Revisiting a Vision

The suspension of Phil Robertson of "Duck Dynasty" for espousing his biblical beliefs has caused quite the stir, and the dust hasn't yet begun to settle. When it does, I'm afraid it'll once more reveal a line in the moral sand of our nation that many will choose to gingerly tiptoe around in silence; while the more ardent and vocal from either side of this divisive line will begin to unfurl the banners of a moral war whose roots are more ancient than Christianity itself.

You may choose to believe that Robertson's suspension is a free-speech issue, but the truth lies in the  1200-pound gorilla in the room so many wish to ignore: homosexuality. More specifically, the biblical condemnation of homosexuality that wrenches the gut of loving believers and non-believers the world over - myself included.  I believe this issue divides us just as much -if not more- than slavery did prior to the Civil War - and for the very same reasons written in black and white.

Like it or not, the Confederacy had biblical justification for wanting to keep slavery alive, and pro-slavery advocates preached that message with the same fervor and righteousness -and from the same book- that abolitionists used to decry the evils of bondage. It took the blood of 618,000 souls to finally eradicate the stain of slavery from this country, yet the biblical precepts accepting and condoning its existence still remain - no one chopped those verses from the bible, they simply aren't preached from the pulpit any longer.

The Confederate soldier who went off to battle may have felt justified in giving his life for a righteous cause - because the bible told him slavery was an acceptable institution.  Was he not justified in his faith and belief?  Or was he simply misguided in attempting to embrace antiquated thought and culture?  What did the Holy Spirit say to the hearts of those fighting on both sides of that vicious conflict?

In my youth I accepted the bible as truth. Period. Relationships altered that belief, but not without immense moral struggle and tears. I befriended many homosexual men and women over the years, and my question to them was always the same. Were you born this way or is your sexual preference a choice? My own struggles with alcohol had led me to believe that it was my choosing to drink that resulted in sin, and if I could justify their sexual desires as an equally forbidden pursuit, then the scriptures would remain justified in their condemnation. After decades of friendships that still persist - the resounding conclusion was that my friends were born with their desires, their leanings weren't fueled by a switch that could simply be turned on or off like my craving for the next drink.  God made them that way - and commanded me to love all of His creation.

This morning I was reading through Acts and revisited Peter's vision in chapters 10 and 11, the account of the sheet bound up with unclean animals that descended on him three times with Christ commanding him to "Rise Peter, kill and eat."  For a stalwart Jew, this appalled Peter to no end, and the meaning of the vision wasn't clear until he was summoned to the Roman Gentile Cornelius. We've been taught that this vision opened up the love of Christ to all peoples, and not just the Jews.  Christ told him in Acts 10:15 "...What God has cleansed you must not call common."  The church was blown to silence in chapter 11:18, and they glorified God when they interpreted the vision as God equally granting to Gentiles "repentance to life."  I see more here, friends.  Firstly, change is acceptable and was accepted in the first century church.  What was once unclean was no longer so.  Do you think this was an easy pill for all the membership to swallow?  Likewise, racial divides still permeate our society and there remain groups within the South who still smell the powder burning.  Change does not come easy, nor is it embraced openly. 

Secondly, is it such a far stretch of the imagination to think our society hasn't evolved into a more accepting and loving group in 2000 years?  Slavery has been abolished.  Women's roles in our society have transformed.  Superstition lingers, but knowledge wipes away ignorance every day.  If we cannot grow, then we will die.

Look into your hearts, pray and ask for guidance and understanding from the Holy Spirit on this issue.  Don't go to war over a cultural taboo that I feel should have died the same time slavery did. Love unconditionally and work to unify our entire community with that belief.  Hate and prejudice have no place in any heart, and it's time we embrace change and accept everyone for who they are, as God made them.

It is Well...

There seems to be a lot of stress and negativity permeating our lives today. Our government's the epitome of intrusive, chaotic dysfunction; our troops grow weary of war in distant lands; the nation is divided into factions of finger-pointing across an ever-widening gap of disparate values and beliefs; a dying environment crumbles all around us from man-wrought apathy, and the economy remains a precarious wasteland fraught with uncertainty.

The only phone calls I seem to get are from debt collectors - never from the hundreds of jobs I've applied for or the publisher with that fat book deal...

...But it is well with my soul. Why?

Because the sun still rose this morning, the hummingbirds still stopped by for a visit, my daughter's health continues to vastly improve and my wife woke with a warm smile upon her face - just for me.

It is well with my soul.

There's food in the cupboard, a roof over my head, and good friends just a keystroke away with a laugh and a smile. The van hasn't died completely, I didn't have to serve jury duty this week, and a lot of people - even a few I DON'T know :0) - seem to really be enjoying the story I've worked years to bring about in print.

That, too - is well with my soul.

I can't change what's happening in D.C.,  but I can vote wiser in the future and hold my leaders more accountable.

I can't issue an order to bring all the troops home - or mediate a peace with an enemy that doesn't seem to want any - but I can pray and support the ones who serve.

I can't wave a magic wand or weave a potion to cure the world's environmental woes - but I can make small changes to decrease my own footprint on this place, and build upon that day after day.

I can't make that employer hire me or wish my novel on to the best sellers lists - but I can keep scribbling, and keep trying, and keep treading water indefinitely - moment to moment if need be, as long as I'm still breathing.

It IS well with MY soul.

I can smile.

I can love.

 I can make someones day a little brighter than it could have been - and I don't have to do it by staunchly advocating my beliefs or cramming my values down others throats.

It is well with my soul, because my outlook on this life and how I choose to walk it is the only thing I have absolute control over. And I choose to do so with a thankful and grateful grin.

Peace to you and yours, friends. 

Live, Laugh... and Love.







  

Chasing Dreams

I wrote 'Benjamin Oliver Flanagan' over a Christmas holiday many years ago. I was recently divorced and spending time with family in Missouri. My sister-in-law's mother, Rosemary - a sweet, Godly and wonderful woman told me that the best advice a friend had given her during her own similar crisis was to simply "go wait outside, and let God handle it."  I found the sentiment refreshing and entirely relevant to my dire straits of the time, so I sat down and penned the tale of Benjamin and Speedy.

I posted the story on a poetry website a few months later and was contacted by a publisher in Cleveland that wanted to produce Benjamin. After a year of putting all the pieces together, Benjamin was published in a limited release and then quietly faded into that place where most children's books disappear to.  The publisher has since gone out of business, but I had enough good feedback on the tale over the years to take a chance and put it on Kindle earlier this month, just to test the waters.  The response was overwhelming!  My brother convinced me to put it back in print, and I was anxious to do so but didn't want to rake people over the coals with a book that cost more than I felt it was worth.  My new publisher increased the size of the book and decreased the printing costs by more than 50%, making it a much more affordable option that I couldn't balk at.

I received a few phone calls, text messages and emails asking when the next Benjamin and Speedy tale would be released - and I honestly didn't have an answer. I contacted Kevin Scott Collier, the original illustrator and discussed the costs associated with developing about 40 new images for 'Benjamin & the Heavy Load', the next tale in what I hope will be an ongoing series of life lessons for Benjamin & his trusty companion.  The production costs are more than I can currently pony up, and even if I had the dough, the chances of recouping that investment within my limited market are slim to none.  Let's face it, folks - unless your name is Dr. Seuss it's kind of tough to make a living in the inspirational children's book realm.

But this project is not about money or getting rich.  It's about moral lessons given to me by my father that I want to pass along to as many impressionable young minds as I possibly can. Would I love to see the Benjamin series as a best-seller?  You betcha!  But more important to me is the smiles I get from children who love the characters, adventure and lyrical dance of my work - and I know they can't read the stories without having some of the kindness, faith and trust impacting their lives, and ultimately help them make better, kinder and wiser choices as they grow.

I've got the story - I just need your help in funding the art creation and helping offset the costs of audio production.  If you support positive literature for young people, I sincerely hope you'll consider helping me bring another positive tale to new life.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go wait outside and see if this dream is going to come to fruition. Blessings to you and yours!

Here's the link to the fundraiser - give what you can, if you can - and share the effort with your friends.  http://www.gofundme.com/vj1cw

Much love!  Dream Big Dreams!

-Dale