Did You Hear? – Closer to Home

Greetings Dear Reader,

Families are masters at gossiping about each other without even considering they are doing it.  “News” about a family member can spread faster than fire in dry corn field.  In the southern culture that is my heritage there are formalities in asking for gossip.

The dance is an interesting one.  There are ways of asking for gossip.  A lull in the conversation at a meal may yield the question, “any news?”  This is an open invitation to gossip about anyone.  A family member in crisis will trigger questions such as, “Is Brian doing OK.”  This sounds so very compassionate.  It can be from some but more often is an invitation to tell all the details of Brian’s crisis.

The natural ebb and flow of family conversation can so easily unleash a tidal wave of gossip that goes unrecognized until it breaks around us.  Further we do not understand that it that same wave will someday crash upon us. 

Family members that are cruising through pain, crisis, or scandal become the flotsam and jetsam or our wicked plunder.  We raid their lives for lunch time entertainment.  We judge and condemn without compassion.  Worse, we hide our scandalous talk in the pretense of concern and care. 

When it comes to family we have a DNA deep requirement of love and compassion.  We are to wield heavy weapons for forgiveness and kindness.  It is our responsibility to be more forbearing. 

It is my duty to put the true wellbeing of my family over my desire to know the news.  Further it is my obligation to redirect dinner conversation that is feasting on the misfortunes of others.  I am to love my family enough to be the lone voice of protection for them if necessary.  I must love them enough to keep my own mouth shut as well.  I am to serve them not serve them up as a feast for evil appetites.

The Basin and the Towel – Michael Card

In an upstairs room, a parable is just about to come alive.

And while they bicker about who's best,

With a painful glance, He'll silently rise.

Their Savior Servant must show them how,

By the will of the water and the tenderness of the towel.

And the call is to community,

The impoverished power that sets the soul free.

In humility, to take the vow,

That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel.

In any ordinary place,

On any ordinary day,

The parable can live again

When one will kneel and one will yield.

Our Saviour Servant must show us how

Through the will of the water

And the tenderness of the towel.

And the space between ourselves sometimes

Is more than the distance between the stars.

By the fragile bridge of the Servant's bow

We take up the basin and the towel.

And the call is to community,

The impoverished power that sets the soul free.

In humility, to take the vow,

That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel.

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.”

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