Twist of Faith

I've posted the last sermon I preached a few weeks ago here.

Here's my "about me" wordle...

We got to our spot on the beach this past Saturday and suddenly I realized we were on holy ground.  Our girls were already playing in the shallow waves.  Kim watched as I started digging the foundation of what I had hoped would be the best sand castle I'd ever build.

Then, I noticed a man in his mid-seventies (at least) and a teen-aged boy walking toward the water. Their long slacks and closed-toe shoes gave them away as pilgrims on mission.  And the large bouquet of orange and red flowers made me realize they were about to reach their destination.

They walked all the way to the edge of the foamy waves and stood there for a few moments.  I couldn't help myself, but I stared (even when Kim told me "that's none of your business.") I watched not out of curosity, but in reverence and respect.  The boy handed the flowers to the older man.  Clinching them with both hands he gazed into the merky water. In a quick motion, he threw them in the waves and turned around an began walking away. The younger placed a hand on the shoulder of his elder and guided him to wherever they went next.

I thought, "This is real beauty."

I wondered, "What had happened?  Who were they remembering? What had they just memorialized?" And I came back to Kim's words to me, "that none of your business."

For some folks, the pursuit of truth (or Truth, or absolute Truth) is seen as the highest, most honored of quests.  But, I wonder, God may be saying, "that's none of your business."  And God might go on to say, "The truth? That's my business.  Why don't you all stick to finding beauty instead?"

...I know, so I've been told. Care to add to the list? What do you want me to write about? 

My Burger King conversation with a Vietnam vet? (which was really cool)

My experience with President Clinton and the American Flag?

My thoughts on how David certainly will win American Idol?

...

Yes, I must confess, I love being in control.  Today I came up with a new definition.  Control is trying to manipulate reality. I know what the world is, what reality is, and I still try to manipulate it to insure that things go my way. So, one might also understand control as the eighth deadly sin.