Blue Skys and high spirits are billowing out of the happy inhabitants of Little Egypt. We are a bit like a bottle of Coca Cola…that has been shaken…prior to being opened. There is so much pent up exuberance that it is on display for all around us to see and be the beneficiary’s of. Campus was abuzz with laughter and music and happy talk as I walked its’ spring confines. Everyone was so demonstrably happy…that I became happy. I began to reflect on all of the good things that God has in store for us. I just finished a fascinating book entitled, ‘The Children’s Bible,’ by Lydia Millet. In the book, which is a cautionary tale regarding global warming, one of the characters likens the Bible to nature…I see the correlation. I visited our churches wonderful Administrative Professional, Barb Stewart, this morning. I presented a thank you card and gift from our churches governing board, the Session, and once again was made hopefull by her wonderful personality and servant/leadership. Have you ever known someone that just by being in their presence…you are encouraged?

The other night I was watching an old recording of The Hopeful Gospel Quartet. The show was from 1993 on the PBS program Austin City Limits. The Quartet began on the radio show from Minnesota, A Prarie Home Companion, which was a creation of the popular author of Lake Wobegon Days, Garrison Keillor. The show transported me back in time where I had a cassette tape for a tape player that I had in my car. The cassette tape experience seemed the epitome of modern technology and that alone with the pager that I wore on my belt assured me that I had reached the land of the old cartoon, The Jetsons. The Hopeful Gospet Quartet sang songs of hope and uplifting and promise of God’s love and a brighter future…I wore the tape out…

A mistake that I have made is to think that happiness is directly proportional to happenings. Not so…I have discovered. Happiness is a conviction that you are alight and that you can help others to feel alright. By sharing of yourself you can encourage and help others. The irony of happiness is that by focusing on your story…my story is written… The riddle of contentment is to make those with whom you have connection feel content and safe and secure…and loved…

My friend thanked me for bringing others hope…and I was gobsmacked…and humbled. That is what I am stumbling around trying to do…but I doubted if anyone noticed…

It is currently 46 degrees with a low of 28 degrees forecast for tonight. My favorite Campus fountain, Paul and Virginia, has just been filled with water…I wonder if it will freeze? As I took my daily walk at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale, I snapped several photos of blossoming trees that will look much different after the cold bites their leaves. As I was driving home I saw one of the staff at our Civic Center covering their flowering plants as a blanket from the cold. I noticed a squirrel who’s bushy tail was blowing in the chilly breeze as he furtively consumed an acorn.

Nature was dancing and singing and rejoicing in the freedom of the spring and all the bounty that it promises. Now, today, nature is wondering why it bloomed so early? The same surprises confront our human experience. We are so happy and relieved and feeling freedom from Covid 19 since the vaccinations have been offered to all adults. Yet the Pandemic is not over and it is rearing its ugly head…still…across the planet.

So we have a unique opportunity to participate in a new normal. We have a second chance to reassess our reality and remember that we are all in this together. We live together…we die together…we must survive together. It is a myth that we each live in our own Green Zone Compound… and are safe and secluded in the bubble that we have carefully created. We that are well and have no needs and enjoy fulfilling our wants, have been awakened by the Virus.

We must invite others into our circle. We must expand our circle. We have to understand that the divisions that we have erected to divide us…are false and fake and destructive. Jesus saw everyone. Jesus loved everyone. Jesus was often found in the company of the marginalized of his time. The scripture tells us that, ‘the common people heard him gladly.’ Things change… Covid 19 will ultimately be vanquished….but what about Covid 20? Do we want to die when our neighbor…who we have dismissed and who we have ignored and who we do not see…has the medicine that will heal us?

As I was listening to Pastor Kerry’s sermon, this morning, I thought of the innumerable exciting possibilities that are before us. He spoke of those of us who are happy and content in our faith community and yet…how do we reach out to so many of our human family who need some good news and […]

Exciting Possibilities — The Jazz Man

The older I become the less likely I am to embrace change. Change is fun to talk about…and hard to accomplish. Yet, as I look back on my 63 years on earth nothing has been a more regular traveler with me on the road of life…than change. When I retired, over 10 years ago, I understood that change was coming. I had watched my friends and colleagues retire at the historical retirement age and soon become incapacitated or often soon die after their entrance into the joys of the Golden Years. I hoped to beat the system…at least a little. Many of our current social and political problems are the direct result of we citizens balking at the change that is already upon us.

On January the 6th of this year our Capitol was overran by insurrectionist attempting a coop. Although the United States has proudly worn the moniker of a melting pot for all peoples…our practice of this profound statement has been sorely lacking. Many Anglo Saxons cannot comprehend that they soon will be in the minority in our country. Rather than engaging in the dynamic movements of peoples from across the planet they have chosen to shut their eyes from seeing and shut their ears from hearing the cries of their black and brown brothers and sisters. It has been said that ‘Denial’ is a river in Egypt. Conspiracy theories and prejudice and hate for our fellow human beings has moved in where the vacuum left by unrecognized change…has skulked like a hidden wolf…

Faith Communities have changed. Not so much for we life long members of various denominations…we are still alright and comfortable in the faith of our fathers and the warm embrace of familiarity of worship. We realize, on some level, that there are a multitude of our neighbors and friends that want the assurance of a community of believers that will, ‘walk with us and talk with us along life’s narrow way.’ At one time our home churches were overflowing with people hungry for somewhere that was a demonstration of a real Christian faith…that was illustrated by how the poor and needy were treated. Could it be that now everyone is alright and happy without the comfort and the challenge of a Christian community?

Change is not always dramatic. It can be ignored for some time…until we are faced, like a slap in the face, with our chosen blindness to what has been occurring for many years. Sadly we choose not to visit our doctor when we have what seems to be manageable until we are bedfast and almost beyond medical assistance. Many friends tell me that one day they are going to retire and then they are going to travel and enjoy life…

Change happened in 2020. Our once in a century Pandemic altered all of our lives. I watched as a congressman endeavored to make Dr. Fauci the fall guy for the Pandemic. He blamed the doctor for the restrictions that accompany the need to not die from Covid. Over 570 thousand Americans have died from the virus. We so hate to change that many of us refuse to wear a face mask and claim that our rights have been infringed upon. One hundred years ago face masks were a requirement for the Spanish Flu. A new normal is now part of our reality.

We are afraid of the unknown. However, the great unknown awaits us all…and it will be a change…

It is unseasonably cool in our neck of he woods. Our furnace has been reengaged. I was at Dr. Jenny’s Dentist office yesterday and I thoroughly enjoyed petting one of her Boxer dogs. It caused me to reminisce about our recently lost, Parker. I was talking with a group of friends, the other day, and we were ruminating regarding change and our comfort levels with it.

When Jesus brought his ministry to the people of his day he was rejected by the established religions that surrounded him. ‘Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, ‘Teacher, we want a sign from You.’ But he answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was Three Days and Three Nights In The Belly Of The Sea Monster, so will the Son of Man be be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12: 38-42.

Little Jesus was the title of a blog that I wrote recently. My Little Jesus is a small stuffed Jesus figure that I purchased from Hallmark. It is designed for children and it suits me perfectly. Little Jesus brings me significant comfort. Sometimes it is the little things that make the difference in our lives. Many times we in the church seek a master plan for change and renewal and outreach for those who need a faith community. We scratch our heads and study and strive to discover a comprehensive plan that will tell people that we love them…and that Christ can help… Often a kind word that is said by the person in the pew in front of you…or a uplifting song…or a greeting from a smiling and caring minister that says come back and be with us…works miracles.

Jesus made people uncomfortable. The Christian message to the rich man of, ‘Sell all that you have and give it to the poor…and come and follow me,’ is uncomfortable for many. Over two years ago I felt a call to join the governing board of our church at First Presbyterian, in Carbondale. That is uncomfortable for me…I am an introvert and I like to sit in the back of the sanctuary and be unnoticed and for the most part…unheard.

Christ had such an impact on the earth that we are talking about him today. His message of loving the poor and caring for the needy and accepting the unwanted…is uncomfortable. The Christian walk through life is about seeking the will of God. To truly be open to the will of God is to be like the cowboy of old with a burr in his bedroll. No matter which way that he turns…there is some prickly pain to endure. When Jesus was taken by the Romans to be tried and then crucified, Peter was asked a question. Now the Messiah had prepared Peter for the upcoming question prior to his being asked it; ‘Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ Matthew 26:34. KJV.

‘Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ All the disciples said the same thing as well.’ Matthew 26:35. KJV

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl come up to him. ‘You also were with Jesus the Galilean,’ she said. But he denied it before them all: ‘I do not know what you are talking about. And when he was gone out onto the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. But again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man! And after awhile came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.’ Matthew 26: 69-74. KJV

Grey is a color that I have become more accustomed to as I have aged. I look at photos of myself, several years ago, and starring back at me is a young man with black hair and a black mustache. I possessed several grey hairs…here and there…but they did not dominate the real estate. These days when I go to my barber I watch as the grey hair is shorn from my head and as it takes it’s leisurely journey to the floor of the Barber Shop. I look around to see if there is any other great piles of grey hair…or if I have won the prize.

I recall more than one conversation that I had with my friend, JoAnn, regarding living in the Grey Zone. Much of my career at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale contained my navigating various shades of grey. Simply understanding what the supervisor wants as compared to the manager as compared with the administrator…is a herculean effort. Once I became the president of the civil service council and met monthly with the Chancellor of the University…I understood what a politically precarious position that university politics afforded campus administrators. There is no politics that is more cutthroat than university politics.

LIfe brings daily conundrums. For instance…we Christians believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that he died on the cross for our sins and than on the third day he arose from the grave and ascended back to his Father in Heaven. Were you there to witness the events that the Bible tells us of? The Bible is a wonderful book of stories that are inspired by God…but written by men who were influenced by the culture and the bias and norms of their generation. The Second Amendment calls for the right to bear arms in order to have a well trained militia. Did our founding fathers intend for everyone to be a member of the militia?

Democracy is our proudest accomplishment in the United States of America. We are the Melting Pot of the world. Emma Lazarus wrote the New Colossus:

‘Not like the brazen Giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles, From her beacon hand

Glows world wide-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

‘Keep ancient lands your storied pomp!’ cries she

With silent lips. ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breath free, The Wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’

Yet we rejected the more than 900 passengers on the M.S. St. Louis. These were Jewish refugees at the on-set of the Holocaust. We locked up tens of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II in camps. We brought untold Africans to our country to be our slaves…and they still are yet to be to free from intimidation and the same rights that are afforded to the majority white citizenry.

QAnon’s followers believed that they were rescuing our country when they stormed our Capitol and broke the windows and battered down the doors of the ‘Peoples House.’ QAnon began as a Live Action Role Play on the internet. It began as a computer game and was subsequently taken to a deadly serious state by thousands of Americans. It is clear that when some refer to our Capitol as their house…they are not speaking about all of us…

It is another, ‘beautiful day in the neighborhood,’ if you choose to see it. The temperature is in the 60’s with a soft spring breeze and the sun is shinning. I have experienced that life’s road affords us all… high mountain experiences…and the low valley disappointments. A blogging friend noted that he admired my positive […]

A Positive Attitude In A Negative World — The Jazz Man

Thirty-seven years ago today…Jonathon came into the world. His mom and Aaron and I were eagerly awaiting his arrival! Aaron was very excited regarding the concept of having a little brother. He was born on Thursday, April 12, 1984…after 11:00 P:M:. I wondered if he was going to have the distinction of being born on Friday the 13th? Not long after we brought him home…I noticed that he was going to be an explorer. In just a matter of several months he was climbing out of his crib and jumping to the floor with a loud and enthusiastic thud and a lusty laugh! We have always had a lot of tchotchkes and artistic figurines around the Brooks home…and Jonathon systematically sought to crack open each one in order to facilitate his study of their construction…

Jonathon is a proud and dedicated member of the Southern Illinois University Community. He is a writer extraordinaire and a friend to everyone. I am never with him that he does not encounter another friend. He is an elder in our church and refuses to say a bad word about anyone. Jonathon is available to his friends for an encouraging talk and a shoulder to lean upon. He and his brother, Aaron, are a constant comfort and help to MJ and I.

Jonathon loves to have a good meal and a good time. He is like his Grandma Hickam…he loves to travel. Both he and Aaron are always ready to help MJ and I and they both are the Apples Of Our Eyes! He is an Epicurean and a connoisseur of craft beers. He takes his responsibilities at SIUC Key Control very seriously and checks and double checked, for accuracy, all work that is done by the departments office.

When one of Jonathon’s thousands of friends need help…he is always there! He is a reader, voraciously, and he is a accomplished writer…and he is 37 years old today. He and Aaron are the light of MJ and my life and the joy of our souls…and they both laugh at their dad’s jokes…