Nonconformity

“You laugh because I’m different. I laugh because you’re all the same.”
I've seen this t-shirt many, many times. The lettering is bold white on black, suitable for a grungy or clean casual look. Obviously machine-made, there is no doubt that this t-shirt has been mass produced. Several thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, were created in a factory. They were packed off and sold in department stores nation wide. They hung on a rack next to shirts with similar messages. Thousands of people who think they are 'different' are all wearing the same t-shirt.
Such a way to make a statement of nonconformity; to buy a t-shirt. Such a way to display your disdain for the common crowd; to wear a shirt that is in every way identical to thousands of others. Such is the fate of nonconformity. Such is individualism.
It does not exist. There is no way to be truly unique, nothing we can do that will set us apart. “There is nothing new under the sun.” So said a wise man three thousand years ago, and he is still right.
It has become common to be different. There is a small group of devotees for every style of clothing, every style of life, every off-the-wall speaker and wacky sci-fi tv show. In their own way, they are all the same. Each feels isolated in a world that does not understand them, each wants to find a niche, to fit in. But they do not want to sacrifice who they are in order to blend with the mainstream mediocrity of the clean-cut middle class. So they form factions and splinter groups.
No matter what their t-shirts say, they’re all the same.
I laugh, because your t-shirt contradicts itself. Does your life do the same?

Lonely Hearts

Every great work of literature, any decent song, every story has one thing in common. They all center around one crucial topic, one essential element around which all life revolves: loneliness, a lack of love, fractured and broken relationships. Oliver Twist was born an orphan because his mother felt unloved, and could not return home to her father in disgrace. Huckleberry Finn set sail down a river because his father saw him as a key to a bank account. No story which lacks this element can have any power, because no life lacks this element. It is the root of all suffering, all want, and all hate.
If we could remove the loneliness, fill the void of emptiness, then all would be well with the world. Utopia is never a deserted island, no matter how lush and green. Our need for fulfilling relationship drives all that we do, and every story teller knows this. Young Tom Riddle had no family and no friends, so he created a cult around himself full of dedicated followers who terrorized the world. An author cannot create characters being aware of their loneliness and relationships. They define us.
Romance, friendship, and family all center around this truth; we need each other. No person can make it alone. Frodo would have died long before reaching Mordor without Sam. Clark Kent works at the Daily Planet not only to be better able to solve crime, but to build partnerships with the people there. We were created for relationship. It is in our genes, and everything we do tells the truth of that need. No bridge, no skyscraper, no simple meal is created fully from scratch by one person. Economics tells us that when we share our resources and skills, everyone benefits.
Every great good stems from people serving this great need. Every act of evil arises when people attempt to fill this need by other means, but still lack love. We hurt because we have been hurt. Building relationships is difficult because we fear rejection, which is worse than loneliness. Nancy stayed with Bill Sikes, a man who clearly did not love her, and met her death at his hands. She courted destruction rather than live alone.
Tragedy is often built on the conflict between love and social duty. People will defy centuries old tradition for a person, and Romeo and Juliet will never be forgotten. Their story is true for all who cannot find love because the world blocks their way--and for no good reason, and no good gain. We write ourselves into a tragedy every day.

Jesus came to fill this greatest need. His ministry was about reaching out to the lonely hearts and forming relationships that offer help, healing, and comfort. His miracles of healing were not the greatest gift he bestowed on the sick; he showed them that he cared. People who felt that no one cared, who lived on the fringes of society and could find no way out of the mess they were in came to him because he loved them. These people could not find acceptance anywhere else, society rejected them, but Jesus accepted. He understood our deepest need, and taught us how to fill it.
Love as Jesus taught is fearless. Fear weakens every relationship, and makes us weak because we cannot be ourselves, we cannot give all of ourselves. Without fear, we can do anything. Fearless love is the greatest power on earth. When we do not fear, we do not need to hesitate to give what is needed. We do not worry about consequences. We simply love. We do what is best for others, ourselves forgotten. Fearlessness is recklessness, and this is good. All too often, good deeds are stifled by fear.
We can only know this fearless love because Jesus loves us. The holy spirit communicates that love, and helps us to carry it out in our lives. His love gives us grace and confidence to continue on no matter what the circumstances. Despite our imperfections and failings, we know that God loves us. No matter what, if we turn to him and admit honestly what we have done, right or wrong, it will be ok. Because we have his love, we do not fear rejection. We can turn around and show the world the love it needs. No moral boundaries or evil deed can put us beyond love.
As Christians, our job is to reach lonely hearts and show them this love. We have to pass on the healing, and teach them to love themselves. When we know we are loved, we have the strength to give. That is why the church body is so important. Without family, the heart of love, we are nothing. Our relationships make life, and our relationships will carry on through eternity. They are the treasure we store away.
Love the unloved. Because they need it. Because you need to do it. We were not made to live alone.

God with us

Immanuel. This is one of the names of Jesus. Messiah, Rabbi, he used those names too, but he was also called Immanuel. God with us. This simple name, three simple English words, sum up one of the most important things about him. They tell us exactly who he is, and where he is. God is with us. He came down from heaven and put himself in a human body.
In heaven there is no pain, no need, no suffering. These are aspects of humanity, of living in a fallen world. When Jesus came, he didn't just take on a body, he took on all of those things. He felt pain, he felt hunger and fatigue. He got tired and had to go to the bathroom, maybe he even wet the bed as a kid. Jesus lived with us, and he lived like us.
And he died like us. He didn't spare himself from the worst things about human life, but at the same time he showed us the best things. How to care for each other, how to give, how to live free from rules and restrictions that weigh us down. He put himself into the prison of a human body so that he could show us how to break our own bonds.
That is why I love him and follow him. Because he took the hardest road. He came to get to know us completely by being one of us. By being with us.
Now he still wants to be with us, but it is our turn to reach up for him. We need to walk the hard path he walked. In America where we live in peace and plenty, we need to learn to see the suffering around us. We need to go into the dark places, the dirty place that society tells us to avoid, because that's what Jesus did. Because that's the only way to really make a difference.
We shouldn't avoid 'bad' neighborhoods or dangerous situations. We can't stay comfortable in our air-conditioned suburbia while the world outside suffers. We need to get up off our butts and leave our comfortable lives behind, just like Jesus did. If we want to walk with Jesus, we cannot do it in peace and plenty. Jesus isn't there. He's out in the world, in the middle of wars and famines and plagues, with the poor and the sick. That's where he's doing his work. We cannot find him anywhere else. We cannot find heaven anywhere else.
It is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. The only way to get there is to leave everything behind. Just like Jesus did.
The sacrifice didn't just start at the cross, when Jesus died. It didn't start when he was flogged, or put on trial, or arrested. It started when he took on flesh. It continued as he preached, taught, healed and forgave. His sacrifice was the life he lived and the death he died. Our sacrifice must be the same. Every day you make the choice.
Who are you living for?

One Strange Man

Have you heard about that guy, the weird one who said that he was God? Yeah, it’s a strange story. This guy wasn’t like anyone you’ve ever heard about before. He might sound like just another cult leader. Some people thought he was nuts, some people thought he was brilliant. He broke all of society’s rules, but didn’t break a single law. A lot of people liked him, and even more people hated him. He changed the way the way people live, and millions of people still talk about him today. He was just that weird.
He started out as a normal guy. The family business kept him busy, and he had a comfortable life. But he saw the way people treated each other, and he saw a better way. This guy really understood people, and he really wanted to help them. So one day he left home and set out to teach them about his ideas.
It isn’t hard to imagine how many people thought he was full of it. All of the sudden this guy gets up and starts telling people that they aren’t living right. He tells them that they’ve got to change, tells them that they’re wrong and he’s right. They were steamed, boiling-over mad. And the guy wouldn’t shut up.
So what’s new about that? Nothing. Thousands of people have shot their mouths off saying the wrong things around the wrong people.
What this guy said, though, that was new. It’s different than what anyone before him has said, and no one after has done the same thing, unless they were following him.
Love. That’s what he was all about. If you want to be happy, if you want to be free, if you want to do any good in this life, you have to love.
Now, don’t go thinking about that soppy, fluffy stuff you see in chick flicks--we’re not talking guy-girl romance. This love is strong stuff, bigger and better than romantic love. This love is an action, not just an emotion. Can’t love someone if you don’t help them, can’t love them if you don’t stand up for them. You especially can’t love if you don’t give up everything for them. That’s right; this guy said that to love, you’ve got to go all the way. You can’t just be friends when its convenient and it makes you feel good. You can’t ignore people, can’t blame them for their mistakes, can’t put yourself first.
It’s a powerful thing. And this guy led by example. He went out and loved people. He started helping them, and the word got out. People came from all over to get a piece of it. Healing, food, just a loving touch. So many people felt lonely, unwanted and un-loved. They knew they needed something, and the love this guy had filled them up and made them want to change their lives. They learned that once they felt loved, they could give love. They went out and started changing the world, passing the message on.
Give, serve, love. Don’t worry about yourself, because that guy, yeah the weird one, he loves you. So you’re not alone, and you can do anything. It made them feel powerful, and the powerful people hated that. Their power was based on fear, on oppression, on the fact that people felt powerless. After all, you can’t make yourself out to be more important than everyone else if everyone else suddenly realizes that they’re important, too.
There were a bunch of leaders who were sticklers for the rules. They thought rules made you good, and if you did everything right you’d be perfect. They made a rule for absolutely everything, and they wanted everyone to follow them. It was a control issue. If you follow the rules, you always know where you stand.
But here’s the thing; rules can’t love. This guy, he was all about love, so he put the rules in the back seat. Rules help us, sure, they tell us what’s good and what’s bad. Love, though, it’s better than the rules. If you love, you don’t have to worry about the rules, because you’re following them already.
Yep, those leaders got pretty mad. Red-faced with rage, especially after this guy insulted them to their faces. He didn’t pull any punches; he told them that they were wrong. Rules aren’t any good without love.
He turned society upside-down. He challenged the powerful. He spat in the face of the status quo, ‘the way things are’ weren’t good enough for him. So they killed him, of course. He was just that annoying, and he was just that good. Good people are the most annoying, you know.
Did you know that this guy knew he would die? Yep. He loved people so much, he didn’t fight it. He knew that by dying, he could help people even more. He took the punishment for everyone. He marched into the afterlife, and re-arranged it. It’s called forgiveness, and he made it final. If you love, and you trust, you’re free.
No rules.
No restrictions.
Just love.
Love is life, and this guy, well, he actually was God. Is God, to be precise, God‘s son, and his name is Jesus. He came back from hell to show everyone that he wasn’t dead. Then he went up to heaven to get things ready. He’s there now, watching and waiting. One day he’ll come back, and live with his followers.
Until then we watch and wait. And love.
Because one strange man loves us. It’s all about love.

New World Order

What if the nations of the world treated each other as people are supposed to? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Love your neighbor, love your enemy.

It would change the world. Seriously. If we left for a twenty year space flight and nations started acting like this, we wouldn’t recognize the world we returned to.

Imagine a world where nations helped each other. When there was a natural disaster or a freak accident, resources from every country would go to help. No one would prevent aid workers from crossing borders. No one would be searched at the airport for guns and liquid explosives.

Imagine a world where we didn’t spend money on national defense. Every dollar going to the armed forces right now would go to helping people. Give social security new life. Insure millions of people’s health. End hunger. Improve schools.
Instead of being afraid of some distant threat, people could travel from place to place and see the wonderfully rich and diverse cultures of their neighbors. Imagine learning, imagine sharing.

Imagine hope. Instead of being huddled in a dark cave or trapped under rubble of a bombed-out building, women and children could live in peace. Instead of avenging dead brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers, men could put down their guns and provide for their families.

That’s nice, you say. But impossible.

Really? And why?

Because we are a stubborn, proud, arrogant people full of hate who love ourselves too much to see what is good for our futures. Fear blinds us to truth.

Truth is this: love.

What? Love. Yes. Love your neighbor. Which, by the way, includes the social outcast, the dregs of society, those people we don’t understand and don’t like. Love them.

Because no single American life is worth more than any single Iraqi life. No single British man is worth more than one single Chinese man. No single Candadian woman is worth more than a single Russian woman. Nationality and ethnicity don't matter. We are created equal. No matter where we are born, we remain equal.

Wouldn’t that be great?

Of course, it won’t happen until we start acting like people are supposed to. Yes, you and me. Because frankly, we don’t. None of us.

And we know better.

Even if nations don’t.

The president has to please millions of people, each with different ideas. Your senator has to represent you and the person living next door who keeps calling the cops on you just because. The UN has to try to look out for the interests of every nation.

But what about you? You only have to worry about yourself, not popularity polls.

You have the power to start a revolution. If you think the world is in bad shape, why aren’t you getting up to do something about it?

Tomorrow, instead of worrying about yourself, worry about the person next to you. Really look at them, the person sitting next to you in the bus, the person who cut you off in traffic, the cashier dragging your groceries across the scanner. Are they ok? Do they need help, hope, love? What is missing in their life, and what can you do to provide it?

It will change the way you see the world. It will change the way you live.

Give it a try. Step up and spread the love.

Yes, love. I mean the real stuff, without limits or worry or fear. Give love and don’t care if you get any back. Give hope, and keep none for yourself.

Because until we’re willing to give everything we have, until we are willing to take the suffering onto our own shoulders instead of making others suffer, we are doomed.

Love. If you love today, tomorrow your neighbor might learn how to do it. Soon, the neighborhood might follow.

Eventually, the revolution might become national, multi-national.

But you can’t expect world peace to happen if you don’t step up to help. Because nations will never have peace until we can figure out how to practice peace ourselves.

It’s up to you. Seriously.

So, what are you going to do?

Roadkill

You are cruising down the empty highway and you see it sitting there in front of you; a little gray bunny. He pauses for half a second, eyes wide, nose twitching, and then takes off as fast as he can. You clutch the steering wheel and decide whether or not to swerve as you tires roll closer to the dumb little critter. He's not going to make it. You hit the brake, but not fast enough. You barely feel the impact as you tires roll over the tiny lump of flesh.
How often in life is this our situation? Not that of the driver, but that of the rabbit, eyes wide, seeing some huge, unknown thing bearing down on him. Laid off from work. Totalled your car and can't afford a new one. Cancer about to cut your life short. Things that we can't avoid, can't dodge, can't escape.
Sometimes, life can make us roadkill. These huge events come bearing down on us out of nowhere, and we don't know what to do. We can't muster a better reaction than that poor, squashed bunny. We freeze. Will it really hit me? We run, but which way? Sometimes we squeak by, the tires a centimeter away from crushing our tail. Other times we lie flattened in the road.
The road of life is littered with roadkill, just like the highway on the other side of town. We can't avoid getting hit and crushed. It's how we get back up and pick up the pieces that matters.

Dusk and Dawn

Last night I took my laptop out to the back porch to write while the sun set behind me. My porch overlooks a dairy farm in the Appalachian foothills. In the distance, past the twinkling lights of the highway and a 24-hour facotry, blue moutnain peaks meld with the darkening sky. The corn is knee-high, a soft green blanket that ripples in the wind. In front of this is the garden I share with our neighbors, full of plants beginning to bear summer's bounty and raspberry bushes yielding their first taste of sweet, black berries. Among all of this, fireflies danced like fairies in a magic cirlce. I could almost hear the sound of pipes and nymphs, dryad and fauns from C.S. Lewis' Narnia dancing in the grass. But it is really the hangle of my cat's collar as she chases grashoppers and moths.
Many people enjoy the day, when the sun in high and bright. They go out and play baseball or soccer, go swimming or have a picnic. Others prefer to party late into the night and through the early hours of the morning. But my favorite time is the dusk and dawn, the time in-between, when the shadows are long and the bridsong is full. Most people are inside, getting ready for bed or waking to face a new day. The world is empty, quiet, ready for anything.
Nothing is more soothing to the soul than the magic of the in-between times, dusk and dawn.

Intro

Agape is one of three Greek words for love. It is not romantic love or brotherly love but unconditional love. This is the love that Jesus lived and taught, and that is the life I want to understand and emulate. ICTHUS is an anagram for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, in Greek. It means fish, and this is the space where I will go fishing for ideas, and hopefully catch some understanding.
This space is for fragments of thoughts and pieces of ideas, things that rattle around inside my skull until I can get them out on paper. There is not overall theme or central topic to bind these thoughts together. It is simply what I see in the world, thoughts about faith, love, God and life. Thoughts about the way society works and how we find our place in it. Who are we and why do we do what we do? What do we take for granted that shouldn't be? What do we never see, even though its staring us in the face?
I want to bend my brain, to see the world outside the box and try to understand it. I hope these Fragments will get you thinking, whether you agree with my point of view or not. These are thoughts and food for thought, to help us all learn and grow on this journey we call life.
I am a noveslit, a poet, a thinker and a dreamer. I welcome your comments and opinions, fragements of your own to add to this pool of brain food.