The Elder tells of the Road

So I don't normally do this but since I tend express myself with words I feel that it is best to share this side of my life with the limited audience of my blog. I don't do this comfortably and I don't know that there is quality to such my work (you be the judge) but all the same here it is.



The Elder tells of the Road.

I came to an Elder, a withered old man
And with him shared bread and wine.
In response to my gift he shared with me his heart
And I told him the struggles of mine.

“Tell me much of the road less traveled, good sir.
Tell me all of its twists and its turns.
For a deep curiosity has grabbed my poor heart,
And a great wanderlust within me burns.’

‘Tell me more of that harsh narrow path that you’ve walked,
Tell me all of the dark ways that stray.
What gain do I have in such a life and pursuit?
What would I lose if I stay?”

The tiny old man stared at me for an age,
The weight of his glance could be felt.
When my eyes met his own I realized quite soon,
With such a gaze I never had dealt.


“I shall tell you of a road that I know all too well,
One that few in this life ever choose.
And as to your hearts fire let it grow and burn,
Let it never be that flame that you lose.’

‘And of that old path you shall hear all your fill,
And to your queries I’ll answer all that is heard.
Question not either gain nor loss, nor pain
Question only your will and your word.’

‘For you claim a love of the untamed road,
And a passion for the unventured path.
Yet your journey thus far has followed no such way.
And you are haunted with regret’s wicked wrath.’

‘So tell me not of your hopes nor of your dreams
Tell me all that you have feared to do.
And from your tales I can share both a road and a path,
And to them your heart may be true.’

‘For it is in such fear that we find great hope,
And in weakness that we may find strength.
And when all is made new, and the road is behind
You will find it was well worth its length.’

‘Great sacrifice exists along that path, that road
And few will join you on your way,
But those who arrive may remain by your side,
And you might see them on that final day.’

‘So venture forth unto the road, the path you so fear,
And with every step leave your doubts all behind.
For as you go on you will know which is the good path,
As the footsteps you follow are mine.’

‘You will see where I’ve wandered, from that difficult road
You will see where I’ve marched myself back.
And know that you’ll wander, as all journeymen do.
But you remember the way to the path.’

‘Loss will befall you, every step of the way.
As will sorrow, suffering and pain.
But what there is still after the great trials have passed.
Will be counted for all as pure gain.’

‘Go on my young friend for the journey all lies ahead
Go on and discover those fields and lands,
Let your feet grow weary, worn and weak,
And let your trials be shown in your hands.’

‘Let them show where you’ve fallen and gotten back up,
Let them show that you worked all the way.
Let them be rough from your labor, and one thing yet
Let them pull others up on the way.”

I shed a great tear as I left the Elder behind,
His wise words ring still in my heart.
For it is a terrible weight and decision to make:
The decision to go now, to start.



This markes the end of the poem I hope you made it this far.

-matt

"Origin, Creation, or Beginning"

So I've read Genesis before, in fact it's one of the few books of the Bible that I've read more than once (hence my present goal to read through the entire bible). It's title in both English and Hebrew means "the beginning". I think it is appropriately titled since it is the home of several beginnings. Here is a list of the beginnings I've counted. (the first few are divided up based on the first 6 days of creation found in Gen 1 the chapter reference will be noted if it differs from the previous item on the list).

1. Light and Dark (Gen 1)
2. Sky and Sea
3. Land and Plants
4. The Sun, Moon, and stars
5. Fish, and Birds
6. Animals and Man
7. Rest (Gen 2)
8. Marriage
9. Sin (Gen 3)
10. Labor and Toil
11. Death
12. Great pain in child birth.
13. Submission of wives
14. Strife among men (Gen 4)
15. God setting things right (Gen 6)
16. God's covenant relationship with men (Gen 9)
17. Nations (Gen 10)
18. Languages (Gen 11)
19. Abram's part in the story & of God's chosen people (Gen 12)
20. Circumcision as a sign of God's people (Gen 17)
21. Abraham's Fatherhood (Gen 21)
22. Isaac as a family leader (Gen 25)
23. Jacob's preference over any others (Gen 27)
24. Tithing as initiated by Jacob (Gen 28)
25. The family of Jacob (Gen 29)
26. ISRAEL (Gen 32)
27. The Removal of Pagan items from among God's people (Gen 35)
28. The association of Israel with Egypt (Gen 37)

So that is the list I've made. I don't claim it to be all inclusive but it is what I've found. The only one of these that really caught me off guard was number 24. The text says this in 28: 20-22:

"Then Jacob made a vow, saying, 'If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

So often we talk about the tithe as something God instituted, but it says right here that the first use of this sacrifice is begun by Jacob! A man institued the tradition of giving a tenth of all we have been given to God. That made my view on tithing change. This isn't God saying, "Give me your money," it is Jacob (a fellow flawed human being) saying, "God, I owe you so much and this is part of how I will show my appreciation to you."

As far as other things that caught my attention, the first reference to giants or "The Nephilim" is found in 6:4, and their presence is significant later as the Israelite spies see them (or their decendants) and are so scared that they suggest avoiding the promised land.

When Israel died he asked to be buried with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah and Leah (who were all buried in a tomb together). This is note worthy because all of the story of Jacob's relationship with his wives and family, puts Leah (and her children) second to Rachel (who was buried elsewhere in Bethlehem). In fact when Jabob is going out to meet Esau he is so fearful of his response that he basically lines up his family from the least important at the front to the most important at the rear. This placed the made servants and their childrem up front, Leah and her offspring next, and finally Rachel along with Joseph at the end. From the first moment he met Rachel she was the apple of his eye. Leah was an unforeseen hinderance to him getting to Rachel. And yet he specifically mentions Leah on his deathbed an honor Rachel does not receive. I find it interesting that this is how it worked out. God made the last first.

He carries that pattern through out the text. Abel's offering was better than Cain's; Isaac was the son of promise not Ishmael; Jacob received blessings over Esau; Joseph goes from a lowly prisoner to first among Pharaoh's men; Benjamin (the least of the son's in age) is considered most prized by his father; Jacob blessed Ephraim over Manasseh. The younger son's get preference, and all of this to show that God doesn't care what the world or tradition says about who should be chosen God decides who is the best to be chosen.

I think I will include a list at the end of each book of questions that linger with me. They aren't necessarily important and I will try to also post the chapter from which the question comes. So here it is:

Genesis Questions:

• What about the tower was a problem to God? (Gen 11)
• How did Melchizedek become a priest if the priesthood as we know it did not yet exist? (Gen 14)
• What is the significance of the smoking pot and torch God passes between the animals? (Gen 15)
• What does it mean when it tells us that "The Lord appeared"? is this different from a Messenger (angel) of the Lord appearing? Is this Christ who appeared (as an Amplified version foot note suggests)? (Gen 18)
• Why tell us the story of Judah and Tamar? (Gen 38)
• What do the individual statements/predictions of Israel about his sons mean? are they prophetic? Are they confusing because little is known of the individual character of these men? (Gen 49)

If you have any comments regarding anything I've posted do let me know. I don't know if every Bible thoughts post will be this long but I won't promise that they won't be. Please keep my efforts to continue reading, since they are under continuous attack by a busy life and a cluttered mind.

-matt

***edit***

A long time family friend Paul Fry sent me this link which offers some great insights into my question about Genesis 15.

Thanks Dr. Fry,

-matt

"Changes" by David Bowie

So I'm taking a page out of my friend Mitchell Carter's book (or rather blog). I plan to start posting my thoughts on the books of the Bible that I'm reading. I'm going through them in order and I'm currently passing through Genesis 35.

In other news. The bike was stolen. It's really sad to think that someone would take it, but these are just things. So I've had to reconsider my working out goals. The bike issues (both it being broken and now stolen) have really tripped me up in all I had been hoping for this summer.

Today I went out into the heat (91 with a heat index of 106) and walked. I walked roughly 4 miles it took about 70 minutes, and they were miserable. I considered in the midst of the walk how at some point this was the primary mode of travel, sure you might have a pack animal, but as far as general travel this was all there was. So now my goal is to keep this up. I've got Phil as my partner in this since he just tipped the scale at 220 (which is almost where he had started about a year ago when he begin police training). I don't know what weight I want to get down to, or what weight I should be at and I know that if Harrison Dell reads this my lack of a solid goal will drive him nuts. I know I need one but I don't know what yet. I'm too afraid that I will overshoot a proper goal and burn out, or undershoot a good goal and not accomplish much. Input in this area will be appreciated.

What else is going on? Oh yeah I'm changing my major to accounting. I had a real heart to heart with Phil, he was concerned about the lack of real career direction in my life. I mean if ministry turns out to be something I'm not able to do full time and support a family or cover student loan costs I'll need to be employed doing something else. Why accounting? I think I can do it and be satisfied with what I'm doing, and it is a profession that is always needed by employers. I've just signed up for 4 business classes along with Living World Religions and an Oral Comm class (I'm changing it to a minor since I'm already so close to that, just with what I have). In all honesty I feel really good knowing I'm taking a focused direction. I really hope this attitude becomes pervasive in my life.

The last bit of news is sort of a two parter. about a week ago Phil and I were talking about a goal we've wanted to achieve for a month and a half: Getting my family here. We wanted them to meet him, and the other people I with whom I spend my summer. We wanted them to have a real idea in their head of the place that about which they've heard stories from me. So the moment came we had both of them on board to come and now we just needed the money, and after giving it some real thought I told Phil, "I've got the money saved up." He knew the money I was referring to my laptop fund, and he said to me, "You just have to ask yourself which you'd rather have: a few days with them or that laptop." I told him I'd have a check for him as soon as I can. They will be here a week from Friday and I cannot wait, it might actually be the last time all three of us are together since Lizzie is going into the army in September.

The second part of that news is that this past Sunday, Phil is standing before the congregation in the midst of what we've deemed "Family Time," during which we openly share any new prayer requests or prayers answered and any other news about the goings on of people in the church. He then says, "I'd like to talk to everyone about Matt." My face must have looked like a dear in the headlights. I had no idea what was going on I started thinking back for any reason, and it wasn't a special day, I was speaking, but to comment on that would be premature. What could it be? He began to speak very highly of me, and how I have matured since we first met over a year ago. Then he gives me a card I open it and start to read as he recounts the talk we had in deciding how we could afford to get my family here. As he is telling the story I'm reading the card. The statements in it all say things like, "Enjoy it," or "use it well." and just as I'm starting to piece it all together Phil reaches beneath the table and pulls out a laptop box.

I was flabbergasted. truly speechless, I got up and took it, and gave Phil a hug (which is significant since he isn't really a hugger). I have gotten to see it but not use it. Phil is a man of great consideration, which means a lot of research went into the purchase of that particular laptop and he is currently having the Village President (small town mayor) Kenny Scott look it over, since Kenny is also the operator of a computer sales and repair business in town.

The song of the day is "Changes" by David Bowie, because I'm "just gonna have to be a different man, time may change me but I can't trace time." Many things are changing in my life, plans, people, places, and I trust that God over time is using these things to shape me into the man he wants me to be.

-matt