In preparation for the opening of the 6^th Harry Potter movie next week, Drew and I have embarked on a Potter movie mini-marathon. From the time we began reading the books together when Drew was about 13, we have enjoyed the inventiveness, humor and adventure of JK Rowling’s stories.  (And yes, early on we dealt with the difference between the fantasy of well-written children’s fiction and the reality defined by the revelation of Scripture. They are not incompatible.)

            Ever so often in the stories, there is a moment of unusual insight that causes a person to reflect a bit more deeply.  In the first story, Harry (who was orphaned as a child) stumbles on the Mirror of Erised.  When he looks in the mirror, he sees the parents he never met and even feels their hand on his shoulder. 

The wizard Dumbledore comes to explain the power of the magical mirror: “It will show the happiest man on earth exactly as he is. It shows us no more and no less than  the deepest and most desperate desires of our hearts…But remember…this mirror gives us neither  knowledge nor truth.”  In other words, there is a level of deep self- awareness…but it comes without context or meaning. 

So, a question:  If there were such a mirror, what would it reveal to you, of you?  What are the deepest longings and dreams of your heart?  You know, the things that linger around the edge of your mind as you drift off to sleep at night. Or that internal vision or drive that moulds the shape of your days.  The true center that marks you, that nobody else knows—maybe not even you.  What would the mirror show?

But what if you know…but really know nothing?  An old Rich Mullins song once said, “They told me to follow my nose, but my nose only led me into my chest.”   Self-awareness and self-analysis can only go so far.  The longings of our own hearts can be alluring, mesmerizing—and paralyzing.  So Dumbledore gives this warning, “Men have wasted away in front of it…It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”  The point is always to live.

Maybe there’s another mirror.  One that can look honestly at your dreams and deepest longings—and give you knowledge and truth by which you live.  Is there such a place?

Yes.  James 1:21-25 encourages us to

“get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”

It is the word of God which shows us our true selves, charts the path of our God-given destiny, and then sets us free to choose to live it, with joy!   The word shows my hidden agendas and idols so I can deal with them.  It reveals the heart of the gospel tucked in easily missed parts of my life.  It shows God’s best path for me and for His glory.

Gaze long and think deep on God’s Word.  Apply it practically and obey the Spirit’s promptings through it.  Then you can do more than wish achingly over  your dreams.  You will live, in present tense, the abundant life God has attached to your name.

Kevin DeYoung wrote a post here  marking John Calvin’s 500th birthday today.  The thrust of it is not to celebrate Calvin as much as the centrality of God’s Word in his life and thought.  DeYoung insists that this is the way to be both relevant and lasting:

 God’s promises are sure and his declarations are always right. Opinion polls will come and go. Focus groups can say what they want. Pundits will wax eloquent on everything under the sun. God’s word will still be true. The word is our compass pointing us in the right direction. It’s the North Star, fixed and firm. We may wander and waver, but the word will remain. It’s like a stately evergreen in a field of grass and tulips. The grass will get green. The tulips will have their day. But the evergreen alone will survive the winter. It will not be moved. Humans are weak, failing, and temporal. The word is strong, abiding, eternal.
This is one of the great paradoxes of life. We all want significance. We all want affirmation. We all want to leave a legacy. Some seek significance in work, some in performance, others in stuff, a lot of people in family. Yet, we all have a God-given sense that for all our bluster and bravado we are still grass. But we all want to bloom. So we pour our lives into degrees, and professional advancement, into ministry, and business, and houses, and kids. All the while, knowing deep down that life is fleeting and passing us by and we desperately need to take hold of something that is eternal.

This is the paradox of permanence. The only way our lives will ever touch that which is eternal is to admit that our lives are hopelessly temporal. John Oswalt in his commentary on Isaiah remarked, “If I insist I am permanent, then I become nothing; if I admit that God alone is permanent, then he breathes his permanence on me.” You want a legacy? You want to transcend your own meager existence? Let go of your vain supposed success and grab hold of the word of our God. “This is the one I esteem,” says the Lord, “he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isa. 66:2).

The truly significant people in this world know that God is everything and they’re nothing. Fads and fashions will rise and fall, but the word will keep on accomplishing its purposes. It will outlast us all. So let our reading, memorizing, catechizing, and preaching be saturated with the word. Let our songs, ministries and mission submit to the word. May all of our theological questions, relationship questions, family questions look to the word. May every new doctrine, new movement, new church, and new book be tested against the word. May all our living and dying be undertaken with the firm conviction that God is true though everyone were a liar (Rom. 3:4).

God’s word is smarter, clearer, truer, and speaks to people’s deepest needs more than you and I ever could. So try thinking a few less original thoughts and people just might find you relevant in 500 years. “A voice say, Cry out. And I said, What shall I cry? All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isa. 40:6-8).

            Katherine Jackson, matriarch of the Jackson family raised her children as strict Jehovah’s Witnesses.  In recent years, at least one brother had converted to Islam, another reportedly to Judaism and Michael was known to have worn the scarlet thread of Kabbalah from time to time.

So, it was no surprise that yesterday morning, a report emerged that there had been so much bickering among the Jackson family about which religion Michael actually claimed and would have wanted at his memorial that they decided to forego God all-together and have as close to a non-sectarian service as possible.

            It didn’t work.  God showed up. But I’m still not exactly sure which God / god it was.

            Was it the God of the black gospel choir in front of the huge stained glass window image singing “soon and very soon, we are going to see the King” as Michael’s rose-covered casket was wheeled in?   (Note: the real God is deadly serious about not sharing His glory with another.  See Is. 42:8)  

            Was it the God of the Lionel Ritchie song “Jesus is Love”?                    (Note: Actually not a bad song with lyrics that are Scripturally true, if somewhat sappy in parts:  “We’ve got to walk on through temptation, ‘cause His love and wisdom will be our helping hand. And I know the truth and His word will be our salvation.  Lift up our heart to be thankful and glad, ‘cause Jesus is love, He won’t let you down…Who can bring you love? Who can bring you joy? Who can turn your life around? Who can heal your body?…Jesus loves you. Jesus wants you.  You can call Him.  He will answer.”)

        Was it the God who, multiple speakers assured us, had already ushered Michael into a place of celestial bliss on the basis of a) his kind heart, b) his talent that made people smile, c) his humanitarian contributions with his money and his presence or d) his dealings with misunderstanding and/or false accusations? 

             Was it the God who wanted to be sure to tell the whole, human, frail, wondrous, genius, mysterious, paradoxical, only privately known truth about Michael?                                                           (Note: as I’ve said before, Michael deserved to be treated with dignity just because he was “knit together in his mother’s womb…fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Ps. 139:13-14). Fellow child star Brooke Shields did the best job of painting the poignant humanity of her friend.) 

            Was it the god some made of Michael Jackson himself?  At some moments, speakers stepped beyond “he’s a legendary performer, an iconic genius whose music will live on and whose cultural impact cannot be denied” to  describe Michael in divine terms and characteristics such as “healer of the world, living forever and ever and ever, he will never leave us / always be with us in our hearts”, etc.  

            Was it the God of “ We are the World” and “Heal the World”—where the graphics featured the symbols of world religions in places of vowels (cross, crescent, Star of David, the lotus of Buddhism, yin-yang of Tai Chi and more) and pictures of religious personalities (Jesus, Buddha, etc.) interspersed throughout– while everybody held hands, swayed and sang along?          (Note: this was the largest attempt at the promotion of the warm fuzzy, can’t-we- all-just-get-along, “Imagine”, one-world-religion since the 9/11 Memorial at Yankee Stadium hosted by Oprah Winfrey.  (Hey, it just occurs to me, how did we manage to have this without the O?) Anyway, I understand that it is a plea for tolerance and even respect between religions; however, that cannot come at the relativization and sacrifice of truth which insists that there are some irreducible realities that forever make these religious systems incompatible.  One big one:  Christianity claims that Jesus Christ is God, God’s Son and the exclusive way to eternal salvation: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life…no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 3;16, 14:6)

         Was it the God who is always “near to the brokenhearted”, bringing quiet comfort, solace and peace to Michael’s daughter Paris, his parents, brothers and sisters, and closest associates– whether they recognize Him or not?  I suspect there was a lot of mercy and grace flowing at Staples Center today.

             I have no real conclusions here, just observations.  These things and the whole spectacle certainly say as much about the spiritual lives of people across our nation as it does about Michael Jackson himself. 

            But you can never shut God out. When it has to do with life and death—He’s always right in the middle of it all.  If you’re there, just make sure it’s the true God with Whom you deal.

Update: from the London-based Guardian coverage of the event: 

Throughout, the symbolism of Jackson as a Christ-like figure – misunderstood, persecuted and snatched away from his fellow humans before his time – was subtle but unmistakable. The opening gospel number, sang as the gleaming gold coffin adorned with roses was laid at the foot of the stage, featured the refrain “one more time we are going to see you,” a clear reference to both Jackson and the son of God.

Later, as John Mayer launched into a blues instrumental version of the Jackson hit Human Nature, a concert image of Jackson with arms raised in a pose straight from a crucifixion painting, and light pouring out from behind him was projected on the overhead screen.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is a rising star in the Republican Party. He is bright, engaging and articulate on issues dear to the heart of political conservatives: smaller government, fiscal responsibility and lower taxes. He is also known to be bright, engaging and articulate on issues dear to the heart of social conservatives, taking stances that are pro-life, family-friendly, faith-rooted and more. His national profile has been rising rapidly and he has been mentioned as a leading light for the next-generation, post-Bush GOP.

            The Governor was all those things—past tense—until the stunning revelations of the past two weeks.  You probably know the outlines of the story.  After leading his staff and family to believe he was hiking the Appalachian Trail to clear his head after a tough legislative session, it turns out the Governor was in Argentina visiting the mistress with whom he has been committing adultery for the past year.  And this over Father’s Day weekend, while his four sons were at the family’s vacation home! 

When he was confronted by the press (mostly because he had left the state without leadership for nearly a week), Sanford made a tearful, rambling confession, talking about how had hurt his family and disappointed the people who had voted him into office.  A couple of days later, he apologized to his cabinet because he put them in a bad place.   But then, he just kept talking, giving us way, way too much information about his still-passionate feelings for his Argentine lover.  Even while claiming to work on reconciliation with his wife, Sanford said, ‘I can now go to my grave, knowing I have met my true soul-mate”—who is not his wife!

There are so many messed-up things in this sad story, but behind them all is this: Mark Sanford claims to be a Christian — a follower of Jesus Christ.  And yet, he broke the marriage vows to his wife of twenty years—and the God before whom he spoke them.  He betrayed his calling as a father, acting more like a lovesick adolescent from the 7^th grade lunchroom than a grown man with a God-given responsibility for shaping the character of his sons. He played fast-and-loose with his political vocation and the promises he made to the voters of South Carolina to lead with their best interests at heart. 

How did this happen?  How is it possible to stray so far from serious commitments to his family and his constituents, much less to the One He claims to follow? 

Now, it is so, so tempting to sniff and look down my Christian nose at the Governor.  As if it is my place to pass a judgment on this man’s soul, his life and his destiny.  But only the Lord of Glory has been given that place—and is not inclined to share it with me or any group of His followers. 

As if there is some specific black mark (or group of black marks) that forever disqualifies a person from blessing or the hope of a second chance.  But that would make me insanely forgetful that all of Christian life is by grace, from start to finish. Not one of us who walks with Jesus deserves our next breath, much less the thousands of blessings that mark a single ordinary day.

But mostly, as if I am somehow incapable of the same sort of soul-brokenness that distorts my vision, clouds my judgment and even results in the moments of life-altering stupidity   God’s Word reminds me: “Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor. 10:12)

So, what can we all learn from Governor Sanford’s troubles?  It seems obvious that he got off course because he misplaced his spiritual and moral compass.  How did that happen?

+ We lose our compass when we begin to trust our feelings about our life more than what God says about our life. Feelings are fickle and can be so easily prompted, deceived, adjusted and confused by the circumstances of a moment.  On the other hand, God’s Word is an objective, unchanging (Is.40:8), rule or “plumb line” (Amos 7:8) by which we can tell if we’re straight or crooked as compared to Holy God.

Much, if not most, of the Governor’s statements about his affair have been couched in the language of feeling. In an e-mail to his mistress, he wrote: “You are my love. … Sometimes you don’t choose things, they just happen. … I can’t redirect my feelings, and I am very happy with mine toward you. To the world he said, “”This was a whole lot more than a simple affair, this was a love story. A forbidden one, a tragic one, but a love story at the end of the day.”  But God’s Word says that a married person who is intimate with a person other than their spouse – either physically or mentally and emotionally– is an adulterer.  (Ex.20:14, Matt. 5:27-28) No matter how we rationalize or redefine or distance ourselves from it, the truth of God stands, firm and inescapable. The very second we allow the thought, “ I know God says, but…” our compass has strayed from true north and our lives are headed south—to Argentina or worse. 

It is absolutely crucial that we keep our lives and souls lashed to the Word, because it will always lead us to Jesus (Luke 24:49) and the gospel word which alone sets us free (John 8:31-32) and provides the life for which we desperately long.  (John 10:10)

+ We lose our compass when the people around us will no longer tell us the truth about ourselves or about God.  One really disturbing detail of the Governor’s story is that at some point in the past year, he and his mistress met in New York with a “spiritual advisor” to discuss their relationship and that the three of them then went to church together!! There were no details given as to whether this “spiritual advisor” claimed to be a Christian pastor, but if so, they have betrayed not only the Governor, but their calling and the God they claim. It appears that, like the false prophets of old, this ‘advisor” assured “peace” when there was no peace. (Ezek. 13:10)

To walk faithful to Jesus, we need friends who love us dearly, deeply—but who love God and His glory more.  Friends who will protect us and be the soft place of expressed grace and who will also “sharpen us as iron” (Prov.27:17), “spur us on to love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24), and ask the tough question nobody else dares, like “what are you thinking?”  Friends who will even get in our face and with humble tears cry, “This saith the Lord”.

The Word of God revealing the glory of God in the gospel of God often through the people of God will enable us to walk faithfully in the ways of God.  If the Governor had kept these things as his compass and gauged his steps by them, he most likely would have stayed home and delighted in the wife of his youth, been a consistent hero to his sons and served his people with unquestioned integrity. 

 If you and I keep those things as our compass and hold tight to them, we’ll be protected from straying and enjoy the life of adventure, romance, passion and meaning that comes to all who faithfully follow Jesus.

            Dana Jennings was facing radical surgery to remove his cancerous prostate. An editor with the New York Times, Jennings was accustomed to an active life, rich with meaningful work and boisterous times with his family.  Now he was facing surgery, harsh treatments for the aggressive cancer and a less than certain future, dancing “this wicked waltz with cancer.” 

            How does one get ready for such a transforming season of life?

            Dana Jennings got a buzz cut.  (He writes about it here.) Or to be more specific, a “one-zero”.  At first, he told people it was to avoid the embarrassment of greasy hospital hair.  But in actuality,

In a time of utter vulnerability—having already weathered three months of post-diagnosis ups-and-downs—I needed the primal ferocity that a buzz cut proclaims.  I needed to look like a soccer thug or an extra from “Prison Break” to help get me through surgery, the physical indignities of post-op life, and my subsequent radiation and hormone therapy.  I still do.  My prostate cancer and its treatment have transformed me—in body and spirit—and the buzz cut has helped me cope with these changes.  I agree with the late Anatole Broyard, who wrote in his memoir “Intoxicated by My Illness”, ‘It seems to me that every seriously ill person needs to develop a style for his illness.’

            In a recent interview, Jennings said that the challenge of his illness called him to pare down to what is essential.  He said that the buzz cut was part of a new sense of self-identity – “a new me” – and talks of being captured by a thought from another researcher who said, “the challenge with cancer is to find a new sense of self because the narrative of yourself has been disrupted.”  Interestingly, near the end of his essay, Jennings compares his experience to that of Jacob, who wrestled with the angel of the Lord, emerging with both a new identity and a limp that marked his every step.

            When he goes in for the one-zero buzz cut, Dana Jennings says that the barber is “preparing me for the next three weeks, the way James Bond gets prepped for a mission….it energizes me, puts an extra bounce in my step.” So, when he looks in the mirror, he sees a man ready to engage the challenge before him.

            That got me thinking about the times in which we live and the challenges before us.  Faltering economy.  Swine flu.  Global warming…or not. Terrorism.  Family stresses. Many have described the moral nature of our culture as a cancer.

So, in the face of those challenges, what’s our buzz cut?  When we pare it down, what’s really essential for our lives?  What would you say? That could be a long and interesting discussion, but I suspect we could end up with something quite different from the lives we now live. Something more bare and simple.

Here’s a start: Life essentials, other people to love and be loved by, and God. Three things.  What would happen if you leaned into just those three things? 

Here’s the thing: all of these have a promise from Jesus attached to them.  For life essentials, he says, “Don’t worry about what you will eat or wear. Your heavenly father will provide. Trust Him.” (Matt. 6:25-33)  And then later he says that the two most important things in life, the things God is most likely to bless are passionate love for God and compassionate interaction with people.  (Matt.22:37-39)

 A buzz cut gives a whole new look for a whole new day. Maybe “a new you” marked by more simplicity and focus will energize you and put an extra bounce in your step, as you move forward in our challenging times.