The Shutdown

Today in Minnesota, DFL Governor Mark Dayton and Republican House Leaders continue to disagree about a state budget. Now, this is no family dining budget disagreement. It's not like choosing McDonald's versus Olive Garden. We're talking about $1.8 billion of disagreement.

Earlier this year, democratic legislators in Indiana and Wisconsin fled to Illinois to stall legislative proceedings, again, over disagreements. Even the federal government threatened a shutdown in early April when Congress and the Administration could not agree.

These sort of political quarrels happen quite frequently, but the media thrives on such occasions as if doomsday is coming (which ironically did come and go in May). Why does the media love this? Because it's a portrayal of elementary school.

When a state or the federal government threaten a shutdown due to budget disparities, the media provides transparency, which is occasionally useful. What we see, as a result, is a playground, usually called a capitol building, in which young (very old) children (legislators) are fighting over who gets to play with the kickball. They spend the whole recess time fighting over the ball and neither one gets to play.

What if they compromised to share the kickball? The common retort to such a proposal: "I can't compromise my ideology." However, contrary to popular belief, to compromise does not mean to abandon your beliefs and by some strange means inherit the beliefs of your 'enemies.' Rather, it means that you agree to disagree, to live in peace, to recognize the beliefs of others while steadfastly living your own beliefs and being humble enough to admit that you're not the Almighty Creator.

Quite frequently, in terms of one's religious beliefs, it is said that one must walk on egg shells when working and partnering with persons of other beliefs because you do not want to 'compromise' your beliefs (usually rooted in the fear; perhaps the fear that you may actually be converted?) However, human to human, we must compromise in order to live in peace, in order to achieve any sort of social progress.

The alternative is the recess showdown portrayed by Democrats and Republicans; nothing gets done and all of a sudden recess time is over and we're out of time to make a difference. The same is true of our short lives.

If a government shutdown teaches us anything, it teaches us that if we haphazardly cling to our identity titles, there is simply idleness. Perhaps if we lived our identities by practicing love, compassion and peace, not only would we pass budgets, but we'd change lives for eternity.

Compromise with others; steadfastly live your beliefs.

The Random Benefactor

Each day, billions of economic transactions occur through various mediums of exchange. One gains, while one loses, only to be gained and lost again. Along the way, however, a portion of each transaction is reserved, not to be spent and lost again. A constant give and take with a little savings, if you will.

Relationships are formed in much the same way as trust is imparted and experience binds. Relationships also differ from economic transactions, in that upon death, all is exhausted personally, that is, savings are obsolete. Thus, instead, relationships invest in the phenomenon of random benefaction.

Each man is a random benefactor, giving up a part of himself, which is invested in others during life. Such investment is added among other investments until a whole man is formed in demeanor, personality, and motivations. This is done under the assumption that no benefactor can take any investment with him upon death and thus all must be given humbly to another, sometimes randomly. That is, our actions and words may be imprinted unintentionally, and yet the benefaction has occurred.

Each day we are random benefactors to colleagues, family members, waitresses, store clerks, etc. We invest in others, though not always intentionally, and that investment creates, is shared and invested, and the cycle continues. Thankfully, the demonstration of love and knowledge of Christ, is an eternal investment.

Benefacting increasingly is less 'random' as death approaches. Since every day is one day closer to our demise, we learn from the dying that benefacting demands intentionality - to share investments with others humbly; to give all in order to gain Christ and to give all in order to love.

The Haunting

"I am haunted by humans."

If you've read The Book Thief you are familiar with this quote made by Death. Within the context of the literature, it is quite moving and a uniquely exhilarating and chilling conclusion. Outside of the context of the novel, there is also much to be said.

Human beings are of supreme creation, no doubt about that. Imagine what other species, if indeed granted the intellectual ability, must think of humans. Destructive, yet creatively industrious. Each unique, yet strangely related by genetics and personal characteristics.

Christians hold to the doctrine of being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Though of no divinity, humans professing to Christ possess the divine Spirit. This too is a strangely haunting and yet beautiful aspect of personhood.

With the ability to do good, and the same ability to do evil, we too possess the capability of discovering beauty despite destruction and evil, holding to the notion that "something good must come even from bad."

I, too, am haunted by humans. I believe it to be in the same regard that I fear the Lord, with reverence, lack of omniscience, and perhaps most importantly, a desire to know more.

This fear, this haunting, while beautiful and yet sorely misunderstood, captivates my desire for knowledge. To discover not only why humans behave as they do, but to know the supreme Creator who being of perfect nature embraces love, and all that is good, despite a fallen state of being. How be it so that with one hand we praise and with the other we sin but to acknowledge the haunting nature of man, who knows both good and evil.