The Prayer of Saint Francis

Greetings Dear Reader,

I woke up this morning with the song version of this prayer in my head.  It has been dancing through my mind most of the last few days.  That is not a surprise as songs do that to me.  Once in a while a piece of music will latch on to my brain and set itself on single repeat.  The song sends itself into the deep recesses of my mind searching for a connection.  It does not stop burrowing until it finds that connection.  This can take days and once it took two months.

This one has just begun its work and the burrowing will be deep.  There are so many layers to the truths in this song that I am sure it has much to move aside to find its place in me.  These words are the essence of what Christ calls us to be if we are to follow him.  Where I can I must be the words of this prayer.  There is no compartmentalization.  I must see everyone through this same lens no matter how I feel about the person or his beliefs. 

I am going to dive deeply into this for a few days and you are welcome to join me.  Following Christ has nothing to do with the label or location of your practice.  It has to do with what you do.  It is not about your past or where you came from it is about what you are becoming.  The journey is about following and in following I must be willing to walk where I am led.  I am not sure where this part of the path is about to take me but I have confidence in this fragment of the map.  There is no question that the path I walk is better if I apply the words of this prayer.

Join me if you wish as I dive into this but I would give fair warning.  Those who seek to become these things rarely do so without considerable pain and sacrifice.  It will make the journey sweeter but not without bitter moments.  Still I would be grateful for your interaction along the way.  It is always nice to have someone to talk with on the road.  

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. – Saint Francis of Assisi

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."

Dark Side of the Family

Greetings Dear Reader,
I wrote recently about learning of the passing of my father. One comment that I received has me pondering something. Every family has someone who is not what others wish them to be or who does things that harm that family. Sometimes the echoes linger on for generations. The darkness in families is painful and real even if it is not understood by others.

I know that I have caused darkness for my family. Some in my family see me as the dark side of the family. I have leaned much and do my best to turn that darkness into light. One of the things I have learned is that some, not all or even most, but some of it is perspective. I do not know the entire story behind who someone is. That story no matter what it is does not excuse bad behavior but it may cause me to be more compassionate toward that individual.

We all have a story and no one knows all of it. We are all on the same journey and we need each other desperately. When we relegate someone to the darkness, perhaps we limit that person’s chance to escape from it. We are to be a light to others and help them see the way by our grace, mercy, and love. It is hardest with family. The hurts caused by family are our hurts and we feel the pain that it costs to forgive those hurts.

The thing is that those hurts caused to me by others do not belong to me. They belong to Christ. He has redeemed those things to himself. Since Christ died for all sin he died for the ones committed against us. He has forgiven them and expects us to do the same. He expects us to love as he does. He expects us to count on him to heal our hurts. There is nothing for me to do but carry the light of Christ into the darkness wherever I encounter it.

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."

The Windmills of Paw Paw

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have made the drive south through Illinois many times; sometimes alone and often with family.   This past week was the first time I did it with coworkers.  I must say it was quite the different experience.  Over the years I have developed habits in the drive. 

We left for our destination at roughly the normal time I would leave which is the wee hours of the morning.  The first thing that I noticed was that no one really cared about Paw Paw.  This is a small town in central Illinois that is powered by windmills.  They stretch across the landscape lazily catching the wind on their long veins and converting it to energy for the town below.

There is a beauty to this windmill array that always catches me off guard.  I always anticipate them as a milestone to the trip.  I always remember their value.  I often forget how beautiful it is to me.  If it is still dark when I pass Paw Paw their red warning lights wink against the purple night like massive fire flies.  If it is light then the stark white giants can be seen turning in the wind content to just be there and serve.

The one thing I always consider is how much science and artistry has gone into a device that has a single purpose.  That single purpose, turning wind into energy is important and increasingly popular.  I so often forget that I also have a single purpose.  God has built both science and artistry into me.  He has created me for the express purpose of loving me for who I am.  He has made me so that I can be his. 

There are many sub-purposes that exist in this relationship but any time I doubt my value or need to justify my existence I need only consider my primary purpose.  God wants me here or I would not be here.  It is truly that simple and complex.  I get the privilege of loving God back and strive to do it better today than yesterday.

My trip south and back again lacked many of the travel rituals that I value.  I did not get my early morning breakfast at the Urbana Cracker Barrel.  There was family to share my awe and love of certain landmarks.  The silent sentinels of Paw Paw, however, were there.  As they whispered the wind into energy they reminded me with their breathy voices that I have purpose.  So do you and it is the same.

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."

What do I value more than God?

Greetings Dear Reader,

If you ask me this question my response would be “nothing.”  If I honestly examine my life there are times when I love many things more than God.  For a long time I sure loved food more and overate to the point that it damaged me for life.  There are times when I have loved control more than God. Over the course of my life I have put many things in front of my fealty to God.

Day to day things are a challenge as well.  When something does not go my way I quickly sell out my commitment to Christ to indulge my own wants and wishes.  I will readily value my pride or anger over God in the moment.  I forget who I am following and chase after things that will harm me instead.

The key again seems to be moment by moment course corrections.  Constantly reassessing what matters most in the moment is vital to remembering what I value.  Do I value Christ more than venting at the guy who cut me off in traffic?  Do I value Christ more than sex, the next drink, sleep, sports, or my own agenda?  Is what I am choosing today going to matter when I move on to what is next?

This is the twilight zone part of the journey.  Things here only gain significance as they relate to what is next.  I am determined to value the things that matter. 

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 Anger

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have been pondering Jonah of late thanks to the sermon series at our church.  Last week one of our teaching pastors pointed out just how honest it can be to admit our anger to God.  Last night I had the opportunity to talk with some friends about anger and I think I got some new insight as to its purpose.

Of late I have been trying to use my anger properly.  When I feel anger rise within me I have been denying it control.  Then I have been looking for the seed that sprouted it.  Once identified I examine the justification for my anger.  This has served me well in only being angry about things one should be angry about.  I have begun to use the raw energy generated by anger to fuel my desire to do good to others. 

Like any other fire, anger is a valuable servant when used properly and a destructive force when let free.  It is the use of anger that gives it merit in our lives.  There are things I should feel anger over but I must never let the anger have control.  If I give anger control it also, like fire burns and scars.  There are things that have been said to me by others in anger that still hurt when they come to mind. 

Anger also must be killed at sunset.  What I really mean is that I do not hold onto my anger as much as I used to do.  I am working daily to shed it before I go to sleep.  Like all emotions anger has its place and time but never in my sleep.  I have to ponder the day and forgive those things that offend or anger me.  I have to set aside just anger by working toward peace.

As far as I can see it, anger’s energy must be channeled against those things that are wrong.  The way to do that is to use anger to full our determination to work toward redemption.  I must work through the anger to a place of resolve that I will stand against the darkness by being a light fueled by all things that give me power to stand.  This includes the energy of anger at all that robs the world of peace.

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."

Unruly Children

Greetings Dear Reader,

The local news carried a story today about a restaurant that has banned children less than six years of age.  The decision is a result of complaints by other adult customers.  The choice is a bold one and I hope it does not hurt business.

I wonder how often parents are aware of the impact their children have on others.  No one is more patient with small children than I am but I have been irritated by children running freely in an environment that should be quiet.  Then again, I wonder how often I am an unruly child. 

How often do I run about the world indulging my own interests and ignoring the impact it has on others?  I must not be unruly.  I must pay attention to the environment I am in and be sure that I enhance it and not detract from it.  It is up to me not to be the source of distraction for others.

Handled properly in some cases I will simply disappear.  I will become less visible so that others see Christ instead. Perhaps I can use my irritation at children running through a restaurant to remind me of this.

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."

Peaches and Pratchett

Greetings Dear Reader,

Today promises to be both warm and humid.  I have just completed my morning bike ride and am dashing off my blog before going out for the day.  The reward for my bike ride and faithfulness to my health sits before me.  I came in warm and lathered having extended my distance by half.  After downing a full glass of water I set to preparing my reward.  As I write this I am eating two perfectly ripened Georgia Peaches.  They are amazing.  Later this weekend I will make some homemade peach preserves to give as gifts this Christmas.  All of this is possible because of a gift from God.  The peach is unique in its beauty.  I cannot understand those who do not like them.  Georgia peaches are the pinnacle of the fruit and I savor every bite of every one of them.  They are an excellent motivation for bike riding.

I also got to meet Terry Pratchett this weekend.  He is an author of fantasy fiction that is more lampoon than adventure.  He is also one of my favorite authors.  His health is failing and he deemed to attend a local convention this weekend where he is chatting and signing autographs.  My beloved eldest Son bought me a ticket to see him as a Father’s day gift.  In my ninety seconds of conversation with the man I knew that I could do only one thing.  I thanked him.  I thanked him for the hours of entertainment, laughter, and for sharing himself with the world.  He looked up made eye contact with me and smiled.

This is a beautiful thing that my weekend includes both peaches and Terry Pratchett.  My heart is moved to gratitude and joy over these things.  They are sweet moments in life that I cherish.  There is no profound theology here.  It is only that I love being able to thank an author I admire and the taste of a cold Georgia peach after a hot humid bike ride are beautiful to me.

I am thankful to God for these things.  The peach is a regularly repeating miracle to me.  Authors are an example of how gifts us with richness that we cannot imagine.  I eat the peaches, washed, quartered, and in a white milk glass bowl that looks like a scallop shell.  Every taste is one of beauty.  I am overwhelmed by the gift from God that these moments hold.  Now I must be on to other things.

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."

Unlooked-for Joy

Greetings Dear Reader,

Recently I had the pleasure to communicate with someone from my childhood who meant a great deal to me.  The reconnection was seamless and I felt the joy of many moments I had not thought about in over thirty years.  Some of the things in that era of my childhood have shaped much of my character. 

It causes me to wonder what things my children and Grandson will ponder thirty or forty years down the path.  I know that some of my life choices have given my children pain and I work daily to redeem those things.  I know that other things I have done are good.

Memories matter.  I need to focus on creating good ones rather than dwelling on the negative ones.  I must think about what I will pass on from here forward.  It is my children and their hearts that matter.

The stories that are coming back to mind because of this childhood influence will be rich.  They will also tether some of the other stories I have shared over the years to their beginning.  They are tales with mirth and growth.  The time seeded my heart to be ready to meet Christ when he was ready 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."

Independence Day and Polar Bears

Greetings Dear Reader,

I realize that one rarely ponders polar bears and Independence Day in the same moment.  Saturday evening I was doing just that.  It was a wonderful time.  I was with my Children and my Grandson.   We gathered to watch our community fireworks from their porch.  It was a warm and beautiful evening.

My eldest Son prepared kabobs for me with scallops.  These were cooked on the grill and delicious.  We also had chicken kabobs and homemade macaroni and cheese.  As an offhand remark my Son mentioned that we should have some Polar Bears.  Christmas ran to the store for the proper ingredients and I gladly blended the drinks.

It was a simple thing but it struck me how easy it was to cause others to smile with it.  We had a quiet and enjoyable evening as a family.  I has snatches of quality conversation with each of my Sons and with my Daughter-in-law.  I got to make my Grandson smile.  

It was a simple day with simple pleasure under the banner of freedom.  I think what has my mind turning is the vastness of our independence.  We come and go as we please.  We don’t worry about things blowing up or getting shot on the street.  We make Polar Bears in the blender and watch the fireworks from out back porch.  I think that I just feel a calm gratitude and joy that I get to live in such a world. 

I am thankful to God.  He allowed me this.  He decided I would be born here and not in some other place with less freedom and more violence.  I am just greatful.

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."