Free Will

A philosophy professor I had a few years ago said, "Philosophy is a wonderful handmaiden, but a terrible taskmaster." Every time I read a book that deals with some facet of philosophy, I think of this quote. Mostly because philosophy gives me tired head. It circles around and around and asks different questions and pushes the boundaries of what I have always considered truth and makes me wonder if they are just snotty, know-it-alls or if I'm mentally handicapped in some way and just can't see it. With that said, about twice or thrice a year I pick up a book on philosophy and spend a time in intellectual flagellation. See, I'm even beginning to sound like them.

But a couple of days ago I started reading Free Will by Sam Harris. To sum up his view of free will, he believes it is a delusion we created to help us cope with our lack of control on the world around us. There, now you don't have to read the book. But I started it because most of the sections in the old book that give me greatest amount of angst is the collision between Divine providence and (you guessed it) Free Will. And you have to understand I have read a lot of material about all the major constructs of this argument from Determinism, Libertarianism, Compatibilism, Openness, Molinism and the list goes on. I even have a working knowledge of some of them.

So why put myself through this? There is only one reason. It makes me "think" better. It makes me show my answers. Philosophy makes us run through all the thought strings until they either circle back on themselves or they run out and aren't valid. I believe the lack of critical thought is one of the greatest weaknesses in the Christian world-view. We accept without question the doctrine and, consequently, look foolish to the rest of the world. I think it was Stalin who claimed that Christianity was the opiate of the masses. When we don't think critically, we illustrate his point.

So I will finish the book. I don't know if I chose to read it, or as the author claims it was my destiny, manufactured by my psycho-neurons and past experiences. Maybe my next post will be on the couple I saw at the Detroit airport yesterday where he was 6'4" and she was 4'11". Incongruity is all around us.

Godspeed, I still describe myself as a "functional skeptic" maybe it has to do with my reading material.
Don

5 and 2

But it isn't the scorecard. It is the piling up of blessings that prompts this blog. Yesterday we added our 5th grandchild and 2nd granddaughter. She came to us in fine shape, all parts intact and working. Her momma is now recovering and dealing with the physical pain of the procedure, and rejoicing in the knowledge that this little red-faced girl is healthy and sweet and finally here.

It was not until the evening that I got to hold her, watch her for a moment and finish the prayer that started several months ago. Praying that she would be healthy and sound, that the pregnancy would be uneventful (which it was until Monday when her momma fell walking into school, all was fine)

But the prayer went far beyond that. I have discovered that life tends to throw us hardballs that we sometimes can't duck. The constant companion of grandparents is worry, for parents it is guilt. Worry because we know what life can do to us, guilt because we did not prepare those gifted to us in the best way possible. But I have about decided that grandparent's greatest role is to provide perspective. The fierce fighter in the kid has great potential for wide ranging change because of the very things that drive his parents crazy. The gentle nature of others will be taken advantage of, but it is our only hope for a compassionate society. The song and dance of a little girl's heart will be broken, but it is only through her dancing and singing will we catch a glimpse of angels. And the little tyke who has such an inventive and infectious sense of humor will have to find a way to deal with the seriousness of life, but he will bring the healing power of laughter to all of us.

So what will this new life bring to us? Will she be serious, will she be thoughtful, will she be caring, will she bring comfort? I don't know. These blessings tend to create a life of their own. They tend to find their own way. It is up to us to provide a trail for them to follow.

And so I wonder about her. Will she ever love me as much as I love her at this very moment? The other four have created their own rooms in my heart. They all moved into my thoughts and prayers, they took the best places and have made the house of my heart a better place. The room for Lola is now being furnished. It will take months and years to finish the job. I pray that God grants me the longevity to meet the unknown ones that will be their mates. I don't care if they have to wheel me into the church for the last one, I would like to be there. But if I am not, I hope that whatever I have been able to pass on to them will be of value, will be treasured.

Lola came to us yesterday with her little red face, her thatch of black hair, and her fingers wrapped around our hearts. Captured again by someone whom I don't even know...yet.

Godspeed out there. As I mentioned in the culture's front porch called Facebook. Children are the rainbows of our lives, grandkids are the pot of gold.
Don

The Answer May be Behind Us

Yesterday I checked into a Hampton Inn somewhere west of St. Louis for a meeting this morning with a new(ish) customer. When I checked in, though late in the afternoon, I asked if they had any USA Todays left. They did not have today's edition but yesterday's. Since I hadn't read it, I took a copy and scanned through it while working on the laptop. I came across an article titled, "Millenials aren't amoral, adrift"

The article rightly points out that older generations tend to view younger generations with an enormous amount of skepticism. Everything they do is wrong and everything we do is right. The term "going to hell in hand basket" was a term used by my parent's generation to describe my group. The older I get, the more I tend to agree with them. But the younger generations do have two areas that diverge strongly from my parent's generation. The rejection of worldly religious/secular/political organizations, and the tolerance for lifestyles that do not easily fit into the conservative framework. My generation seems to be the "missing link" in this argument. Like a hybridization gone terribly wrong, my generation seems to encapsulate all that is wrong with generations on both sides. Alas, I digress.

In the article are various authors of note quoting either one side or the other, but the essence is that the generations behind us have a very different world-view than we do. While rejecting the authority of the organizations, they have a keen interest in social justice. They have discovered all too well that the organizations of the world today are far more interested in the health and vitality of the organization than the individuals who make up that organization. In this I agree with them. Church today is far more about marketing than maturing. Politics is about greed than governing. The common discourse is demonizing anyone who disagrees with your singular and insular point of view.

So what makes those of us over 45 cringe with the younger crowd? They make us uncomfortable with their ability to ignore the church politics while flinging themselves into secular volunteerism. Why? Because they see far less damage by the organization towards those being helped or the volunteers carrying out the mission than they do in "church". They believe in Jesus, pray daily, and find no issue with friends and family who embrace another lifestyle. This last one drives the old folks crazy. As it becomes more culturally acceptable to live an alternate lifestyle, we will have develop a language that will become inclusive, rather than exclusive. By the way, if "all good things come from heaven" how can we condemn a long-term, loving, sacrificial relationship between homosexuals? I have observed one for many years as one partner cared daily for her partner who had a massive stroke, FOR YEARS. I'm just saying that there are a lot of layers to this blanket condemnation we publish, yet our younger travelers seem to accept and love and embrace those with ease.

These younger generations can teach a thing or two about getting to the core essence of being engaged at an organic level, of accepting people for who and where they are, of focusing their energy on finding common ground instead of battle ground. I think I like these young folks a lot. Maybe I can dye my hair, lose a few, and sit on their back row and listen. You never know, I might learn something.

Godspeed to you millenialists, we don't understand you, but we are beginning to trust your instincts.
Don

Showers are Parties

Showers are parties for the softer side of human-kind. Showers for the ugly side are a quick way to get clean without sitting down. I will freely admit that I do not understand the allure of the female affinity for this event (the party shower, not the cleaning shower).

Oh, I get the need and willingness to gather stuff for the coming nuptials or the impending baby arrival. I just don't get the fervor around making it a party. Now there is the nuance of having "themes" for these showers. Hmm, isn't a baby theme enough?

So for days and weeks ahead of the shower a group of women gather and plan the event. Like the "elder" women conferring on the young mother-to-be not only the essentials like strollers and diaper bags and baby clothes, but the constant transmittal of knowledge through legend.
"My second one carried a lot lower and that seemed to be a boy/girl thing"
"You will know when it is time to go to the hospital because..." (frankly I quit listening, it was becoming much too graphic for my comfort level)
"Oh they let you stay for 48 hours instead of 24, like when mine were born"
On and on the legend and lore of baby birthing is transmitted from one generation to the next.

And the planning of the shower is almost as intense as the development of the baby. What kind of food, where it should be, what decorations need to be rounded up, who to invite. My eldest daughter stated early that she couldn't help all that much leading up to the event, but she wanted to be in charge. Guys would balk at this concept, the ladies all seemed to think this was a great idea. Sometimes I just have to shrug my shoulders and realize that I will never get it.

Then the actual day of the event and I am informed that my strong back would be needed to haul decorations/cake plates/desserts/gifts to the location. My opinions/views/remarks were not welcome AT ALL. So, like the whipped husband and father I am, I loaded boxes and unloaded boxes standing in the living room like a big dumb farm animal holding the box until I was told specifically where to set it down. Thank goodness my eldest daughter was there, she can make a quick decisions and there is no one to disagree. After all they put in her in charge.

I will tell you that we men have no interest in this event. The quickest way to get a man to shake in his shoes is tell him it is a "couples shower." We would rather have a doctor's exam than to endure these things. The food is marginal (rarely any meat) the conversation is so estrogen-filled that we can't hear it (like a dog whistle, we know from the reactions that something is being said, we just can't hear it) and our tolerance for all things pink is pretty low.

We made through though. My youngest is having some really early signs of labor, my son-in-law is a little stunned by the entire thing (The first time around was a C-section) I think he prefers the schedule. Lola's room is ready, though awfully pink. We are locked and loaded..

Godspeed out there to all the guys who have or will go through this right of passage. We have all done it. We just don't understand it.
Don