It seems that there are homeless folks just about everywhere in the Northeast. Because we see them so frequently it is easy to ignore them. They can become part of the landscape. We take a quick glance at them, read their sign and scurry away. Some of us stop to talk with them but most do not acknowledge them at all.

The whole reason Christ came into the world was to take upon himself the sin of the world. He who knew no sin would become sin. All the rebellion and hate and filth and sin and guilt of the world would be placed on Christ and the wrath of God would be poured out upon him.

I was pondering recently about how not all people want to be found by God. They are happy to remain lost and dirty, disconnected and without place in the kingdom of God. In the great effort to promote the Gospel around the world we must search for those who are ready to be found.

The Scriptures say in one of the more famous portions of the Bible (1Corith13) that we see through darkened glass. In other words, we can see God with the spiritual eye but it’s not perfectly clear. The lens is dirty in a sense. It’s dirty with the corruption of the world, with doubts, with fears, with our flawed capacity to comprehend God and so on. It’s darkened by our own selfish natures. Nevertheless, we can see.

One of the strongest memories I have from childhood is playing in a large sandbox that my father built in the back corner of the yard. Hours upon hours were spent shaping and sculpting tunnels and roads that formed imaginary cities. Sand became familiar from constant association with it. I became well acquainted with how it moved, how it held together, how it related to water and the ways it could be shaped by my hands.

This is Jack. Because he is constantly pampered and coddled and dressed in silly outfits by my daughters I think he sometimes loses his vision for manhood. However, when the mailman or some innocent neighbor walks by he lunges at the glass door and smashes against it to make loud rattling vibrations to accompany his ferocious barking. For a brief moment he is awakened to the primal fighting spirit within. I love this about him. He is a warrior at heart who has been domesticated against his will by two lovey girls. I pray that he is not killed by a life of comfort and ease.

What is the big hurry? Why do we always rush? Why do we always fall into the trap of feeling we need more. I have been so slow to learn that the best things are found in stillness. As a driven person obsessed with productivity I always want to get a lot done. I want to accomplish 20 things carelessly instead of 3 things thoroughly. I have little patience for gardening for example. Or oil painting.

Went to court to see about getting a traffic violation reduced. I was ready to claim “guilty with an explanation.”

Spent the day at Lake Compounce with Madeline’s class. I was a chaperone for about 8 middle school girls. I think the kids had fun but there was something almost a bit sad about the entire experience. An amusement park is created to be a sort of catch-all experience of all the best kid cravings. Candy, junk food, free soda, thrills, amusement, games and gifts abound. Sexual tension charges the atmosphere. This is meant to be everything you could wish for on a day. At least when you are 13. But for many, the day ends in disappointment and even a measure of depression. Like if this doesn’t make me happy nothing will.