Author: Wick

From “The Day the World Stood Still”, 1951. The alien Klaatu is attempting to meet with world leaders, to tell them that their recent discovery of atomic power is a good thing, but their intentions to harness the power for a weapon is a threat to more than just Earth. Because of this, they must stop the direction they’re going, or they will be stopped.

Unfortunately, as the countries weren’t exactly “getting along”, the nations wouldn’t agree to come together…each not trusting the motives and locations suggested by the others. Here we find this conversation between Mr.Harley (the government official attempting to offer this meeting to the nations) and Klaatu:

Mr. Harley: Your impatience is quite understandable.
Klaatu: I’m impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it.
Mr. Harley: I’m afraid my people haven’t. I’m very sorry… I wish it were otherwise.

And later we see a conversation between Klaatu, and a boy, Bobby, who is showing him around Washington D.C., not knowing he’s an alien:

Bobby Benson: [indicating grave marker during a visit to Arlington] That’s my father. He was killed at Anzio.
Klaatu: Did all those people die in wars?
Bobby Benson: Most of ’em. Didn’t you ever hear of the Arlington Cemetery?
Klaatu: No, I’m afraid not.
Bobby Benson: You don’t seem to know much about anything, do you, Mr. Carpenter?
Klaatu: Well, I’ll tell you, Bobby, I’ve been away a long time. Very far away.
Bobby Benson: Is it different where you’ve been? Don’t they have places like this?
Klaatu: Well, they have cemeteries, but not like this one. You see, they don’t have any wars.
Bobby Benson: Gee, that’s a good idea.

I definitely want to honor the men and women, families and friends world-wide that have been impacted by serving a country they believe in, and fighting for justice in situations that are unjust.

But I also think it’s a good time for us to think about what our motives are, internationally, nationally, locally, and even in our relationships with others on a daily basis. What things get us “riled up”. What would we “fight for”?

Grandma and Grandpa O. bought Addie her first pet last time they visited. She’s on a BIG Nemo kick lately, thanks partially to cousin Ella “handing down” a stink load of free stuff….it only made sense.

So a while back, we began allowing two goldfish to take up residence in our kitchen. Not as potential food, mind you, but as actual guests. Sure they make the kitchen smell like fish…but it’s worth it to get a smile every once in a while, every time she remembers we have living creatures right here in our house that resemble her cartoon friend. (and Elmo’s pet, Dorothy, as well)

She’s been enjoying the fish on and off for a while.

Today, while Addie was napping, we found the golder of the two…belly up with a smile on it’s face.

Being that Addie is only 21 months old, we decided not to do the whole “burial”, with a short lesson on life and death, etc….just yet. We (I) used the net provided for just such occasions, and donated the dollar-forty-something living toy to the Decatur sewer system.

I didn’t even say good-bye.

I can protect my daughter from the harsh realities of a world that has been transformed to give humanity what we wanted…our way….for a little while longer.

But someday…I’ll have to explain to her growing mind that yes, goldfish die. Lord willing, that will be the hardest lesson I’ll have to teach her for a while. But I doubt that will last long.

I pray I can be faithful to the realities of life, while still instilling in my daughter God’s promise of a new creation. A “setting things right” that will ultimately allow the “goldfish” in our lives to live forever. Not that it makes us miss the goldfish any less, but it certainly gives us something.

As we’ve talked lately about “final things”, I wanted to share a bit more. With the teens lately, on Sunday nights, we had been doing a study on the book of revelation. Mostly the fact that this book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ…and NOT a road map for what is to come.

Over the past few months, if I’ve wanted to have an interesting, and one-sided conversation with someone, all I needed to do was mention the above fact.

Most people are quick to agree that the book is all about revealing Jesus Christ, but then just as quick to say things like:

“Well, it won’t matter anyway. The way the world is today, it can’t be long before we all get raptured out of here.”

“I just hope I’m a part of that 144,000 that God protects.”

“I just know that God has blessed our country so far, because we’ve stood with the Jews. As long as we continue, we should be alright.”

“You can be sure I won’t be getting one of them microchips inserted under my skin. The mark of the beast, you know.”

All of the above statements were said by protestant, “born-again” Christians.

I believe this backs up my previous thoughts, that these things are definitely NOT peripheral aspects of our faith. The way these people are living, and their perceived mission of the Church comes precisely from these areas, and none of these is helpful: (in order, as above)

“I’m focusing on what will happen AFTER I leave this nasty place.”

“I’m afraid that I’m going to somehow ‘miss out’ on God’s best.”

“God favors our country, but only because we protect the Jews.”

“I’m afraid of accidentally supporting the anti-Christ….is that him? or is that him? or is that him? whew, that one’s not him, I can support him I guess.”

Lord help us.