Reflections on the Academy Awards ceremony

The Oscar goes to “what’s his name”
whose goal in life has been one aim.
To make-believe and just pretend
like when he was a kid.

Tonight’s the night we give a prize
that’s based on pretense, scripts and lies.
We honor those who play-act truth.
Deceit wins our applause.

And faking it is nothing new.
In Jesus’ day, the same was true
when actors (known as hypocrites)
deceived the madding crowd.

“You white-washed tombs!” the Lord would say,
“You’re just performing when you pray!
Take off your masks. God sees your heart.
Admit your need of Him!”

“What matters most is being real.
Admit to what you truly feel.
Quite honestly (the truth be told),
God loves you as you are!”

The state of our union is not what we’re told

“A house divided against itself cannot stand…”

Jesus said it.
Lincoln affirmed it.
We, as a nation, are experiencing it.

And I, for one, cannot stand the division in the House (or the Senate).
Contrary to what our President said,
although our economy is flourishing and our military is fantastic,
the state of our union is not great.
To life’s growing list of oxymorons, add one more.
United States.

While there is no ignoring the elephant in the room
(the Elephant in Chief),
there are attempts to ignore the appropriate behavior
that is becoming to lawmakers in our land.
On both sides of the aisle
(and in the Oval Office),
those elected in good faith
are making bad choices.

Their words and actions
rip to shreds the trust we placed in them.
Like circus animals, these donkeys and pachyderms
are making asses of themselves.
These beasts of burden are proving
to be a burden to our democracy.

While some rush to judgment
in an attempt to simplify the problem,
their efforts complicate and confuse.

Mr. President,
while your offenses may not be impeachable,
they definitely are offensive.
Your taunts and your tweets are embarrassing.

Mrs. Pelosi,
while I can appreciate your loyalty to your party
and your disrespect for your political enemy,
I do not appreciate or respect your discourteous lack of decorum.

Mr. Lincoln,
from your limestone throne
overlooking a House in disrepair,
I pray you are able to look beyond
the current chaos that divides us
and see a future where warring factions
will be trumped by civility, cooperation and kindness.

God,
bless America!
Not because we deserve it
but because we are incapable
of being a blessing to the rest of the world
until we get our own house in order.

A prayerful reflection

Nothing but net.
Nothing but dread.
Nothing can undo the news.
Kobe’s dead!

We are in shock.
We are in grief.
We are reminded
at best life is brief.

Not just for him.
Not just for her.
Not just for fans.
Life is short. It’s a blur.

So we take time.
So we take stock.
So we take note
of our world that’s been rocked.

Lord, speak!
Help us listen!

Why Prince Harry’s decision seems over-the-top

To be a royal isn’t fun.
It is a royal pain.
If you ask Harry what he found so hard,
he’ll likely say the hand dealt him
was not a royal flush
while brother William held the winning cards.

Or then again, he might be quick
to criticize the press
for stalking him and Meghan like wild game.
To be the focus of their lens
feels like the royal shaft
as they attempt to dodge the press’s aim.

A prince’s life is crowned by angst
for one who won’t be king.
It’s clear to see the problems he will face.
But must he move to Canada
and leave it all behind?
Somehow it seems to me a royal waste.

How Dr. Seuss might paraphrase Philippians 4

Oh, the places you will go.
The God from Whom all blessings flow
will lead you in this brand new year
according to His will.

And though your traveling days be few,
the journey that’s in store for you
does not require leaving home
to follow where God leads.

The places that He has in mind
have names like… Joyful, Grateful, Kind,
Acceptance, Peace-filled, Positive
and Generosity.

God wants to take us where life grows.
Where faith takes root much like a rose.
His grand itinerary finds us
going every day.

We’ll go to where we can be still
where hungry souls can find their fill
of that which nourishes and gives
us strength to face what’s next.

We’ll trudge through valleys dark and drear
where we will question if God’s near
or if He can be trusted
when the trail is overgrown.

But we’ll discover mountain peaks
where God rewards the one who seeks
His Kingdom more than anything
and learns to doubt his doubts.

And based upon what St. Paul said,
these ports of call of which we’ve read
invite us all to guard our minds
and fix the way we think.

A 2020 vision sees
a forest not just single trees
and focuses on what is true
and honorable and right.

It ponders what is praise-worthy
and excellent for you and me.
What’s admirable and honorable
are bait for godly brains.

Don’t worry. Pray. That is the key
to lock up our anxiety.
For in this coming year we’ll find
the source of stress in spades.

The journey that we now begin
will find God faithful once again
as we resolve then daily do
the things we have resolved.

Ah yes, the places we will go
will stretch us more than we can know.
But in the end (with gratitude)
we’ll look at where we’ve been.