• Wallowing in nostalgia.

    Say you and some of your friends are hiking through the Hillsborough River Watershed region. Now imagine that you are in the rear and you hear something behind you. You look back and see the largest wild pig you have ever seen. Of course you have never seen a wild pig, so that may not be saying much. Picture yourself turning around and announcing to your hiking partners, in as calm a voice as you can muster, “guys, there is a large wild pig right behind us.” Knowing that your partners come from the same sheltered, suburban, urban sprawl upbringing that you had, what do you suppose their reaction would be? Well, I had the opportunity to find out. Our fearless leader calmly instructed us not to run, but the pig must not have heard him. One of two things happened; either we ran faster, or the pig wasn’t all that interested in us. After we returned to the camp site much sooner than anticipated, my wife announced that she had to go to the bathroom. Eerily, my friend and I were on exactly the same page. “Still?”, we replied.

  • Exposing yourself.

    I am a glutton for punishment, especially if I am the one doing the punishing. I’ve been thinking about some of the friends I’ve had over the years, taking a trip for one down memory lane. I’ve thought a lot about the things I’ve done wrong in those relationships. I tell myself that no one is perfect, but is that sufficient excuse? I guess it depends on what it is that you’ve done wrong. I’m not going to get into a discussion of the specifics here, but I will say that while I’m on the fence – I’m leaning towards the less favorable side. Over the last five years or so I’ve actually reached out and offered my apologies to some of these old friends. I just sent one out in the mail the other day. It has always given me a rush of relief to put it in the mail. Now I just have to make sure I don’t have to send anymore letters.

  • Helping for profit.

    I was listening to the radio the other day and I heard a story about people who sell prayer for a living. Apparently, there are people who sell instructional books on prayer. According to the story, one book actually ends something like an infomercial, “I guarantee results in 30 days or your money back.” I know where the producer of the segment meant to take me, and I was there. I was incredulous that people were selling prayer. Of course, the producers gave the some of the individuals the opportunity to give their side of the story. Many made the point that they were merely filling a demand that exists in society. People want this product, and they are giving it to them. Further, they saw it as a service. Prayer, after all is a good thing. If people want guidance with their prayer, what is wrong with giving it to them? I calmed down after the story was over. After all, profiting on religion is not a new thing. I imagine it goes back as long as organized religion.

    My problem with all of this comes not with the act of providing a service for people that need it, but when religion becomes big business. I believe for many it is a big business. I have trouble believing the sincerity of someone who professes they have the best interests of other people at heart, when their activities clearly enrich their own interests. Living a comfortable lifestyle is one thing, but when someone who claims to speak the word of God lives in an estate purchased with the profits of the words they speak, I wonder who they really speak for. Ask yourself the popular question, “what would Jesus do?” I can not see the person I read about in Sunday school ever saying the words, “I guarantee results in 30 days or your money back.” How about you?