My dad used to talk about when he was young ...it provided an interesting contrast to the life I was living.

People back then ...as we often say, did live in relative poverty. Those who could celebrate their freedom, of not being in slavery, often drove themselves hard and to the point of feeling like they'd been whipped.  Though, it is always better to be self-driven.  No one should ever be whipped, and no one should have to be a slave. Animals shouldn't be subjected to that sort of treatment, and people should not be treated like animals. (One observation aside, though in poverty, they did know how to dress up for special occasions.)

He was living with his parents in Europe.  Times were tough, especially for those with large families ...which were not uncommon.  Dad's great great grandfather was only twelve years old at the time ...a time which looked to opportunity in America, where his older brother was.

Along with great opportunity, also often comes a bit of risk.  And while risk is often a tempting advantage for some ...it can bring an experience filled with a wide range of suffering for others. This mix of opportunity and adventure was to involve the older brother in taking a rather large herd of horses to New Orleans.

He was going to meet his twelve year old brother in America after he returned from New Orleans.  Reports of what happened were sketchy, yet word was that he never reached New Orleans.  Sadly, many outlaws also sought opportunity in those days.

When the twelve year old boy, soon to become a man, got off the ship ...his brother was not there to meet him.  At the time, no one knew why, and actually only the twelve year old was there to contemplate why.  Who knows what was going through his head, but eventually he had made up his mind to work for a man in the city to obtain room and board.

Yes, this twelve year old quickly became a man ...and he eventually got married, and had a son who had a son ...my dad's Dad, who is pictured here with my grandma. Grandma was someone we all loved very much.  Dad's dad passed away before he married ...but, we learned to love him too, through the stories Dad told.

I had it easy (and got many reminders of that fact, rightfully so) compared to what things were like when he was young. I guess it was easier to listen because it always seems better to listen how someone had it rougher.

My own children may not like it so well if I choose to tell them how well my life was, and at the same time, tell them they are going to have it much rougher. I often wonder if we have another great Depression, whether the character of us people, as a whole, will be sound enough to adjust in a healthy fashion.

My dad's stories were very interesting ...and I think I am more grateful today for what I have, as a result of hearing those stories.

Now, I'm imagining a story my dad never told ...which happened way before he was born. This can be fun and enlightening ...to be a kid again, and imagine, with my head in the clouds.

Let's not complicate the imagining, so let's just eliminate any discussion on possible errors in the calendar ...let's imagine we are living a couple thousand years ago.

I have a friend who is real smart. But though I find myself not as bright as he is, he never makes me feel like I am less than anyone else.

We were playing once, and got distracted. His parents had planned a long trip, and had planned quite well, except one important detail ...him. They left him behind. He is my best friend, and I admire all the diverse interests he has. It was interesting to see the surprise on his parent's faces ...when they came looking for him, and he was talking to a bunch of doctors. And the part I liked the most was that the doctors were asking him questions, and he seemed to have the answers.

I saw my friend less as we got older. He was always full of happy greetings when we'd meet, but I didn't fault him for getting so busy with other things ...he was just so smart.

As time marches on, we all become adults. One time I happened upon him amongst a bunch of other people ...and there was this one guy that appeared rather wild. This wild man wasn't saying anything much different than what my parents would say, but ...it's just that the government is so oppressive, and can be brutally vicious at times.

The authorities often severely punish for things we know are wrong, but also are known to punish for no reason at all. We have to be wise, know how to avoid these potentially explosive situations, and certainly not draw attention to ourselves. This person draws attention to himself not only by the way he looks, but worse yet, by the things he says.

Like I said, many of the things he says are things my own parents have taught me, but my parents have also taught me not to draw attention to myself.

What happens next, really takes me by surprise. This wild man suddenly draws attention to my best friend, making everyone take notice of him. This just doesn't appear to be wise at all.

This puts a real strain on our relationship. After all, I have to exercise self-preservation, and sadly, that includes distancing myself from my best friend. It's not that I don't consider him a close friend anymore ...after all, it's not my fault he chose to draw such negative attention to himself.

I have always fully trusted my best friend, and his character has no equal ...I just don't understand. He's so smart, and I am certain he knows what he is getting himself into. Though he is making some new friends ...he is making more than just a few enemies. I don't know what suddenly came over him to behave so reckless. I wish I knew.

I lose touch with him for a couple years. I don't make new friends easily. There is no friendship anyone has ever had, like the valued friendship we had. I really miss that ...so much so, that I decide to inquire about him.

Then I hear he was killed.

I don't want to believe this ...I don't want to live with all these regrets. I shouldn't have given up on him. I know now our friendship is more valuable than any fear I may have. After all, though we all are guilty of innumerable things in our lifetime, I can't recall an occasion of his wrongdoing. I just found it difficult to accept the stance he took on certain unpopular issues. I feel bad now, that my noncommittal caused such hesitation, not allowing our friendship to weather a few bumps in the road. I somehow believe he is still alive ...and I must find him, and tell him I am sorry for being so cowardly, that I'd put my fears ahead of our friendship.

I return to the city. There's a woman that I know I've seen before, but I can't place where I've seen her.

It bothers me, but I can't quite place where I've seen her before. She is talking to a small group of men. I draw closer to listen. I hear her mention my friend's name ...and furthermore, she is saying that she believes, as I'd hoped to believe, that he is alive.

There are many people that appear happy.  I've not seen anything like this in a long time.  Something is making them so alive!  There appears to be a feeling of general well-being, a collective well-being, a common good ...an overall good.  I do want to find about my best friend, but at this moment I also want to discover why all these people are so happy ...why they are so alive!

What if we believed that there was just this general feeling of love all around us. Some would hug a tree perhaps. Others would perhaps hang their hat on another emotion, or perhaps wear it on their sleeve, directing their focus with an attempt to funnel all their sympathy towards a single perceived injustice.

But if there was just love all around, there would be no injustices. There would be just choices ...and no need to conceive the possibility that one choice may not be fully compatible with another choice. In that case, choice becomes a bending of choice ...or a compromise.

That limits choice ...and if we strongly want the fullness of choice, this may create a conflict. Unless, of course, we value the other's choice as much as our own. This is what appears to be the general consensus among those who mostly feel everyone should just accept every other point of view, and simply be loving.

But though this is the initial claim, everyone's point of view is not welcome. And if one view is not received with open arms, then what could be a healthy discourse, simply shuts down. Of course, there are things that shouldn't be compromised ...and it should be understood that not all is loving, and there's a tendency for that to quickly include us, as emotions soar. We may be wearing the same mask we perceive others to be wearing, but more critical is to not view the face that others are wearing as the face of the enemy.

Another problem arises when the perceived evil is considered to be anything that gets in the way of that loving acceptance of whatever anyone wishes to choose. Still further problems arise, because let's go back to the statement of saying we value the other's choice as much as our own ...in essence, accepting each other in love, despite our differences.

But if we say we value other's choices, how true is that? Do we value the choices given us by the One who created us? We find that our choices are limited by the One who created us, and do we, who say we are loving and accepting ...do we lovingly accept the fact that our choices are limited, and do we lovingly accept the extent and degree to which they are limited? What it comes down to then, is do we extend our accusation towards others ...or do we accuse ourselves, in essence, admit that it is not others who are exclusively guilty of not loving, it is our own falling short of our love for our Creator. It is our Creator we are challenging ...and we should be careful not to align ourselves with the main challenger.

Each time we align ourselves in one of these areas with a challenge ...the potential of eroding discretion magnifies itself so greatly that we diminish our capacity to correctly approach the next challenge that comes our way. It is not bad to challenge our thoughts on an issue ...it only becomes detrimental when we are not viewing it solely as an incentive to seek out and discover that which is acceptable to our Creator.

I guess we have become so proficient in the denial of this, we resolve to the worst possible of choices ...to attempt to eliminate any challenges at all, and deny the very existence of our Creator.

If we find ourselves at this point, we have not arrived at it in quick fashion. Whether we realize it or not, and sadly, often not ...in truth, we have been mostly unknowingly going in this direction, little by little, for a long time. Perhaps we have become a victim of it, but the deceit that drives it is intentional. And to overcome that deceit, it must be our deeply committed intent to do so ...otherwise we just co-sign a loan on our existence that will never be paid for if we only intend to honor that contract.

We need to tear up that dastardly deed ...and reread that which restores us to where we can present the "paid in full" ...that is where true love exists. It is not full of lies and deception, and it takes a real commitment and boldness, not to stand against the authority of God's Word, but against those who perpetuate the inescapable hate at the core of its own defense. It is a defense, and an offense to God.

There have been times I've told my children they could not have something. The response was a natural response from a child, as they don't understand the withholding of something by a parent whom they feel loves them so much they would withhold nothing. And the immediate response was not manipulative, nor coercive ...my child simply felt, for that ever so brief moment, "You don't love me!" The moment was ever so short, because I immediately hugged my child, and then the truth outweighed the counter emotion.

Sadly, many adults are still saying, "You don't love me!" It seems fewer and fewer people read anything to any extent nowadays, so it's difficult to really understand what true love is ...if we don't read the Bible, and put our heart into it. And as a result, what we see is many people wanting stuff ...and if they don't get it, they feel they are not loved. God sent His Son, not to give us stuff, but paid a great price to get us to Heaven. We don't get there by good works, but we don't get there by merely saying a Name either, which to us may represent no defined character, statements, or commitment.

This can be both good, or bad ...

Sometimes a child shows great interest in what a parent shows interest in ...and this shared experience develops character.  This continues on, into the years where the child may no longer want to be considered a child.  Areas are explored where the parent has not, but often those areas are not discouraged ...and it may be considered a new exciting personal experience.  The son, or daughter, ventures into an area that the parent has not. This is often a trend, not justification for the omission of things, nor is it a recourse for the convenience of placing blame. It also can too easily be used as a cop-out, instead of a coping mechanism, stating, "I just wanted them to develop character."  The omission of things is not the recommended course, nor is it a recourse for renaming wisdom by intentional, yet errant claims. It merely shows avenues that wisdom often travels ...often beyond our comprehension.  But this is because that which is directing it, beyond our comprehension, is more than wisdom itself ...it is our Creator.  And our Creator directs the path towards a wisdom beyond knowledge.  Our Creator also directed Mom to direct me.   

...so, this is a special thanks to Mom also, humbly steadfast.

Mom wasn't as good at telling stories as Dad ...but she pointed me in the direction of the best story, also a true story, with no embellishment. This is my story, and though it may only be a grain of sand on the shores of history, what really is history ...without His story?