on Solitude

"Keep your eyes clean and your ears quiet and your mind serene. Breathe God's air. Work, if you can, under His sky."


Thomas Merton

Tis the pre-Season

One of my favorite seasons of the year is Advent (the other is Lent), and now that November has arrived I have started some pre-season reading in the book of Malachi.

I've never intentionally read Malachi, but it seems like a logical choice to read before Advent. Malachi is the final word before the start of the New Testament. Through Malachi, the Lord continues to confront the people of Israel with how they have strayed from the righteous way. These confrontations anticipate the ministry of both John the Baptist and Jesus as they will one day preach, "Repent for the kingdom of God is near!"

If you're looking for something to read over the next three weeks, give Malachi a glance. How do these words confront us in preparation for Jesus?

A Tale of Two Donalds

Today started as any other Monday would start at our house. Early.

I don't know if I had a case of the Mondays or just a lot on my mind, but I felt a little bit in a funk this morning. I was ready to spend some time in peace and quiet at the Wesley House, as well as get some tasks accomplished today. I was not expecting to have an adventure.

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One of the people I follow on twitter is Donald Miller. He wrote Blue Like Jazz several years ago and it was a pretty big hit in the Christian-verse. I've read it a couple of times myself, and I always thought it was a fun, thought provoking, and faith challenging read. Anyway, I follow him on twitter and I've been reading his blog quite a bit, too. He's been talking about his new book more and more, and upon reading some samples on the blog, I began to get pretty excited about it. I was even more excited when he announced that a promotion for the book would be hiding manuscripts all over the country for people to find - from hints and directions via twitter (and facebook).

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This morning I'm leaving Wesley's treasurer's office on campus and Corrie texts me, "Donald miller is hiding one in memphis today." Immediately I call her and ask, "Do you want to go?" She says, "Sure!" After a little more discussion we realize that taking the boys on this venture might be too hard, so my sweet, loving, and beautiful wife lets me go to Memphis to look for this manuscript. I traded in my blah of a Monday for a Quixotic adventure.

As I head out of Oxford, I realize that I could be driving to Memphis for nothing. It takes an hour and fifteen minutes to get there and what if the location is sent while I'm driving. I try not to think of that, and I just keep driving. I've already called my friend Michael who lives in Memphis; we're going to eat lunch together if nothing else, and since he lives there, he might be able to help me find it quickly.

As I drive I receive a text that says the location will go out around noon. Perfect. I'm due to arrive in Memphis around 11:30am. That gives me thirty minutes to find a place to station myself and also familiarize myself with the surroundings. Michael suggests a place just off I-240 on Union Avenue, close to the interstate but also just east of downtown. I find a spot in the McDonald's parking lot, and I wait.

...and I wait.

...and I wait.

Noon comes....and goes.

...and I wait.

...and I wait.

Finally, at 12:54pm, the location is sent, and I'm off. I need to get to

Marlowe's, a BBQ and ribs place just down from Graceland. AH. Of course! Graceland is an iconic place to hide something in

Memphis. Why didn't I think of that?

My station close to the interstate pays off since I have to head south 7-8 miles to get to the Graceland part of town (thanks Michael!). Corrie is feeding me directions over the phone. The race is on!

As I exit off the interstate, I realize I'm only 2.5 miles from Marlowe's and only 10 minutes has passed; I think to myself, "I might actually get this thing!"

I cruise by Graceland. I go through what seems like 20 stop lights (it was probably 5 of them). Then I see it. Marlowe's Ribs and Restaurant. Complete with, not one, but two pink cadillac limos in the parking lot. (Just call and they'll pick you up and bring you to the restaurant!)

I pull in, get out of the car, and walk in to the restaurant. There aren't very many people around. Could I be first? I look around for a book, package, anything that looks out of place, but I don't see anything.

There's a gift shop to the left. I walk in there looking expectantly. Nothing. An older gentleman walks in to the gift shop and goes behind the counter. I walk up and ask, "Do you know anything about a book that's hidden here?"

He responds, "I sure do." He reaches down behind him and picks up a bulky manilla envelope and says, "I'm supposed to give this to the first person who shows up." And he hands it to me!

YES! I found the book. I call Corrie - she is ecstatic. I call Michael - he laughs out loud. (Then says he'll meet me for lunch there at Marlowe's.)

I had gone out to the car to make those calls, and on my way back in to the restaurant, three other searchers are coming out. They congratulate me and then we talk for several minutes about ourselves, Donald Miller, etc. Turns out they're all musicians of some kind (one is even the violinist for Skillet - whoa!), and they were camping out on twitter today, too.

On the cover of the manuscript is a letter written by Donald Miller

extending his congratulations. He explains that this copy is numbered and signed, and that he hopes I will enjoy the read. Then he states,

"I'd love the opportunity to talk with you more, which is why I'm including my cell phone number, ***-***-****. I'd be most grateful if you didn't share this number with all your friends, but please do give me a call. I would love to "meet" you over the phone, learn more about you, and get your feedback on whether you think this book is any good. I look forward to hearing from you soon."

So, if you'll excuse me, I have some reading to do, and a phone call to make.

Read. This. Book.

I don't usually recommend books I've read for my seminary classes, but I just finished a book I think everyone should read. It's not a distinctly Christian book (meaning you probably won't find it in LifeWay or Family Christian), but it is about Christianity...or rather the power of living our faith faithfully.

Same Kind of Different as Me is a the story of a sharecropper turned homeless man and a wealthy Texas art dealer whose lives intertwine at a homeless shelter in Fort Worth. If I tell you much more, I'll ruin the story.

But I will tell you that this is more than a story. There are complex issues addressed in this book, issues of wealth and poverty, issues of race, and issues of faith. Though it reads pretty easy, it is not for the faint of heart.

An Advent Hymn

From A Collection of Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord, by Charles Wesley

(note the verse in bold)

Join all ye joyful nations,
Th' acclaiming host of heaven,
This happy morn,
A child is born,
To us a son is given.

The messenger and token
Of God's eternal favour,
God hath sent down,
To us his Son,
An universal Saviour!

The wonderful Messiah,
The joy of every nation,
Jesus in name,
With God the fame,
The Lord of all creation.

The Counselor of sinners,
Almighty to deliver,
The Prince of Peace,
Whose love's increase,
Shall reign in man for ever.

Go see the King of glory,
Discern the heavenly stranger,
So poor and mean,
His court an inn,
His cradle is a manger.

Who from his Father's bosom,
But now for us descended,
Who built the skies,
On earth he lies,
With only beasts attended.

Whom all the angels worship,
Lies hid in human nature;
Incarnate see
The Deity
The infinite Creator.

See the stupendous blessing,
Which God to us has given;
A child of man,
In length a span,
Who fills both earth and heaven.

Gaze on that helpless object
Of endless adoration!
Those infant hands,
Shall burst our bands,
And work out our salvation;

Strangle the crooked serpent,
Destroy his works for ever,
And open set
The heavenly gate,
To every true believer.

Till then thou holy Jesus,
We humbly how before thee,
Our treasures bring
To serve our King,
And joyfully adore thee:

To thee we gladly render
Whate'er they grace hath given,
Till thou appear,
In glory here,
And take us up to heaven.

Celebrating Being Alive

One of my favorite authors (if not my all time favorite) is Henri Nouwen. Here's what he has to say about birthdays.

Birthdays are so important. On our birthdays we celebrate being alive. On our birthdays people can say to us, “Thank you for being!” Birthday presents are signs of our families’ and friends’ joy that we are part of their lives. Little children often look forward to their birthdays for months. Their birthdays are their big days, when they are the center of attention and all their friends come to celebrate.

We should never forget our birthdays or the birthdays of those who are close to us. Birthdays keep us childlike. They remind us that what is important is not what we do or accomplish, not what we have or who we know, but that we are, here and now. On birthdays let us be grateful for the gift of life.