Who What Why

Greetings Dear Readers,

As a writer, I am reminded constantly how important every step of the writing to publishing process is. It is not enough that I have conceived of and written a tale. It must be revised, edited (by my amazing editor RJ), and constantly perfected. Eventually you reach a stopping place and pull the trigger on publication. The work is never truly perfect. There are missed errors. There exist disagreements about how grammar is structured. No matter how much your perfect your writing there is always room for improvement.

As an author the story is mine. The characters in my stories have much to say to me about what they wish to become as their story unfolds, but that is not up to them. It is in my control. I listen to my characters. Sometimes one of them will wake me up in the middle of the night with an idea as to how I should help him out of a jam. One who is slated for death is trying to bargain his way out of it. Ultimately though, I must choose the fate of each of them. A secondary character in The Foster Father of God had much more to say, so the was given his own novel The Praetor. Another charter wanted to say more but what he had to say was not fit for my readers so I silenced him. In fact I killed him in both The Praetor and in Chronicles of Thanatos the Reaper.

Once the book is published, people will invariably show me the errors in my completed work. I am the author and I am the perfecter but in both of those roles, I am imperfect. In pondering this each day that I write, I realize that I must treat all of my characters with respect. They are all my creations and I am responsible for them and their well being. So as a pilgrim who is responsible for the creation of me? Who is my author and what is my place in the story? The simple Sunday school answer is the best one. It is Jesus.

The author of the book of Hebrews begins to conclude his letter with an admonition that we “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” In the story of ME, it is Jesus who is the author, editor, perfecter, and publisher. I am simply a character in his story who stands around telling him how to write, when instead I should be excitedly playing out the part he has created just for me. Not only did he create this part of the story for me, but he in a way no other has, suffered for his art. The author of Hebrews continues, “ (Jesus) who for the joy set before him endured the cross.”

Another translation, God’s Word says it this way, “We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him.” In every writing there exist simple questions that must be answered. In this case we get the who, what, and why. The who is Jesus, the what is that he is both the author (creator) of our faith and the perfecter and goal of it. The why is that he died for the sheer joy of what lie ahead for him. That thing that lies ahead is the completion of our faith in our eventual summation of our relationship to and reconciliation with him.

I am far from perfected and hope to public let you watch Christ perfect me so that you can find some short cuts to your own reclamation. So I write, edit, and perfect. I strive to be what I am authored to be and often fail. Next time we will look at When, Where, and How.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

The Last Day of Summer

Greetings Dear Readers,

As today dawns where I live the sky is grey. The sun is not expected to appear but its light drives away the darkness as I type. The air is chilled and it will likely rain. None of this is a complaint. Today is the last day of summer. Some places the sun is shining bright, but I commemorated the end of summer yesterday.

For lunch yesterday I had an almost perfect bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. The bacon was apple smoked. The lettuce was romaine. The bread was lightly toasted and the Miracle Whip® was oh so perky. The only thing that was lacking was that it was not on Sun Beam® bread. It is hard to find where I live. The star of yesterday’s celebration, though, had to be the tomatoes.

The tomatoes on my sandwiches were perfect red globes of captured summer sun and rain. They were bursting with juice and flavor. Some of the best tomatoes I have had since I was a boy. What made these tomatoes doubly special is that they were a gift. I do not know who to thank. They were left in a bag by my door. For two weeks now someone has left me tomatoes anonymously as a gift .

I never seek out the giver of anonymous gifts. I presume that if they wish to be known I will learn it naturally. I do, however, wish to thank them here. The tomatoes have been a daily blessing. I have made sandwiches and burgers with them. I have sliced some and eaten them with pepper and some sliced cucumbers. The best though was surely yesterday’s BLT’s.

It is not too late for the rest of you. Do something today to celebrate the summer. To my readers on the southern half of the planet I wish you a wonderful spring. You should celebrate too. Just as the sunshine slips away here and the air chills, it begins to warm and bring new life to the southern hemisphere. Perhaps one of you can celebrate with a BLT in six months.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Dancing in the Doldrums

Greetings Dear Readers,

I have watched several sea and ship related movies of late. I have noticed how intense the situation becomes when a ship flounders in the doldrums. The actual doldrums are an area between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer that often experiences periods of dead calm. In the days when wind was your energy for movement, this was disastrous and dangerous. In the movies we often see the frustrations and dissatisfactions of sailors boil over during times stuck in the doldrums.

So here I sit. No paying job. Looking daily for work that will fit who and what I am. I feel fear and spend time fighting off worry. I wrestle with the holes in my self-worth and my obligations to others. All I can do at this time though is to wait. I come to the question then, of what do I do whilst I am waiting?

The resounding answer is to wait. You see my wind is not the weather but rather my wind is the Spirit of God. He will fill my sails when it is time. He knows my skills and obligations better than any. He knows my heart and desire to serve only him. He knows my weaknesses, worries, doubts, and inabilities. He is good and kind and loves me more than I can imagine.

So I will mend my nets, see to my rigging, clean and polish the brass. I will wait for the wind and the compass reading that tells me where to head. As a show of faith, I will dance a little. My woeful heart will sing. You may join me if you wish.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Crossroads

Greetings Dear Readers,

I have spoken of milestones. I have written about the journey and always wish you to find joy in it. The truth is that there are also always forks and crossroads in the journey that require our attention as well. Most of these are distractions. Most of them offer danger and some even death.

Over the course of my life I have come to several of these crossroads and sometimes I have chosen properly, sometimes I have not. When I have chosen unwisely it has hurt my family, friends, and my walk with Christ. It has assuredly even harmed strangers people for whom I was supposed to be an example of good and instead became an example of failure.

Amidst all of this one thing remains a constant. I made choices. I am making choices today. I stand at a crossroads where everything seems dark and daunting. I am not alone, but I am terrified. I am not without hope but I can see no further than the next moment. There is a place of balance I am trying to maintain.

I am not supposed to worry about the future, but I am supposed to be honest about my options. Only God can give me enough grace to do this for when I look at both I feel little hope and great fear. I do not know what is next but I have responsibilities and I know that God will care for me but I do not see a way to go. You see it is all a balancing act of refusing to lose my faith and hope in God, owning my failures and continuing to chase my dreams. Today, however, I stand at this vast crossroad and only want to follow the narrow path.

Do I pursue my dreams or just take an everyday job that will meet my bills? I have tried this before and it does not work for me. I need time to work on the things that I know I am called to but need income to do the things I must. So here I stand, at a crossroads where I know I have the love and support of my children. My faith community is helping me. I know that Christ is with me. Today however, I am not sure where to step, so I wait and listen and hope.

Wishing you joy in the journey – especially when pausing to get your bearings

Aramis Thorn

Building A Hedge

Greetings Dear Readers

I have always loved the classic boxwood hedge. As long as I can remember I have wanted a yard filled with topiary dragons and pirate ships. I realize that these are not practical but the boxwood hedge itself is a wonderful, practical shrubbery.

Boxwood can be used to make a real fence. It looks lovely lining long driveways. It can be grown tall or short and readily lends itself to many shapes and uses. I have wandered through boxwood mazes. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing topiary decorated with Christmas lights or covered with snow. All considered, it may be my very favorite kind of shrub.

It offers ready homes to many kinds of birds and critters. Yes, I said critters. I once spent a summer watching a family of rabbits that had taken up residence under a lovely boxwood hedge in front of a neighbor’s house. Perhaps someday I will get to enjoy some proper boxwood hedges of my own.

There are others ways that hedges can be useful. In ancient times they were used to protect gardens, to hide in, and even to symbolize care and safety. God spoke to Ezekiel concerning looking for a man to “make up a hedge” for him. Hedges are used to symbolize both good and bad things throughout the Old Testament. Much discussion is undertaken concerning ways in which the Pharisees created a hedge around that law that enslaved the people to an empty practice that left behind God’s loving intent for us as his followers.

We must consider carefully the hedges we build into our lives and the ways in which we shape them once they are built. Do we build hedges of love and grace that are inviting or our hedges thorny and dark; built to keep others out and at a safe distance? Do we interpret what God calls for in his word from within a hedge of his love and character? I know that I have built hedges around it that command others to be or do in a certain way so that they are protected from errors I see them about to make. Even though this seems good it is not.

In looking at the way in which we hedge our obedience to God I find that in the very first stories out our race, the hedge practice is vivid and dangerous. Eve is questioned in the garden about what trees are acceptable for food. She responds that except for the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they may eat of any tree. She then says that she is not even supposed to touch it or she will die. Who told her this?
God never tells them not to touch the tree. He does say not to eat the fruit. Someone, Eve, or Adam, has put into Eve’s mind not to touch the tree. The first account of hedging what God has commanded so that we do not have to depend on his grace and provision to obey him.

Hedges can be very beautiful but also very dangerous. I am examining the hedges I have erected and attempting to uproot the ones that are there for ungracious purposes. I am hoping to remove the unnecessary mazes and sculpt what remains into beautiful inviting art that invites the spirits of others to come out to play.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

The Compass

Greetings Dear Readers,

I have a Face book page. I often emote things that are going on there and get both humorous and helpful reactions from my friends. One of them, a friend in Chicago whom I do not see often enough and love dearly says things that make me think and are very helpful.

The other day I posted that I was “Watching the compass spin.”

My friend, knowing my love of all things pirate replied with, “Captain Jack Sparrow would tell you that means you need to find someone else to hold the compass ...”

Another friend suggested that I was too close to a strong magnetic field.

I thought about both of these things in light of my attempt to be more Christ like and less in control of things. So I posted the following. “I have handed Christ the compass; Knows that He alone is the loadstone; Is back to waiting and listening.”

My Chicago friend did not miss a beat. He responded with the following:
“Upside: Compass will now point correctly. Downside: It may be a while before He decides to tell you which way the compass is pointing.”

I laughed and cried at the same time. Thank you dear friend for putting perspective to my doldrums. As with all things:

The Wind will be up when is should be
I must only trim them to the Son
He has the compass and will give me a heading when it is time
It is a joy to know that Christ is willing to be both my journey and my destination.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

I Am Not Job

Greetings Dear Readers,

I want to dwell for a moment on the biblical character Job. I have been thinking of late how much I feel like him. In the last six weeks I have lost both my wife and my employment (interesting that the word "job" fits better here but does not fit). I am currently ill and most of my life is in upheaval.

But I am not Job. My children are all alive and well. I have not lost everything. Oh and most importantly, I am not the righteous man that Job was. God points out that there is no one like him in all the world. I have a long way to go before I can even consider that I could be a righteous man.

For whatever reason, events in my life are frightening right now. In the midst of it I have retained much wealth. My children love me. I have friends who care about me. My church is supportive and happens to be teaching about total dependence upon Christ. I have the ability to work and the opportunity to pursue my dreams.

I do not know what Christ has in my future, but I will face it in faith. If you care to pray for me, then pray this:

I would like to be nothing but what Christ wishes me to be
I would like to find peace with everyone in my life and treat them as Christ would
I would like to make my living doing the things I love

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Under a Cheshire Moon

Greetings Dear Readers,

I do not know if it is obvious or not but I am a romantic. The other night the moon was in a thin crescent that hung perfectly over the field beside our home. I say the other night but truly it was the morning; around 3 AM. I had awakened from a fitful sleep earlier than usual and was pondering the road that runs by my house when the moon broke from behind some clouds.

My mind immediately played back the conversations with Avalon over the years. She would lovingly point out what we called a Cheshire Moon and sometimes show me that Venus was again chasing the fading smile. Sadness griped me as for another moment I missed the wife I love. I began to turn away, pushing away the memories and the pain. Then a thought intruded both offensive and true.

I thought that seeing the crescent moon as both lovely and romantic was not a bad thing. As much as Avalon’s departure has hurt me, there can be peace in the pain. The moon is lovely all on its own. There is something magical about the quality of light and the winking Venus chasing after it. I am still a romantic.

What I must do on the road to healing is not reject things that, though still painful, are beautiful in their own right. For a while the memories will be barbed and hold a little venom. This does not mean that in the truth of standing alone with the Cheshire Moon there is no beauty. So, as I must do with all things, I give my romantic heart to the God who loves me more than I can ever imagine.

Under the smile of that fading crescent I see that my heart can heal. I have gained benefit from being someone who can be in love with someone who vows to spend their life with you and then rejects you. It lets me see a little clearer just how much the God I reject every time I disobey him loves me. In the divine romance that is God’s reclamation of man to himself, he can be found, infinitely loving us and sometimes, like Venus winking at us just above the Cheshire Moon.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

A Leap of Hope

Greetings Dear Readers,

When Wednesday gets here I will have been divorced for two weeks. If you are reading my blog for the first time you should know this was against my will and out of my control. Avalon chose this. That is not where I am headed at this time but rather I am looking up the road.

I am looking up the road about two steps. That is all I can afford to look. That may be more than I am supposed to look. The pastor at church I first spoke with told me something at the beginning of this ordeal. He cautioned me to only seek Christ in my journey through this wilderness. He told me to only be who I should become in Christ and not try to fix anything.

I have been doing this and as I have done so Christ reveals my sin, my failures, my areas of falleness more every day. I see over and over new ways in which to give myself to Christ and the realization of his dream for my life. In perfect serendipitous harmony, my church has been walking through the Sermon on the Mount.

I am seeing some of the things Christ says in a light that leaves no room for me to think of myself as lacking anything. Each of the hurts, grudges, and losses I carry are not mine to keep. Each of the worries and apprehensions I use to plan my future are not part of the future I should be planning.

If I carry the hurts of those who wrong me, then I do not embrace the nature of Christ’s grace and forgiveness. If I think of anyone less than me then I do not see the nature of Christ’s love for us. If I abandon anyone then I do not count them as Christ’s and see him as Christ sees him. If I worry about money or provision for my needs then I am not focusing on the steps Christ is trying to point out to me.

I have a long way to go. I have much to learn and become to be what I would be for Christ. I will probably see few Milestones not until they are upon me. I cannot afford to look up from the footsteps I am to follow. Following Christ is not like driving. In driving you look as far down the road as possible.

Following Christ is like crossing a river on some rocks. I need to look each stone as I step on it for the clear footprint of the one who goes before me. As he lifts his foot from the stone I must put mine there. So in my leaps of faith I also take leaps of hope because my guide knows the way. The big truth, however, is this; they seem like leaps to us but what they really are, are baby steps of following the one who “holds out a cross and a crown.”

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Schizophrenia Unbound

Greetings Dear Readers,

Apparently there is not an end to the madness that grips our culture. We embrace auto racing in a national frenzy whilst warring over the price of oil and the environmental effects of exhaust. We insist on health care and food for everyone when we are quickly becoming the most obese nation on the planet, eating more than we need and promising a health crisis to the ascending generation.

This morning, however, a contradiction of values became so apparent that it nearly drove me over the edge. Reported on our local news this morning is a story of a man convicted for attempting to dig up and have sex with a corpse. I get that this is heinous. I understand that it is gross. It is wrong. I have no problem with that this is a criminal act. What does bother me is the specific crime for which he was convicted.

There were vandalism and trespassing crimes that make sense to me. It should be a crime to do anything with a corpse. What is ringing my “wait a minute” bell is that he was convicted of a third degree sexual assault. This means that a dead, embalmed, and buried body has rights.

One of the tests for human rights is viability. I have yet to meet a viable corpse. Until the Zombie Apocalypse comes I am just fine with denying human rights to dead people. Protect corpses. Treat them with respect and honor but please do not put us on a path of giving them rights.

We know that in some places they get to vote. Some people still collect social security and pick up their narcotic prescriptions long after they are post-human. The problems associated with heading down this slippery slope are obvious and serious. I will try to enumerate them in a logical manner

First and foremost on the post-human end of things is the obvious contradiction that the dead are no longer human. Human remains, post human, or former human works for me but not a human with rights. When we get to the Zombie Apocalypse, if there is record of them having rights of any kind they will demand the vote and we will end up with an undead president. NOT GOOD.

Second and just a crazy is the fact that the undead seem to have little or no regard for the living. They are not a protected species and our literature proves that any time they show up in numbers we tend to hunt them. It is a real problem for me that we are setting president to protect a human predator. You see, they see us as food. I am sure some of you out there are thinking that we should then make them a protected species. Sure let’s make human eating zombies have full rights alongside their favorite snack food. BAD IDEA

But the thing that scares me most. The thing that assures me that as a nation we have turned off of Sanity Street and are heading full speed down the Psychopathic Parkway is that we will defend the human rights of someone whose life is over and rip babies from the womb whose life is just beginning.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn