Soon after penning my last entry about loving the unlovable ones in my life, I came upon a quote that I had seen before — but today it really spoke volumes to me. Seemed an appropriate add-on… The Gospel is the story of God’s love for His children through the ages. And haven’t we always been told that actions speak louder than words?
Preach the Gospel every day; if necessary, use words. (Francis of Assisi)
Did you ever hear something that didn’t just catch your attention, but instead just slapped you up the side of the head (as somebody’s grandma no doubt said)?
This morning Harold was listening to Dr. David Jeremiah on TV — I sat down to listen too. He’s not one of those Bible-thumpin’, hell-fire and brimstone TV evangelists at all. He’s more a straight-forward teacher of the Bible. Much more my style. (I happen to think that some of the Bible-thumpers need to stop thumpin’ and start readin’, but that’s for another day.)
Today, though, his teaching got personal and downright meddlesome. He suggested — no, he said — that if I am a Christian as I profess (I am and I do), I must love the most unlovable person I know.
Now, I’m good at loving from a distance. It’s easy to say — and truly mean it in my heart — that I love Muslims and alcoholics and even drug dealers – for I sincerely believe all of them are children of God even as I am His child. I’ve always taught my girls to love the sinner and hate the sin — that’s what God did for me. But, Dr J meant here and now, on a daily basis, with the most troublesome person at work or wherever on a one-to-one level. Now, that’s going to be tough.
One of my biggest complaints about where I work is that there are loud, boisterous, mean-spirited, also-professing Christians that drive me up the wall. If I can’t love these guys, who is more the hypocrite — them or me?? I know what God would say. Cut to 1 John: 3:18 (NLT) — Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. And, trust me, I know that actions include thoughts and talking (gossiping?) as well as overt acts. I’m beginning to sense a problem…
Dr J cut to the quick when he asked if ______ is any more unlovable than I was when God first spoke His love and grace to me. Well, gee, uh, stammer, stammer, the answer would have to be no, since I was a pretty big mess.
I think an attitude adjustment is in order before I go back to work on Thursday.
This then is love…after 38 years of marriage, Harold bought me my own fishing rig, gave me casting lessons last night, and will take me to get a fishing license today. You may ask “how is this love?” Doesn’t a fishing rig rate right up there as an aniiversary gift with toasters and blenders? You may think me crazy, but not at all.
Fishing has always been either a guy thing or a solitary pursuit for Harold, usually the latter. That he has opened it up to me is a wonder, a gift I cherish. He may never know how much it has touched my heart. I’ll try to tell him, but…
For Friday, our next day of tourism, we drove to College Station to visit the Bush Museum on the campus of Texas A&M University. We travel new back-roads each day as we try to see as much as possible of our corner of the world. Farm to Market roads and small state & county roads make for a much more relaxed drive than major thoroughfares. So it was until we followed a sign off of Highway 6, pointing us toward our destination. College Station is growing and changing, and trust me, they have the road construction nightmares to prove it!!
It was a perfect day to visit — not many other folks around. They offer an orientation film, and we also talked with an excellent docent. We learned that we would be seeing the museum, and not the library. The latter is reserved for serious scholars and historians.
The layout of the museum is wonderful; it obviously took great planning, as visitors wend their way effortlessly from one part of Bush’s life to the next. The displays are impressive, to say the least — i.e., an entire fighter plane suspended from the ceiling and a fully restored 1947 Studebaker. Exhibits are well-documented, from the correspondence to the newspaper articles to the many photos. Many exhibits have audio clips available, some by a narrator and some by President Bush. There is a mock-up of Air Force One and a replica office from Camp David. An entire alcove was devoted to the display of the gifts from heads of state — extremely interesting as one sees what a particular head of state thought to be a representative gift to the American president.
I was especially pleased to see a wing devoted to Barbara Bush and her many good works. She is an awesome woman, practical and down-to-earth with a special heart for those in need. She used the power of the White House to champion her causes. She has accomplished much with her literacy programs. As a lover of reading and words, I must applaud her efforts.
The most impressive exhibit may not be within the walls of the museum but rather on the plaza out side. It is a massive sculpture (12 feet high, 18 feet wide and 30 feet long)titled “
The Day the Wall Came Down” and was done by Santa Fe artist Veryl Goodnight. Our docent explained that the horses symbolized freedom and thus are shown coming over the ruins of the Berlin Wall. History buffs will remember that the Berlin Wall came down during this Bush administration. Inside the museum is an actual section of the wall, itself most imposing, complete with graffiti, donated by Germany to the museum.
Regardless of one’s political bent (and you’re not likely to see politics much discussed on this blog…), this is a worthwhile destination for anyone interested in American history.
On a personal note, I have a favorite whimsical photo from yesterday’s jaunt. My husband is a Texan through and through and the writing above his head says “I am a Texan and an American…
what more could a man ask?”, a quote from Mr. Bush and absolutely Harold. I plan to enlarge it and frame it!! A trip to Rudy’s for wonderful Texas BBQ topped off our visit to College Station.
