Meet me under the clock

When I arrived in Charlotte many years ago, one of the first restaurants I visited was Andersons, a landmark serving the best pecan pie in town. At least that is what their sign said. It was a great place for some down home cooking and the diverse clientele agreed. Sadly, it is no longer in operation. The building is still there, but not the pie.

I guess every city and town has a landmark, which is why I read with interest that a famous landmark from my childhood was turning 100 years old. It’s a huge, 2500 pound, beautifully designed, four faced, outdoor clock at the corner of Fifth and Smithfield Street in Pittsburgh, which is in the heart of the city’s shopping area. Originally it hung, or was mounted, in front of the Kaufmann’s department store and was known simply as the Kaufmann’s clock. Kaufmann’s was later replaced by Macy’s, but the clock remains.

Anyone who’s lived in Pittsburgh for any length of time probably knows the phrase, “meet me under the clock.” It was the perfect meeting place in the heart of the city. Corrine and I actually have a painting of the clock in our downstairs hallway, a reminder of the place we call home.

Do you ever think of landmarks in your hometown? I guess if you’re from Gaffney, you might think of the “Peach.” If you’re from Matthews, you might think of Renfrow Hardware, an amazing landmark in many ways.

Landmarks help us remember a simpler time, or mark a spot that is like a treasure chest full of good memories. Landmarks remind us of where we came from. They also help us find our way in today’s highly complex and technological age.

Landmarks are significant in Biblical history as well.

Long ago, God instructed Joshua to take twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River and carry them with him to the other side. Of course, Joshua did as he was told, even though he must have thought, “Of all the things you could ask me to do, you want me to move rocks?!”

Then God lets him in on a holy, sacred secret. God tells him, “When your children ask their parents in the time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ You shall tell your children the story of how God helped you cross the Jordan.”

When your children ask about landmarks in your life, what stories will you tell them?

The Bucket List

I recently bumped into an Internet article entitled Twenty Things Everyone Should Do Once. It reminded me of that great 2007 Rob Reiner movie “Bucket List,” in which Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson cross items off their list, to hilarious effect. It's increasingly common to hear folks talk about their own bucket list. You know…all the things they want to do and see before they kick the bucket.

As I glanced down the litany of the twenty things I should do, I was pleased to see that I have already experienced fourteen of the twenty. Now, don’t get too excited. Most of them were not all that amazing. Simple things like adopting a pet, buying a piece of art you like or eating food you raised yourself.

I mean, who hasn’t had one of their children bring home a pet and then leave it with you? Seriously, who would buy a piece of art that they didn’t like? Nearly everyone I know has at some point put a tomato plant in the ground and enjoyed its harvest.

So what about the ones I have yet to do?  Well, most of the leftovers didn’t really tickle my fancy or even stir my imagination, except for one.

Live in a foreign country.  

I think that is something I would like to experience. Spend a while letting the sights, sounds and smells of the culture seep into my soul, instead of playing hop scotch from one tourist attraction to the next.  

As I thought about the things I should do at least once, a few more came to mind. I would like to learn how to play the piano and sign up for dance lessons. Lord knows I need them. Once in my life I would like to take a train ride across America. I’d like to take some art lessons. Maybe even photography. And I’d like to work on a lobster fishing boat in Maine, don’t know exactly why, but still would like to do it.  

There are lots of things I would like to do at least once. Yet it seems to me there will always be more books to read, more places to visit, more things to experience. I think the saddest thing might be to actually have done all the things you wanted to do. What a boring end that would be! There should always be more on the horizon, more ideas, and more experiences you dream of having.  

Have you thought about all the things you would like to do at least once? I hope so. But I also hope you never complete your bucket list.

Sweet Home Alabama

Last week I stepped foot in the great state of Alabama for the first time in my life. I know very little about Alabama, except that it is home to Alice Johnson. Any state that produces someone like Alice has to be special.

As I crossed the state line, I began to think about all of the states I’ve visited and those I have not. I have never been to Alaska or Hawaii, never set foot in Oregon, Iowa, or Mississippi. Forty-five out of fifty isn’t too shabby.

The town I visited was Dothan. I read that the town took its name right out of the Bible, “Let us go to Dothan” (Genesis 37:17). The largest religious expression in Dothan is Southern Baptist, no surprise there. However, I was surprised to learn that Dothan is home to a Reformed Jewish Synagogue. Temple Emanu-El gained national spotlight in 2008 when Jewish families were offered as much as $50,000 to relocate to Dothan.

Dothan also takes pride in proclaiming itself the “Peanut Capital of the World.” We all take pride in something, don’t we?  Often, pride is good thing. There’s nothing wrong with taking pride in producing peanuts. Nothing wrong with taking pride in your job or children. The problem is that if we are not careful, pride can become distorted.

The church fathers of the Middle Ages put pride on their list of deadly sins. The problem with pride, they said, is where it takes you. For example, it is one thing to have pride in your child, but sometimes that turns into pressuring your child to meeting your own unfilled expectations or worse yet, to make yourself look good in front of other parents. That is when pride becomes deadly.    

Tony Campolo wrote, “Pride is arrogant self-worship. It is the sin of exalting oneself and placing one’s own interests above the interests of others.” People who are full of this kind of pride are, literally, full of themselves.   

Too frequently this arrogance keeps someone from saying, “I am sorry.”  Some folks just can’t swallow their pride, even when they know they should. Over time, pride can destroy relationships.

Have you thought about the things that fill you with pride? More importantly, are they leading you where  you want to go?

Don't forget your ABCs

I am writing this week’s blog about an experience I have not yet experienced. Lest you think I have totally gone off my rocker, let me explain.

I leave on Friday afternoon to be a part of this year’s confirmation retreat* to Valle Crucis. Realizing I will probably be too whupped to write about the retreat Sunday afternoon, I decided to share my thoughts in anticipation, even before I board the bus.

I have noticed over the years how much things change but stay the same in the life of a young person. Today’s world is so different than the one most of us knew when we were in a confirmation class. As teenagers, we never dreamed about cell phones and iPads and iTunes. We also never gave a moment’s thought to a terrorist attack or a shooting in our school hallway. 

The cultural, spiritual and political landscape is constantly shifting, and our youth are on the front lines. I think they are pretty amazing, juggling all the demands that are placed on them in the midst of daily change. They deserve nothing but our applause and constant encouragement. 

Even though the world is not the same, I believe some things are universally true. For instance, if you ask me what our youth want today, I have a pretty good idea. 

A) Acceptance. Just like when we were teenagers, they want to be accepted for who they are and not what we keep trying to make them into. Funny, God accepts us as we are, but it’s hard for us to accept each other as we are. 

B) Belonging. Remember what it was like to be left out, ignored, passed over and not invited into the group? We were created for community, created to find a place where we know we belong, where we are loved. Few things are as painful as feeling left out. One of the most important marks of a great church is this sense of belonging; the best thing we can do for our youth is to let them know how much they belong and how the party wouldn’t be complete without them. 

C) Care. Everyone wants to know that someone cares. It is the kind of care that is unconditional, no strings attached. It requires a lot more listening than talking. It's less about following the rules and more about experiencing the love of Christ. Today’s youth need to know someone is in their corner. 

Sardis is blessed with terrific parents, dedicated youth leaders and advisors and amazing confirmation teachers who not only faithfully teach the Bible, but do something more…they never forget their ABCs.

*Find photos from the retreat on the Sardis Youth Facebook page.

Do you take cream and sugar?

Photo by Benjamin Getz

Do you start your day with a fresh brew of coffee? 

As you may know, I am a self-proclaimed Starbucks addict. I am not sure when my fascination with the brand began, but I rarely miss a day, which is why some years back they sent me a “Gold” Starbucks card engraved with my name.

As a child, I watched an early television show called “I Remember Mama.” It was produced by Maxwell House Coffee, which they promised was good to the very last drop. Later, Joe Dimaggio came along and peddled Mr. Coffee machines. Today we have a Keurig in our kitchen. A fancy little thing that allows you to make just one cup at a time. I rarely ever use it, but Corrine loves it.

The other day, NPR had a little segment with author Mark Pendergast about his book, Uncommon Grounds: The history of coffee and how it changed the world. It was a fascinating interview! I never realized all of the social, political and economic complexities associated with a cup of coffee.  

The truth is that I haven't read the book and its five hundred pages, but my interest was piqued by some of the quick snippets from the interview. It’s reported that John Adams, following the Boston Tea Party, wrote to his wife proclaiming his love of tea and lamenting that he would have to learn to embrace coffee instead, because drinking tea had become unpatriotic.

Apparently coffee also started to sober up America by replacing taverns with coffee shops. In fact, some of our early ancestors would begin the day with beer soup and continue drinking all day. Coffee shops soon developed into socially acceptable places to gather with friends and colleagues, instead of “Ye Ole Tavern.”

There is also a dark side to the coffee industry, which historically involved slavery and other injustices. Pendergast noted that coffee laborers earn an average of only $3 a day. Seems there is still a bitter taste about the poor treatment of coffee growers in the world. That is why there are many proponents for what is called Fair Trade coffee, which attempts to balance the scales of justice for coffee growers.

But what is Fair Trade? In a Fair Trade system, producers receive a fair price that allows for a living wage. There’s also a serious prohibition against forced and exploitative child labor. It puts the value of people over the mad grab for a cup of Joe.

I checked to see what kind of coffee we brew at Sardis. It’s not Fair Trade. We actually did a study in 2008 about the merit of Fair Trade and made the switch. But then we stopped using it. Many church members had complained about the taste, and others found it inconvenient to prepare because it didn't come in pre-measured packages. And it was a little more expensive.

I wonder if we might not want to revisit Fair Trade certified coffee to see if there are some “taste” improvements and give it a try again.

Gosh, never knew there was so much that went into a cup of coffee, other than cream and sugar… 

The Hidden World

There are many blogging voices out there in the technological gristmill. In the past week, most of them have been sad and tragic, reflecting on the loss of lives and injuries in Boston or the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. I think JJ said it well, when on Monday we posted on Facebook, “Our hearts are in Boston, our hope is in Christ.” The same can be said for West, Texas, too.

Of course, in every city, small town and community all across America tears are shed daily as individuals and families experience the hurts and disappointment of life. Their stories don’t make the evening news.

I have the good fortune of being in touch with a number of young ministers who are just starting their journey of faith as pastors.  They call me and ask for advice.  I sort of feel like the veteran Paul who encouraged young Timothy as he was still wet behind his theological ears.   It’s nice to know your experience can help another, which is why there is a quiet joy that comes when you have the opportunity to mentor those who will pick up the mantle once you are long gone. 

I have had some great mentors in my life. I owe them all a round of applause. As you look back over your life and pause to ponder those who helped you along the way, can you still see their faces and hear their voices echoing with sound advice?

I will never forget hearing Morgan Roberts talk about the difference between the “Seen World and the Hidden World.” The seen world is easy to spot. In my case, as I peer out from the pulpit each Sunday I can see all of you. And you look so neat and nice and beautiful, which you are. That is the seen world.

But there is the hidden world in each of us. It is that world that lies beneath the surface of the seen world. The hidden world is the one we try to hide from each other. The argument you had with your teenagers in the driveway as you were leaving for worship. The anxiety that your marriage is coming apart at the seams. The fear in waiting for the lab report. The heartache of a loved one in emotional or physical pain. There are as many tears as there are people in the world. And so I tell those young preachers who seek my guidance, “look at the hidden world, and preach to the hidden world.” 

I encourage them never to forget that on every pew there is at least one broken heart. I tell them to remember what Ian Maclaren said: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

The tragedies of this week remind us of the importance of kindness. The importance of taking time to show you care. The importance of saying “I love you” each time a family member leaves for work or school or to run in the Boston Marathon.

We have experienced so much of the “Seen World” this week. But even more important is how we encounter the “Hidden World.”