This list of music included the new album, "Flamingo," by Brandon Flowers (of the Killers). The first taste of this album that I got was when a video was released for the track "Crossfire." I rather liked the music video and the song, but had not really processed the lyrics as I watched the video.
One particular lyric, in the context of a couple of things today, really stuck out to me. First, we shall present the context.
I woke up much earlier than I have in recent times to go to a CORE Team meeting at our youth minister's home. She asked for those with less than a year's experience on the team to arrive at 9AM - about 6 hours earlier than I'd been waking up the last several days. (Sad, I know.) So, I got there, and sucked down a bunch of wonderful coffee. During the first hour, with the newbies, Linda (the youth minister) discussed strategies for dealing with the personalities in small groups. While none of this information was particularly new to me, it was helpful to hear and have contextualized within the context of teenage ministry.
As the others arrived, we got down (more or less) to the business at hand - discussing the coming weeks. We have a night coming up wherein we are discussing the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are not officially recognized by all Christian denominations, but they are as follows:
Understanding
Wisdom
Counsel (Or Right Judgment)
Fortitude (Or Courage)
Knowledge
Piety (Or Reverence)
Fear of the Lord (Or Wonder and Awe)
Then, we were asked if any CORE would be willing to volunteer to lead the discussion on the various gifts... one person per gift. For some strange reason, I found myself volunteering. Fortitude (Courage) would be the one that stands out to me the most.
After our meeting, I came home and took a nap before I had to get ready for mass. When I arrived at the church, I helped set up chairs, a projector, and some other A/V resources. It felt like old times.
For the first time in a while, I well and truly recognized some of the scripture reading at mass that wasn't from the Gospels. It was the 2 Timothy reading. (Vs. 6-8, 13-14)
"6For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; 7for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 8Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 13Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
Then, Monsignor got up and gave his homily - focusing on the respect life campaign that was being especially promoted that Sunday. However, he did not merely stop at discussions of the gift of life for all - unborn children, death row inmates (that sort of thing) - but he issued a challenge. He related a story about Karol Wojtyla, who at the time was asked to speak at a great gathering of the Religious in the late 1970's by Pope Paul VI.
The piece of information that Monsignor related was when then-Cardinal Wojtyla said something to the effect of, "The Catholic church, and the church at large must become something that is counter-cultural." Effectively saying that it was required of Christians to be courageous, outspoken, and undaunted by fear or critical response.
Cardinal Wojtyla would later become Pope John Paul II (a piece of information I somehow knew despite Monsignor never mentioning it).
The challenge he issued was that we begin a revolution - no matter our other affiliations, we must revolutionize the world. Treat the less fortunate with respect, give a voice to those who cannot speak, re-evaluate the way we punish others... and so forth and so on.
I was moved.
But not for the last time that night. Linda made a point of saying that respecting life isn't merely about hot button political issues, but also about your own lives... a nice segue into an otherwise hard night.
Two men spoke. And I use that word emphatically - "Spoke." For reasons which will soon become clear.
On April 11th, 1997, Eric Krug got into a car after a night of celebrating his 21st birthday with friends. The driver was not sober. Their ride home ended with a collision into the trees on Oglethrope's campus. Eric's friend Lee died at the hospital several hours after slamming head-first into the dashboard. The driver walked away with minor injuries. Eric spent the next several months in a low intensity coma from which the doctors said he would never recover. They were wrong. In a manner of speaking. Eric's right arm was detached at the elbow during the wreck. It was re-attached, but with permanent, last damage. Eric's brain suffered a great deal of trauma. For months which turned into years, he was trapped in his own body, unable to communicate or move without a wheelchair. Now, he is able to use a walker, and communicate by being a pretty fast speller. Eric is aware and able to get around on a walker now. He was supposed to stay in his coma and waste away to nothing. He can communicate by spelling what he wants to say. It may not be quick, but it is effective. He's a big clown - full of jokes and little sarcastic comments, even about his own situation.
He dictated his story at some point, and now his mother shares his words.
The most moving part of his talk was the video they showed, wherein Eric was able, after intense physical therapy, to walk his sister (with his walker) down the aisle at her wedding.
I have never seen a happier human being in my life.
But now we must switch gears. On that joyful day, another man was watching Eric's sister walk down the aisle. Chris Sandy. Her husband.
On April 11th, 2000 (3 years to the day after Eric's accident), Chris Sandy got into a car after a night of drinking to drive to another party with his friend. On a familiar shortcut, Chris reached speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour on a 35 mile per hour road. He decided to go around a van, and slammed into a car that was turning left in his path. The car was ripped into two pieces, and both passengers were killed - one on impact, the other after several hours in the hospital. Chris spent the next year awaiting trial, struggling with the guilt of his actions. On the day of his trial, in front of the family of the victims, he was sentenced to no fewer than 10 years in prison with 20 years of probation, and was immediately taken to jail. He got out on parole after 3,117 days... roughly 8 and a half years. He'll still have to serve probation until the conclusion of a 30 year period. He lives with his guilt everyday, but uses his experiences to inform others about the dangers they face.
In conjunction with Eric, they tell a pretty strong story about the consequences of substance abuse on oneself and the people in one's life.
So now we get back to that lyric from the song "Crossfire."
"And were caught up in the crossfire
Of heaven and hall
And we're searchin' for shelter."
In the context of 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
"6For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; 7for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 8Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 13Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
And the context of the gifts of the Holy Spirit - especially courage.
And the context of respecting life.
And the context of Karol Wojtyla challenge to Christians to become "Counter-cultural"
And the context of men who have made, and face their mistakes like Eric and Chris.
So again:
"And were caught up in the crossfire
Of heaven and hall
And we're searchin' for shelter."
...but God did not give us a spirit of cowardice...
So... your Words of Whiz Dumb for October 3rd, 2010.
We are caught in a crossfire, but we were not made to be cowards. Let's *be* revolutionaries.
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