Maundy Thursday - The New Commandment to Love

[Revising and reprinting my original "Maundy Thursday" blog.]

Today is "Maundy Thursday." Some call it "Holy Thursday" but I like "Maundy" because it makes people say "What does 'Maundy' mean?" and that gives us a chance to talk about one of the most important aspects of the Easter season: The New Commandment.

Now, admittedly, those who attend services on this day every year probably know it as the celebration of the Last Supper and therefor the birth of Holy Communion. This is true, and we should not minimize that aspect of Holy Thursday.

Yet the more significant event, relative to how Jesus asked us to live our lives, is the commandment He gave us that same night. "Commandment" comes from "command" of course, and the root word for "command" is also the root for "Maundy."

In John 13, we have the important account of Jesus acting as a servant, though He is the Master. He washes the disciple's feet. Then, he gives the New Commandment:

John 13:34 (King James Version)

³⁴A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

In one brief evening, in his last opportunity to be with His disciples, Jesus gives us

• the sacramental gift of Holy Communion, 
• the model of servanthood, and 
• the New Commandment: Love one another.

This is nothing new, of course. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus says (in Matthew 22, Mark 12, Luke 10) that the greatest commandment is to "Love the Lord your God" but immediately follows it with "Love your neighbor as yourself."

In His final hours, Jesus knows that the disciples will soon find themselves floundering in grief. He gives them a few final lessons to solidify the foundation on which they are to build His church and spread His lessons: recognition of the need for salvation and the acceptance of that salvation (Communion), service to others, and Love.

It is this New Commandment -- to Love one another -- which we celebrate on Maundy Thursday.

What are your Stilts?

Today, I was talking to someone who has only recently begun reading my blog.  Well, "recently" compared to how long I have been writing it, anyway.  I mentioned my "King's Stilts" blog and, of course, she had not seen it.  So, I went searching through the archives, thinking the time to republish it might be at hand.  Well, apparently, while I have republished it on "Echoes of Snippets," I don't believe I have ever posted it here.  And because it was written more than eight years ago, when my blogging was sporadic and my blog was hosted on a lesser site, it makes sense to reprise it in the current Snippets and Wisps venue. 

And so, without further ado, and only slight revisions, I give you ...

What Are Your Stilts?


The late, great Theodore Geisel (nom de plume: Dr. Seuss) wrote many excellent stories. This is not news. Many of them are allegorical, or at the very least, metaphorical. One of his lesser-known books serves as an example of how I like to run my work life, as well as my leisure life. That book is The King's Stilts. 

In this book, the King (Betram) had a great work ethic. He got up early, started working, and "When he worked, he worked very, very hard." And he worked very, very hard, all day, every day -- until quitting time. 

At quitting time, he stopped working, and he played. And "When he played, he played very, very hard." And what did he play with? The King's Stilts, of course. 

I think I need to build a motivational speech out of the many lessons this book can teach. In our culture, there seems to be an unwritten rule that, to be truly successful, you must devote yourself to your job and forsake fun -- or even outside responsibilities. 

I think that some people can be that single-minded. But most of us need balance. And part of that balance is finding our "stilts" and playing with them regularly.  By the way, I do not think the choice of "stilts" as the King's leisure obsession was arbitrary or serendipitous.  Seuss was too much of a genius for that.  No, stilts are perfect for this story precisely because Bertram excelled at Balance.

Like any good story, The King's Stilts has conflict. It centers around what happens when the King is convinced to give up his stilts. I will not spoil it for those who have not read the story, but believe me, a King without his Stilts is not as good at his job. 

I have several diversions, each of which provides me with something I need to be well-rounded and productive. I have games, like Magic: the Gathering, which challenges my mind. I have Dungeons and Dragons, which allows me to be creative and lets me have some time with my sons and daughters.  I have running, which helps keep me fit, and gives me a reason to be outdoors. I have my DVD habit, which allows me to escape into someone else's imagination, while sharing time and experience with my family. There are more, but the point is the same -- each of the activities refreshes me and builds me up, and that allows me to return to my job and work very, very hard. 

What about you?  What are your "stilts?"  Do you view them as guilty pleasures?  Or are they an acknowledged, welcomed part of your life? 

In my view, they are blessings. Count them. Appreciate them. Enjoy them. 

And when you enjoy them, enjoy them Very, very hard.

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Originally published under the title "The King's Stilts" on September 8, 2004.

Repost - A Time for Reflection

Today because I need it, and because it's appropriate, I will be repeating a post from three years ago.

I think it's particularly appropriate that the "Quote of the Day" on the side of my blog is this:

Quote of the Day
Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.
Thomas Aquinas

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

A Time for Reflection

It's Ash Wednesday today. Lent begins.

The Ash Wednesday service contains the ritual Application of the Ashes, with the pastor smudging a cross of ash on the worshiper's forehead while saying something like

"From ashes you come; to ashes you will return."

While I'm far more of an "Easter Christian" than a "Lenten Christian" I have grown to appreciate some aspects of Lent, and this year I will count Ash Wednesday among them.

As I've gotten older, I've seen myself getting more convinced of my own views. I've begun believing that I know more and more, and thus I find myself questioning less and less. This attitude may be reassuring, it may be stabilizing, it may even be natural, but it also leads me into thinking I don't need to look for answers anymore.

Lent helps us realize that we don't have all the answers, that we aren't always right, and that we need something greater to help us. This is a message I need to hear.

As always, I will miss the "Alleluias," "This is the Feast," and hymns that aren't in minor keys. When Easter comes, I will be glad of it.

But that's part of the point, right? In the meantime, may God calm my mind, and open my heart.

Conversational Tango - Reprint

[Though I write fewer Wisps than Snippets, I do have some.  Here's a reprint of the oldest posted here, from November 6, 2007.]

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Conversational Tango

If you're leading the witness,
Should I follow?

If you have a hidden agenda,
Do I let you know that I know?

If you're wrong and aren't aware,
Would I set you straight?

If you only want half of the truth,
Can I trust you with any?

Just One More Turn --- or Back Off the Wagon - Reprint

[This post might happen, or it might not.  I initially planned to repost this while I was in Prague, but I posted photos of Prague instead.  So if you're seeing it, I pushed it back to another day when I thought I would be too busy to post.  Thus, you get a reprint from August 16, 2007.  And besides, I have started playing Civ IV again, so that's part of why I'm too busy.]

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Just One More Turn --- or Back Off the Wagon

I finished my most recent game of Civilization III Complete in April. Since then, I had not put the CD into a computer. I decided to take a break, because the game is so addictive! It's so easy to convince myself I can just take one more turn, or just play until the Pyramids are complete, or until I finally have access to horses, or whatever. And then, lo and behold, it's four hours later and I'm going to bed too late.

So, for four months, I went without Civ III. But last night, while everyone was watching Harry Potter 4, I decided I'd be better off playing Civ III than spending $20 to play Magic: Online.

And now, it's started again. I want to play Just One More Turn!

Yet, I know, it's not going anywhere. I could take a break for days or weeks (theoretically) and the game would still be there, in exactly the same spot, when I picked it up again.

Somehow, it still feels like the game is going on without me, and I'm missing something!

Definitely a great game. Definitely addictive.

The Places I've Seen - Reprint

[Reprinted from November 2, 2007, on a Friday before I ever started Favorite Foto Fridays.]
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I have been thinking about writing a Statement of Purpose for this blog. It would tell people what they'll read about if they visit often. Having written it, I could put a link to it right near the top of the sidebar. I just might do it.

But not today. Today, some photos of places I've been.

Norway


Yosemite


Rochester


Seattle


Enjoy! Have a great weekend.


All pictures are mine, so I hold the copyright.

The Pharisee - Reprint

[On my first day of my first-ever reprint week of Snippets & Wisps, certainly I should reprint a Snippet.  Though I think it might actually be better classified as a Wisp.  This is from August 15, 2007.]

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The Pharisee

The Jester, thinking himself hidden
In his cashmere dark olive single-breasted Ralph Lauren,
Dipped a fresh strawberry tart into a cup of rancid sour cream.
He intoned with studied compassion
"Hate the sin.
Love the sinner."
After the wry pause, allowing fragile hope to bloom,
"But for God's sake, don't let him in."