The Outcasts, both Real and Imagined (Part 4 in the "Normal Is Moving" series)

NEW! Now you can LISTEN to the author read this essay. Click here: Listen to the Scrawling Shepherd read this essay


Poor sinners, outcasts, at the edge of the crowd. Wanting to see, wanting to hear, wanting to draw near, but not daring to risk being noticed, being rejected.

Perhaps he or she is thinking "They know me. They know who I am, what I've done. They'll never let me in. They'll never let me get close. And they are right. I don't deserve it."

But also, they might be thinking "but what He is saying has the ring of truth. He's speaking in an accent of love and of mercy. Maybe He won't turn me away, even if those around Him do."

In the last few weeks since church services have gone ONLINE ONLY, something different and WONDERFUL has been happening. Well really, many different and wonderful things have been and are happening. I haven't noticed ALL of them. If you have noticed any, why don't you go ahead and write about what you've noticed?

The thing I have noticed and want to comment on is this: some people who for any number of reasons have found themselves no longer comfortable or welcome attending a local church are finding their way back by joining ONLINE. Online, they won't be confronted with glares, stares, or suspicious glances. There, they won't be shunned or snubbed. They can see, they can hear, they can move up close to the front safely and without fear because they are present ONLINE ONLY.

Jesus was often surrounded by crowds of people, leaning in intently to see Him and to hear what He might say, and especially to see what miracle He might DO. The word about Him traveled quickly in whatever parts He traveled through. There are quite a few instances recorded in the Gospels where some of these very "outcasts" or "social pariahs" were among those trying to see and hear Jesus.

Sometimes, they were sick people. Lepers, the literal unclean outcasts of their day. They were required by law to keep social distance from healthy people, lest they infect them. Jesus never shunned them or turned away in outrage, disgust, or fear. As far as I can tell, there is no record of Jesus ever encountering a leper and leaving him or her in the same condition as when they first met. (Of course, Jesus was immune to any virus or illness. He didn't have to wear a mask or maintain a safe social distance.)

Once there was a hated tax collector, named Zaccheus. He was not a nice man. He had betrayed his own people, working for the Romans, and further, cheating his countrymen to become wealthy at their expense. Yet he, too, wanted to see this man Jesus for himself, hear what he was saying. He wasn't a very tall person, and couldn't get close enough to see Jesus. Certainly, his neighbors were not willing to make room for him! I can imagine them shouldering him aside, crowding together all the tighter to keep him from getting close. So, a clever man, Zaccheus climbed a tree to be able to see. Not only did Zaccheus see Jesus, but Jesus saw Zaccheus, and called to him by name. Oh, I bet that the "in" crowd didn't like it that Jesus went to visit Zaccheus in his own house! (This story is found in Luke 19:1-10 if you'd like to read it for yourself!)

And the children--don't forget the children! Some parents were wanting Jesus to bless their children--what parent doesn't want that?-- and they were trying to get close to Jesus, but of course, children are supposed to be seen, and not heard, so the disciples, thinking that they were doing a good job of crowd management, tried to shoo them away. Jesus wasn't having it, though. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (that's from Matthew 19:14-15)

There are other examples, too. Jesus is far more welcoming to the socially underprivileged than most of His followers are. Maybe we have good intentions, such as they are, and maybe we can even cite chapter and verse to justify our opinions and actions. I wonder, though, if Jesus would agree with our attitude toward those that we have judged "undeserving" of His attention. There's this one thing Jesus said that really troubles me sometimes: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." (That's from Mark 9:42, but this saying of Jesus is also recorded by Matthew in 18:6 and Luke in 17:2. Seems like these words made quite an impression on the disciples who heard it "Live" also.)

How does this look today? Those people who are finding their way back to "church", to worship, to the teaching of God's Word, to prayer, and hopefully ultimately to God, are like Zaccheus, or the lepers, or the woman caught in an adulterous act, or even the noisy children. To some, they have no right, no place at the feet of Jesus. But to Jesus? Well, He's spoken quite clearly on that subject. Who really "deserves" to come near to God? Of course we all know that the answer to that question is "NOBODY! Certainly not ME!"

And yet, Jesus has made it possible for any of us, for ALL of us, to draw near to Him. He has taken my unworthiness, my uncleanness, my unfitness, my disease, my contagion, my filth, my sin, and paid for it. "Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow."

When this time of social distancing at last is at an end, and those of us who have been deprived of our assembling together return together, I'm praying that we come together with enough room for those who have felt unwelcome and unwelcomed. If I am part of the reason that you don't feel welcome or comfortable in church, PLEASE, PLEASE FORGIVE ME! Come with me to the "altar" and let's kneel together in joyful thanks that Jesus has made enough room for all of us.



If you liked this article, perhaps you'll also enjoy reading the previous articles in this "Normal Is Moving" series. You can find them HERE:

Part 1: "Normal Is Moving"
Part 2: "Closing the Distance"
Part 3: "Real Connections Take Real Effort"

The Great Conspiracy

NEW! Now you can listen to this essay, read by the author, by clicking here: "The Great Conspiracy", read by the Scrawling Shepherd


You've heard some of the various many theories about why people are getting sick and dying right now. "Coronavirus" or COVID-19 is the culprit. It's an aggressive and highly contagious virus, passed by the most casual human contact, airborne.

Or is it? Is it actually the 5G wireless signal that's being blasted, unseen, through our airwaves in millimeter-wavelength, empowering our wireless devices and killing us?

Or is it a state/military-sponsored biological weapon, tested first on native population before being employed against enemy peoples?

Is it the elite top few most powerful and wealthy people and corporations in the world, working in concert to "thin the herd" to save the world from it's greatest threat and enemy: humankind?

Or is it something else?

I don't know.

I DO know about one Great Conspiracy, though, and because I've fully "bought in" to this one, none of the rest of them really give me much anxiety.

The GREAT Conspiracy was launched long, long ago. Before Time began, in fact. There are Three Conspirators, acting in perfect Oneness, Unity and Harmony, and with absolutely no discord, and with no malice or evil or selfish intention. Their identity is not a secret. They've disclosed Themselves to the world in the personifications of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

(Author's NOTE: This is NOT intended to be understood as quoting or even paraphrasing of Scripture--this is just my hypothetical imagining of a supposed conversation based upon what we DO KNOW from revealed Scripture. No well-meaning but cranky critic needs to denounce me for twisting or distorting Scripture or putting words in God's mouth that He never spoke.)

It began, more or less, when One said,

[Overheard in an undisclosed location code-named "Heaven":]

"Let us make humankind in our image..."

As the Conversation went on, perhaps it went a little like this...just bits and pieces of the whole exchange.

ONE:  "We'll give them independent will and freedom of action. We want them to choose to trust Us, to love Us, to obey Us, for the right reasons."
ALL:  "Agreed."
ONE:  "We know, of course, that they won't choose Us every time. Or even many times. We know that they will rebel. They'll be deceived. Disillusioned. And We're going to have to take action against that rebellion."
ALL:  "Agreed."
ONE:  "It will go on and on and on, and get worse and worse and worse."
ALL:  "Yes."
ONE:  "They won't be able to stop. They won't be able to fix what they break. Even if they want to, they won't find their way back to Us."
ONE:  "You are correct. They will need Help. They are going to be like sheep. And so, they will need a Shepherd. A Good Shepherd."
ALL:  "Yes, that's right."
Then the Son said,
SON:  "I'll do it. When the time is right, I'll go and join them. I'll live among them, and show them who We are. And, finally, I will lay down my life for those sheep."
ALL: "It's the only way. They can't be redeemed in any other way."
SON:  "I will do it. There is no other way. I will give up My life."
FATHER: "Let it be so. But I will not let the grave hold You. Three days only, and no more. Forevermore."
SON: "Agreed."
SPIRIT: "Agreed."
ALL: "Let it be so."

And it was so.

And it IS so.

And because of this, no earthly conspiracy by any bad actor or actors will prevail. God knows the hearts and thoughts of every one of us, whether we acknowledge Him or not. No scheme or plot conceived in secret and launched from the shadows will defeat God's Eternal Plan. God knows these things, has always known them, and has taken them all into account. Some, He thwarts. Others, He blunts. Some He shines the light of day upon, that it will become known what we have and are doing, what evil we have conceived in our hearts and wrought by our hands.

God declares to His people in Isaiah 54:17--"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD.

Elsewhere God speaks over us these words that bring us hope and confidence in response to any action accusation that any force or power opposing  us may bring:

And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose...

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For Your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:28, 35-39)

Conspirators of the world: beware. Your plans are KNOWN. As God declared to King Belshazzar of Babylonia, "MENE--God has numbered the days of your reign and is about to bring it to an end."

"TEKEL--you have been weighed on [God's] scales and found deficient."

"PERES--your kingdom has been divided and given over to your [enemies.]"

(Daniel 5:25-28)

I still believe. And I am thankful for that First, that Greatest, Conspiracy. It has a name by which it has come to be known for millennia. The name: The Gospel.

Amen.

Are You a Teacher? You are!

NEW! Now you can LISTEN to this article, read by the author. Click HERE: The Scrawling Shepherd reads "Are You a Teacher? You Are!"


Teaching? Yeah. This week I've had a recurring thought. I am a teacher. It isn't simply my occupation, my job. It's a large part of my identity. In fact, it doesn't even matter if I don't have a classroom right now. Or whether or not I have a class roster, or an attendance book, or even a grade book. I am a Teacher. And, (this is really what has me thinking HARD), because I AM a teacher, IF I AM TALKING, I AM TEACHING. Corollary: EVEN IF I AM NOT TALKING, I AM STILL TEACHING. Now the question is less about WHO am I teaching, and more about WHAT am I teaching? If anyone reads my posts on Facebook or other social media: what are they learning FROM me? What are they learning ABOUT me? It's quite astonishing to think that I learn a lot about people by what they post, share, like on Facebook. Makes me stop and think about what I post, share, like on Facebook. Right?

If I encounter someone OUT THERE, in the world outside my four walls, what am I showing them? Am I showing them Fear? Am I showing them that I am foolishly disregarding all advice about limiting my social interactions, maintaining a safe distance? Hopefully, with a smile and a wave and a nod, and maybe, if we're both moving slowly enough, a friendly exchange of some words.

Hey, think about those people who are your students. I spent some time recently with one of my grandsons. He doesn't watch the news. He doesn't know about COVID-19 or social distance or any of the other things that most of the rest of us are thinking about, talking about, worrying about. Whenever I'm around him, I'm definitely teaching. And, strange as it may sound, today, he was teaching me, too. Life is still happening. It's different right now. For sure. It's almost the end of March as I'm writing this. April Fools Day is just a few days away now. It's going to be April, and really Spring! The sun is going to shine. The temperatures will get warmer. And this present thing will eventually be over, and the next thing will begin.

May my teaching reach beyond this present grim moment and look ahead to the time after this time. There's a lot more to learn, and a lot more to teach.

Class dismissed.

Why I am "On Pause..." and Why I'm Okay With It.

NEW! Now you can listen to the writer read this essay HERE: Click Here to listen to the Scrawling Shepherd read this essay


It's Thursday, March 26, 2020.

Like most of America, and quite possibly, most of the world, I am at home. "Sheltering in place", some are saying. Here in New York, we are not officially sheltering in place. Instead, we are "On Pause."

I'm a teacher. I teach Bible classes at Harmony Christian School, grades 7-12. The 7th and 8th graders are still kids, and they know that they are kids, and are content to behave like kids. The high schoolers, of course, believe themselves to be "adults", or at least, want to be treated like adults, so except in their most unguarded moments, they don't let themselves be seen behaving like kids.

The kids, though, occasionally play this "game." One of them points an imaginary remote controller, or "air controller" (my words, not theirs) at another one or other ones of them, pretends to push a button with his or her thumb, and declares "pause." At which, the target kid(s) actually pause. Until the "god kid" (the kid with the air controller) depresses the imaginary button again and declares "unpause." (Is "unpause" an actual word? My spell checker tells me that it is not. Or, was it an actual word before remote controllers?)

Consequently, when New York was declared to be "On Pause" a day or two ago, this image of children playing resurfaced in my admittedly strange (damaged?) mind. The magic of the game is in the willing cooperation of the players. There is no actual remote control. No "pause" button. No control, whether digital, infrared, Bluetooth, or other communication link, exists. The "god" player declares it, and the "subject" players comply. These labels, "god" and "subject", are my labels, not theirs. I suspect that they don't even think about this in any kind of analytical way. That's my construct.

But in a very real sense, that is what is happening here around us. The "god" player--in this case, the Governor of the State of New York--has figuratively pressed a button on a very, very large remote control. Whether or not it works will depend to a very great degree on the willing cooperation of we the "subject" players, i.e., the citizens, residents, of the state. Will we actually pause?

When you pause an image on your television/video screen, the image is frozen. If there is a person in the image, that person is not blinking. He/she is "frozen" in place. When you "unpause" that image, the person thus frozen instantly resumes his/her action exactly as if nothing had happened, NO MATTER HOW LONG THE PAUSE WAS IN EFFECT.

And that is the point of divergence between TV pause and RL pause. (Oops. I'd better explain the acronyms. TV is shorthand for Television. Everyone knows that. But only people in the texting generation will know that RL is shorthand for Real Life.) The TV pause is artificial. It's done for convenience, so that I can get up from the comfortable chair, go get a free refill of my beverage from the kitchen, refresh my empty bowl of popcorn, and attend to other matters of personal comfort. And, I can do all of this without missing any of the content of the program I am viewing.

This RL pause is done for similar, but vastly different reasons. Similar in the sense that it gives me a chance to attend to my personal comfort needs and wishes. But that's where the similarity ends. It's not simply a matter of personal comfort and convenience. And I will most definitely be missing out on some things that would otherwise have been happening while I/we have been patiently waiting out the "Pause."

Here's why I'm pausing, as I understand it. Feel free to add to my list or challenge some of my thoughts in a comment below.

1. To keep myself as safe as possible, I'm avoiding contact with others, who may, inadvertently or advertently (evidently also not a word, though it should be), try to kill me. Or at least make me very sick.
2. Similar to #1, only possibly even more important) to keep other people as safe FROM ME as possible, so that I don't inadvertently or advertently to hurt or kill them.
3. To minimize my demand on the limited resources and infrastructure that needs to be refocused on helping those already sick, and finding an effective way or ways to KILL COVID-19. (Incidentally, I HATE YOU, COVID-19. But God tells me that Vengeance is His, so I'm asking God to annihilate you, COVID-19, using any and all of the not insignificant resources at His control. Which, by the way, is EVERYTHING. So, if I were you, COVID-19, I would take whatever time left you have on this Earth and run. Run as far as you can, as fast as you can. Run away. But it won't matter. Because there is no place where you can run and/or hide where My God cannot, will not, find you.) There. That felt pretty good.
4. To show my support of... well, of all of you, by doing my part as a citizen to respect and obey authority, to exercise good judgment on behalf of myself, my family, friends, neighbors, and strangers who share our world. 
5. To set an example for others. Not that anyone is watching me, in particular, but if I do have any influence on anyone, let my example be one that helps others, not the opposite.

When I started writing this blog article/entry today, I had a different title and another article altogether in mind. But as I wrote the first few lines, and then a few more, I realized that I wasn't writing what I thought I wanted to write at all. But I kept writing anyway, and as it turns out, I actually WAS writing what I wanted to write after all. I just didn't know it yet.

Perhaps I'll still write the other article. I still want to. Keep an eye out for it. The title is, or was going to be, "I See a Chance." Don't steal my idea or my article, though! Or maybe, do steal it. Perhaps you'll say it better.

[Update: I DID write that article! If you're curious, you can find it HERE.

I love you!

(In the words of the not very articulate but sometimes funny comedian Larry the Cable Guy, "I don't care who you are, that's funny!" I'm saying to you, I don't care who you are. Even if I don't know you. Or even if I do know you and we're not friends. From one human being to another. "I love you!" Believe it or don't. Take it or leave it. But I mean it.)