Thoughts On A Given Day

I have had lines of Rod Mckuen’s poetry in my head since 1973 when I received his book Fields Of Wonder as a graduation gift from a friend who knew that I had aspirations of writing poetry myself. Mckuen’s poetry influenced the way I wrote myself, but it also influenced the way I thought, the way I observed the world, and life, around me. Here are some of the lines that have always remained a part of my thoughts. I will offer them in quotes, not because they are direct quotations, although they may be, but rather because I will quote them the way I have heard them in my head all these years. “I discover, I project, or anyway I do attempt to keep an open mind, even when brick sidewalks are the pastures that I cross,” and, “A road past clapboard buildings, or wildflowers groping through the greyness of Gstaad, might hide, or even be, a field too wonderful to pass or miss.” I know, these are not the earth shattering verses you expected, right? Perhaps not, but they did, indeed, influence me. They put me in a frame of mind to pay attention, to see what was going on around me, to not miss the beauty, and, I may say, even the ugliness, of the places I visited or the people with whom I came in contact. Sometimes I have been successful at seeing these qualities, and sometimes, being all too often self-absorbed, I am certain, I have missed it.

Yesterday something caught my attention. I was sitting in the lobby of the hospital where I work. It was my lunch break, and I usually take my lunch break in the main hospital lobby. I have done so ever since I first returned to work there after returning home from Iraq. At the time there was just something intriguing to me about the water fountain in the lobby. It was as though I was mesmerized by the sound and sight of so much water readily available after having spent so long in the desert. It wasn’t quite like Tom Hanks returning from the deserted island in Castaway and being intrigued by copious amounts of fresh water and light sources, but it was very similar. Anyway, I usually take my lunch breaks there, sitting in soft, comfortable lounge chairs, eating, reading, conversing with other employees who, like me, take their lunch breaks in the lobby, and watching people as they pass. Yesterday a young, blonde headed girl caught my attention. She looked to be seven or eight years old, and she was confined to a wheel chair that was obviously one with which she was well acquainted and comfortable. She was smiling, laughing, wheeling around the water fountain, and generally having a wonderful time while her mother watched and laughed with her. I must say, it was a pleasant sight. I was happy to have been there, to have seen her, to bask in just a bit of her uninhibited joy of life. Obviously, some physical problem had her confined to that chair, and I have no doubt that every one of her days is not filled with quite so much joy, but she was happy yesterday, and I was glad to have been there to have seen her.

I cannot help but wonder, would I have noticed if she had not been so happy, so obviously exuberant? If she had been downcast, sad, in need of a friend or of help, would I have noticed? Would I have helped? I would like to say, yes. I certainly hope that is the right answer. Certainly, in the hospital, where it is actually my job to notice things like that, I believe I would have. Would I have noticed on the street or if I was busy? In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he gives us what in military jargon we might refer to as marching orders or an operational order. “Put on the full armor of God,” he says, and he goes on to specify just exactly what armor we are supposed to put on and how that armor will help us. Ever since my former pastor asked our entire church congregation to memorize that passage I have been drawn to one particular statement Paul makes near the end of it. It has always reminded me of a mission briefing such as the military uses just before beginning a mission. “Be alert,” he says. In my thinking this is key. This is also where I believe we so often miss the mark.

What does Paul mean by this? I will tell you what it means to me. It means be alert to the things going on around you. Certainly we should be alert to the dangers of the temptations we are confronted with on a daily basis, and be alert to how we can rely on God’s strength to combat those temptations, but also be alert to the leading of the Holy Spirit when you get that gentle nudge (or shout) to notice someone who needs a kind word, a helping hand, or a word of testimony. In Acts chapter 3 the story is told of Peter and John stopping to help a man who was lame from birth. It is a great story. I have to wonder though, how many times had they passed that same man on their way into the temple, who was put there by friends or family every day to beg, before they finally were alert to the voice of the spirit and noticed him? How long does it take us to notice? “A road past clapboard buildings, or wildflowers groping through the greyness of Gstaad, might hide, or even be, a field too wonderful to pass or miss.” Be alert.

 

Acts 3:1-10

New International Version (NIV)

3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Ephesians 6:10-18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.