Where the Mountain Joins the Sky (a poem)

   

There is a place where burdened hearts

            Take refuge from life’s care.

The simple things like flower and tree,

            A man and nature share.

‘Tis where the mountain joins the sky,

            Where earth and firmament meet

Man’s realm below and God’s on high

            Join there—the twain complete.

Standing high on wind-swept rock

            So very close to heaven

The heart of mine in solitude,

            Reflects on blessings given.

Peak beckons foothills to ascend

            It’s trails that lead so high

And everywhere there’s wondrous peace

            With a sense that God is nigh.

The sun by day, and moon by night,

            Reveals not works of man.

Where Heavenly Father and Nature meet

            High on this rugged span.

So you who rush around and fret,

            If quiet peace you seek,

Go climb the mountain of your choice

            And meet God at its peak.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*I do not believe that one will literally meet God the Father of us all at the mountain peak unless you, like Moses, are chosen to begin a new Gospel dispensation.  I have, though, felt God’s presence and the attendant peace through His Holy Spirit on such occasions while in deep and sincere prayer and hence the motivation to write this poem.  

The Trouble with Christians

Mahatma Gandhi (02 October 1869 - 30 January 1948) is reported to have said, “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” 

If many people feel that way, and it appears that it may be so, even among our own people, it is a terrible indictment of Christianity.  I believe there is both cause and non-cause (prejudice) for such an indictment. The accuracy of Gandhi’s judgment largely depends on which ‘Christians’ you look at.  One must take into account the degree of religiosity and integration of Christian principles and doctrines in the lives of members of the many sects of ‘Christianity’ and those who live in this and other traditionally Christian nations but in reality are not Christian at all. 

Gandhi’s problem was that in casting his net so broadly he generalized all ‘Christians’ as being the same.  They are not.  He should have known the apostle Paul’s delimitation: “There is one body (meaning church)…One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all….” (Ephesians 4:4-6) I agree with Paul; there is one true church.  As disagreeable as it is to state it, all others would have to be counterfeit, even though many of their communicants may be fine Christians.  It is those nominal Christians in any denomination whose behavior does not correspond with their professions that give all of Christianity a bad reputation.   

  

America is viewed as, and still is, a predominately Christian nation—again nominally—but the social landscape is rapidly changing with another wave of unanchored (and consequently disenchanted) cohort of young people.  Europe has virtually abandoned Christianity.  The under-age -thirty five generation in America and in continental Europe have increasingly bought into the secular humanistic (non-Christian) paradigm. There are other religious faiths among us: Jews have been among the earliest Americans; there is now a substantially larger Muslim population from the chronically unsettled mid-eastern countries that are a counterpoint to Christianity; and a lesser represented population of the Eastern religions. 

But the focus of criticism, in America, especially from the political ‘left’ is clearly aimed at what is perceived as the Christian ‘right.’  The focus of criticism from outside of America is against the moral standards of Western secular culture that is attributed to Christians but who really are not Christian at all. The ‘chaff’ is growing up with the ‘wheat.’

It is the religiously unrooted agnostic and increasingly atheistic younger generation that Gandhi, if he were alive, would now level his criticism. Moreover, it is precisely those ‘godless’ Westerners, and their moral depravity, that the mid-eastern Muslim Islamists and jihadists inveigh against.  And there is depravity in our society; but it is in no way countenanced by those who are true Christians. 

These realities come to focus in the 2010 book, American Grace, by Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell, scholars from Harvard and Notre Dame Universities respectively.  It is a landmark study of the subtitle to their book, ‘How Religion Divides and Unites Us.’ The demographics and analyses they cite in their 600 page plus book tells a fascinating and revealing story of who truly are the most religious people in America.  I will not attempt to even summarize their findings but will simply end this essay with a couple of observations I have personally witnessed and experienced in my own religious life as a Christian and that are substantiated by this research. 

People who more closely approach the Christ-like life (and who consequently would be less likely to have been judged negatively by Gandhi, or find they are being judged by other earthly critics and who will yet stand before a divine tribunal and are much more likely to be acquitted) are those who perform, without hypocrisy (play-acting) or guile at least the following: 

·        They will know, understand and integrate into their own lives the principles and doctrine as stated by Christ, His apostles, and the writings of the prophets that are found in the Holy Scriptures.  

·        They will have faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, redeemer, and savior; repent fully of their sins; and participate worthily and regularly in the ordinances of the Gospel of Christ as administered by authorized agents of Christ. 

·        They will keep the commandments and strive to emulate the type of life Christ lived and taught (a life of kindness and charity and service to others, of daily prayer, of Sabbath observance, and of a willingness to sacrifice). Christ asked, “What manner of men ought ye to be?" He answered his own question:  "Even as I AM.”

Who are these people—these true Christians?  Look around… “by their fruits ye shall know them.”  They will not be found in bars or participating in pornographic activities or being entertained by R and X- rated movies or neglecting or abusing their families. They will be found doing good, in loving homes supporting their families and in their communities supporting righteous causes, and in their churches and temples supporting God’s work wherever it may call them. 

There is no trouble with Christians who “live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God,” who do not defile their faith by cloak or club or hypocrisy. 

  

I am proud, in all humility, to call myself a Christian.  

And I personally like Gandhi; he could have been a good Christian because he was a good man.      

Unity (a poem)

I dreamed I stood in a studio

And watched two sculptors there.

The clay they used was a young child’s mind

And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher, the tools she used

Were books and music and field and art;

One was a parent with a guiding hand

And a gentle and listening and loving heart.

Day after day, the teacher toiled

With a touch that was deft and sure,

While the parent labored by her side

And polished and smoothed it o’er.

And when at last their task was done;

They were proud of what they had wrought;

For the things they had molded into the child

Could neither be sold nor bought.

And each agreed he would have failed

If he had worked alone.

For behind the parent stood the school

And behind the teacher, the home.

Gang Violence: Roots and Responses

Some years ago I wrote an editorial in a local newspaper that addressed gang violence in a nearby community.  This was done because one of my students was killed by gunfire and I knew many more students whose lives were impacted by the pervasive violence and shootings in their neighborhoods.  Following is my article.  Unfortunately, not much has changed over the years. 

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Get to the Root of the Problem

In every area of human concern there is a hierarchy of response: 

First we take care of the ‘urgent;’ next the ‘important;’ next the ‘nice to;’ and finally, the back-burner issues.

Wise leadership assesses the issues, identifies the urgent, then mobilizes ALL relevant resources to meet and overcome the problem.  A half-way response by those who hold the resources cannot hope to solve the problems.  Neither will wise leadership overlook resources that have been unused or underused.

We have underused some resources.

Violence in our community is an urgent concern.  Our response must be equal to the challenge.  We need a collective community response.  Every resource we have must be mobilized.  Police cannot do it alone.  Schools cannot do it alone.  Parents cannot do it alone.  And yet each of these, plus others, and the youth themselves need to be involved.  

Every segment of the community with an interest in getting things under control must respond.  And that response must be unified, committed, forceful and sustained.  And, most important, the response must be focused at the problem. 

The problem is the distorted thought processes of the youth committing these mindless acts of violence.  There is a missing dimension in the personalities of the shooters and gang members and fighters.  That missing dimension is a spiritual and moral sense that has not been developed.  It is a flaw of character that we are seeing on the streets.

Character is taught or caught from close association with those who have it.  One catches what one is exposed to.  Where are our youth getting their character development?  What are they exposed to?  Who is teaching them undistorted concepts of decency, honor and respect, the value of human life and of property, and the necessity of law and community order? 

American philosopher Henry David Thoreau said, “For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil there is one striking at the root.”  We have not addressed the root problem.  Until we do, we must, of course, continue to respond to symptoms and keep hacking at the leaves. 

But the noxious plant will keep sending out new branches and leaves, and people will die and innocent lives will be ruined in the interim.

Responses: Here are a few thoughts on what we can do:

·        The Young People:  You must understand that there is nothing more cowardly than the offensive use of a weapon.  It is a show of great weakness.  It says that the person using a gun or knife does not have the intelligence, skill or wits to solve problems and prove themselves and achieve respect in other more appropriate ways.

There ARE ways to prove yourself to others in an honorable way that will bring you lasting respect: weightlifting, boxing, wrestling, one-on-one basketball, billiards, chess, team sports, music.  In these ways and others one can show mastery, skill, bravery and talent without destroying life and property or ruining lives, including one’s own.  If you want real, lasting respect, these are ways to achieve it. 

Young people must understand that their actions reflect on many more people than just themselves.  Young criminals have no idea of the shame, sadness and heartache their deeds bring upon their parents, relatives, and friends and those of innocent victims and their families. 

Shooters and gang members have no idea that what they do reflects very negatively on themselves, their families and neighborhoods.  Any honor and respect they think they have achieved is a complete delusion.  The community is disgusted and outraged . . . and not the least impressed with those who think they are so brave.

·        The Schools:  Hold assemblies and have the courageous individuals from other communities who have broken free from being used by gang leadership talk to students about these issues. Teach good citizenship and fundamental values of decency and respect for others on an ongoing basis.  Weave values education into all that is taught.  Expect, enforce and reward good citizenship. 

·        The Parents:  Understand the tremendous negative influence many of today’s TV programs and movies have on your children.  Provide guidance in your home without a double standard.  If you have screened a movie (and they should be screened) and said “no,” provide an alternative.  If you can, go to view acceptable movies together as a family.  Let your youngster invite a friend to also see them with you. 

Get harmful substances and influences out of the home.  If you have fire-arms, alcohol, tobacco, drugs or pornography, your children will get them one day and use them.  If you expect responsible moral behavior from your children, become the example of responsible moral behavior yourself. 

Involve your children in wholesome sports and activities.

·        The Church: And most importantly, get spiritual support and instruction for your family by regularly worshipping together.  Find a place of worship that stresses family solidarity and that has a strong youth program.  Attend together. 

Resources are out there.  Let’s start using them.  Strike at the root and save our young.