Thinking Out Loud

I posted “A Legacy of Faith” a few days ago and shared some memories of my grandparents, describing how much they influenced my life and my walk with God.  As I mentioned, I was blessed to have all four of my grandparents to the age of 22, and Granny (Louetta Sanders Pyles, pictured above) was with us until November of last year when I was 46. 

As part of my tribute to Granny at her funeral, I shared a story that had taken place the previous Christmas.  All of us had gone to the nursing home one afternoon to visit with Granny, but I returned there by myself later that evening so that I could spend a little more time with her.  Even though she was 1oo years old, she would frequently sit up quite late at night reading her Bible.  So, it sort of surprised me to find her in the bed with her glasses off, apparently ready to go to sleep.  I pulled a chair close to the side of the bed so that she could see me and hear me better.  We proceeded to have the deepest and most spiritual conversation that we ever had. 

One of the subjects that we covered that night was forgiveness.  Granny told me that a few weeks earlier one of the nurses had hurt her when she was helping her bathe.  I am sure that the nurse was not intentionally rough.  Granny was one of the favorites among the nursing staff, and they frequently referred to her as “Little Miss Independence.”  Still, it hurt.  In response, Granny said that she “talked right ugly” to the nurse and that the nurse “talked ugly” right back at her.  I can’t imagine what Granny might have said to her; I never heard her curse.  Well, she had used some “farm words” in my hearing when I was growing up, but never anything profane. 

Granny told me that she couldn’t sleep that night because she felt so bad about what had happened.   When the nurse came in the next day, Granny told her how sorry she was for how she had talked to her and asked the nurse to please forgive her.  She said the nurse started crying and apologized to her and asked Granny to forgive her as well.  They hugged and cried and made up.  Granny said, “We’ve been just the best of friends ever since.”  Even at 100, Granny was still teaching us how to forgive and how to ask for forgiveness!

I first became a fan of Mark Knopfler when he was fronting Dire Straits back in the ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s.  I was always impressed with his extraordinary guitar skills and his songwriting ability.  Even in the ’80s, he was branching out into other musical pursuits like composing soundtracks for movies.  Local Hero, The Princess Bride, Last Exit to Brooklyn and Wag the Dog are among his better known cinematic scores.  Knopfler has collaborated with numerous other artists, ranging from Classic Rockers to several notables in country music.  He recorded an album with the late, legendary musician Chet Atkins and more recently with Emmylou Harris.

Mark Knopfler has continued to release solo works since the disbanding of Dire Straits in the mid-90s.  Sailing to Philadelphia, released in 2000, is probably my favorite.  2001 was a very trying and challenging year for me, and I found a lot of comfort and “escape” in that cd which features duets with James Taylor and Van Morrison.  Knopfler has a great way of communicating stories in his songs and composing them in an impressive variety of genres and styles. 

Since I mostly listen to “old” music, I typically don’t anticipate new releases.  However, I was excited to learn a few months ago that Mark Knopfler was completing work on a new album.  Get Lucky was released in the U.S. yesterday.  You can listen to the title track above.  Kim and I got to see Knopfler perform at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2005.  It was one the most enjoyable concerts I have ever attended.  We are planning to see him again when he tours the U.S. next spring!

Thomas and Katie Lou Sanders and their children

I love this photo.  It connects me with my family and my roots.  Included in the picture, which was taken in 1907,  are Isaac Thomas Sanders and his wife, Katie Lou (Bradford) Sanders, and five of their six children (Uncle Paul wasn’t born yet).  Seated in my great-grandmother’s lap is my grandmother, Louetta Sanders Pyles, who passed away last November at the age of 101.   I have never had to wonder, “What did Granny look like as a baby?”  She looks remarkably just like my father, sister and nephew did at that age!  I also love this photo because my early life is filled with many memories of Granny’s pictured siblings, Aunt Bernice, Aunt Elise, Uncle William and Uncle Buford. 

You may have noticed on the calendar that last Sunday was Grandparents Day.  I took the opportunity to share a message at the Broken Arrow church on Sunday morning about the wonderful blessing that grandparents are in our physical families and the special role that older generations have in the body of Christ.  Grandparents have so much to offer in extending love, wisdom, grace, guidance and encouragement to their grandchildren.  I consider myself most blessed to have known all four of my grandparents, to have had all of them in my life to the age of 22, and then to have had Granny with us until just last year when I was 46. 

While there was a lot to love about my grandparents, what I treasure most is that they were all Christians.  My memories of them are inseparable from their connection and involvement with Christ’s church.  I remember Pa (C.R. Sheffield) leading singing and teaching the auditorium class at the small rural church in Hentown, Georgia.    Mama Lila loved to cook for the preachers and did so many things in service to others in the church and in the community.  Granddaddy (Josh Pyles), taught the “Old Men’s Class” at the Diana church in Giles County, Tennessee.  Forever impressed on my mind and heart is the image of him stepping into the aisle and kneeling whenever a prayer was led in the assembly.  Granny, like Mama Lila, performed so many loving acts of kindness and service for those within and outside the church. 

It is true that God has no grandchildren, only sons and daughters.  Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Lord, Christ and Savior must ultimately be claimed in a personal way by each individual believer.  Our faith cannot be vicariously inherited from another.  Still, it is a tremendous blessing to be a recipient and participant in a legacy of faith, much as the evangelist Timothy was in relation to his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (II Timothy 1:5).  A young boy was once asked why he believed in God.  He replied, “I guess it just runs in our family!”  While this is certainly not the measure of a mature faith, it is most definitely a wonderful start!

September 11, 2001

The President of the United States addressed the schoolchildren of America this morning with a message of encouragement to take their education seriously, apply themselves, work hard, listen to their teachers and parents and pursue their dreams for their own good and the good of our nation.  Well, he didn’t actually address all of the nation’s schoolchildren.  Officials at some schools, in response to parental concern, opposition and even outrage, elected to not make the address available.  Other children did not hear the address because their parents (if they followed through with their stated intentions) kept their kids at home today or had them participate in an alternative activity during the President’s speech.

I must admit that I have experienced a huge amount of disbelief over this whole controversy.  As I expressed in a comment on a friend’s blog last week (http://bobbyrossjr.com), it was as if some parents believed that in the span of a brief speech President Obama could use mass hypnosis to brainwash and corrupt millions of U.S. children and instantaneously erase years of moral and ethical training provided by their parents and their churches.  Would he irreparably influence them to become socialists, communists or, even worse, Democrats?  Over the last week, I have heard people compare Obama’s planned address to the propaganda and indoctrination tactics of Hitler, Stalin and Mao Tse-tung.  Seriously?  I mean…seriously?

As a Christian, it concerns me to see fellow believers respond with such reactionary, politically-induced fear.  As an American, it concerns me that our nation has become so politically polarized and the Office of the President so diminished that “party” trumps patriotism with such ease.  I know that there is plenty of blame for this to be laid at both ends of the political spectrum, but it saddens me, nonetheless. 

In March of last year, on the day before the Democratic Primary in Texas, then Illinois Senator Obama spoke at my daughter’s high school in Carrollton.  She and I attended the speech together, and we were both impressed with his oratorical skills, command of the issues and the way in which he handled questions from parents and students.  So, did this hour-long exposure to the future President re-program Hannah into some kind of apologist for all causes left and liberal?  Hardly!  A few weeks ago, she attended town hall meetings in Denton and Gainesville, Texas, to protest “Obama-Care.”  She even made her own spiffy protest signs!

As I mentioned in my comment on Bobby & Tamie’s blog, if you have children in public schools, they see, hear and experience numerous things on a daily basis that should cause significant parental concern.   The President’s speech on education would not make my Top Ten.

Coleman at Navarre Beach '07

“A Portrait of Persistence.”  That’s what I think about every time I see this picture of my son, Coleman, that was taken at Navarre Beach, Florida, two years ago.  For those who may not know, Coleman is autistic and was diagnosed at five months of age with a genetic disorder called Dubowitz Syndrome which involves varying levels of mental retardation, microcephaly (small head circumference), speech delays, etc.  Coleman does not speak at all, other than having the wonderful God-given ability to say, “Mama.”  Yes, his mother is more proud of that than I can tell you!  I could write a book about him (and we probably will some day), but for now let me just say that he has been an incredible blessing to our family and to the lives of the hundreds of people who have known him during his 16 1/2 years of life.

Now, back to the beach.  Coleman loves the water.  I mean, he loooooves the water!  He doesn’t know how to swim.  But, he doesn’t know that he doesn’t know how to swim.  He has no fear of the water whatsoever, whether it is in a swimming pool or in the giant, endless wave pool called the Gulf of Mexico.  When we are at Navarre, we stay in the water with him until we are all worn out and have to drag ourselves back up on the beach to catch our breath and some sun.  Coleman will sit contently on the sand for a little while, and then he will begin to inch his way toward the water.  I think that he thinks that if he moves slowly enough and doesn’t make eye contact with us then we won’t be able to see him.  His slow slide-and-glide across the sand may take a few minutes, but his patience and persistence will ultimately pay off in getting him back to the water’s edge to let the waves wash over his feet and legs.  In his wake, he leaves a track worthy of a giant sea turtle headed back out to sea!  That’s our Coleman!  Sea Turtle Boy!

“….forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 3:13-14).

LeVar Burton with kids on PBS' Reading Rainbow

Last Friday, PBS aired the last episode of Reading Rainbow, ending 26 years of programming designed to encourage a love for reading among children.  Reading Rainbow was the third longest-running children’s program in PBS history, trailing only Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.  LeVar Burton, known for his acting roles as Kunta Kinte in Roots, and Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation, served as the show’s host for its entire run.  Production ceased when no entity could be found (not even PBS) that would provide the several hundred thousand dollars necessary to renew the broadcast rights for the show.  Apparently, a philosophical shift had taken place among leaders in children’s educational programming who now desired that greater emphasis be given to teaching basic reading tools like phonics and spelling (the how of reading) rather than inspiring and encouraging children with why they should read.  I have to admit that I probably only saw a few episodes of the show when my children were young, but still I felt a sense of sadness that such a wholesome and successful show had to end, when outright garbage on commercial television seems to have no lack of funding at all.    

The debate about teaching how to read versus why to read got me thinking about the study habits of Christians and the approach to teaching that is normative in many churches through their Bible classes and small group ministries.  The higher-ups at PBS decided that they were assuming too much about their young viewing audience’s ability to read and shifted their focus toward teaching basic literacy.  Is it possible that churches have made similar false assumptions about Biblical literacy within their membership?  Many Christians read widely and voluminously among the genres of personal devotion, relationship enrichment, financial accountability and stewardship, character development, and even Christian fiction.  It is not unusual for these same subjects to be represented in (or even dominate) the “Bible” class offerings of churches.  But, how well are our church members progressing in their fundamental knowledge of Scripture which is “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Ps. 119:105) and the Word of His Grace “which is able to build us up and give us an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32)?  I know that this doesn’t have to be an “either/or” consideration, but, rather, is a “both/and” goal that can be achieved in a well-balanced fashion.  Still, I want to make sure that we do not substitute mere “supplements” for the “staples” of our spiritual diet.  So what do you think?  Do we need to tweak our programming?