How's the Weather

I was asked a week or so ago what season I thought my life was in. I should have just said Summer or Spring and the conversation would have shifted. Instead I thought about it and said, "I think its Spring otherwise I probably wouldn't be leaving the Biodome."

What sort of answer is that? Let me explain.

I've spent the last number of years effectively insulating myself from the environment. I didn't want to experience fall or winter so I built this sweet world where I could control nearly everything that happens. I got some of the advantages of the real world like the sun shining through the transparent plastic roof and winter snow softly falling while a full moon shone brightly. At the same time I avoided the less attractive parts of the real world like blizzards and sand storms. I even thought once or twice how nice the desert outside looked from my air conditioned sand tight observation post. Of course there were occasional leaks but had even gotten pretty efficient at patching them quickly before much damage could be done.

The problem is I didn't feel much, didn't grow much, and didn't do much while I was in the dome. God was in the dome but in some ways he was filtered. I didn't realize during its construction that that sweet transparent plastic roof contained a filter which not only blocked UV radiation but also kept out the more fearsome parts of God.

Somehow more of God was getting though for the last few months and I started to envy the people I saw and read about on the outside. They had to deal with the reality of Fall and Winter, but after enduring the harsh snows were able to savor the joy of Spring and Summer in ways I never had. These people were tanned and even burned by the unfiltered God who was with them in his full, fearful force during every season.

So I'm venturing out. Trying to find the trails these pioneers have set and follow with them after the purposes of God. I am terrified of the Falls and Winters ahead but for now it is going well. I run back to my Biodome some days but slowly am venturing further away and for longer. That's why I say it must be spring. I wouldn't have the balls to leave in the Winter but am trusting that I will be so enamored with my God when the season starts to change that returning to the filtered safety of my Biodome will no longer be an option.

May I never return and venture ever deeper into this Holy Wild.

Who said anything about safe? Course He isn't safe. But He's good. He's the King, I tell you.
-C.S. Lewis

Earn the Title

I first heard this anthem a number of years ago on Ben Harper's debut album "Welcome to the Cruel World".

Excuse Me Mr.

Excuse me Mr.
Do you have the time,
Or are you so important that it stands still for you?
Excuse me Mr.
Want you lend me your ear,
Or are you not only blind but do you not hear?

Excuse me Mr.
But isn't that your oil in the sea,
And the pollution in the air Mr.,
Whose could that be?
Excuse me Mr.
Can't you see the children dying?
You say that you can't help them,
Mr. you're not even trying.

Excuse me Mr.
Just take a look around.
Oh, Mr. just look up and you will,
You'll see it's coming down.
'cause Mr. when you're rattling on heaven's gate.
By then it is too late.
'cause Mr. when you get there,
They don't ask what you saved.
All they'll want to know Mr. is what you gave.

So, excuse me Mr.
But I'm a mister too.
And you're givin' Mr. a bad name,
Mr. like you.
And, I'm taking the Mr. from out in front of your name,
'cause it's a Mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame.
It's a Mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame.

And I've seen enough,
Oh - I've seen enough,
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.

It's interesting that I spend the majority of my day working to earn the title Dr. What would happen if I worked as hard to earn the title Mr.?