Run For Your Life (a Lectionary Reflection by Steve Orr)

The news was bad, about as bad as it gets. His life was forfeit. It appeared nothing could be done to change that. So. Decision time.

Fight, flight, or fold?

Some of us recall the television show, Run For Your Life, where, in the first episode, successful attorney Paul Bryan is told by his doctor that he has less than two years to live. Faced with a hopeless situation, he elects to "take the money and run." For 85 more episodes we follow Paul Bryan (perfectly portrayed by Ben Gazzara) as he travels the globe attempting to do all those things, go all those places that might, in modern parlance, constitute his "bucket list."

This show worked a lot like Route 66; each episode finding the main character embroiled in some situation, but rarely in the same place and rarely with people he had met before. One week he might be stuck in middle America because his car broke down, and the next he might be enlisted by US intelligence to perform some task behind the Iron Curtain (Why, yes, it . . ahem . . . WAS a long time ago).

For those who have never seen it, this is one of the best shows television has offered us, regardless of year. Great writing, great acting, and a who's who of Hollywood stars on their way up. Definitely worth your viewing time.

And that brings me to this week's Lectionary scriptures. In the 1st Kings passage Elijah, coming off the victory at Mount Carmel, suddenly finds his life threatened, and not by just anybody. He has been threatened by Queen Jezebel, a woman who has a reputation of delivering on her threats.

Like Joseph before him (and many others before and after), Elijah elects to run from the confrontation. It seems counter-intuitive, especially following Mount Carmel's mind-blowing victory. But, run he does.

Paul Bryan COULD have chosen differently. He could have stayed right where he was, just accepted the bad hand he had been dealt. "Fold" is always an option. But he chose, instead, to take a different path, to "run for his life." And because of his choice, adventures ensued. Elijah, too, ran from his troubles . . . right into the arms of God.

There are times when we need to press on, but there are also times when the thing to do is run the other way. Or if not run, then walk, or maybe just step off for a bit . . . and seek an audience with the one who is "a very present help in trouble." (Psalms 46:1 NKJV)

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 7 (12) (June 23, 2013)

1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
Psalm 42 and 43
Isaiah 65:1-9
Psalm 22:19-28
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 8:26-39

Complicit (a Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

Do you know the name, Lewis Powell? If so, then you get a gold star. Most people, even if they've heard it before, can't think why it should be memorable. Lewis Powell was involved in what many consider one of the greatest tragedies (if not THE greatest tragedy) in the history of the United States of America.

Well, that certainly narrows it down. No? OK, I won't keep you in suspense. Lewis Powell, and his friend George Atzerodt (another name you probably don't recognize), were accomplices of John Wilkes Booth.

Booth and his accomplices originally planned to kidnap President Abraham Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward (of "Seward's Folly" fame). Then, as we all know, things changed. Their goal had always been to cripple the Union by removing the President and those immediately in line to replace him. But when kidnapping proved impossible, Booth decided assassination was their only other option.

We all know Booth's name. It is infamous. Not only did he assassinate the President, but his act, all by itself, led to the extremely harsh Reconstruction period the South had to endure following the Civil War. Lincoln had made it clear he desired a kindler, gentler reabsorption of the South into the Union. With his mediating influence gone, the hammer came down and came down hard.

Booth was gunned down by Federal troops at a farm in Virginia less than two weeks after the assassination. But what about the other two guys? Powell went to Seward's house, stabbed and seriously wounded him (but Seward survived). Atzerodt could not bring himself to attempt to assassinate Vice President Johnson (he went out drinking, instead). Nevertheless, both hanged for their roles as accomplices.

And that brings us to this week's Lectionary passages. I've read two of these stories many, many times: the murder of Naboth for his vineyard (1st Kings) and the murder of Uriah the Hittite for his wife (2nd Samuel). But on every other reading I missed something, something pretty significant.

These murderers had accomplices.

I have always focused on the actions of Ahab and Jezebel that led to Naboth's death. And, of course, we know of David's lust and how it led to the death of Bathsheba's husband. But none of these villains acted alone. Jezebel involved the "leaders and nobles" of Naboth's city in her murder plot. And David involved Joab, his chief military commander, as well as who knows how many troops, in leaving Uriah alone and unprotected in combat.

We eventually learn of God's response to the actions of Ahab, Jezebel, and and David for their evil machinations. Even though none of the three actually committed the act, God punished them harshly. But we never read anything about their accomplices. I think I know the reason for that.

I doubt these other people escaped the consequences of their complicity. "What goes around comes around" has always been truth. You do, in fact, reap what you sow. But I think the reason these are not reported to us in scripture is this: because some people are leaders while most people are led, the greatest consequence must fall upon the leaders.

Our takeaway? We should look around us and consider just who it is we lead (because there are always some that follow us). Then we should take a little time to reflect on just exactly where it is we are leading them and what is we are leading them to do.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 6 (11) (June 16, 2013)

1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a
Psalm 5:1-8
2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15
Psalm 32
Galatians 2:15-21
Luke 7:36-8:3

We would love for you to join us at Lectionary Breakfast some Friday morning. We're at The Egg and I (Franklin and New Road in Waco) from about 8:00 am to about 9:00 am. Good food and even better company.

Enjoy the week!
Steve

Hobbits at Pentecost? (a Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

In The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (and later in his The Lord of the Rings trilogy), the central characters are hairy-footed little Hobbits from a pleasant backwater of Middle Earth called The Shire. Outside of the adventures recounted by Tolkien, these little beings live generally low-key, unsophisticated lives; taking joy from eating and drinking and other homely activities.

They live the kinds of lives where Second Breakfast may well be the high point of the day.

And yet, Tolkien chose Hobbits to bear the corrupting "Ring of Power" to its intended unmaking in the volcanic fires of Mount Doom in Mordor. Much debate has occurred, both in and outside of the novels, about why the Hobbits were entrusted with such a crucial task.

It reminds me of the reaction of the crowd at Pentecost to those chosen by Jesus as the bearers of his Good News ["Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?'" (Acts 2:7 NIV)]. I know the Bible is not a movie script, but I think the translators may have really "under sold" the crowd's reaction. Shouldn't there be an exclamation point in there somewhere??!!

Umm, Galileans? Really?

That pretty much sums up the general response of ... well, just about all of those who encounter this band of Jesus-followers. Everyone considers them unsophisticated and ill-suited to the tasks they have been assigned. Nathan was not the first (nor the last!) to ask, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46 NCV) And yet, these rough people are the ones Jesus chose.

In TLOTR, Gandalf indicates he chose the Hobbits to take the ring to its doom because they COULD bear it . . . as opposed to every other candidate who would likely succumb to the corruption that comes from possessing such great power.

I don't think we know why Jesus chose the Galileans. But maybe it was for a similar reason. None of the seemingly obvious choices, as it turned out, were really appropriate.

Sometimes, the very person you need is the one the powerful and sophisticated would walk right by without a first glance.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Day of Pentecost (May 19, 2013)

Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21
John 14:8-17, (25-27)

Join us at Lectionary Breakfast this Friday morning? As usual of late, we'll gather at 8:00 a.m. at The Egg and I for some good food and great discussion.

No sophistication required ;-)

Enjoy the week!
Steve

The Call (a VERY short short-story)

THE CALL
by Steve Orr

It had been a good call. He looked good. He sounded happy. She liked that.

But then he asked about the kids.

She had thought she might get through the call without having to outright lie. She cut her eyes to the priest. He was carefully looking anywhere else.

"The kids are fine, honey. They're playing outside."

"Missed them, again. This keeps up, they're not gonna know me."

He was smiling. Laughed lightly and easily.

She forced a return smile. Sold it.

Right then, there was a loud THUMP from outside. She looked up. When she returned her gaze to the screen, it was dark. She heard his voice through the speaker.

"Hey! You still there? What happened? The picture is gone!"

Looking left, she saw the priest had his hand on the switch. It was flipped to "Voice-only."

Forcing a laugh, she said, "I'm still here. We have some weather building. I think that may have been a transformer blowing. I guess I'd better go round up the kids."

There was a longish pause. When he spoke, he sounded disappointed.

"I wish you could come here and take me home."

"Me, too, Honey."

"They say I'm doing better. That maybe I can go home soon."

The tears came then, but she managed to keep them out of her voice.

"Oh, Sweetheart! That would be wonderful! I can hardly wait!"

"Well," he finally said. "Guess I'd better wrap this one up. I love you, Honey. Missing you already!"

"I love you more!" She said brightly, letting her voice fill with playfulness.

"Bye."

"Bye."

The priest cut the signal. She stood and walked toward the door. The rustle of the dress seemed to walk beside her as she crossed the pretend Living Room.

"Private?"

"I can't talk right now, Rev. OK?"

A pause.

"OK. But I'm scheduling you for an hour tomorrow, midday. We have to talk about this."

"Oh, Rev. You're gonna get me psyched with all this counseling."

"Nothing to worry about on that count. I counsel everybody. Nobody's going out on a psych."

She stepped up to the door, saw that the red sign was lit: "OUTER DOOR OPEN." She waited until the green "OUTER DOOR CLOSED" sign lit up. But the door opened before she could get her hand to it. Facing her was the Sergeant Major. She pushed past him and headed toward the other door.

He called after her. "How's it going, Private?"

Without turning, she called back, "Same-o, Same-o, Top."

She stopped at the rack and waited, back still turned to the man. She sensed his eyes on her, but busied herself by pretending to check her weapon. She didn't know if he'd seen the tears on her face, but she wasn't going to give him a better look.

Finally, she heard the inner door close.

Alone in the hall, she stripped off the civvies, quickly getting down to her base uniform. She pulled on her gauntlets, settled the cowl and helmet over her head.

She waited on the face mask.

Checking, again, as any good soldier would, she confirmed the panels showed "INNER DOOR CLOSED" before opening the outer door.

The heat hit her like a wall, like always.

She started up the earthen ramp toward the surface. Only then did she begin to seat the mask over her face.

By the time she had it in place, the tears were gone.


-=*=- -=*=- -=*=- -=*=- -=*=- -=*=- -=*=-

[The challenge was to write a short-story under 600 words. It was to be about someone who found something they had no intention of returning. Sadly, I fail at writing own demand. Nothing for that topic came to mind. The story, above, is what did come.]

Come, And Eat Breakfast (a Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

My weekday mornings as a child, thousands and thousands of them, started pretty much the same way every time. I awoke to the fragrance and pooka-pooka sounds of coffee being transformed in the percolator. Joining that were the sounds and smells of country bacon snapping and crackling in our cast iron skillet. Of course, well before I was awake, Dad had started all of this by lighting the burners on our gas stove. But I slept through that initial whoosh of energy. Later there would be eggs, fried over medium and, on the best days, bread toasted in the oven under the broiler, dark and crispy around the edges with four yellow bulges where the little chunks of broken butter pats had been dotted.

As anyone can tell you, I am not a morning person. I have to gradually transition from sleep, in stages; gently trading pieces of sleepiness for pieces of wakefulness. I am like a deep sea diver, slowly ascending from the depths. I will eventually come to the surface, but, oh, am I slow to take hold of the day.

So, these fragrances and gentle noises, and thoughts of eggs and toast to come, were an essential lever to get me from horizontal to vertical, especially on school days. And, because our family always talked at our meals, by the time I needed to head out the door to tackle my day, I was fully awake, ready in every way that a human being could be.

I think my memories of these morning routines are a large part of the reason why this week's John 21 passage is one of my favorites. I love the ordinariness of this episode. One night Peter says, "I'm going fishing." The rest of the guys, at loose ends, a bit shell shocked, exhausted from the "not knowing" of whatever is coming next, say, "Good idea. We'll come with you." That night's fishing, also quite ordinarily, doesn't produce a single fish. But that's not really the point of fishing, is it?

When Jesus arrives early the next morning, though, he changes everything; helps them catch a great deal of fish, and then says, "Come, and eat breakfast."

It reminds me of when God fed Elijah in 1st Kings 19, strengthening him for the 40 days journey that was still ahead of him, and, really, because of what occurred at the end of those 40 days, for all of his future actions as a prophet of God in this world.

Reeling from recent events, restless, frustrated and stressed, the Apostles needed . . . something. Jesus cooked breakfast for his people. He called them to breakfast and they came, and they ate.

God doesn't ask of us what we cannot do. It's just that we often fail to perceive what we are really capable of. And, if we will but take it, he provisions us so we can carry out what he has planned.

Come, and eat breakfast.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Third Sunday of Easter (April 14, 2013)

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19

Are you going to be in Waco on a Friday? We gather at 8:00 each Friday morning for food and fellowship at The Egg and I (on Franklin, behind the Outback). We have a good breakfast; eggs, bacon, pancakes, coffee . . .

And toast. Really good toast :-)

Enjoy the week!
Steve

One Brief Shining Moment

(a Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

We disagree, we Jesus folk.

Contrary to what those looking in at us may think, there is no all encompassing cohesion on the inside of our belief set. We disagree about many things. We even disagree about what we call ourselves: Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, etc. . . . Or maybe just "Christian" . . . And for those with concerns about even that term, perhaps something simpler still: "follower of Jesus" or just "believer."

We disagree like this because we're human ---It may be our hallmark among the species :-)--- Still, there are a few things we agree on. One of them is this: one day Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. And then, for a bright shining moment, the crowd saw him as he truly was, their King.

It's difficult for us to grasp this scenario. The components seem, as one of my ancestors was fond of saying, "all whomper jawed." It stretches our credulity to think people would react with alleluias, blessings, and shouts of joy . . .

. . . to a man riding on a donkey.

So how do I explain it? My kingdom for a metaphor.

Most of us moderns have trouble relating to the extremely high level of anticipation flooding through the people of Israel at that time. I think that's why we kind of "skip over" this part when we think of what has come to be known as Passion Week. We know that the very heart of our beliefs are tied to the later events of that week. And, of course, we know that this so called "triumphal entry" was soon followed by some very UN-triumphal events, including His death. So, we "note" this procession, thinking of it as a kind of parade, and then shift our focus to what comes next.

But I am asking you to go back, to roll back the film if you will, to witness again this almost magical procession into Jerusalem. It's important, maybe more important than you've ever considered.

Imagine a man living near that city gate. He started his day having to shoulder his way through the crowds---the city is swelled with visitors readying themselves for the Passover later that week---so he could select the lamb for his family's Passover meal. Now, enjoying the relatively spacious elbow room of his rooftop, he is, perhaps, cooking that lamb. A part of his mind is certainly on the story of the first Passover and how, because of the blood of those first Passover lambs, the Angel of Death passed over the homes of his ancestors.

Another part is likely considering what everyone has been talking about: this man, Jesus, who supposedly walks on water, heals the sick, and raises the dead! Everyone had been speculating that maybe, just maybe, at long last their deliverance has come; that this is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the King who will throw off the shackle of Rome.

Then, he hears a commotion, over near the gate. He raises his eyes to take in something that, at first, he can hardly credit. He sees a man, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey; sees a growing crowd pulling off their cloaks and laying them, along with young palm fronds, into the path before the donkey.

And he feels a frisson of energy charge up his spine.

Everything is there just as predicted by the prophets: the donkey, the crowds, the shouts of "Hosanna!" and "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of The Lord!" Suddenly he finds himself running; down the steps, out the door, toward the gate; hears his own voice joining those of strangers and neighbors in joyful expression of what has been pent up for SO LONG.

He is shouting and laughing and crying, living to the fullest the greatest moment of his life. All is well! All will be well! At last, at last. Their savior has come.

People with a great desire to believe in their hope are charged with an energy that is truly mind-blowing in its intensity.

The thrill of hope.

That's what we are missing if we slide over this scene. That's what we MUST go back for. If we truly ARE believers, then this is how we must see our Lord, triumphantly arriving as our King.

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READINGS FOR EASTER
Acts 10:34-43
Isaiah 65:17-25
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18
Luke 24:1-12

I know this reflection doesn't "line up" with the readings for Easter Sunday. I did this on purpose. Unless we realize just who it is we believe in, our understanding of what follows the triumphal entry is missing its best context. We must always remember with what "longing fulfilled," with what HOPE, He was welcomed into Jerusalem.

If we can even come close to that in our own joy, we will begin to understand the truth of our current relationship with God.

If you're in Waco, join us Friday at The Egg and I for some good food and something even better. We will be there at 8:00 a.m. for about an hour of thought-provoking, idea storming, thrill-inducing moments.

And absolutely full of hope.

Enjoy the week!
Steve

Tom Swift and the Amazing BRIC!

I'm pretty sure that, for me, it all started with "Tom Swift and His Flying Lab." I mean, I knew about Sputnik--had even lain out at night in our backyard to watch it pass by overhead--and I had certainly read my share of space operas, but I was no Rocket Boy. Up until then, it had always been more about the adventure and less (near zero) about the technology used to make the adventure possible.

I had read some Tom Swift adventures, but they were the older novels, books like "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle" (1910). Before me on the shelf that day (circa 1960) was the first adventure of Tom Swift, JUNIOR. Standing there in the store, I goggled at the cover art for TSaHFL. That giant, jet-powered VTOL airplane--even bigger than the Spruce Goose!--with normal-sized jet planes flying out of its onboard hangar, the Earth hanging below it and the blackness of space above it; that's the moment I was hooked.

I wanted to be an Astronaut.

I begged my parents for the money to buy that book (There were no NEW books of this type in any lending library to which I had access. See earlier reference to TS and his motorcycle.). Suffice to say, some time passed before I was able to read it all the way through. Eventually, though, I did read it, and reread it, and again a few MORE times until I could just see myself working in that lab, circling the globe at near orbital heights, studying everything below . . . and above.

So. It has now been more than half a century since that pivotal moment. And, no, I am not (nor do I expect to be) an Astronaut. Nor am I a credentialed scientist. But my inner Rocket Boy still lives. And he was delighted to tour the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC), recently . . . especially when our tour brought us to the Space Sciences Lab (Mission Design & Data), Satellite Integration, and the Dusty Plasma Simulator. I was in heaven :-)

The BRIC, housing all sorts of scientific projects and activities, is partly research lab central and partly business incubator. If you ever have the opportunity to tour, I highly recommend it. For the kind of fascination where hours feel like minutes, it ranks up there with The Armstrong Browning Library & Museum.

One of the more interesting aspects of the BRIC (among hundreds) is the story of the facility, itself. In addition to what goes on inside it, this massive, 300,000 square foot building is also architecturally fascinating. What now houses cutting edge science was once . . . a tire factory.

General Tire opened the plant in Waco, Texas in the early 1940's. And it was a thriving operation. Until it closed its doors for good. Sure, the "bones" were still there; they were always substantial. But what do you do with a tire factory when there is no longer a need for one? So, for decades, it sat; empty, abandoned, useless, worthless. Circumstances had brought it low. For the longest time, it was lost.

And no amount of wishing was going to change that. And it would still be just like that if some folks had not decided to redeem it, reshape it, re-task it. What was old has passed away; it's now a new creation.

All of this week's Lectionary selections are about redemption. Read them and experience a quiet joy spreading across your thoughts and emotions. These Bible passages are about being brought back from the brink, having new life breathed in, being rescued from evil, coming home.

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READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 10, 2013)

Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

If you're in Waco on Friday morning, join us at 8:00 for breakfast and the pleasure of talking about how the words of the Bible actually work in our real lives. We'll be at The Egg and I (on Franklin behind The Outback).

Enjoy the week!
Steve