march

The March of Time marches on. This progress of time, this flow or course of chronology, is when things happen beyond our control to stop them. Take aging for example. Some people are distraught because when they look in the mirror, they see a reflection with wrinkles and age marks and long to return to their youth. Others look with optimism at the future, looking forward to aging and seeing events unfold before their eyes that will eventually weaken. Even Shakespeare writes of the seven ages of man in his play, As You Like It, ending with the famous line: Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. The march of time waits for no man. Time has been written about, spoken about and thought about.

During the time period from 1935 to 1951, the company that owned TIME magazine, produced a series of news films that were shown in cinemas in the United States called March of Time. They were the main sources of news on film before television became popular. There was also a series on American radio with the same name. Our news world has changed drastically. We are inundated with much media. Over time, history has revealed itself.

Thinking back over the course of events a year ago, it’s hard to believe how much things have changed as time marched on, regardless of the fact that it seemed that the world came to an abrupt halt. We now feel we are living in madness. And speaking of March Madness…..

March Madness is the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) men’s basketball tournament held in the United States each spring. It generates more than $800 million each year and the term “madness” came from the excitement the tournament generates.

We are unable to control the steady, unstoppable advancing of time and all the events that come with it. No one was prepared for 2020; however, the church of Sardis is warned ahead of time by John who wrote from the island of Patmos around 96 CE in Asia Minor.

4 “You still have a few followers of Jesus in Sardis who haven’t ruined themselves wallowing in the muck of the world’s ways. They’ll walk with me on parade! They’ve proved their worth!

5 “Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I’ll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and his Angels.

6 “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”

Revelation 3: 4-6 The Message

Are you listening?

paradox

As I was browsing through various books in a shop one day, I came across many oxymoronic book titles. This little figure of speech - oxymoron - is also known as paradox. Many titles, reminded me of parts of our lives that speak self-contradicting words, with us living in opposition to self and others.

Take “The Kindest Lie” for example, or “Beautiful Lie” by Ifran Master. It brings to mind, having to hide the truth from someone by not saying anything or telling a “white lie” because it will hurt them too much. Or what about “Open Secret” - isn’t that just gossip or talking behind someone’s back? I have had a thousand “Silent Screams” when I have to hold my tongue or am ready to explode with anger. I kept things inside and have also had to stand in the “Lonely Crowd” even being with hundreds of people but not knowing a soul. Of course, there’s the “Perfect Storm” or “Book of Heroic Failures”. I’ve had a few of both in my lifetime and those are just a few book titles.

Then there are the phrases and sentences that people will sometimes voice, such as “I think you clearly misunderstood me!” or Why don’t we “get some diet-ice-cream?” or “Why don’t you just act normal?” and a favorite, “I’m on a working vacation.” I do know that the “best cure for insomnia is getting lots of sleep” or as Samuel Goldwyn probably told his children if he had any, “if you fall and break your legs, don’t come running to me!” Even Winston Churchill believed, “a joke is a very serious thing!” and he “lived his life to the end.” Really?

“People have one thing in common. They are all different.” And I know that “the world is full of apathy, but I don’t care.” You see, “common sense is not so common”. Even though there are countless contradictory sayings, some people live their lives as that by saying one thing and meaning another. In the bible, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us. “Do good to them that hate you and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you,” Mark 6: 27-28

In these days of thought bombardment, restrictions and restraints on freedoms, thought manipulation and indecision, we must “believe in free will. We have no choice” as Isaac B. Singer says. We continually struggle with what is truth, what is right, what is good. Paul experiences this throughout his ministry. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate...For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing" (Romans 7:15, 18b-19).

When the battle gets tough and we are caught in the crossroads and contradictions, let us remember that our only deliverance is through Jesus.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

— 1 John 5:4-5, ESV

logophile

It is an arcane fact that I am a logophile. I do not aberrate or show any depravity in my life. You might be flabbergasted to know that I also do not display hubris, nor do I relinquish any rueful feelings. I show redamancy to the ones I love and hopefully my collection of followers will burgeon beyond my wildest dreams on social media. Okay, what did I just say? Interpretation is as follows:

It is a known fact to few that I am a person who loves words. I do not deviate from moral standard or show any corrupt act or practice in my life. You might be showing intense shock to know that I also do not display exaggerated pride or self-confidence, nor do I withdraw or retreat from any sorrowful, regret or remorseful feelings. I show a love returned in full to those who love me and the ones I love and hopefully my collection of followers will grow and expand rapidly beyond my wildest dreams on social media. There you have it.

I am always intrigued by the fact that each profession has its plethora of words. There I go again. Excessive amount of words; not to mention that certain vocabularies are necessary to comprehend and are precise to that occupation. For example, if you broach the subject with a boss; a mechanic simply means to finish the inside of a hole to a shape other than round, as in a keyway to the cylindrical projection, as on a casting or a forging. Another example might an ACE, an enzyme that increases blood pressure for a surgeon, but is also a great pilot for the airlines or a fighter ACE who is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. That would increase my blood pressure too! And so, words are there to play with, to learn, to test and try and certainly to get to know, like a whole new world awaiting you.

Jesus always had a way with words. When the Sadducees and Pharisees would ask him a question, he would reply with a question. When his disciples didn’t understand a concept, he told them a parable. In the church, we have words that are difficult to understand as well - Redemption, Salvation, Resurrection - but there is only one true Word - and that is Jesus.

John 1: 1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

Storytime

All of us have a story. Many of us love to hear a one. Some of us have written our story into Memoirs and others still have their story to tell. We have used story to influence, inspire and teach and we continue to share them. We have done so since the beginning of time. Originating in the 13th Century were people called griots. These storytellers or entertainers from Ancient Africa used praise, songs and poems or music to share oral tradition.

They are still active today among the Mande peoples and more predominant in northern West Africa - both male and female. They are the counterpart to the European minstrel and in Ancient Africa were referred to as jeli or griot. Be careful, not to mix the letters and you will see that groit is Haiti’s most loved dish! however, a griot is a living archive of people’s traditions. Alex Haley references griots in his novel, “Roots”. Lawrence Hill’s main character is a jeli in his novel “The Book of Negroes” Pelagie Gbaguidi is a contemporary artist who is also referred to as a griot. Even the Trinidadian poet and musician Anthony Joseph named the first song on one of his albums, Griot.

In Indigenous culture, “knowledge keepers” or storytellers have to be trained, apprenticed and given the right to share knowledge through stories. They share history, practical skills, customs and values to pass on to the next generation. The ultimate storyteller was Jesus who taught his disciples and others by using parables. But the greatest story every told, was not just a book written in 1989 or a movie by that title which was a retelling of Jesus’ life in 1965; but the true account of Jesus’ ascension into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of God waiting to return to earth. If you haven’t heard the greatest story every told, it’s available from four different perspectives in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are worth the read and worth retelling, sharing and teaching.

Mark 4:33

With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it;

Matthew 13:34

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.

Questions

Neil Gaiman is a wonderful storyteller, writer and the author of Calendar of Tales. In 2013, he launched twelve questions as writing prompts for twelve hours on his Twitter account. He based his stories or tales on his favorite responses and wrote the tales within three days. They are available to listen to at: https://soundcloud.com/a-calendar-of-tales

The questions are rather interesting because if they were the same ones asked in 2020, the answers, I believe would have everything to do with the pandemic. Here are the questions. You can answer them for yourselves, but to add more intrigue, joy, fascination, mystery and challenge, try NOT to think about COVID and answer them with imagination, humor and creativity.

Why is January so dangerous? What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in February? What historical figure does March remind you of? What’s your happiest memory of April? What’s the weirdest gift you’ve ever been given in May? Where would you spend a perfect June? What’s the most unusual thing you’ve seen in July? If August could speak, what would it say? What’s something you lost in September that meant a lot to me? What mythical creature would you meet in October? What would you burn in November? Who would you like to see again in December?

We are creatures of curiosity and inquiry. We like to know why. We like to ask questions. Lately it seems, that some of our answers have been wavering in the grey zone and there are, like the prompts above, no right answers. That’s why it is so reassuring to know that Jesus is the answer and has the answers for us.

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

SURRENDER

Get out the check list: You had the trip planned and the holiday booked; the job promotion was within your grasp and your finances secure; you finally got your parents settled in their retirement home for senior living; the kids were off to college or university or had been launched from home; life was falling into place and there weren’t too many worries about tomorrow. Then out of nowhere - a world pandemic that stopped humanity in its tracks and continues to veer people off life’s course - happened. It sounds like a scene from a dystopian novel - no, it’s reality these days.

Business are closing; people are filing for bankruptcy; airports and resorts are virtually empty; senior homes exclude visitors; school is on-line and life if full of stress for many as families try to cope or fall apart. Just watch the news for distressing situations. This is reality these days. How do we cope?

Breath - take a deep breath of acceptance, that surrendering sigh of the soul telling yourself that everything is going to be alright. The future is going to happen regardless of $50 or $50 million in our bank accounts; the earth is still revolving around the sun for yet another day of glorious sunrises and sunsets. The waves still crash against the sandy shores of the oceans and learning and experiences will still happen in our lives. Babies will be born with a future of possibilities and friends and family members will bid goodbye to this world when their time has come.

Why do we think we can continue to haul around the burdens of care on our weary shoulders, worrying about what’s next and fretting our hours away? We can soften our souls by living for today - in the present moments - accepting the parts of our lives as they exist for these moments in this time. Easy? Never Possible? Yes! Resist change? Accept and surrender. It doesn’t mean we have to stop living, thinking or planning. We just need to ask the Creator of the Universe for the strength, power and mind-set to get through the daily struggles or troubles and trust that in Him, everything is gonna be okay.

Matthew 6: 25, 34

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.