A Glimmer of Hope

Apparently I’ve been waxing rather serious of late and have had requests from some of my regular readers for an offering which leans towards the lighter side. To that end, I wish to respond with the following poem and comments. In this fragile world we all share, we seem to be running out of lots of things people care about, things like rain forests, ozone, oil, agricultural land, old growth timber, certain species of animals and the like. On the other hand, folks are frustrated because we seem to have too much of other less desirable things, such as land fills, pollution, expended nuclear fuel, cars and so on. Isn’t that just the way of things. We use up all the good stuff and wind up with lots of what we don’t want left over. I was pondering the likes of such eco-cerebral paradoxes early in the evening on a recent camping trip and was encouraged to discover that at least one species was still thriving, not only in spite of man but partially because of him as well. In fact, I made a significant personal contribution that night to help ensure the survival of said creatures. Sometimes you just have to look at the lighter side of things, even if they are annoying. Here’s hoping you can find a way to help save the world that doesn’t itch quite so much.

A Glimmer of Hope
We are polluting the air and water
Depleting the oil and coal
The ozone layer is growing thin
And the toxic dumps are full
Gnat catchers and spotted owls
Are in gravest danger, they say
And rain forests are disappearing
At an alarming rate each day
We’re running out of almost everything
On this most fragile biosphere
But glad tidings, fellow outdoorsmen
No shortage of mosquitoes here
By Frank Carpenter ©

Upon the Sea

For those of you who find the subject uninteresting, I promise to return to my regular programming on the next post. However, today I must offer one more posting related to the ocean. Even now I find myself curled up on a bunk aboard the sloop Blacksilver several miles off the entrance to San Diego Harbor, having spent nearly forty hours out at sea these past few days. Each of us, if we are fortunate, has the opportunity to discover the places and activities which make us truly happy. Those are the times when we feel more alive and at peace, like we have discovered our place in the world. Most often when we make such discoveries they relate to leisure time, but some are lucky enough meld those passions with their daily lives. One of those activities, for me at least, is sailing. While my opportunities to do so are limited and sometimes inconvenient, perhaps that makes them all the more valuable. When I am at sea, I relax completely and my cares seem to melt away … at least for a time. If you are a regular reader it may be obvious that my heart leans heavily in said direction and I may even be overzealous in sailing-related metaphors. Hopefully I don’t tire you of my musings thereon. In the meantime, however, I submit the following offering which was written, edited and even posted from out at sea, at least a little way. My wish for you is that, in some area of your life, you may find the peace I know at this very moment. If you’re still looking, don’t give up on your search … it’s out there somewhere. In the meantime, I hope you find something for yourself in my words. Smooth sailing and fair winds to you and yours.

Upon the Sea
The sky has cleared to perfect blue
The wind and sea are gentle now
As I recline at my favorite perch
Upon the pulpits at the bow
The western swell upon our quarter
Rocks me, easy as you please
As I gaze out, transfixed
Across the trackless reach of seas
All the way to the horizon
Where my unbroken view
Stretches out, it seems, forever
With naught but dreams of restless blue
This is the moment I was born for
The very place I longed to be
With the deep awash beneath my keel
And my heart upon the sea
By Frank Carpenter ©

Master and Commander

These next few days I will be at sea, competing in the Newport to Ensenada yacht race, from southern California to Mexico. As my crew prepares to face some 500 other boats over a 125 course through the middle of the night, my thoughts turn to the safety of all those folks out on the water. I must be brief, as I am scheduled to shove off directly, so I offer the following prayer which I wrote previously aboard the same boat I’ll be sailing on today. I have taken the liberty of borrowing the title from Patrick O’Brien’s famous serious of nautical novels, but offer the sentiments to all those who share my course in the coming days. As you sail across the seas of your own life this weekend, may your course be true, your weather fair, and may you also know the protection of the Master and Commander of all the oceans. Smooth sailing.

For more information about the Newport to Ensenada race, visit nosa.org. Also, for information about the boat I’ll be aboard, or the foundation that owns and operates her go to bksf.org.

Master and Commander
A Mariner’s Prayer
Thou art the Master and Commander
Who rules the seven seas
This watery domain is thine
To do with as you please
You sculpt the ever-changing surface
Directing wind and wave
Thine the tempest and its fury
Every element thy slave
Thine the frozen northern waters
As well, the trade winds warm
Thy grace lies in the glassy calm
Thy wrath, the raging storm
Oh Master and Commander
Have mercy on we few
Who venture out upon the seas
And brave the boundless blue
May Thy blessing be upon us
As we wander far from shore
Mighty Master and Commander
We praise Thee ever more
By Frank Carpenter ©

The Narrow Way

As we march into the weekend, I thought I’d send us off with a few thoughts about the choices which might lay ahead of us in the near future. Every day is filled with options and while many of them may seem small, even utterly inconsequential, their sum eventually adds up to our individual destinies. I believe that most choices, or directions, basically lead down one of two paths. First, there is the high moral path of the greatest good which, in my opinion, generally leads towards God. Then there is the path of compromise, which may not lead directly towards darkness or evil, but certainly tends to meander away from God. Sometimes that variation can seem slight, but with every choice we make we are generally taking a small step in one direction, towards either heaven or hell, if you will. The exciting, scary, amazing thing about life however, is that we have the opportunity to re-choose with each step. Sometimes a few thoughtless shortcuts or detours can land us in places we never intended to end up so we must choose both wisely and cautiously. We, as believers, must try to avoid the proverbial path of least resistance and endeavor keep our feet upon what Pilgrim’s Progress referred to as the narrow way. That will often be the more difficult path, offering deferred benefits instead of immediate satisfaction, but it will always prove itself worthy … while proving us worthy as well. I believe the poet Robert Frost summed it up best in the closing lines of his well-known poem The Road Not Taken, when he penned the words,
“I shall be saying this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference”

Well spoken, I think that about covers it. All the best to you as you choose your own path today.

The Narrow Way
There are always two roads to choose from
At least two roads, or more
The easy path of compromise
We’ve all tried that one before
And then the way more difficult
Less attractive, at first, it’s true
But yielding better results by far
Once every journey is through
How will you choose when paths diverge
For that juncture may come today
And broad is the path to destruction
Yet, far better the narrow way
By Frank Carpenter ©

Revelations

Last night, I had the opportunity to view an advance copy of the pilot episode for the upcoming six-hour series “Revelations,” which premiers this Wednesday, April 13 on NBC. (9-10 p.m. ET/PT) It stars Bill Pullman as Dr. Richard Massey, an atheistic astrophysicist who is dragged unwillingly into an end time struggle between good and evil. Also staring is Natascha McElhone as Sister Josepha Montifiore, a Harvard educated nun intent on discovering Jesus at His second coming and protecting him from those who seek to destroy him. John Rhys-Davies also guest stars, and he is a welcome addition on any screen. The pilot episode basically lays the groundwork for the rest of the series by portraying a world in conflict (wars and rumors of wars) with evil on the rise, contrasted against the backdrop of undeniable miracles which seem to point to the prophetic and imminent return of Jesus Christ to earth in the “end of days.” The show is chock full of scripture quotes, which is a good thing. However, it takes a great deal of liberty with prophecy as is to be expected with any major network production. It has its roots in the biblical end times of the New Testament, but it is clearly fiction. I here point out that the “Left Behind” series is also fiction, yet found huge readership and has had a commensurate impact. Evangelicals will be a little disappointed with the extent of Catholic imagery and doctrine, yet I confess having the same frustration with parts of “The Passion.” Nonethless, there would be no biblical message in that time slot without “Revelations.” So, from that stand point, it’s at least a “better than” choice. All those grains of salt taken, my wife and I were still riveted to the story and stayed glued to the screen to the end, which definitely leaves one hungry for the next episode. It’s not surprising that “Revelations” comes from the pen of writer/creator David Seltzer, who also wrote “The Omen.” What I must share is this: when I saw the original “Omen” as an unbelieving teenager, I went right home and started reading the book of Revelations in a bible at home. As an adult believer, then, I see the value in this type of programming because it has the potential to whet one’s appetite for a larger dose of biblical truth. Even if we struggle with the theology, I encourage folks to watch “Revelations” so they will be able to speak intelligently about it around the water cooler or in the school lunch line. Like “The Passion,” “Left Behind” or “The Omega Code,” it has the potential to act as a launch point into religious conversations which might otherwise be difficult to get started. It’s an enjoyable watch, with an eternal perspective. Nowadays, at the cost of some theological compromises, I’ll take as much of that genre as I can get.

All fiction aside, the production of “Revelations” points to the fact that main stream media acknowledges a growing interest in religious programming, especially as it relates to end times. This is an important time to remind us all that there actually is an "end times" somewhere on the horizon of mankind’s future and we should live accordingly. Even more importantly, none of us has any guarantee of how long we’ll be here, no matter how young we are. The “end of days” could come for any one person at any time. Bear in mind that if you get hit by a drunk driver, slip in the bath tub, or choke on a chicken bone, then your personal journey goes straight to the end of the bible. (without passing Go!) I call this the doctrine of spontaneous revelation. Don’t bother looking it up, I invented the name. The fact is that the end of this earthly life, for whatever reason, hurls us directly into eternity so folks are wise to have their fire insurance paid up in advance. Therefore, I conclude today with my own poem on this subject. It’s light-hearted enough to share with anyone and may be an appropriate response to some of those conversations sparked by watching “Revelations.”

Brimstones & Chicken Bones
(The Doctrine of Spontaneous Revelation)
We all have business to do with God
but we’re young and in our prime
So we put Him off year after year
assuming there’s plenty of time
We know Jesus is coming back someday
but who knows when that will be
People keep saying end times are near
but no one’s sure about prophecy
In fact, it’s so darn confusing
we don’t like to think about it at all
Since folks have been worried for centuries
and have yet to hear the trumpet call
So we kind of make this deal with God
that we’ll be good or better than most
Then we set the spiritual cruise control
so we can just kick back and coast
Figuring we’ve got a lifetime ahead
to sacrifice, give and serve
And if the Lord comes back just bad folks,
will get what they deserve
However, the flaw in our reasoning
which so many of us fail to see
Is that if we should die unexpectedly
we advance from here to eternity
We have merely to slip in the bathtub
or choke on the odd chicken bone
And suddenly, all the choices we’ve made
shall be etched in eternity’s stone
In that realm beyond second chances
where each man answers to God at last
For all that he did, and didn’t do
in the irrevocable past
Let’s call it spontaneous revelation
that day when you go to the head of the class
To discover that God doesn’t grade on a curve
and it’s strictly fail or pass
When your backup chute fails to open
whether or not your doctrine is sound
You better have your affairs in order
long before you reach the ground
Because the next stop is forever
so your fire insurance better be paid
You won’t get to choose between smoking or non
unless a reservation was made
Your cholesterol count doesn’t matter
nor how much dough you have socked away
Once you step onto the railroad tracks
You’ll be meeting God straight away
Don’t be lulled into complacency
for no matter how safe you feel
You may have one foot on solid ground
but the other is on a banana peel
So never put off until tomorrow
what the Lord requires of you today
Lest spontaneous revelation
should steal your second chances away
By Frank Carpenter ©

The Road Home

I have just returned from attending a memorial service in Oklahoma, where our family ranch is. It’s a place where my family has 35 years of history and I had even lived and worked on the ranch at one time. For all of its sadness, the only good thing about a memorial service is the opportunity to see lots of people in one place at the same time. That is part of the beauty of such gatherings and one of the reasons I rarely miss one. As a part of the weekend, I was afforded the opportunity to stay in my deceased father’s home and wander the roads and fields which are so much a part of my personal and family history. We all have roots of some kind and special places which have played important roles in our lives. For me, Tailholt, Oklahoma is such a place. I offer the following poem today, not because the names or places will be familiar to any of my readers, but because I believe the sentiments may evoke memories of your own personal roots. We all need to drive down the familiar roads of our past from time to time, even if we do so only in our hearts. Here’s to remembering your own road home … and may the journey be a pleasant one.

The Road Home
As I drive down this dusty road
I have driven so oft before
Past the red barn, the little brown house
and beyond the Tailholt Store
Past the little church where Noah preached
turn the corner at Shirley’s place
On down the cemetery road
with a wistful grin on my face
Then past the Caney Cemetery
where Don and Ednah and Helen are
I drift back thirty years, and more
but it doesn’t seem that far
I reach the junction at Wauhillau
pulling over to think a while
A lot of memories down that road
and most of them bring a smile
Off north is Bobby and Carolyn’s house
just beyond the old Chambers place
Where we picked dewberries in the spring
then there’s the rodeo bulls we chased
Across the road, by the old tin barn
is where that red bull ran me down
It didn’t seem so funny back then
at my debut as a rodeo clown
Just up ahead, atop the hill
is the spot where Herman and I
Dug sassafras roots beside the road
long ago, ‘neath the same blue sky
Just down the hill, by Bidding Creek
is where Uncle Don’s house was
Twas so nice today I kept driving on
and ended up here, just because
I slowly make my way back home
past a homestead I used to know
Where I picked daffodils in the spring
for my bride twenty years ago
I wave to Johnny and Rhonda
stop by the store for a candy bar
Having driven past thirty years of my life
has it really been that far
So much of my life is strewn along
the old country road I drove today
Not much has changed, except for me
and I kind of like it that way
By Frank Carpenter ©

Joan of Arcadia

Dear friends. I wanted pause for a moment today and put in a plug for show that many of us have been missing. It’s important, because it has a religious message that can open doors for conversation with those who fall in our sphere of influence. Time does not permit me to be more creative because I want to get a posting out prior to tonight’s episode, if only barely. If you miss it tonight, please take a serious look at viewing it, or taping it, next week. So rather than reinvent the wheel I like to quote a wise woman who works to promote such programming. She challenged me not only to watch Joan of Arcadia more, but also to help get the word out so that we, as believers, can send the message that we would like more such programming. Here is what media guru Elana Frink had to say:

JOAN OF ARCADIA is one of exactly two shows on network television to routinely discuss issues of faith- God is a recurring character, even. As religious Americans, you’d think that we’d all support this show, hold Joan watching parties, serve Joan-esque appetizers, and discuss it at length with our non-Joan-watching pals. Instead, JOAN languishes “on the bubble”, which is what entertainment industry people say when they don’t want to come right out and say “hey, this show is going to get cancelled if the numbers don’t get better.” Now, I know that some people who know their Bible better than I do have issues with the show not being Christian enough in its depiction of God. I empathize. But I also know that, for television networks, the choice is not between “A biblically inaccurate show about God” and “A biblically accurate show about God”. It’s between “Joan of Arcadia” and, pardon my crudeness, more T&A. Mainstream shows about God are a hard sell and, frankly, I’ll take what I can get. If we can rally enough support behind Joan, Hollywood will realize that Christians do watch TV- if it’s good. It’s up to us to train them to give us what we want. I’d like to ask you for three things today. First, will you mention JOAN on your blog today? The first new episode is tonight night (Friday) at 8 PM, 7 Central, and we need to get people watching. Not only could you talk about it being on the bubble, but you can be first on your block to know the dish about the season finale. On the one hand, Joan discovers why God chose her, and on the other, she discovers that there’s another person out there in contact with a greater power- only the greater power at hand is a dark one. Second, will you give JOAN a chance? It’s been preempted for March Madness, but as I said, the first new episode airs this Friday, April 1st, with four new episodes after that. Third, will you tell your friends (especially those with Nielsen boxes, hehe) about it? From experience I can tell you that JOAN is a great, low-pressure way to reach out to non-religious pals. If you’re looking for a way to start talking about faith, this could be it. In closing, I’d like to quote a gentleman with the Salem radio network I was speaking with earlier: “You may not love Joan of Arcadia, but you’re sure not going to love the alternative.”

I think Elana makes a very compelling argument. Last year we learned from “The Passion” that a main stream religious media event can have a huge impact if we can just get people in front of the screen. The same is true with television. So watch Joan of Arcadia tonight. If you read my words on Saturday or Sunday, then watch it or tape it next Friday … then talk about it at home, at school or around the water cooler. Even if you struggle with some of the theology, remember that it’s also entertainment and that’s something to discuss as well. There is so little truly worth watching these days so let’s fight for this one. I’d be interested to hear your comments about the show and, if I get enough response, I’ll deal with questions and comments in a future entry. Each of us has a voice, and this is something to talk about. Joan of Arcadia, Friday nights at 8:00 PM. Be there. Watch, listen … and then make yourself heard.