Life Lessons from the National Parks

December 6, 2012

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18

It’s that time of year again—time to light the National Christmas Tree!

And yes, it takes place in a national park.  The 90^th National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place on the Ellipse at President’s Park in Washington, D.C. It begins at 4:30 p.m. tonight, and you can view it live at www.thenationaltree.org (in case you miss it, PBS will also be broadcasting it throughout December). The program is presented by the National Park Service and The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks.

Of course, a tree lighting wouldn’t be complete without music. The pre-show will feature The Midtown Men, four stars from the original Broadway cast of Jersey Boys. During the actual show/ceremony, hosted by actor Neil Patrick Harris, the band The Fray; the U.S. Naval Band Commodores; pianist Evan Shinners; and singers Jason Mraz, James Taylor, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Colbie Caillat and Phillip Phillips will perform. Actor Rico Rodriguez from television’s Modern Family also will appear (he just released a book, “Reel Life Lessons…So Far”—hey, he stole my title!). And, of course, President Obama and his family will flip the switch to light the tree (read all about the performers here).

Now, lest you think all this hoopla is being paid for by your tax dollars, please note that there are sponsors. The premier one is UL (Underwriters Laboratory), described as a “global safety organization” (you’ve undoubtedly seem its tags on tons of products). Its sponsorship is part of the company’s national safety campaign to educate consumers on how to keep their homes safe, especially during the holidays.

The statistics UL cites about fire risks this time of year are sobering: fires cause over $18 million dollars worth of property damage and injuries, and send more than 13,000 people to the emergency room. Fire sources include dry trees, damaged lights, frayed extension cords and unattended candles.

The apostle Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy while he was imprisoned in Rome under persecution by the emperor Nero. He was cold and alone in his cell (4:10-12) and was aware his death was near (4:6-8). Some friends had remained faithful, but others had deserted him (4:9-16, 19-21).

And yet—Paul could conclude this last epistle with hope. “The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me,” he assured Timothy (4:17), and he knew God would fully deliver him soon.

Hazards, difficulties, tests and trials—physical, emotional, mental and spiritual—surround us not only at Christmastime but all year around. Sometimes the happy holiday atmosphere only serves to intensify those problems. But no matter how alone we may feel, we’re not really. There is a Friend who sticks close (Proverbs 18:24), who will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and who has the power to help us in this world and deliver us to the next, where we will bask in His glorious presence, all problems forgotten (Revelation 21:4, 22:3-4).

Better than a UL guarantee!

Comments (0) Dec 06 2012

JANUARY 19, 2012

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.    1 Timothy 6:7

There was a significant burial at Pearl Harbor (more formally known as World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument) recently.

Frank Cabiness’s cremated remains were placed inside the U.S.S. Arizona, the battleship he served on which was sunk by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. It took nine years after his death for his family to fulfill his wishes, because they didn’t have the means to travel to Hawaii, but they made sure to finally get it done. “He said it was because that’s where he belonged,” said his son, in an article in The New York Times.

Many Arizona crewmembers who lived during the attack at Pearl Harbor have chosen the ship as the final resting place for their ashes; same with the nearby Utah, the only other battleship sunk that day that remains in the harbor. Most of the 1,177 sailors and Marines who died on the Arizona—more than any other ship or unit—are entombed on the vessel, which sank nine minutes after a Japanese bomb hit it.

As I mentioned in a previous post, my family and I visited the Arizona memorial in September. As we solemnly stared at the wall listing the names of the dead, we watched as veteran after veteran saluted their fallen comrades.

I’m glad the Cabinesses were able to fulfill their father’s wish to be reunited with his lost shipmates. As the family can surely attest, though, his ashes were all that joined them. He didn’t take any possessions with him, even his most precious mementos.

Of course, as with all of us, whatever Mr. Cabiness left behind had to be dealt with somehow. The Times article notes that his survivors proudly retain the only thing he managed to leave the Arizona with when he escaped death 70 years ago—a watch stopped at 8:15, the moment when he hit the water after jumping from the ship.

Financial experts plead with us to make wills, to plan for the disposition of property and care of minor children. You decide how you want to distribute your earthy goods and who you want to raise your kids, and put it in writing, they caution, or the government will make the choice for you—and the results may not be what you wanted.

What’s usually not mentioned in the discussion of estate planning is a much more important matter that also must be taken care of this side of the grave. It concerns the only thing that does last beyond this life: the soul. We all must make provision for it before death, lest we lose our choice in its final disposition.

And yes, there is a choice:

I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction… Deuteronomy 30:15

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…  Joshua 24:15

Indifference is a choice many make, the choice of not choosing, you might say. Maybe you don’t especially worry what happens to your possessions after you die: “I’ll be gone, what do I care?” But not choosing your soul’s ultimate destiny leads to unthinkable consequences:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.  2 Corinthians 5:10

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books where opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books…If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 21:12, 15  

Of course, you can choose not to believe—that’s also an option. That’s what the rich man did in a parable Jesus told in Luke 16:19-31. He supposed that a good time on earth would translate into the same after death. Instead, he found his soul in torment in hell. “Have pity on me,” he pleaded with Abraham far away in heaven, “for I am in agony in this fire.” But the patriarch replied, “Between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”

“Warn my brothers, so they don’t end up here!” he begged. Abraham noted they already had all the information they needed to avoid his fate. “But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent,” the rich man finally implored. “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets,” Moses concluded, “they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead” (which is just what Jesus did!).

Why do people dither in making wills? The expense, possibly. Usually, though, I think it’s because they don’t want to think about death. The irony of that is—it’s inevitable! The odds of death are 100%! The question then becomes, why put all you’ve worked for and perhaps your children at risk?

We need to ask ourselves the same question about our soul. One major lesson from the parable in Luke is that it still remains alive after our body dies. So why bet the farm through either apathy or outright disbelief, and leave the unavoidable outcome to chance? “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Just as with a will, the time to do something about it is now, before it’s too late, because there’s no do-over after death.

God already has made provision for our souls. He’s made it clear He wants you and me with Him. He doesn’t send people to hell all by Himself; those who turn their back on Him have chosen that future themselves. And He doesn’t enjoy it in the least: “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live” (Ezekiel 33:11).

Hopefully you’ve made a will. Would you go a step further and make a will for your soul, if you haven’t already? Choose to join me, not in body but in spirit, in a glorious heaven where there’s no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4), and where we’ll be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Because that is where we truly belong.

Comments (2) Jan 19 2012

June 6, 2011

Be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming…for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matthew 24:42, 44

Did you know that some our nation’s waterways are part of the Park Service?

The Missouri National Recreational River (MMNR) in Nebraska and South Dakota, falls into NPS’s National Wild and Scenic River category.  According to the park’s website, “[t]he Missouri River is rich in cultural resources, in places that have a national, regional or local significance. Numerous historic sites and two archeological sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places are located in counties along the corridor but outside the park boundary. However, three historic sites are within the park: Spirit Mound, Meridian Bridge and Fort Randall.”

The Missouri is in the news right now because “[d]ue to usually high rainfall and snowpack conditions in the Upper Missouri River Basin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must release an unprecedented amount of water from its six mainstem dams.” In other words, low-lying areas along the river’s route—in  Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska and Iowa—are being swamped. The MNRR site is posting warnings about closures and dangerous conditions on its lands and waters.

Enough already with all the disasters, Lord!

Coupled with all the hoopla over the recent prediction of the end of the world (full disclosure: Many years ago, I used to work at one of the radio stations Mr. Camping’s organization owns. He wasn’t crazy then, honest!), all these recent physical calamities here and abroad can make a person feel uneasy. But I don’t think that’s what God intends. Matthew chapter 24 details many things that will happen become Jesus comes again—false teachers, wars, famines, earthquakes, lawlessness, increasing evil and decreasing love for God—but He also says, “see that you are not frightened” (v. 6).

And He adds, “’See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying “I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many…many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many…even the elect [true believers], if possible’” (vv. 4, 5, 11, 24). When Jesus comes again, there will be no guessing, no mistaking and no doubt about what’s happening (vv. 27-31).

But like those unfortunate people who live in areas prone to flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes, it pays to be prepared. Those who rode out the tornadoes did so because they heeded the advance warning and found a safe place to hide. Flood victims moved to higher ground. Earthquake survivors found shelter under strong supports or in buildings that didn’t fall. Certainly a lot of property was destroyed—and I’m not minimizing the loss in the least—but over and over again, you hear those who came through with family and friends intact, “We can always rebuild; at least we have each other. That’s what’s most important.”

Those same principles of vigilance and readiness are necessary for the Christian life. Jesus used several parables—earthly stories that convey a spiritual meaning—back to back in Matthew 24 and 25 to emphasize them as relates to His coming again. To me, three of the most striking are these:

–an aware householder who, if he knew what time at night a thief was coming, would thwart the robbery (24:43);

–a slave who has the honor of being in charge of the house while his master is away, yet decides to mistreat the staff and get drunk instead, then is caught when the master unexpectedly comes home early (24:45-51); and

–the ten young women who, in the custom of the times, waited for the bride and groom to resume the wedding celebration; half didn’t bring enough oil for their lamps and had to go get some more, and thus missed out on all the festivities (25:1-13).

The contrast between the responsible and ready, the foolish and unprepared made a significant difference in each case.

God makes it clear in these chapters that we don’t know when the world will end. We don’t even know what tomorrow will bring, whether terrible calamity or the same old, same old.

We can’t cover all our bases in preparing for the future. But one thing we can do is hang our hat on the One who does hold today and tomorrow (and yes, even yesterday) in His hands, the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end—of all creation (Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:13). He alone is our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1), our hiding place (Psalm 32:7), our strong tower where we can run and be safe (Proverbs 18:10), and the one who leads us to higher ground (Psalm 27:5, 40:2, 61:2).

You just can’t go wrong with that foundation, no matter what the world throws at you!

Comments (3) Jun 06 2011

September 20, 2010

The tongue is a small part of the body, and yet…how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity…it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. James 3:5, 6, 8-10

Bet you didn’t know that next Tuesday is Ask a Stupid Question Day (September 28 is the “official” day, although it’s sometimes “celebrated” on the last school day of the month). Neither did I, until I read about it last year. And I’ve been waiting all this time to write about it!

But what does it have to do with national parks, you may ask? Well, it seems a lot of people ask thoughtless questions at national parks. A 2007 article in the Sacramento (California) Bee lists some of them:

–at Grand Canyon: “Exactly why did you guys put it here?”

–at Denali: “How much does Mount McKinley weigh?”

–at Everglades: “Where are all the rides?”

–at Mesa Verde: “Do you know of any undiscovered ruins?”

–at Yellowstone: “How do you turn it [Old Faithful geyser] on?”

–at Carlsbad Caverns: “How much of the cave is underground?”

–at Yosemite: “Where are the cages for the animals?”

And from a blurb in the December 2009/January 2010 edition of Reader’s Digest, this gem, which stumped a ranger at Olympic National Park: “Do you have any trails that just go downhill?”

Okay, these comments are good for a laugh, but often the things that come out of our mouths aren’t so funny. I cringe when I remember remarks I’ve made over the years; I can feel my face turning red at the very thought of them, even if they were decades ago!

And then there are the unkind, insensitive and even cruel words that have been aimed at us…

Scripture has a lot to say about the way we talk. A single reading of James 3 should pull everybody up short. The Bible details the many ways our tongue lands us in hot water, tears others down and dishonors God—through obscene and coarse language and empty words (Ephesians 5:4-6); gossip (Romans 1:29, 2 Corinthians 12:20, 1 Timothy 3:11, 2 Timothy 3:3, Titus 2:3); malice, slander and abuse (Colossians 3:8); bitterness (James 3:11); and lying (Exodus 20:16, Psalm 120:2, Proverbs 12:22, Acts 5:3, Colossians 3:9, to mention just a few).

For this last category, it would take a long time to find all the verses that addressed the subject . I’m sobered by the fact that lying is often grouped with what we might call the “big sins”—sexual immorality, idolatry, murder and sorcery (Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:27, 22:15). Kind of puts dishonesty in a more serious light, doesn’t it?

Jesus sums up the issue in a straightforward and frank fashion in Matthew 12:36, 37: “I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”

Whoa.

So what to do? Thank God, when He points out a problem, He also offers a solution! He not only provides confession and cleansing from every sin (1 John 1:9), but specific direction on how to control our tongue and use it for good:

–through prayer:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:11)

–through Scripture:

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:16, 17)

–with humility and reliance upon the Holy Spirit:

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom…my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4)

--through love and forgiveness:

“And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Colossians 3:12-14)

–through grace:

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6).

What’s striking about these verses is that in 3 out of 5 of them, the heart is the key component. Bingo! “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart,” Jesus bluntly declares in Matthew 12:34.  Take in good stuff, and good stuff will come out.

Lord, help us to fill our hearts and minds with what’s true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and praiseworthy, so we can pass on to others in word and deed that peace You say will be with us as we dwell on and practice these things (Philippians 4:7-9).

And please don’t let us be found on anybody’s stupid speech list!

Comments (3) Sep 20 2010

September 6, 2010

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1,2

Hard to believe, but the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks is this week.

The Pentagon Memorial is completed, and work at the World Trade Center is ongoing. At the only site tied to the terrorist attacks of 2001 administered by the National Park Service (NPS), the Flight 93 National Memorial, the first phase of construction is underway (and a temporary visitor center recently opened). Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush will be the keynote speakers at anniversary observances there Saturday.

The NPS website details the future components of the memorial, which is described as “a common field one day, a field of honor forever:”

–the Tower of Voices, 40 large wind chimes to evoke the sound of the wind and the 40 voices of the passengers and crew aboard the plane during its final moments;

–the Field of Honor, the circular heart of the park;

–the Entry Portal to the field, approached through a clearing of 40 red and sugar maple trees marking the plane’s flight path;

–the Sacred Ground, where Flight 93 crashed, able to be viewed by the public but accessible only to family members of the passengers and crew.

As visitors approach the Sacred Ground, they will have to go across ponds, an area called a “healing landscape,” since the water will be full of aquatic life. I like the idea of incorporating the concept of healing into the design.

And isn’t that we all crave, solace for our pain and grief? We search for it in good ways—at memorials and graveyards, through journaling, prayer and therapy—but also in unhealthy behaviors, like overeating, denial and unforgiveness. The thing is, each one of them, good or bad, is only temporary.

I certainly hope visitors and especially surviving family members and friends affected by the September 11 attacks find a measure of comfort at the memorials, especially on this anniversary weekend.  But my prayer is that all of us look first to God the Healer (Exodus 15:26) who alone can fulfill His promise to completely do away with our tears and mourning (Revelation 21:4).

Oh, what a great day that will be!

It will be worth it all
When we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small
When we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face
All sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race
‘Til we see Christ.
–When We See Christ (Esther Kerr Rusthoi)

Comments (4) Sep 07 2010

February 22, 2010

And he [an angel] carried me [John] away in the Spirit…and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper… And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones…And the material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. Revelation 21:9-12, 14, 18-20

The other day I read a National Geographic Adventure article about Yosemite National Park. The “must-do” hike it listed was to Vernal Fall, reached by trekking 1.5 miles up the Mist Trail, then climbing a steep granite stairway of over 600 steps.

I thought, I remember that trail! Joe and I were at Yosemite 25 years ago (!), and yet I vividly recall traipsing up those stairs, slick with the spray from the fall and filled with people coming and going.

Our final destination that June day in 1985 wasn’t the 317-foot fall, though, lovely as the plume is. We had to climb a bit higher to find what we’d really come for: Emerald Pool.

Now you must realize that green is my favorite color, emerald my jewel of choice. And this small lake is far and away the most wonderful shade I’ve ever seen. Its color comes from the algae on the rocks at the bottom of the water, and in the brilliant sunlight, Emerald Pool nearly took my breath away. That’s why I remember the hike so well: the sight of that sparkling water more than made up for the strenuous, crowded hike.

When I read the description of heaven in the final pages of Revelation, I can hardly take in how utterly gorgeous it will be. Not only will my preferred color by on full display, but also a host of other precious stones, the exact composition and color of some of them unknown to us. They will flash with startling luster along with the golden streets and the crystal clear river of life (Revelation 22:1), next to the perfect, milky pearls that make up the city gates (Revelation 21:21). And their radiance won’t come from the sun or the moon, but from God’s glory, seen at last in all its fullness (21:23, 22:5).

Weary traveler, keep your eyes on the end of the trail! We’ve got steep steps yet to climb, treacherous places to navigate and difficult situations to deal with, but at the end, all will be forgotten when we look into the shining face of the One who has already prepared it for us (Matthew 25:34, John 14:2).

“And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.” Revelation 22:17

Comments (2) Feb 25 2010

December 14, 2009

Endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3

Weather historians agree that the winter of 1779-80 was the worst of the 18th century in New Jersey. And that was very unfortunate for the Continental Army encamped around Morristown.

The location was a good one. It was ideally situated a two days’ march from the British base in New York City, and the nearby Watchung Mountains and Great Swamp provided natural defenses. Roads connecting New England and the revolutionary capital at Philadelphia were easily guarded. The water supply was ample, and trees for fuel and construction abundant. Local homes could be used as quarters for generals and staff officers.

Anticipating a long stay in the area, General Washington ordered log huts built to house the enlisted men. Eight infantry brigades—over 10,000 soldiers—felled more than 600 acres of oak, walnut and chestnut to build 1,000-1,200 crude shelters. The bitter weather, however, impeded the work. For almost all of December, the army slept under tents or with no covering at all. Many of them were not under roofs until February.

In addition to not having proper shelter, the soldiers suffered from a lack of food and clothing during that cold, snowy winter. As a private bitterly noted, “The monster hunger still attended us. Here was the army starved and naked and there their country sitting still and expecting the army to do notable things.”

The story of those long-ago soldiers and their extraordinary fortitude is told at Morristown National Historical Park. And perhaps it’s fitting that it’s our country’s first national historical park, because as the park handbook notes:

The encampment of the Continental Army at Morristown, New Jersey, sums up much of the Revolutionary War. [It] was a war more of waiting than of battles and fighting. For the patriots, perhaps this was just as well, because they tended to lose the battles. But waiting imposed its own trials on patience and the ability of the infant United States and its weak economy to sustain an army in the field. In a contest of patience and endurance, Great Britain might have retained her American empire simply by persisting longer in the struggle than the often-impatient patriots. Morristown tested the emotional and physical resources on which depended the Continental Army and ultimately the American cause.

Where would we as a country be if those brave men—who did indeed go on to do “notable things”—had not stayed true to the cause? In the midst of terrible conditions, they waited out the greatest nation in the world. They endured, even though they undoubtedly wondered if the struggle was really worth it. We know now that it was.

Perhaps in this season of life, two hundred and thirty years later, you find yourself in the midst of your own icy spiritual, physical or emotional chill, undergoing deprivation and hardship, not at all certain how it’s going to turn out. Take a lesson from these long-ago soldiers—but more importantly, look to the Baby whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.  Nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus did what George Washington could never do—He offered Himself as the sacrifice for all our sin, sorrow and sickness (Isaiah 53:4, 5). And He left behind His Holy Spirit to give us strength for each battle we fight along the way (John 14:16-18, 26, 27).

And the ending? We know that, too! It promises to be brighter than any Independence Day fireworks display and more beautiful than a pristine winter snowfall—with no more death or mourning or crying or pain to mar the picture any longer (Revelation 21 and 22).

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter
Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man,
I would do my part,–
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

–Christina Rossetti

Comments (2) Dec 15 2009

November 9, 2009

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

I’m still working my way through the Ken Burns’ park series that my husband Joe graciously recorded for me while I was in Nebraska. And I continue to peruse articles I’ve cut out of the papers about the series (can you tell I am way behind on everything??)

One of the pieces I’ve read is from The New York Times, an interview with Mr. Burns and his collaborator, Dayton Duncan. In this article, the author mentions that Mr. Duncan “frequently chokes up” when discussing the film project. “It tells the multiple stories, Mr. Duncan said, of ‘an individual, a small group of people, an organization who fell in love with a place so deeply that they dedicated themselves to finally convince the government over a long struggle that it should be set aside for everyone…In each place, there’s great conflict and drama and unbelievable characters and great scenery.’”

When asked about all the travels he makes to promote his work, Ken Burns says, “There’s an evangelical dimension to it…I like shooting; I like getting up at 3 a.m. and getting out with the camera and getting out and filming…And then I love the proselytizing.” In reality, he says, he’s “’made the same film over and over again,’ one with a single theme at its core: ‘”Who are we?”’”

The enthusiasm of these two men for their work and this specific project—which took ten years—is obvious. The result, the Times’ writer says, is “an unabashed love letter.”

I found myself thinking that the Bible is also a “love letter,” albeit a much more important and life-changing one than any film, and it has all the same exciting elements Mr. Duncan raved about:

–people who were so committed to following God that they paid for it with their lives—for examples, see the book of Acts, or Hebrews 11, which I mentioned in my last post

–great conflict—Romans 7:7-25 outlines what is perhaps the greatest conflict of all, the one within ourselves

–drama—Paul’s radical conversion from persecutor to devoted follower, for one (Acts 9), or the incredible story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50)

–unbelievable characters—Samson, a cautionary study in contrasts (Judges 13-16); Rahab, a prostitute who was included in the Messianic line (Exodus 2:1-21, 6:22-23; Matthew 1:5); and Ananias and Sapphira, a couple who dropped dead when caught in a lie (Acts 5:1-10); to name just a few

– great scenery—you can’t beat the description of heaven in Revelation 21:10-27!

If the apostle Paul confessed he wasn’t a terrific speaker or exceptionally wise, and trembled from fear when he spoke, what excuse do we have to keep silent about the greatest story ever written?

We don’t need to go to seminary or evangelism seminars to tell the story, although those things have their place. All we have to do is, like Ken Burns, keep relaying the same message over and over again, one with a single theme at its core: Who are we?

The simple but profound answer is found in Romans 3:23, 6:23; and Ephesians 2:8 & 9: we are sinners saved from God’s wrath by His amazing grace.

Comments (0) Nov 10 2009