Words that do not belong in Songs

Greetings Dear Reader (Christmas suggested “Greetings Dear Eater”),

From time to time I ponder things that on surface are absurd.  For example there are words that you would not expect to hear in songs.  Most of them are quite obvious.  Few songs contain words with more than three syllables.  This eliminates things like postulation, hypotenuse, and odiferous from consideration.  Beyond that is the fact that there are shorter words that one would be surprised to find in a song.

When was the last time you heard the word barium in a song and under what context would you wish to hear it?  What about cantaloupe?  Oh wait there is an old George Burns ditty, “I know you say you cantaloupe but oh Honeydew.”  I guess that one is OK because it is funny.

You do not want to see the word enema in a song ever.  There is a Tool song entitled Aenema but that word is not in the lyrics.  I can see the value of the word in a political or protest song but I hope that pundits are more creative and prosaic than that.  The fact that other functions and words akin to functions have found their way into popular music disturbs me enough.

Then there was the other day when I caught myself singing a song with the words wholesome and nutritious in it.  It also has the words baked and fried but these are not drug references.  Obviously this is a jingle and in fact the one for Goldfish Crackers.  To me it is one of the catchiest jingles ever.  I love the look I get from the line “The wholesome snack that smiles back until you bite their heads off!” 

One could say that my admiration of this jingle is misplaced but I like both the music and the lyrics.  It puts a smile on my face and lightens my step.  It makes those around me roll their eyes when I sing it.  It is one of the most successful uses of non-lyrical words I have encountered.

To me it is just funny fun and it is fun to bite the heads off of gold fish; the crackers that is.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Too much Saul and Not Enough David

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hate it when I forget where I came from.  The journey toward Christ for me should be a constant upward slope of increasing selflessness and Christ likeness.  Instead it looks more like seismometer living on the San Andreas Fault.  I so often find that I am in the midst of some emotional or personal quake and have lost all sense of the direction and purpose of my journey.

I recently reread a book, A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards.  I was reminded that even in the midst of his failures, David; King of Israel was considered “a man after God’s own heart.”  This is truly who I long to be.  So often instead I become prideful and arrogant like his predecessor Saul.  I forget how vital it is to remain small in my own eyes.

I need to remember that even when he failed David remained a constant in his devotion to God.  Whenever a prophet or circumstance pointed out David’s he immediately acknowledged it and reached to God for forgiveness and restoration.  His heart was constantly looking for ways to celebrate who God is and he honestly acknowledged his passion for God in the Psalms.  In these writings we also see how frustrated David became with the falleness of the world.

It is delusional to think that I will not fail God and sin.  It is madness to imagine that I can be perfect.  What I must do is insistently shorten the time between my failure and my recovery.  I must always own and stop my sin when I become conscious of it.  I must see that when I think I am on track that I am in danger of failing.  I must remain small in my own eyes and allow God to be the one who is great within me.

Even when I do things that are good I must realize that those acts do not come from me but from Christ in me working out his reclamation of the world.  I must remember that no matter the depth of my pain or broken heartedness that I am not alone.   I journey with one who knows the road and longs for me to miss the pot holes and sloughs of despair.  I just have to chase the heart of God and the rest will take care of itself.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Not Dependent on Me

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday I listened as a young man went on and on about how illogical and childish it is to believe in the existence of God.  His tone and body language told me that this was a position of intellectual pride more than an internalized belief.   He did make me think about something with his statements.

I think that one of the places where I am totally blind at times is that God neither needs nor requires my approval to be God.  My eldest Son put it well the other day when he referenced things people fabricate to show that God is there.  It caused me to think about just how often I delude myself that I am doing something for God.

God does not need me.  He does not gain his power to create by my acknowledgment of creation.  The beauty of the world and the universe are there so that I am drawn to God and his magnificence.  I do not get to decide how he did things.  Actually when it comes down to following Christ how God did it all does not really matter.

He also does not gain sovereignty because I assign it to him.  God is sovereign because he is God.  It is my role to accept this and trust because of it.  Every time I assert myself over things that are just, loving, and good I question this and overrule God.  This is always an endeavor in foolishness.

When it comes down to proving that God exists the discussion seems so simple.  It does not matter what I prove because God exists whether I believe in him or not.  People far wiser and more learned than me have gone to great lengths to make the existence of God a reasonable thing.  That does not matter because God demands that we acknowledge him through faith.  I must prove him through belief and following out of that belief. 

The things that matter when it comes to God are acts of faith.  I cannot do anything for him but he allows me to do things for others that reveal him.  That is enough evidence for me.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store." 

Humility without Words

Greetings Dear Reader,

Often the television is a vapid wasteland.  Over the years reality TV has infused the broadcast world with hours of pride, arrogance, and self-indulgence.  So often we take the voyeur’s seat as people endure pain, emotional upheaval, and sometimes real crisis.  The popularity of shows where women act badly just because they can perplexes me.

I will confess that I see the fiscal wisdom of reality shows.  You need to spend little on actors and writers.  Production is mostly editing.  A hit reality show is lucrative without as much need to appease a cast.  When you compare a million dollar prize for one individual to a million dollars per episode to six cast members the math becomes very easy.

All of that said there is an allure for me to the shows where cooking is the theme.  Shows like Top Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, and Master Chef pique my interest.  It is mostly the food that intrigues me but the drama usually draws me in as well.  On Master Chef this week there was a moment that gave me pause and was a genuine as it gets.

The competition is narrowing down would be chefs from all over to thirty two contestants.  On the final evening of the whittling away a man from the Deep South was featured.  His wife was in a terrible accident and he had to learn to cook so that she would eat.  In presenting his dish he told his story.  It featured alligator.  It is important to know that each contestant chosen is awarded an apron.

The panel of chefs who choose the contestants were split on whether to choose this man or not.  They asked his wife to come in and quizzed her about her husband’s cooking skills.  As the contestant emerges from the audition area he is smiling and the coveted apron is on his wife.

What struck me was the amazing love and humility that this man showed in the face of victory.  He did not make the cut on the next round but even in that he was humble and dedicated to his family and his craft.

The power of humility astounds me.  What we do to promote ourselves is so minimal compared to how loud our humility can scream.  It is the act of putting others above ourselves that sets us apart.  I see it and want to embrace it in so many places.  Pride can assert itself in so many ways and it is only constant vigilance over it that allows us to attain any level of humility.

The astounding thing is that true humility is so elusive.  As my Grandfather used to say about humility, “The problem with humility is that the minute you think you have it, you have just lost it.”  So for me dear reader, the quest continues.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Five Strawberries

Greetings Dear Reader,

I am always awed at the many things that God just gives me.  In the garden box just off of my porch is six by two foot area of strawberries.  I was able yesterday to pick the first five and enjoy them on my way to work.  These five berries were ripe to the point of being sugary.  I carefully pulled the green bits off and laid the berries on a napkin on the car seat.

As I drove to work I slowly ate each berry.  I savored each one.  I pondered every note of flavor and texture in each berry.  I wished my eldest son were there to share the moment as strawberries are one of his favorite foods.  The berries were perfect.  There were gone by the time I was half way to work and the day was noted by the joy of those berries.

The thing is that I did nothing to earn or deserve this moment of bliss.  I did not even weed the garden bed.  Christmas did that for me.  The only work involved for me was removing the greenery and bending my elbow to my mouth.  Those five ripe strawberries, therefore, were an unmitigated combination of kindness from my daughter and grace from my God.

It causes me to think how many wonderful things are in my life simply because God graces me with them.  In the last days of spring as the planet streaks toward the solstice I am blessed with a cool morning breeze, an excellent hot breakfast, and a morning to spend pondering and writing.  First, however, I shall take a moment to offer my genuine gratitude that God has given me so much so freely.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Blankets in June

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I write this the temperature is a pleasant 46 degrees.  I realize that to most of you this is not a pleasant June temperature.  I happen to love it.  It does make me ponder how this negatively impacts businesses that count on warm summer temperatures for success. 

I wonder how often my enjoyment of things is at another’s expense.  It is not wrong for me to enjoy the weather but I know that I have family members who are huddling under blankets.  I even wore a jacket the last couple of mornings. 

The situation does require that I consider all of my attitudes surrounding it.  How often do I fail to consider others in my enjoyment of things?  Is it is not my obligation to consider others in my reveling as to how it will impact them.  This week has seen a sixty degree swing in temperature.  That should cover everything but ice fishing.  It still reminds me what a cold spring it has been. 

There are places in the state that depend on a warm summer for income and surviving the winter.  Family vacations are much different if the water is too cold for swimming.  This does not even consider the many lives that have been devastated by the tornadoes and flooding across the country. 

There is nothing wrong with enjoying the extended cool temperatures that God has provided.  I must, however, be aware of the needs of others in my enjoyment.  I must be more thankful for what God gives and never forget that others suffer a great deal.  It is not because I have joy that others suffer, but my joy must be complete because it is firmly set in the realization of just how blessed I am.  I am off to church and will complete this during the evening.

What a wonderful day it has been.  I am very blessed.  I have a family that I cherish dearly.  I get to spend time with my children almost weekly.  I have all that I need for home and sustenance.  I even have a job that I love.  Today I was able to actually help someone; three someones actually. 

Is there anything that would have been different had the weather been colder or warmer?  Perhaps, but still at the heart of it is the privilege of being good to and assisting others along the journey.  It is truly being aware of how I see the needs of others and respond to them.  The joy over the weather is nothing compared to the joy of seeing in someone else’s eyes that you understand the need and are willing to help.

In his distressing disguise

He waits for us to surmise

That when we take care of the poorest of them

We’ve really done it to him.   – Michael Card

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

On My Father’s Passing

Greetings Dear Reader,

Psa 68:5 The God who is in his holy dwelling place is the father of the fatherless and the defender of widows.  

Most of what I write is reflection with a hope to spurring myself toward a deeper relationship with Christ.  Today is much different.  Today I ponder the loss of someone I have not spoken to in over fifteen years.  Understand that as much as I was able I loved my birth father.  In my fifty one years of life I only was with him for a cumulative four to five years. 

He left when I was three.  I saw him again when I was eight, when I was eighteen, and then again when I was twenty-four.  I spoke to him once when I was in my mid-thirties.  At this point learning of his passing raises up some very old wounds and creates some new ones.  It also brings some closure to some things that I have wondered about for quite some time.

The overwhelming thought after some time to digest the news is that of the things that will never happen now.  You see a part of me has always hoped for that there would be a way for us to reconnect.  A part me is still that little boy waiting for a second airplane ride.  A part of me stills sees the Electra Glide, mirror sunglasses, and dark boots as the ultimately cool look.  I still respond with fondness when I see a yellow mustang convertible.

There will be no answers as to why I was left at three and why visits after that were brief and unpredictable.  I do know that the well that should be filled by a father who loves me is very dry from a human perspective.  Do not get me wrong.  I have dealt with most of the anger and forgiven my father long ago.  None of that fills the void left by a father who does not choose to show love to his son.

 

That said there are some very positive things that came from this man being my progenitor.  Had he not been my father then my Grandfather would not have been in my life for the time he was.  His life lessons continue to teach me.  I also know that my love of good music is partially from my father.  I learned to play the guitar because of his getting me my first one.  My creativity and imagination are an echo of his.  He loved new technology and so do I.

We do not get to choose our fathers.  We do not get to make them be as we wish they would be for us.  What we do get to do is choose which pieces of our father we will emulate.  I know that my sons will be better fathers than I was to them but I also know that I have done better by them than was done to me.  I have failed at some vital points and hope that someday my failures have completely diminished from their lives.  It was my father’s abandonment of me that made me determined to be in their lives.  For now, I must continue to become more of what I should be while there is still time.

No one can measure the depth of the loss I feel today but that is common I think when we lose those with whom we have unfinished business.  The brightest spot in all of this is that I get to reconnect with a sister who I have not seen since she was an infant.  Perhaps I can find some solace in reassuring her and all of her family that I have never forgotten them and am overjoyed to know them again.  Perhaps also I can learn more good things to carry with me on my journey.  Today I am a mass of conflicting impulses.  I feel the loss but also a measure of relief.  I feel a deep sadness over some things that will never be.  I know that long ago this man had faith and that may be enough.  I know that tomorrow that there is a bit of pain ahead but that I do not journey alone.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Soul Tattoo

Greetings Dear Reader,

If you read my ramblings regularly then yesterday you read about Christmas getting her first tattoo.  It got me thinking about the permanence of some things in our lives.  Even though there are ways to mostly remove tattoos now it is still one of those choices that marks one forever. 

Whilst waiting for Christmas to get her time in the chair I looked through the tattoo artist’s portfolio of work.  Toward the back of the book was a section of tattoos that he had repaired or reimaged.  These had before and after pictures.  Some of the before photos were of very horrid tattoos.  Some were done badly.  Some were names of lovers that apparently were not as permanent as the ink.  Some were simply being made better by the improved tattoo technology.

I have made some good and bad choices over the years that fall into the category of tattoos on my soul.  There are some dark and horrid ones; choices that I have made that I cannot undo.  These have caused hurt, damage, or embarrassment to me and often those around me.  Some are good and they have made beautiful marks in the lives of others. 

We all carry these marks both for good or ill.  We all are in a place where whether we like it or not those soul tattoos show.  We try to ask others not to get the damaging ones but rarely does anyone listen.  We attempt to make them see how much the mark will be regretted when they sober up, break up, or come to their senses. 

There is one tattoo on my soul that I carry with pride.  It is also one that does not ever let us forget it is there.  We mask it with other things when we are wrongly embarrassed by it.  We sometimes try to hide it from others but this tattoo, once inked is impossible to truly hide.  The choice to follow Christ left a permanent mark on me.  Even when I for a time decided that I would walk away from this choice, the tattoo upon my soul was there in the mirror every day.

I see others who have taken on this ink try to not live up to the mark they carry.  It does not work.  I feel the presence of it whenever I attempt to shirk the responsibility of wearing it.  Taking on Christ is a permanent mark on my soul.  I am glad that I did and will endeavor to wear it well.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Tattoo You

Greetings Dear Reader,

“Whenever Hebrew men or women are sold to you as slaves, they will be your slaves for six years. In the seventh year you must let them go free. But when you let them go, don't send them away empty-handed. Generously give them provisions-sheep from your flocks, grain from your threshing floor, and wine from your winepress. Be as generous to them as the LORD your God has been to you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God freed you. That's why I'm giving you this command today. But suppose a male slave says to you, "I don't want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is happy with you. Then take an awl and pierce it through his ear lobe into a door, and he will be your slave for life. Do the same to a female slave if she doesn't want to leave.” Deuteronomy 15:12-17

I sat there yesterday and watched Christmas get her first tattoo. It was quite simple and elegant. It was choice she made carefully and ponderously. The tattoo is behind her left ear and simply reads “not for sale.” It is from a Kemper Crab song entitled Doulos. Given what she has endured it is both a brave a wise choice.

I have come a long way in my thoughts about tattoos. I used to think that they were just wrong. It was part of the fallout from adjustments that needed to be made in my entire thinking about what it means to follow Christ. I was encumbered by rules that betrayed the spirit of Christ’s love for us.

My younger Son was the first of my children to get inked. It was then that I had choose where I truly stood on the issue. Fortunately a careful reading of the Word and some sound reasoning led me to acceptance and growth. It took me to the place that allowed me to be there yesterday as Christmas made this big step.

She has reached the place where she wants everyone to know that she belongs only to Christ and that no one may ever try to possess her again. She chose to express this through the tattoo and the song. God leaves his mark on all of us anyway. I see no reason why it should not be visible to everyone. These words are the words of my heart as well.  You can hear the song here.

Doulos

You are my God

And I am your man
I will worship you
With the works of my hands
And the thoughts of my mind
And the love of my heart

If the world could know
If they could understand
That ah the exquisite touch
Of the Creator's hand
Brings a blur to my eye
But makes my vision clear

Ring, rainbow ring
Encircles the throne
Fiery ring of love
Around your own
A golden ring to show
Just where I stand
A ring that binds my heart
Into your hand

And looking back
Across the years
I can see that you
Were constantly there
Constant creation
That’s what I am
As you are making me
Into your man

Here is my ear
Drive through the nail
The world will know
By the ring that I wear
That I am not for sale
For you are my God
And I am your man

Ring, rainbow ring
Encircles the throne
Fiery ring of love
Around your own
A ring to show
Just where whose I am
A ring that binds my heart
Into your hand

For you are my God
And I am your man

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."