Manner and Means

I've been listening to this Caedmon's Call song a lot lately. On repeat. It's absurdly beautiful.

I keep meditating on the words. I don't know what the band meant when they wrote it, but I just keep thinking about my life as a missionary.

Danielle sings, "I am a shell of the manner and the means // Mine is a story of nothing as it seems." I think about testimony, and this strange instrument that is my life, the one that is supposed to help people encounter Jesus Christ. I am the vessel. My life is one of extraordinarily great things that are terribly hidden; sometimes I don't even recognize the wonders God works. It all seems pretty ordinary, nothing really remarkable, but God is daily transforming my heart, my mind, and my will.

She continues, "My heart is thinly veiled in the usual fears." Yep. It sure is, Dani. Sometimes I am paralyzed by that thin veil. Sometimes I don't want to do this strange job that is not just a job but a calling, and the performance reviews are actually pretty similar to things I am sure I'll have answer for in the end. This is serious business. I am afraid. I pray the Lord to throw back that veil and wed me in His Word.

The chorus is particularly thought-provoking for me. "When it's over and you see it with your eyes // would you rather have the truth or a lie?" Granted, I wish ol' Caedmon's Call had been a little more forthright and said, "When it's over and you see Him with your eyes...", but that's beside the point. These words keep sounding in my head. CeeCee, when it is over, will that student still prefer to not be offended or put into an awkward situation at the cost of the Truth? When she has to look Him in the eyes, would it be better for me to have spoken the entire truth in love or watered it down for her comfort? Would you rather have the truth or a lie? The Truth costs.

I pray that I don't offend and that I'm as minimally awkward, for their sakes, as possible, but in the end I would rather have the truth, and I think they will too.

Tebow and the network of Carthusian Monasteries

"It is simply unimaginable that any prominent Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Sikh quarterback, should such a fantasy of anthropology exist, would be subjected to the vileness that is publicly dumped on Tim Tebow."

Friends, I am definitely not a Florida fan, but I just read a very interesting article by George Weigel in the Southern Nebraska Register (thanks Tala) called "Tim Tebow and Christophobia" that I wanted to share with you. Don't worry, you don't have to be a cornhusker or a bugeater to read the article; National Catholic Register can help you out... read the article here.

Now, I think I only have one objection to Mr. Weigel. Who said the Southeastern Conference doesn't resemble a network of Carthusian monasteries? I mean, George, have you ever been to an SEC game? Haha.

In all seriousness, this is a great article. I especially appreciate how Weigel shows the commonalities and common fate of Tebow (and evangelical Christians) and devout Catholics.

Let me know what you think.