Ten Rules for Being Human

Someone's always making a list. Here's one for Being Human.

The Artist and Freedom

Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, expereince treacherous, judgement difficult.
Hippocrates 460-400 B.C.

I was in San Francisco over the weekend. I had the opportunity to interact with some bands, musicians and lots of different artistic people. (You probably knew this but San Francisco has A LOT of different artistic people!)

What I've noticed about us artists (irrespective of geographical location) is we believe ourselves to be inclusive and nonjudgmental. We are free in our approach to try different "things" and we're open to those who do the same. It's not written in any book of rules anywhere I'm just pointing out that a quality that artists generally share is freedom of expression.

And thank God we do. This freedom of expression, this encouragement to look at life differently and express ourselves uniquely regardless of what the conforming pressures say benefits society. Because of us, our society experiences all kinds of life, art, grace, beauty and even truth. (Remember Plato said, "Poetry is nearer to truth than history.")

Hmmm, so artists esteem freedom and non-conformity... why then do so many artists I meet live in a prison of negativity, complaining about other artists, particularly artists who are popular? Why do we associate the popular with "selling out"? Why do we assume that the celebrated artists are no longer relevant?

Maybe they aren't relevant. Or...

Maybe it's just easier to "tear" someone down than to be appreciative of what they have. Maybe we really only want to apply the 'freedom' thought to ourselves, not to others. Maybe we're jealous. (No, not artists!)

Maybe that's what Milton thought of Shakespeare or Solieri said of Mozart or Rod Stewart thinks of Sting.

As artists we are pluralists. That doesn't mean we're all the same. It means we value a variety of different ways of expressing art. We value diverstiy. We value freedom. If you receive approval for your art, great, keep it up. If you're not, stop looking down on others who are. Here's a novel idea for all artist... Be happy for someone else and don't make everything about you.

Only one 6-billionth of all of this is.

Questions lead to Answers lead to Questions

There are questions that need answers. Fortunately answers can be found. But that only presents another set of problems because I've found the best answers always to lead to more and better and deeper and interestinger questions.

I believe Jesus is The Answer.

But sooner or later He leads me to more questions. So, I keep living in the middle of answers and questions... in that shadow thing that Elliot wrote about in "The Hollow Men"... I live there because honestly, where else would I go? (Isnt that what Peter exclaimed? John 6)

I live there also because not having everything explained seems to make some sense. Mystery isn't the absence of meaning it's the presence of meaning too great to understand.

But then there are the things that do make sense to me and here's one that keeps me hanging around Jesus... He's the only religious leader to talk about sin and claim to be the remedy for sin. Other religions offer enlightenment, habits, karma, reincarnation, rules, the law and other belief systems in order to make up for my deficiency. Jesus is the only one who said to me, "Hey, you have a problem that is way worse than anything you could dream up and it's not going to change by trying harder. It's only going to change by letting me pay the price. And I will. Because I love you more than anything you can imagine." (that's me paraphrasing what Jesus said in the NT) He's the only one in history who ever said anything like that.

Something like that is just crazy enough to believe.

The Will to Believe

Pilot said, “What is truth?” You can almost hear him scoffing or maybe squirming… Jesus just stood there. He didn’t respond with a book, a website, or a campaign slogan.

He stood there.

Pilot was looking for answers, for resolution, for a response. And Jesus stood there in the way of truth and in the way of truth. Think about the two different ways… Depending on how it’s used “in the way” could mean a barrier, something blocking progress or “in the way” could mean in the flow, the right way to go.

Jesus stood there in the way.

Pilot didn’t get it. Maybe he was pressured for time. Maybe he was someone that just couldn’t see it. Maybe he wasn’t used to looking real hard for something. Maybe most everything was handed to him and this time it wasn’t handed to him. What he needed to do was stop, pray, think, listen and accept responsibility for his choice. But he didn’t.

Maybe you don’t get it either and like Pilot you’re frustrated. Listen, I have watched a lot of people struggle with their belief system. I have listened to many offer excuses. I’ve known people who always needed one more answer or some specific response or one more piece of evidence. Maybe you’re one of those people. Sorry to be so blunt but here’s my reaction…

No one walks away from Jesus because they can’t make the mental ascent. Good grief. Who can? No one can understand it.
Some say they can’t believe in Jesus because they need more evidence. Who doesn’t want more evidence? We all do.
I don’t believe people turn their backs on Jesus because they can’t reconcile science and the Bible. Yeah, even believers struggle with how to interpret the Bible sometimes.
People don’t walk away because of the church. Guess what? All of us at one time or another have wanted to walk away because of the church!
It’s not because of Christians although, again, trust me, I’ve been tempted
It’s not because of education, or politics, or race or pain in the world or anything else. You might think so but I don’t buy it.

People walk away from Jesus because they simply refuse to believe.

It’s a matter of the will. That thing deep inside of you that says either, “Yeah I want to believe in Him. I need to have someone else in control of my life.” Or “I could believe in Him but I will not.” You see, there’s a difference between saying, “I can believe in Jesus.” (which means you may or may not) And “I will believe in Jesus.” (which means you will).

So, I’d say stop, pray, think, listen and accept responsibility for your choice and then decide if you will or will not. Don’t blame it on something else.

It always comes down to the will.

Nepali Coast

The unbelievable view of the Nepali coast off of Kaui.

Isaiah 42:12
Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands.