It’s back-to-school time! Teachers and educators across the land are in the process of setting up classrooms, reviewing class rolls, brushing up on curriculum, participating in in-service seminars, and stocking up on school supplies. Refreshed from the summer break they are setting their hopeful faces toward the promises of a new year with a fresh start.
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An Episcopalian priest played golf regularly with the local Baptist minister and two of his members. The priest kept inviting the Baptists to visit one of his services until they were embarrassed at not having gone. So they committed to being good neighbors and picked a date to visit, but arrived late to the service.
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I’m not a morning person, and, I’m a glass-half-full kind of person. I long for Lent, a season that fits my demeanor best. Perky bubbly morning persons drive me crazy. Lately I seem to be surrounded by them and their kin. To my morning sunshine friends I offer “The Cynics Guide to Life” as a corrective to a saccharine frame of mind with a plea to please, let me have my third cup of coffee before telling me all about your pet’s unique personality and fascinating interior life.
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Euphemisms have their use, but I suspect more often than not, it’s more helpful to call something what it is. We hear some euphemism so often we almost don’t recognize them as such. A half hour of watching the news will likely cover the following: passed away (died), fatal injury (death), fatality (dead/killed person), fence (wall), casualties (deaths and injuries), collateral damage (damage, death, injury to non-combatants and their property), promoting democracy (enforcing hegemonic rule), active defending (attacking).
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A student from my January philosophy course recently came by the office to follow up on some lingering questions. It’s always a good sign when a student pursues learning after the conclusion a course. It hints that one has achieved a measure of retention, sustained interest, and perhaps tweeked at least a curiosity if not a thirst for learning. It seems to me that the nature of studying enduring subject matter (philosophy, history, etc.) tends to have that effect more so than the more entertaining “designer” courses teachers often foist on their undiscerning students.
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I grew up among pietists, evangelicals and biblical literalists to one extent or another. I must confess that a lot of the cognition in those traditions of faith never really took hold with me. Perhaps I was too critical for my own spiritual benefit even as a child. Issues about biblical inerrancy never interested me. During junior high school I learned that there are no extant original biblical manuscripts, the basis upon which the claims for biblical inerrancy are built (“There are no errors in the original manuscripts.”). That being the case it became apparent to me that it was a question of choice to believe in inerrant manuscripts—a belief that made no contribution to the quality of one’s Christian life or to one’s obedience to the message of the Bible, from what I could observe.
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I met up with some old friends recently, who’d brought along some of their friends I appreciated meeting. It didn’t take long to get to that awkward point in the conversation that follows the “What do you do for a living?” Well, maybe not awkward for most jobs, but typically for the ones I’ve held (funeral home manager, local church clergy, and now seminary professor). At least people clean up their language.
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On a few occasions I’ve engaged in the exercise of writing my own obituary or epitath. The exercise was prompted in seminars or workshops, and on one occasion as part of my orientation as a hospice chaplain. Kierkegaard said “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” That’s helpful to keep in mind. Which reminds me of the story about a priest, a rabbi, and a minister…
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