Nostalgia in "The Stacks"

This morning I had to go my university's library to find some books for a paper I was writing. It has been about 19 years since I have been in "The Stacks." In my undergraduate studies, I went to the library often as I needed many references. But now in my graduate studies and the availability of so much on the Internet, I have not needed to go to the library.

It was early in the morning, the first day back to school after spring break. "The Stacks" were super quiet - no one else there. The books I needed were at the opposite end of the room from the entrance. The smell of "The Stacks" is unique and it was very familiar. I marvelled as I walked amongst the shelves scanning the titles - so much research, so much study, so much information - was stored there. So many titles caught my interest.

And the familiar urge to seek more knowledge returned in great force. I wished I had the time to sit down and peruse some of these books and journals. Memories of my past of reading extra things while looking for what was needed flooded back. And I was sad. Yes, the Internet is great but it is frustrating to sift through. It is not quiet and it has no atmosphere!! And for today I was made aware of all the great writings that are out there right in front of my eyes. And it was all good.

In the advent of all the technology today, may we never lose the memories of "The Stacks."

Wake Up!

Hear, hear O Christian America
You sit in your great "cathedrals"
Dressed in the finest fashions
You close your eyes in prayer
You lift your hands in worship
You fill the offering plates with your tithes
You tell of all the ministries you do

Yet when the unemployed, undereducated struggling alcoholic
Comes and sits down beside you in the pew
What do you do?
You wrinkle your nose
You look the other way
You hold tightly to your purse
You walk out the other end of the pew
You tell your friends who came to church that day

Do you know what you missed?
This man prays every hour of the day
He thanks God for every breath he takes
He praises God that he stayed dry one more day
He gives half his sandwich to the one more needier than he
He walks with Jesus hand in hand

When will you wake up and shake off your piety?
When will you realize he is just as faithful as you?
When will you be blind to his appearance and see deep in his heart?
When will you embrace this dear brother of yours?
When you do - you will be renewed.

L.M. Lent 2009

Back to Walking on the Water

A Little Humor, A Lot of Thought

A friend sent me an email with some of these cartoons. This one can be funny in one way but in another way, it makes me think.

Maybe it's a good thing that the Bible suggests we give 10% of our income in tithing - it is not affected by inflation! Being that it is a percentage - it would certainly increase if my income increased.

In thinking of why I tip a wait person - it is a personal thank-you for the service. If I thought that person served me exceptionally well, I increase the tip recognizing the effort. So when it comes to God - what if He blesses me with some extra funds unexpectedly - shouldn't I do the same and give a little more back to Him? It doesn't necessarily have to be monetary - but my time or my possessions. It would be a sign of my gratitude to His "service" to me. Sigh - I do have a lot to learn!!

A Sad Commentary

Every year in January Detroit hosts the International Auto Show. According to the media, this is the biggest show and when "the Big Three" American auto companies present their new models and concept cars. In light of the current recession and the money troubles of the auto industry, I was very surprised by the advertising for the auto show. While I want to see the American auto industry survive, especially because of what it means for the people of the metro Detroit area, I feel that the Big Three have somewhat created their problems aided by the greed of the American people. The companies have created increasingly larger, more gas guzzling and more "luxury" vehicles perhaps expanding beyond their means. Unfortunately this is driven by consumer demand. What have we become that we need to have SUV's with all the perks or huge F150 pick-up trucks just to drive around the city. Having lived in Africa where a Hummer would have been useful for its all terrain abilities, I do not understand why a city dweller needs a Hummer except for the prestige that it appears to give the owner. These larger vehicles seem to have become more of a status symbol than vehicles of utility. This is a sad reflection of the materialism of North America.

Back to the auto show advertising... I saw several commercials for the auto show and all of them tout the presentation of new models, the chance to see the luxury cars for this year and the fancy new concept cars. It is beyond my understanding, in light of the auto industries' financial woes, how they can continue to produce bigger, more sophisticated vehicles and then expect people who are suffering from the recession to be interested in buying these vehicles. The sad thing is that the recession has not changed the general population's need to have their status symbol in the driveway. People will continue to borrow money to keep their fancy vehicles and the empty satisfaction of the recognition they bring. What have we North Americans become?