To Kill A Mocking Bird

This post is part of the Book Club Challenge by Marathon Bird.

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The mockingbird that is singing in my Magnolia tree each morning when I go out to get the newspaper has suddenly become more alive in my thoughts as I finished Harper Lee's classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. I remember as a boy with an air rifle that my dad would let me shoot at blackbirds and jaybirds and sparrows, but never at a mockingbird. I'm not sure my dad's reasoning was as profound as Atticus Finch's, but it was the rule at our house nonetheless.

Revisiting this book after many years without having given it much thought stimulated a lot of reflection on my growing up days in the South. I was some 15 or 20 years later than the setting in Maycomb, Alabama, but things had not changed a great deal in that period time. The balcony at the theater was still reserved for the blacks, although there were no blacks living in our immediate community. Water fountains and restrooms were segregated and the blacks were to enter the grocery store at the back door and wait to be served.

This reading of To Kill a Mockingbird reminded me of how much hypocrisy there is an mankind. We easily see the flaw in our neighbors, without ever recognizing the same flaws, or worse, in ourselves. I believe the part that appealed to me most in this book was the way Atticus realized that change takes place slowly and within individuals. He was concerned that his children not be the same as everyone around. His lessons are extremely important for all of us learn.

Thanks Holly, for selecting the book for our consideration.

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A Dearth of Leadership

There is a story in Judges, chapter 9, that needs to be brought to our attention occasionally. A wicked man, Abimelech, killed seventy men to insure that he would be chosen king of Shechem. When the righteous Jotham heard that Abimelech had indeed been appointed, he told a very pointed parable about the trees.

The trees were seeking a king ad sought first to anoint the olive tree, who refused for a seemingly good reason. Next the fig tree was approached, but he also refused. Eventually the grape vine was asked to serve, but he likewise declined. Finally the trees requested the bramble (thorn bush) to become their king. Verse 15 says, “And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade.”

Jotham used the parable to make a point about the situation in which he found himself. I’d like to make one about more current circumstances. It seems to me that the trees showed good judgment initially in recognizing the one who ought to be their leader, the one with the most talent. Undaunted by the olive’s refusal they turned to the fig, who was nearly as talented as the olive. Imagine the frustration felt by the entire group as they could get no one who qualified to lead take up the leadership responsibility. As the frustration mounted, they turned to the worthless, even troublesome thorn bush.

I am afraid that phenomenon is not isolated to imaginary forests, but that it is true in the jungle of humanity. We desperately need leaders, everyone recognizes it. And yet we have refusal after refusal on the part of important and blessed men. If we have the talent and do not supply it to those that need it, we surrender the right to complain about the way we are led by a thorn bush. If I am not mistaken, you have to crawl to get in the shade of a bramble!

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More Than Conquerors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In going through Mom’s things after her death, Dad found a little thought jotted on a piece of yellowing paper tucked away in her Bible. It said, “Do the most. Say the best. Leave the rest.” No doubt she had heard that in a sermon or a Bible class lesson ad thought it worth preserving. Not only that, but I think she must have thought it worth living.

My mother was like anyone else, human, with her weaknesses, but her faith was strong in difficulty. And she seemed to have a handle on her eternal destination. It occurs to me that she was on God’s side. Some people try to get God on their side through their actions. Their worship, their offerings and their prayers are aimed at securing Divine approval. But that will not work.

On the other hand, a man on God’s side can’t lose. He may have some failures or be overcome in the battle with disease or other struggles, but each o these contribute to the ultimate success and sweetness of the final victory.

Satan appeared to have won at Calvary. But then the resurrection came and God resoundingly turned Satan’s worst to a glorious triumph for both himself and man. Redemption was made possible for those who would align themselves the plumb line of the Testament of Christ. That’s what Mom did and she taught some very vivid lessons of faith and courage in her fight with cancer. I hope they are truly learned.

Thank goodness that, “in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

(originally written in November, 1983)

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Remembering Grandma!

I am in the midst of moving from my old office to the one I am to occupy in our new wing. Among the things I found stored was a cache of old bulletin articles I had written in 1980. I had kept them with some vague idea that I might compile them into a volume to submit for publication sometime in the future. Well, it is the future, and I am not sure I am up to a compilation or receiving rejection letters. I decided to put some on my blog. Here is the one from December 11 of that year.

My dad and I were together for an afternoon and evening a couple of weeks ago. We went to see a high school football playoff game at the Astrodome. We used to do such things often when I lived in Lake Jackson, but it was the first time in a good while that we have done it. We both enjoyed it. I hope we don’t wait so long to get together for another such outing again.

While driving to the Dome we began reminiscing about his mother and some of her philosophies. This lady was one of those truly great Christians. She lived her faith every day, her good deeds were a positive force on everyone who lived in her small farming community. She believed in doing her best at whatever she was involved in, whether the task was a pleasant one or not. She complained very seldom and expected to do her share. She slept soundly every night, she said, because she did not have a guilty conscience. Now her rest is eternally secured.

Her philosophy is not one that is widely spread in our society today. All too often we only want to do enough to get by. We look for ease and comfort. Frequently we expect to have things given to us. We would rather be “done for” than “do for” someone else. This attitude is prevalent in our work, our family life, our religious life, everywhere. At the appearance of a stumbling block, we give up.

We need to be ready to fight for the victory. Without combat, no victory is reached. Without labor, we cannot arrive at rest. My Christian brothers, be the best you can be. Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might. (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

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Bloggers Book Club Forming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A good friend of mine has decided to put together a
Book Club gathering of bloggers each month. She will post a book for any one who is interested in participating to read by the 25th of the month. Then each participant will post his or her report on the book on their own blog, with a link to the book club site. My friend will include links back to the various posts so that the participants can peruse the other posted reports.

The book to be read for the month of April is To Kill A Mockingbird. I have not read it since high school, so I will pick up a copy at the library and give it a reread.

The whole idea sounds like fun to me, and of course, the more the merrier!

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