All Hallows Eve Reflections

Greetings Dear Reader,

Many of my friends find today a day of partying and debauchery.  That is not a judgment but rather an observation.  For the previous week I have listened to my friends and family discuss their plans for this evening.  Many of them included comments regarding consuming large quantities of potent potables.

As I said, this is not a judgment just an observation.  While I do not think we are obligated to observe the traditions of the early church I do see value in what this day is intended to be for us as Christ followers.  All Hallows Eve or Holy Evening has a purpose that can be observed and enrich my life.

This evening was set aside for the preparation of the mind and heart to observe All Saints Day and All Souls Day.  While I admit that much of the history of our faith is littered with corruption and violence there is something to be said for remembering those who have given their lives to further the true cause of Christ.

I stand on the shoulders and graves of people who were willing to die to help others find the love and freedom that is in Christ.  I will spend the day in an odd costume and preparing my heart for the remembrances of those who have come before me.  A part of the celebration of Hallowmas is to prepare our hearts for the approaching season of advent.

It is also vital that we remember that each of us has a death to pay.  We were given life but it has a lease that we cannot control.  It will expire and we must pay the full sum.  Memento mori or Remember your mortality is something that we must all embrace as we consider our lives, the lives of those who come before us, and the life that the advent celebrates.

We must prepare our lives to enter a season of giving by remembering what has been given for us.  It is not about the material giving as much as it is about the giving of ourselves to the cause of Christ.  You see long before it was commercialized the church was preparing for Christmas at Halloween.    

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."

A Forced Absence

Greetings Dear Reader,

I apologize for the lack of posts over the last days.  I have had some major network and access issues that have quite disrupted my schedule in the mornings.  Thankfully a strict backup regiment (with verification) and an excellent plan for disaster recovery have allowed very little loss of data and work. 

It did bring to mind just how involved my computers are in my daily life and work.  It seems that all of what I do as a writer and teacher is very dependent upon the fact that I have reliable data, access, and hardware.  It also showed me how often I am inclined to use access to the internet to keep up with things and people.

I am very thankful for the technology that I have and the way it makes provision in my life.  I also realize that with the power of that technology comes great responsibility.  I have the world of knowledge at my fingertips.  I can research almost anything instantly.  I can pound out a novel in three months if I have the time and discipline. 

My forced absence reminded me that I have much and I am very thankful.

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."

Keep it Simple – Language

Greetings Dear Reader,

My pastor told a story once about a person who visited our church.  He approached the pastor after the service and stated that our church was guilty of false advertising.  Confused our pastor asked him to explain.  He went on to indicate that we were said to be an “Evangelical Free” church but our church was filled with Evangelicals.

I am unsure how our pastor kept from cracking up but he took away a very important lesson from the conversation.  You see, our church denomination is the Evangelical Free Church of America.  The “Free” in the name denotes an important part of our history and in no way is a claim to be free of Evangelicals.  The individual questioning had read it as if it were saying that our church was “fat free” or “sugar free.”

The important lesson in this is that the name no longer communicates to the culture in our city.  As a Christ follower I must be aware of how I communicate clearly.  While it is true that every man needs to keep that divine appointment to encounter and actualize the redemptive power of the Messianic atonement, this hardly communicates a clear gospel.  The words are absolute truth but they are not what communicate to our culture. 

I must speak plainly when I speak about Christ.  I must speak with humility and confidence.  I must be sure that I understand my audience and that I have earned the right to be heard through my life and actions.  The gospel is simple and I must be sure that I represent is clearly in simple language. 

Even if I must use terms that are unpopular I must speak the truth.  I must be kind and accept the failures of Christ followers with a contriteness that reflects my understanding of the things that others see in our failures.  I must not judge others or condemn them.  What I say matters so much that Jesus said that we would give account for “every idle word” we speak. 

If I hope to keep the gospel simple then I must assure that my language reflects that simplicity and communicates 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."

Keep it Simple – Preferences

Greetings Dear Reader,

So many of the things we involve in our worship and practice are preferences.  There is no “right” way to do some things.  God is not concerned with the method and volume of our worship as much as he is concerned with the worship being from our hearts. 

One can find an ample supply of Christians who will tell you that you must pray like them or you must give in this way.  They will tell you that these are the required ways to attend services and this is what you must wear.  Further on there are those who will insist that you conform completely to the box in which they have shrouded the gospel.

All of this is unnecessary.  Christ wishes only us.  He wishes our hearts and allegiance.  We are fee to have preferences as to how we will worship, pray, and serve.  When we make those preferences the “key” to following Christ we put more baggage in the gospel than it is meant to carry.

Once I put preference over the simple commands to love my God, my neighbors, and my enemies I have left behind the gospel and taken on a personal idolatry.

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."

Keep it Simple – Gnats and Camels

Greetings Dear Reader,

I wonder what comes to mind when one reads “gnats and camels” and he or she is not versed in the whit of Jesus.  Those unfamiliar with how Jesus interacted with others may not realize that he at times was quite funny.  I will speak to that in a later post but for now I wish to provide a little context.

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees; the religious leaders of his day.  He address the fact that they have neglected the weightier matters of the law they are supposed to live by as examples.  Matthew 23:23-24 “How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give [God] one-tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the most important things in Moses' Teachings. You should have done these things without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain gnats [out of your wine], but you swallow camels”

Everything about what we do to complicate the teachings of Christ is answered in this accusation.  If we neglect justice, grace, and mercy but insist on the minor things involved in our preferences we make it difficult for others to follow Christ.  We create barriers to faith by our actions. 

I must pay attention to the simple basic truths of the gospel if I hope to say anything that has veracity concerning Christ.  It is not that there is not a place for ritual or common practices.  It is, however, vital that those practices be much less important than the ministration of faithfulness, mercy, justice, generosity, kindness, and love.

There is no thing that I can demand of another as a way to Christ that is genuine if it is not preceded by my living out the all of the social aspects of the gospel.  Imagine how ridiculous we look trying to swallow our camels when we are trying to share the truth of Christ.  Imagine how pitiful we are gagging on gnats after we have swallowed the camel. 

Following Christ is simple.  If I do not live what Christ commands then I have nothing to say to anyone else about it.  Camel swallowing is right out.   

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.”

Keep it Simple – First Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I was recently reading some research on the Barna Group web site.  It occurred to me just how vast and deep the divisions among the American Christian church are.  So much of what we divide over is meaningless to our mission as Christ followers.  Many of the things that we focus on have little to do with aiding others in seeing the grace and love found in following Christ.

One of the cornerstones of faith in Christ is love for others.  The things that divided us can be hindrances to that love.  There was a time when I was younger that I was very conservative in my thinking concerning the things that Christians do and do not.  I would say that my theology is still very conservative.  How I apply that theology, however, is much less divisive than it was when I was younger. 

No one can see Christ and his love and grace if I am demanding conformity to a set of standards that do not make sense outside of my faith.  I can apply as strict a code of behaviour to my own life as I wish but that does not mean that I may place those expectations on others.  A group of believers can do the same but when they start making a list of rules that are the proof of “true belief” they are dividing themselves from others.  Worse, perhaps they are creating barriers to faith for others.

It is difficult enough for an individual to come to the place where he or she sees a need for Christ.  When we saddle people with a list of conformities that are not really what following Christ is about we make it even harder.  Jesus chastised the Pharisees for this explaining to them that they focused on the things that divided the people and ignored the weightier matters of the law.

So the question I must approach is what it is that is vital to true faith.  More important currently to me may be what it is that I do the hinders others in following Christ.  As I examine this I hope to become better and living what I believe without clouding it with my own trifles.  Journey with me if you wish.

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 C.S. Lewis

Greetings Dear Reader,

Today a dear friend journeys northward to speak to people in my town about C.S. Lewis and the books that influenced him.  Though I do not see him as often as I wish Dr. Donald T. Williams is very important to me as a friend.  He has remained my friend through many tempests, even some of my own creation.  His children and mine shared friendships and adventures as they were growing to adulthood. 

This weekend he will speak at the C.S. Lewis Society of Madison.  The topic of the conference is The Ten Books That Most Influenced C.S. Lewis.  There are so many important things in the works of Lewis that anyone with the inkling to do so should make time to attend.  Don is worth hearing at any rate.  As always his words will be carefully crafted to extract the most value from his time.

One will also benefit from reading Dr. Williams’ books.  Both his prose and poetry reflect a deep insight into who we are in relation to God.  The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit is my favorite of his works and perhaps the best on the topic.  Go to the link for the C.S. Lewis Society in Madison and check the schedule.  It would be worth the time to hear Don and his colleagues as they speak about the author who had such deep influence.  We can gain insight into what influenced him.

See you soon Don.

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."

Spiritual Plagiarism

Greetings Dear Reader,

It occurs to me that as a writer this is one of the crimes that irks me the most.  As a teacher I have to contend with it far too often.  I have read articles that chronicle how high school and college students are increasingly plagiarizing work and consider it of little consequence. 

The Miriam Webster Online Dictionary defines plagiarism: “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own: use (another's production) without crediting the source.”  For those who do not know it, the mention of the web site and the accompanying link is a method of crediting the source.

We have other terms for taking credit for or stealing ideas from others.  We use patents and copyright to prosecute these things legally.  What I wonder about is when we take credit for the things that God has done.  We think that we know so much more than we do.  We think we begin to understand the universe.

Any time I think that I do anything good on my own I am committing spiritual plagiarism.  Even the very faith I hold to follow Christ is authored and will be finished by Christ.  It is by God’s grace that I do anything good.  When I think of myself as being “a good man” then I have taken credit for something that God has authored.

When I see my gifts and abilities as “mine” then I am robbing God of his patent.  It is God who has designed me.  It is God who knew me from the beginning and has a plan for me that will honor him if I let it.  There is no thing that I have or am that is good that was not authored by God.  Embracing this truth can lead to accomplishing even better 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."

What is Your Super Power? – Final Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We all have the power to positively impact the lives of others.  Our destiny is not to change everyone to our way of thinking.  It is, however, to create an environment where we love so deeply and consistently that others want to tap into the source of that love.  We are to use the powers that flow from that love to reach into the lives of others socially and practically. 

If I do not see the needs of others and respond to them then I am not only being passive but am committing villainy.  There is no neutral ground.  I either make things better or worse by my attitudes, words, and actions.  Without action my attitudes and words have little value.  I show the depth of my belief by what I do for others.

I am so very blessed with both social and practical abundance.  As I journey through the world I must give out of that abundance to the needs of others.  With this as my mission I have the power to work beauty and grace in the lives of others.  Flying is nothing compared to selflessly feeding a hungry person.  The power to walk through walls is pitiful when we can instead walk through barriers of race, class, and status to touch the lives of those in need.

The power to do these things is who I am.  I am not allowed to be in a fortress of solitude and deny my powers.  I must use them to inject love and healing into the lives of others.  I should expect to feel no true joy if I neglect my calling.

A DISCLAIMER

For those who know me, I promise I have not gone mad.  I am using this extended metaphor intentionally to better process my thoughts.  I promise not to try to fly or deflect any bullets.  I will not be donning a strange costume or building a secret lair. 

Addendum to disclaimer: I do like the idea of a secret lair.

Second Addendum to disclaimer:  I am going to keep my secret identity.

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."

A Note of Thanks

Greetings Dear Reader,

I want to take a moment to thank a stranger.  I am very careful with my electronics as I realize the value and replacement costs involved in abusing or losing them.  Since my “Clark Kent” persona is a technology professor I always drill into my students the importance of care and maintenance of our devices.

One of the things I do to be careful is to guard that my very expensive phone gets dropped as little as possible.  When I use a public restroom I always put my phone on top of the plastic cage wherein they imprison the toilet paper.  Recently as I was completing my visit to the loo at a local store a young boy began bagging loudly on the door.

In my desire not to hinder the young man’s bladder from its urgent need for the space I was occupying I left my phone behind.  I did not discover this very serious oversight until I was headed to the car with my purchases.  I quickly returned to the service desk at the store to inquire concerning my phone.  I was praying all the way, concerned that my phone was lost to me forever.

As I approached the service desk and began to inquire about my phone to the smiling clerk my phone began to ring.  Someone had turned it in to the service desk.  Honesty and care for a stranger had rescued me from my moment of forgetfulness.  I wish to express an honest and heart felt thank you to whomever did me this great service.

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 is Your Super Power? – Development – Impacting the Social

Greetings Dear Reader,

It may be that these powers, flowing out of our love are the greatest that we possess.  We have the power to demand that others be treated with justice, kindness, and gentleness.  We have the power to be humble and good.  We can treat others with respect, hospitality, and deference that impact them deeply.

It is not the forcing of our morals and values on others that gives us indomitable power.  It is in the humble application of goodness in the lives of those we encounter that shatters barriers and banishes darkness.

Every time we interact with another human we must use these powers.  Our fight for truth and right is only powerful through these means.  We cannot abandon these powers and hope to be heard.  I realize that much of the world sees these things as weaknesses.  That, however, is why they are so powerful. 

The subtle consistent application of kindness is more powerful than anything one can imagine.  Fuel that with genuine love for others and there is no barrier that can withstand it.  Our powers are there for that very purpose.  When we focus them on the needs of others we become heroic.  We become the force of the universe against darkness and evil.  There is no greater calling.

A DISCLAIMER

For those who know me, I promise I have not gone mad.  I am using this extended metaphor intentionally to better process my thoughts.  I promise not to try to fly or deflect any bullets.  I will not be donning a strange costume or building a secret lair. 

Addendum to disclaimer: I do like the idea of a secret lair.

Second Addendum to disclaimer:  I am going to keep my secret identity.

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 is Your Super Power? – Development – Impacting the Practical

Greetings Dear Reader,

The range of super powers that impact the practical are mostly available to us all.  Those powers can be simple and complex.  As I get more detailed in this I realize that I am treading on some dangerous ground with some of my Dear Readers.  Please accept that I am evaluating this for my own growth and effectiveness. 

The power of impacting the practical can be as simple as being one who thrives on sharing your resources with others.  I have a friend who, out of his love for feeding others buys an extra bag of groceries every week.  It is his intention to find someone to give them away to every week at church.  In fifteen years he has never come home with the bag of groceries.  I do not imagine him in tights with a big G on his chest but he obviously has the power of giving.  He thrives and feeding those who are in need.

I have another friend who owns a large pickup truck and makes it known that he wants his friends to ask for help when they need to move their household.  He brings his two very strong sons and they devote a day or weekend to helping others get into a new home.

With love as the prime mover anything that helps another with practical needs becomes very powerful.  The act of helping others with practical or physical needs demonstrates that we have the power of love and amplifies the impact.  No matter how deeply I love someone else if I do not reach out to demonstrate it in a practical way then it cannot be seen.

There are powers that seem supernatural.  I will state clearly that things like healing others is a potential that we all have.  I do not even pretend to understand how this can work but I have seen it.  I know this will be controversial for some of you but I will not limit God’s ability to focus through one his followers the power physically mend another person.  We should not be surprised when we focus the power of love on someone else and God chooses to do something out of the ordinary through us.

I must seek opportunities to reach into the lives of others and give them the opportunity the feel the love that is there for them.  I have the power to change lives even by doing the dishes.  The most basic needs of others can be the things that reveal us as super heroes.  All we have to do is harness and focus our love then aim it at the practical needs of others. 

A DISCLAIMER

For those who know me, I promise I have not gone mad.  I am using this extended metaphor intentionally to better process my thoughts.  I promise not to try to fly or deflect any bullets.  I will not be donning a strange costume or building a secret lair. 

Addendum to disclaimer: I do like the idea of a secret lair.

Second Addendum to disclaimer:  I am going to keep my secret identity.

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 is Your Super Power? – Development – Defining 2

Greetings Dear Reader,

Once we establish that love is the unfaltering foundation of all we do we must ask what the delivery method of that love is.  How do I represent love to the world?  I think that first I must see clearly what Christ has commanded me to give to the world.  There are powers I have no matter who or what I am.  This second tier of super powers is available to anyone who would wield them in love.

These powers fall into two distinct categories.  There are powers that allow us to reach into the practical needs in the lives of others and make a difference.  I have written about these and will touch on them all in brevity.  The other aspect of those powers available to all is social.  We will also consider these. 

Everything about this will seem simple and perhaps even puerile.  These physical and social powers can be employed by those who neither follow nor believe in God.  The distinction for me is that they become a force to be reckoned with when fueled by the inescapable irresistible love of God.

Like Green Lantern we can use the power of love to channel social and practical powers into the lives of others at a level that can create any change we imagine.  When harnessing these abilities we need know no fear.  Nothing can withstand us.  No weapon formed against us can be successful.

The very nature of Green Lantern’s power is to fight evil.  Anything he imagines becomes a reality for the purpose of the fight against darkness.  We are truly no different.  We can true light the darkness as we develop the power available to all who follow Christ.

In brightest day,

In blackest night,

No evil shall escape my sight.

Let those who worship evil's might,

Beware my power,

Green Lantern's light!      

  

A DISCLAIMER

For those who know me, I promise I have not gone mad.  I am using this extended metaphor intentionally to better process my thoughts.  I promise not to try to fly or deflect any bullets.  I will not be donning a strange costume or building a secret lair. 

Addendum to disclaimer: I do like the idea of a secret lair.

Second Addendum to disclaimer:  I am going to keep my secret identity.

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 is Your Super Power? – Development - Defining

Greetings Dear Reader,

So as we hone in on the essence of discovery and development we must define what makes us uniquely powerful.  By that I do not mean that we alone possess a power but that it is what defines us and our path to serving the greater good. 

Since all of these powers are rooted in the common power we must share we must begin with that.  As Christ followers we have the power to love.  We can unconditionally love everyone if we choose to do so. 

All power and all ability is useless if not rooted in love.  No matter what else we are gifted with it must be preceded by, encased in, and powered by love for others.

I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don't have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal.  I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don't have love, I am nothing.  I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don't have love, none of these things will help me.   Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant.  It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself. It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs.  It isn't happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth.   Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.  Love never comes to an end. - Paul

This is the power that has no counter.  Hatred is not the opposite of love it is the resistance of it.  When the two clash eventually love wins out.  Every other thing we do must be fueled by love for those we serve.  No matter what I do for others.  No matter how I benefit those around me. If I do not do it out of love it is impure. 

There is no kryptonite against love except our own will.  We can refuse to love and others will not benefit.  We can withhold love and it will make others miserable.  Everything about what we are supposed to be is about love.  That which is heroic in us; the super power we all share is our capacity to love others unconditionally and eternally.

A DISCLAIMER

For those who know me, I promise I have not gone mad.  I am using this extended metaphor intentionally to better process my thoughts.  I promise not to try to fly or deflect any bullets.  I will not be donning a strange costume or building a secret lair. 

Addendum to disclaimer: I do like the idea of a secret lair.

Second Addendum to disclaimer:  I am going to keep my secret identity.

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 is Your Super Power? – Development - Testing

Greetings Dear Reader,

The second aspect of developing one’s super power is that of testing it.  We must see how our power works in the lives of others.  What are the advantages, disadvantages (they all have them), and limitations of the power we possess?

So much of what we do must be tempered by the disciplines of our code.  I must discern how my powers best fit into my overall mission.  I must always remember that how I deal with my powers is subject to my own wisdom and knowledge of truth.   I must also develop my skills only in the light of doing what is right.

I must also realize that these gifts are not mine to use freely.  I cannot be after my own self-interest.  As I test that which I am trying to develop I must set self aside and ponder only the needs of others.  What I do must bring unity.  It must be beneficial to others.  I cannot be prideful or a pursuit of recognition from others.

Testing what I think is my power or powers must come from the aforementioned humility.  As we test what we think we can do for others we must guard our hearts to assure that we do not become addicted to what we can do to the detriment of who we are to be.

We must take the risk of failure and of reaching into the lives of others.  We must put ourselves out there for the greater good no matter how foolish we look.  After all is not it foolishness to believe that we have power beyond ourselves to influence for good the lives of others?  I would ask, without his code and reputation for good, would not Superman be thought foolish in his guise?

We must test what we believe we are called to be and hone our skills at using that which is within us.  We must take the risk and embrace our destiny.  We are more than we appear to be.  It takes time.  It takes yieldedness to the power within us.

A DISCLAIMER

For those who know me, I promise I have not gone mad.  I am using this extended metaphor intentionally to better process my thoughts.  I promise not to try to fly or deflect any bullets.  I will not be donning a strange costume or building a secret lair. 

Addendum to disclaimer: I do like the idea of a secret lair.

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 is Your Super Power? – Development - Acceptance

Greetings Dear Reader,

I found the montage of Peter Parker developing his powers in the first Spiderman movie quite amusing.  Again this is not how it works for us.  Since most of our heroic abilities involve the interpersonal we must develop them more subtly. 

In order understand how this works we must first be willing to use them.  Development of the power begins with the will.  We must accept who we are and that we have a purpose.  Our destiny is no longer our own.  This may be the most important part of developing our power.

That we can no longer be “normal” is a key to the development process.  Accepting that with my power comes responsibility yields that I must use that power and not ignore it.  Until I accept that my life is only my own as long I live within the responsibilities of my new identity then I can hope for peace. 

If I claim that my life is my own outside of my new powers then I am really denying who I am.  In that first dishonesty I fail to develop my honor and integrity.  If I do not embrace the truth that I am a man of destiny then I cannot become what I am meant to become.  At the core of becoming is acceptance of what I am. 

There is another facet of this acceptance.  Like Cyclops energy beams our powers yearn to break free and be used.  I do not mean we have his lack of control but rather that if we do not hold them back the powers within us reveal themselves to others.  Failing to accept and develop them builds the pressure of desire to use them. 

Once we are changed by our powers we are no longer fit to live without them.  Acceptance is the first step to developing that which can truly make us heroic in the lives of others.  Failure to do this assures discomfort and dissatisfaction.

A DISCLAIMER

For those who know me, I promise I have not gone mad.  I am using this extended metaphor intentionally to better process my thoughts.  I promise not to try to fly or deflect any bullets.  I will not be donning a strange costume or building a secret lair.  

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 is Your Super Power? – Discovery

Greetings Dear Reader,

I realize that the last week’s writing may seem like a long preamble but it is necessary to the point.  There is that moment of drama in the comics where our hero first discovers his power.  It is usually unnerving and confusing.  It portents change and opportunity.  New challenges are evident.

So as we close in on what our super powers are what is to be expected in the moment of discovery?  Do not expect anything like the comics here.  For us it is different.  That which is special within us is revealed slowly over time.  Time and yieldedness result in knowledge of that which ignites us to do good.

Many things about us can direct us to this discovery.  Let us begin with the simplest.  What do you do for others that brings you great joy?  What ignites you when you are involved in the welfare of others?  Things that lead us to abandon self and think of others first are the things which are clues to our power.   

As I ponder this I think about the things that kindle my compassion.  I consider the things that I am moved to do that are selfless and giving.  Discovering my power lies in looking outside of myself to the needs of others.  Then I must listen.  I must listen to my heart and ponder what moves me to action.  I must learn was drives me to do what is good for others.  As I identify these things I move closer to understanding my power, my purpose, and my destiny.  I can begin to get a handle on that which serves the greater good.

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 is Your Super Power? – Pain and Loss

Greetings Dear Reader,

It seems that the great super heroes all have in common a place in life where they suffered great loss.  With Spiderman it is his parents and then Uncle Ben.  Superman lost his planet, his parents, then his foster father.   Batman also lost his parents. 

Not all of our heroes rise from this crisis.  There are other things that trigger the desire to express that inner quality that pursues justice for everyone.  In the great ones though, there is loss.  It what that loss yields in them that makes them heroic.

That pain and loss changes them into something beyond themselves.  They reach out for the greater good because of the loss.  They also resonate to the pain and loss we all feel.  I know they touch mine.  How I deal with my own great losses tells a great deal about who I am.

My loss will either propel me to use my power for good or ill.  It is my choice.  Every day I have power placed at my disposal and what I do with it is vital to who I become.  I develop a code of conduct based on my response to this loss.  I approach others in light of my world view and my pain becomes one of the lenses.  How I focus through that lens is key to being what is good and right.

Loss shapes us whether we will it or not.  If we do not actively control that shaping then we may abandon or lose the good we can do for others through our loss.  The path is complex and difficult.  Then again the path to being heroic always 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."

What is Your Super Power? – Secret Identity

Greetings Dear Reader,

We all know that one of the key features of a super hero is that they have a secret identity.  The reasons are multiple and the existence of an alter ego is necessary to the success of the hero.  The primary reasons are simple enough.

First there is the need to protect the friends and family from the villains our heroes combat. We have seen the results on page and screen of an enemy learning of this secret identity.  The family is attacked and harmed. This drives the need to secret his identity.

The other primary reason is the idea that they are doing wrong by fighting wrong.  They are often seen as vigilantes by the local police and government.  The good they do is seen as unlawful and interference even when they do good to the entire city.  No matter the reason our driven hero pays a high price in this area for doing what he feels he must do.

I think that there is a third reason that is more important than either of the necessary ones.  Underlying Spiderman’s bravado or Batman’s sense of justice is a truth that is necessary to discovering and developing our super power(s).  That truth is humility.  Superman is not seeking recognition.  Batman desires neither accolades nor approval.  Evan Spiderman is humble when pressed on the matter.

I think at the core of every true hero is a humility that is difficult to describe.  That humility is necessary to his or her success.  It goes back to the thought that “with great power comes great responsibility.”  We cannot move in a spirit of pride and use our power well.  What we must remember is who we are.

As a Christ follower I am both someone who sees the world in all its need and becomes a hero to fight for its redemption and someone who is born into it with the responsibility of a hero thrust upon me by providence.  What matters is that I truly and with humility embrace the latter without ever forgetting the former.  I have no right to look down on anyone because I come from the same place they do.  I must, however, realize that I am now an alien with power beyond my own self and embrace that identity with humility.

Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there’s the superhero and there’s the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he’s Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone.

Superman didn't become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he’s Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red “S” – that’s the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kent's found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears – the glasses, the business suit – that’s the costume. That’s the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. – Bill, Kill Bill Volume II

Key to the success of this secret identity is letting my deeds speak for themselves.  I must employ my super powers for the sake of others and never for gain.  I must not boast about my identity.  I must not even try to use my gifts for my own purposes.  My cloak, cowl, and mask must be that of humbly doing good for others with no thought of recognition or praise.  In this lies a vital key to discovering and using my power 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."

What is Your Super Power? – Something Inside

Greetings Dear Reader,

When Peter Parker lost his Uncle Ben at the hands of a thief he had allowed to escape it changed him.  The line that rings in my mind when I think about it is, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

In that moment of loss something inside Peter Parker changed forever.  His heart embraced the truth that he had a responsibility for his actions.  It took great pain and loss to bring him to this point.  I will ponder that part a little further down the path.  The loss was the catalyst.  The point here is the heart.

As we seek to embrace our super power we must begin within.  We must acknowledge that we have a responsibility.  We must see that to use it for gain or a selfish purpose is wrong.  We must admit that to hide it is selfish as well.  We did not ask for it.  We did not seek it.  We do, however, have it and must align our hearts to this truth.

Once the heart is set to use our powers for good a new dawn can break on who we are becoming.  It is never too late to begin to do what is right.  It is never too late to change our hearts.  As long as there is breath there is hope.  True heroes are first born on the inside.

There are so many dangerous implications to embracing this thought.  I become accountable for so much more than I wish to face.  Then again is that not the purpose for the change, so that I embrace the impossible and insurmountable in the name of higher ideals.  If I cannot recognize and fight the evil within how can ever hope to make a difference outwardly?

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 is Your Super Power? – Introduction

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have been pondering of late the uniqueness in all of us.  As I watch my Grandsons grow I am constantly reminded of how unique, beautiful, and different they are.   Reared by the same parents and extended family it is still clear that they possess individuality in many areas.

Instead of dwelling on just that I wonder if we really see our own uniqueness.  There is something in all of us that is great and has potential.  We all have something to give to the world and in discovering that something we can also find the value we possess.

I have been watching reruns of Smallville and Clark’s struggle to accept who Superman is and will become.  I think we all traverse this process. Some do so successfully whilst others do not.  So what is my super power?  What makes me unique in all the universe?

I hope you will journey with me for a bit as I examine this and try to find how it fits with the great journey toward Christ.  I will attempt to examine the greatness that dwells in us just waiting for the opportunity to arise and connect with others.  Perhaps I will lean how to be a better 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."

Why They Cannot Hear Us – Conclusion

Greetings Dear Reader,

It seems that if I wish those around me to see Christ I have a very simple set of guidelines to assure that.  At the heart of that is the necessity to see the needs of others and do something about those needs.  I cannot ignore those who are hungry and homeless and hope to show Christ to others. 

I will not pretend to know why God set things up this way but it is easy to see that if applied these principles work.  The matter is that I must tend to these needs out of compassion for those in need and not to gain an audience.  If I do not care for those seen as the very least then I do not care for Christ.  This is who he identifies with in terms of our responsibility to care.

If I wish for others to hear the gospel then I must have a heart for the needs of others.  After all the gospel is about Christ meeting our needs even when we hated him enough to kill him.  It seems that if we are to reach others with the gospel then we must engage with them in a genuine way that then allows us to earn the right to be heard.

Compassion is what makes a difference.  Love and sacrifice is what destroys barriers.  If we are not these things then what do we really have to offer?

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."

Why They Cannot Hear Us – Consequences

Greetings Dear Reader,

We know that there are consequences to everything.  When we ignore the social aspect of the gospel we should not be surprised that the natural consequence is that the spiritual message carries little weight.  If I am unwilling to live the parts of the gospel that are visible and immediately impactful then how can I hope to be heard with those things that take faith?

I see in lives around me the wounds and scars of incidental failure to live out faith.  I see the impact of not caring for others at a social level and harping on the current flavor of Christian obedience.  We cannot make demands on others when we sin so deeply by ignoring the things that Jesus says are to be our identification marks.

In a world where we have people constantly questioning our motives we are not going to make a difference if we do not focus on the things that impact motive.  When Jesus spoke about these things he was very clear that it is a part of the permeation of the gospel into others.  If we hope to be seen as a true follower of Christ then we must be seen as people who embrace what he did in the ways that he did.

Mat 25:35-40 I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' "Then the people who have God's approval will reply to him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes or see you in need of clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' "The king will answer them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did 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."