The first sighting produces a shriek of joy; as all of the fears and emotions of the separation are released in the first look, the first touch, the first hug. I have witnessed luggage and bags dropped to the floor, the race to embrace just like the movies, and prolonged affection in the middle of a public place as if no one else existed. I have not witnessed one yet without a huge lump appearing in my throat.

As wonderful as these military homecomings are they are a mere shadow of a homecoming that every Christian will experience. One of the most eagerly anticipated benefits of Christianity is the day we will be reunited with loved ones in our permanent home. The longer we live on this earth the more we will long for that day of homecoming. I can imagine that the first to greet us will be our Brother; Jesus. The next face that we’ll see is our Father, Yahweh. There is no doubt in my mind that peering over their shoulders will be that wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister, grandparent that has gone on before us. As we acclimate to the intimacy of our new found relationship with God there will be no sadness as we realize that the nature of the relationships that we had on earth have been transformed (see Matt 22:23-33.)

As blessed as my life has been here on this earth, I long for the day when I hear the heavenly greeting; Welcome Home! Never to be separated again.

The Three-Legged Race

DateLine (6/14/06 – Nanuet, NY)

What a spectacle, people sprawled on the ground struggling to regain their upright posture, people stopped in their tracks arguing about how to proceed, persons giving up after taking only a few strides, and mismatched persons struggling against each other only to fall further behind. What am I talking about? A competition that used to be a staple of church picnics, July 4th celebrations or Sadie Hawkins day; the three-legged race. For the uninitiated the three-legged race consisted of two people who would voluntarily lash their adjacent legs together and attempt to race to the finish line as one contestant (i.e. participant 1’s right leg lashed to participant 2’s left leg.) The winner of the race was often quite surprising. Now let’s look at a some scenarios.

Take the church that is totally ineffective because members spend more time quarreling than ministering. How about the church that is consumed by politics as members vie for positions of authority and influence as compared to positions of humility and service? Consider the church that is so preoccupied with the methods of management that they cannot get past bylaws, procedures, and committees. Don’t forget the church that is so bound by tradition that many with a vision for the future are so constrained that they give up in despair. Or finally observe the church that stopped in its tracks trying to develop the ultimate strategy, all the while, the world literally goes “to hell in a hand basket” as they plan.

How about a marriage where there is a constant struggle for control? Have you witnessed marriages that no longer work because one of the partners gave up, in effect rendering the union dysfunctional? How about the marriage that is stuck in a rut because there is no communication. Consider the out-of-balance marriage where one partner is “paddling” as fast as possible while the other partner “lags behind;” effectively undermining the accomplishments of the marriage.

I’m proposing that we resurrect the three-legged race as a staple of church functions. In fact I’m proposing that this event should be included as a part of pre-marriage counseling. Yes you heard me right, pre-marriage counseling. The value of this event is to teach the principles of teamwork; communication, cooperation, coordination, consistency, and commitment. Whether we’re talking church membership or marriage we voluntarily lash ourselves together for the purpose of achieving an objective, to win the race or at least to do our best to finish the race. We must apply all the elements of teamwork to have a chance for success. It typically never was not the most athletic couple but the more cooperative couple that won the three-legged race.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Cor. 9:24

The “three legged race;” a great laboratory for teaching teamwork. Without teamwork we will not finish the race. We voluntarily lash ourselves to our brothers and sisters in Christ and our marriage partners. Never give up, don’t race ahead, keep on talking, keep on listening, stay in sync, respect your partners. Run the race to win.

Eating Vomit

DateLine (6/7/06 – King of Prussia, PA)

How repulsive! How utterly repulsive - but I witnessed it and maybe you have too. A few weeks ago I was working in my yard when I almost stepped into something. After “careful” examination I realized that our family dog had thrown up her last meal. I found out that Harriett had thrown some dated food into the woods behind our house and the dog had helped herself. A few minutes later I observed the dog eating the food for the second time (you know what I mean.) I couldn’t believe that she actually ate every bit of it again. Well it wasn’t long until I discovered that she had lost it again. And then a little later I observed that she was eating the food for the third time. For the life of me I couldn’t understand why the dog could not make the connection between eating that food and the regurgitation. Obviously she was “enjoying” the food again and again and again even though there was no way that food was going to be beneficial to her because she couldn’t keep it down.

After witnessing the disgusting events of the afternoon it dawned on me that I have observed equally revolting events being acted out in the human species. No I have never witnessed a human eating vomit, but I have observed persons who seemed to be caught in self-destructive cycles of behavior. Persons who have yielded to base temptations, reaped the self-destructive benefit, only to yield to the same temptation again; once, twice, three times, many times, sometimes a lifetime - victims of inextricable bondage.

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Proverbs 26:11.

So back to the dog. As I contemplated the behavior in the dog I realized that this is to be expected. It is in the dog’s nature to do such things. Perhaps I could train it out of the dog, but given the right set of circumstances I suspect that the dog would quickly revert back to its nature. The only way to prevent the dog from such a disgusting practice is to transform its nature.

The Bible tells us that the nature of man is bankrupt, burdened down by sin. It is no wonder that some people are not able to resist temptation even when they fully realize the harm to self. As soon as they recover they stumble toward the very behavior that knocked them down, seemingly unable to break the cycle; helpless, suffering, yes, sometimes repulsive behavior. People are no different than the dog, in need of a spiritual transformation. A transformed nature is exactly what God offers through salvation. Want to break out to a new life?

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2.