Day 8: Around the World in 12 Days

christmas in japan

From the warmth of Peru -- both literally and culturally -- we head to an unlikely place to find Christmas: Japan. Although less than 1% of Japanese identify themselves as Christian, Christmas is one of a number of Western imports, including Halloween, now popular there. My friend Chester tells me many Japanese are not even aware of the Christ part of Christmas -- it's simply a good excuse to celebrate a cozy, festive time, even though December 25 is not an official holiday in Japan. Who doesn't enjoy the lights and glitter of Christmas, and the Japanese know how to do it. Decorations can be found at most any department store, and (mostly artificial) Christmas trees go up all over the country.

There is one Christmas tradition in Japan I find HILARIOUS: fried chicken. Many Americans may not be aware of these fun KFC facts:

KFC Japan

• KFC is the second largest restaurant chain the world (after McDonald's, of course) 
• Japan is KFC's third largest market (after China and the US) with about 1,200 stores
• Christmas Day is KFC's busiest day of the year in Japan

For dessert on Christmas Eve, so-called Christmas cakes are served, usually some sort of sponge cake topped with whipped cream and strawberries. Gifts are often exchanged, but usually just for the children.

Christmas Eve has also taken on a Valentine's Day aspect in recent years: couples go out on the town for a romantic dinner, and reservations must be made months in advance.

Another aspect I find amusing is how they say "Merry Christmas" in Japanese. I have noticed before that the Japanese will often take an English word or phrase and slightly modify it to fit their phonetic system. (Actually, all languages do that to one extent or another.) So Merry Christmas is rendered:

Meri Kurisumasu!

Look closely at the word Kurisumasu and you'll find all the phonetic components of the word "Christmas". Brilliant.

Next stop on Day 9: a country where Christmas is celebrated, but not in December!

Day 7: Around the World in 12 Days

navidad-ano-nuevo-peru

From the age-old traditions of Romania, we make our way to South America, where Christmas in Lima, Peru awaits us. Being predominantly Catholic, Peru holds the Christmas celebration dear, although many now see it as simply a festive family holiday rather than a commemoration of the birth of Christ. Those who do celebrate the Nativity generally have a manger scene on display, and the gifts are placed around it. Most mangers are carefully crafted out of wood, pottery, or huamanga stone. Although every Peruvian knows who Santa Claus is, he is widely regarded as nothing more than a Western import; in fact, at one time he was banned by the government as a symbol of Western capitalism and greed.

huamanga nativity

Most of the actual celebrating in Peru happens not on Christmas Day but on Christmas Eve, called Nochebuena. Families gather for the big feast, which generally features a roast turkey, along with tamales, salads (remember, it's summer!), and desserts. Some practicing Christian families, like our friends Francis and Carmen, recount the story of the first Christmas to their children and remind them of its central place in the celebration. At midnight, like New Year's in many countries, everyone hugs and kisses to the sights and sounds of fireworks. It's not uncommon that only after midnight the presents are opened. (Most children I know would never be able to wait that long!) Once the thrill of the presents has finally given way to fatigue, the children head to bed (sometimes as late as 2:00 or 3:00 am!), while the adults continue celebrating into the night.

Needless to say, most Peruvians sleep in on Christmas morning, finally waking up to hot chocolate with cinnamon and cloves and panetón, a tradition sweet bread of Italian origin (panettone).

Merry Christmas to all and ¡Feliz Navidad!

Day 6: Around the World in 12 Days

Romanian star carol

From South Africa we head back to Europe, this time to Eastern Europe. I'm always interested to hear stories from this part of the world -- especially from people my age and older -- because memories of a time when it was illegal to celebrate the birth of Christ are not too distant. My Romanian friends tell me Christmas has come back in full force after the fall of communism and the demise of President Nicolae Ceausescu, whose atheist regime forbade any open celebration. It is only recently that most people can afford to buy gifts for each other; in times past, if there were any gifts, they were for the children. Even today, children are widely regarded as Romania's most valuable resource, and they are often the focus of celebrations.

As in many other European countries, December 6 is St. Nicholas Day, or Sfantul Nicolae, in Romania. The night before, children clean their shoes and leave them next to the door in hopes that they will be full of small presents in the morning. Tradition has it that, if it snows on Dec. 6, Mos Nicolae (Old Man Nicholas) has shaken his beard and winter can now begin.

cozonac

December 20 in Romania is designated St. Ignatius Day, at which time, if there is one to be had, a pig is slaughtered and serves as the basis of the Christmas feast. Because life has been so difficult in Romania for so long, Christmas is seen as a time to feast more than any other period of the year. If you're going to spend money on fine food or drink, it will be at Christmas and New Year's. Practically all parts of the pig are eaten in various forms, including steaks, ribs sausages, even rind, ear, and tail. Stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes, meatball soup can also be seen on the table, along with a cake called cozonac which my friend Lily calls a "caloric bomb."

A treasured tradition that has seen a resurgence in the last twenty years is Colinda, where groups of people go caroling from house to house singing carols and wishing others well. Many powers that be have tried to abolish Colinda over the centuries, including the church, claiming it was a devilish practice. Traditions that bring so much joy die hard, however, and Colinda lives on. These groups are sometimes all male, sometimes mixed, and sometimes rehearse weeks ahead of time. They are usually compensated with gifts of fruit, walnuts, and cakes. Children also go caroling on Christmas Eve. One popular Romanian carol is called "Christmas Star," where a decorated paper star is put on a pole and carried by one of the carolers.

Here's to a merry Christmas to all our Romanian friends, and to many more joyful and prosperous Christmases in this endearing land.

Crāciun Fericit!

Day 5: Around the World in 12 Days

christmas-lights-in-South-Africa

From the Holy Land we make our way south once again -- about as far south as you can go before reaching Antartica. South Africa beckons! Similar to our first stop in New Zealand, we find ourselves in a summer Christmas, complete with all the contradictions like listening to Jim Reeves' "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" while lying on the beach or barbecuing outdoors (called a braai). Juxtaposed with the full-on commercial side of Christmas -- decorations, shopping, etc. -- is a general respect for the fact that this is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Churches are full, whether for midnight services on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, and outdoor candlelight caroling is not uncommon. Because South Africa is a blend of indigenous, British, and Dutch culture in its origins, there is a healthy blend of traditions carried over from the various people groups. Santa Claus is also called Father Christmas, or in Afrikaans (derived from Dutch), Sinterklaas or Kersvader. Gifts are exchanged under a decorated Christmas tree, and the holiday is seen as a special time to be with family. There is the traditional feast which often includes roast turkey or duck, beef, suckling pig, mince pies, saffron rice and vegetables, and Christmas pudding or a traditional South African dessert called Malva pudding.

December 26, as in the UK and other Commonwealth countries, is called Boxing Day. It is generally agreed that the name originated with the tradition of servants and tradesmen receiving Christmas gifts, called Christmas boxes, from their employers. Today it is a bank holiday and, in South Africa, a great day to spend at the beach with friends and family.

From South Africa, Geseënde Kersfees!

Day 4: Around the World in 12 Days

Star of David with cross

xmas trees jerusalem

We now leave the frozen northern extremities of Europe for the land where it all started. Not Santa, not St. Nicholas. Jesus himself. A stroll down the streets of Jerusalem or any other major Israeli city will not afford you many views of tinsel and lights or manger scenes. Even the relatively few Messianic Jews (Jews who believe in Yeshua [Jesus] as the Messiah) don't really celebrate it like most Christians in other countries. They tend to believe Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles (September or October). This does not mean Christmas is not observed. If for no other reason, the city of Jerusalem acknowledges its many expat residents by giving away free Christmas trees to internationals. My friend Norma tells me you can see them dragging the scrawny little trees through the streets. The city also provides free bus rides to Bethlehem's Manger Square, where there are carol sing-alongs and masses at the Church of St. Catherine and Church of the Nativity. Needless to say, foreigners flock to Bethlehem as well, which is wholly within Palestinian territory and almost entirely Arabic-speaking. Travelers from Jerusalem must pass through a military checkpoint. On Christmas Eve, Christmas carols can be heard at three packed out locations: the YMCA, the Lutheran Church, and Christ Church (Anglican). Even non-practicing Israelis are drawn to the joyful and reverent sounds of the music, and can be seen walking late at night from one carol service to another. At midnight, the bells of the Catholic churches resound throughout the Old City and beyond.

Although the town where Jesus grew up is now mostly Arab, Nazareth still puts on a Christmas display for the thousands of pilgrims who would otherwise be disappointed. There is a Christmas parade in early December, and lights, decorations and celebrations can be found throughout the season.

Manger Square, Bethlehem

In the United States, it's difficult for us to imagine living in a country where those of us wanting to celebrate Christmas would be in a very small minority. From where I sit, it might actually be a welcome change to celebrate a quiet, reflective birthday of Yeshua without all the extra trappings that the holiday has accumulated over the years -- even avoiding the few celebrations put on for tourists and pilgrims.

Of course, that's easy for me to say -- I no longer have small children.  :-)

In any case, חג מולד שמח (hag molad saméa'h)!

Day 3: Around the World in 12 Days

Lucia-13.12.06

We leave the balmy climes of the South Pacific and head to the long nights and short days of winter in Sweden. Because Sweden lies so far north, much of its folklore, mythology, and culture revolve around sun and light -- or the absence thereof. The winter solstice, when the days finally begin to grow longer again, falls only four days before Christmas, so the celebration of the two are often intermingled. Perhaps the most unique and cherished tradition in the Swedish Christmas season is "Lucia", or Sankta Lucia, known in English as St. Lucy and in Italian/Latin as Santa Lucia. Lucia was a third century Sicilian martyr from Syracuse, known for having brought food and aid to Christians in hiding. Her feast day is December 13 and is celebrated in a number of countries, but not always in the same fashion. In Sweden, Lucy is one of the few saints celebrated in this overwhelmingly Protestant / secular society. She is commemorated by the election of a teenage girl to represent her with a white robe and a crown of candles, leading others in a processional and the singing of carols. (The classic tune, "Santa Lucia," was written in Naples, Italy and has nothing to do with the feast of St. Lucy; the Swedes use other lyrics customized to their purposes.) It is said that the real Lucy used this crown with candles to light her way and to keep both hands free to carry provisions on her benevolent missions. In Scandinavia, tradition has it that a proper celebration of Lucia, complete with lots of candlelight, will help one make it through the long winter days until spring. (To see a video of a Lucia done right, click here.)

Tomte

As in most other Western countries, Christmas in Sweden is the typical mixture of religious, secular, and pagan traditions. Our friend Marianne tells us that churches are the fullest on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (the first Sunday in Advent) and Christmas morning at a service called the julotta. On Christmas Eve the big feast happens, called smörgåsbord (literally "bread and butter table"), filled with much more than the name indicates: ham, meatballs, salmon, herring, and Janssons frestelse, a casserole of potatoes, onions, bread crumbs and cream. Children expect a visit either from Santa or a Nordic folkloric character called a tomte -- a creature that can best be described as a gnome or dwarf.

The Swedish name for Christmas, Jul, comes from an ancient mid-winter festival celebrated by the Nordic and Germanic tribes. With the advent of Christianity, it eventually became the name for the Christmas holiday. And so we wish you...

God Jul! (prod. gode [with a Minnesotan "o"] yule)!

Day 2: Around the World in 12 Days

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Meke dance

Spear dance

If you're a semi-regular reader, you'll remember that my wife and I spent the Christmas holidays a year ago in New Zealand, which we featured yesterday as our starting place in this round-the-world glimpse of Christmas. Our frequent flyer miles steered us to Fiji Airways to get there, which meant a layover in Nadi, Fiji's international gateway. We left Nashville on December 23, skipped the 24th altogether due to crossing the International Date Line, and landed in Nadi early Christmas morning. The photo is the view from our hotel. It was a bit surreal strolling a white sandy beach under a gorgeous, warm sky on Christmas Day. All along the beach, we were greeted with "Bula! Merry Christmas!" by families enjoying a meal cooked in the traditional lovo, an underground hot stone oven. (Bula is the Fijian greeting, which we learned before even leaving the Los Angeles airport.) The meals often consist of garlic spice chicken, roast pork or beef, chicken, cassava (a starchy root), and dalo (a green leafy vegetable). You might also see palusami, a spiced mutton dish wrapped in leaves and cooked in coconut cream. Because the Fijians take just about any excuse to celebrate, the Christmas/New Year's celebration is a month-long affair. Like most Pacific islanders, they are very community-oriented, so starting about two weeks before Christmas, most celebrations take place not in the home but in the local community house. And like most places around the world where Christmas is celebrated, there is a mixture of Christian, pagan, and secular practices, all rolled into one festive concoction. There are carols, special church services and masses, candles, and yes, Santa Claus (the children do expect presents from Old Saint Nick on Christmas eve); but there are also traditional dances such as the meke dance by the women and the spear dance by the men.

Ever had a South Pacific Christmas? Share your experience!

Bula! Merry Christmas!

Around the World in Twelve Days

Kiwi Santa

Today we begin a 12-day countdown to Christmas Day, featuring Christmas traditions in twelve different countries. It is so unseasonably warm here in the eastern half of the US right now that it reminds me of my childhood Christmases down under in Australia. Instead of Australia, however, we begin our round-the-world journey in New Zealand, just across the Tasman Sea from its larger neighbor. (See my first post on our recent visit to New Zealand here.) Our dear friends Neil and Jill tell us that traditionally, New Zealanders used to pretend it was winter, spraying fake snow on windows and trees and playing wintry American Christmas music. More recently, Kiwis have begun to embrace the fact that "it's summer, for goodness sake!" So rather than the traditional Christmas dinner of roast lamb with mint sauce, you'll just as likely find people barbecuing outdoors or at the beach.

Although fewer and fewer New Zealanders seem to see the primary purpose of Christmas as celebrating the birth of Christ, what Christians who do often find creative ways to breathe life into this special day for believers. Overall, the day is seen as a welcome day off to spend time with family, exchange gifts, and overeat!

Be watching tomorrow for Day 2 of our Round-the-World Christmas!

A Letter to My Non-American Friends on Thanksgiving

cornucopia

Dear International Friends, We in the US have exported much to you over the years. Everywhere I travel I see American products, hear American music, and can easily find a burger if I'm in the mood. I happen to know that some of you have learned English just by watching American and British movies. Coca-Cola has become one of the top three universal vocabulary words. Even some holidays have begun to be celebrated American style in other countries. (Halloween became a thing in Europe while I was living there.) I'm not always proud of what we send your way. I even find myself wanting to apologize at times on behalf of my people.

But there is one uniquely American holiday I am actually proud of. I'm proud that our country sets aside a day every year simply to be grateful.  Most Americans consider the first Thanksgiving the celebration of the first harvest by the Pilgrims in Massachusetts in the year 1621. Our first President, George Washington, first declared a day of thanksgiving in 1789, but it did not become a national, annual holiday until Abraham Lincoln responded to the pleas of one Sarah Joseph Hale, who for thirty years had been writing to president after president, suggesting a national Thanksgiving Day. Lincoln's successors followed suit each year, but it wasn't until 1941 that Congress, during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, permanently established the fourth Thursday of November as a national day of thanks.

Now the object of that gratitude is up for discussion. The Pilgrims were thanking the God of the Bible. So were Washington and Lincoln. These days it's a little more complicated. Some thank Allah, some thank their lucky stars, or the universe...and some simply aren't sure whom to thank, so they just say they're thankful. Whatever the case, I know I've found myself in the school of gratitude of late. And although my faith in God has been tested at times, I find -- and I'm thankful for this in itself -- that the impulse to thank someone has never left me.

In the words of Andrew Peterson:

Don't you ever wonder why In spite of all that's wrong here There's still so much that goes so right And beauty abounds?

'Cause sometimes when you walk outside The air is full of song here The thunder rolls and the baby sighs And the rain comes down

And when you see the spring has comeAnd it warms you like a mother's kissDon't you want to thank someone?Don't you want to thank someone for this?

                 - from "Don't You Want to Thank Someone" from the album Light for the Lost Boy

When I realize the breath in my lungs is on loan to me, when I am surrounded by the family who is everything to me but which I don't deserve, when I remember that I am a recipient of grace upon grace upon grace...I want to thank someone. And I have to believe that Someone is a person, someone higher and greater than myself, someone who alone can not only make sense of this world, but somehow spoke it into existence. And so I thank God.

And if some day this holiday happens to be exported, well, worse things could happen.

France's Critical Crossroads

A woman holds a French flag colored placard with French translating as "we are Paris" whilst attending a vigil for victims of the deadly Paris attacks, in Trafalgar Square, London, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. French President Francois Hollande said more than 120 people died Friday night in shootings at Paris cafes, suicide bombings near France's national stadium and a hostage-taking slaughter inside a concert hall. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)/LMD124/263092334897/1511141544

First of all, thank you to all those who have expressed concern about our friends and acquaintances in Paris following this week's attacks. As far as we know, they are all OK, although obviously somewhat shaken.

Calamities like the terrorist attacks on Friday unfortunately bring out the best and worst in us. Many will seize it as an opportunity to mount their favorite soapbox, even when there is no apparent connection to the current events. Or even more insidious, many will launch headlong into generalizations that lump all Muslims into the same lot of radical terrorists as those responsible for Friday's carnage.

Personally, I am as shocked, saddened, and dismayed at the attacks as anyone; but I am not surprised.

For decades now, France has had a growing Muslim population, now at almost 10% of the total population, equaled only in Western Europe by that of Germany. Many of these, whose parents immigrated to France from the former North African French colonies, have grown up fully integrated into mainstream French society. Many others, however, are more recent arrivals and have remained marginalized and often discriminated against. They are often relegated to the "HLM," the large government-subsidized housing behemoths in the suburbs of France's large cities. These disenfranchised populations are ripe for the harvest of radical organizations looking for recruits.

So the decisions President Hollande and his cohorts are facing are extremely complex, and anyone who says there are simple solutions is fooling themselves. France prides itself on the concept of laïcité, or secularism, whereby all religions have the freedom to practice their beliefs, but NOT the freedom to impose their beliefs on others. Government is theoretically staunchly secular, although, especially at times like this, there is widespread ambivalence on this subject. Today's memorial service for the victims was not held at a government building or a civic gathering place, but at the hallowed Notre Dame de Paris cathedral. The human heart in times like this clearly cries for something more than government consolation or even resolve to track down the perpetrators.

Should -- and could -- the government suspend free speech and monitor sermons in the thousands of mosques in France to root out clerics preaching jihad, as some suggest?

Should France close its borders to ALL migrants seeking asylum just in case a small number of them are planning attacks?

I am in no position to offer solutions, but I do have a wish list for France:

• Find ways to better integrate Muslims into the fabric of French society, reducing their vulnerability to radical predators
• Remain united -- and moderate -- in the face of disagreements over the right course of action
• With a renewed commitment to love their neighbor, the French return to normalcy as soon as possible
• Travelers not be deterred from visiting the City of Lights, taking normal precautions but not giving into fear

For now, Paris is mourning. And we will sit and we will mourn with her.

Nous sommes tous Paris. 

The Fall of the Wall

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It's just a chunk of concrete. In 1989 we were living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Punk music, hot pink and black, and big hair were alive and well. So was the Cold War. During the summer of that year, the ground began to shake under Eastern Europe. The discontent with the Communist-controlled governments, themselves controlled by the Soviet Union, became more and more vocal. Citizens became more emboldened to express their discontent with oppressive regimes, poor standards of living, and restricted travel.

Finally, on November 9, the East German government announced that its citizens would be allowed to visit West Germany. In Berlin, a divided city since the end of World War II, thousands of people climbed atop and over the infamous Berlin Wall, the most well known symbol of the deep division between East and West. An excited and festive crowd on the other side awaited them, and friends and family who hadn’t seen each other in years were reunited. To this day I get choked up when watching this clip narrated by Peter Jennings.

Hundreds of souvenir hunters, including a friend of mine, chipped away at the wall with hammers to take a part of it with them. Although the above photo may look like nothing more than a chunk of concrete, it is a piece of that wall and one of our prized possessions. It symbolizes one of the most significant world events of my lifetime, and I consider myself fortunate to have been living in Europe at the time of the crumbling of that wall, followed by nothing less than the dismantling of communism in Europe.

Why Every Student Should Globalize Himself

the-physician

My wife and I recently watched an interesting historical fiction movie called "The Physician," in which a young English lad in the Dark Ages hears of a Persian healer who is training other healers in anatomy and medicine. The young Englishman begins his odyssey to the fabled city of Isfahan in hopes of studying under this guru. He finds that the Islamic culture of the East is far more advanced in science and knowledge than his own Europe. He returns home having gained skills far greater than what he had been learning with the superstitious traveling medicine man he had been apprenticing under. In this age of globalization,  the reasons for studying abroad are only continuing to multiply. Most Americans, when they hear the term "study abroad", think of the university years, but you don't necessarily need to wait till then. Thousands of high school students participate in exchange programs every year, and it often helps determine the course of the rest of their lives.

I'll be going into this in more detail in future posts (and talks), but for now a summary of some of the greatest benefits of leaving your shores to learn:

• It expands your world view. (Why not start with the obvious?) Most high school and college students have lived in the same place for all or most of their lives before graduating, therefore being exposed to one way of life, one sub-culture, one way of buying groceries, one this and one that. As soon as your feet hit the ground of your host country, your life will change. You will be introduced to other perspectives that will fascinate you and challenge your comfort zone at the same time.
• It grows you up. Graduating from high school and beginning university is in itself a maturing experience. But if you remain in the same culture afterwards, your maturing process will be much slower than if you take the significant step of planting yourself for a time in a foreign culture -- preferably one where your mother tongue is not the official language. You will find yourself having to make decisions and choices more independently, and the challenge of living and communicating in a foreign culture will develop muscles you had no idea you had.
• It expands your capacity for learning. Not only will you be learning from the courses you take, likely taught in a different style than you're used to and forcing you to adapt, but every day will be a learning experience as you take in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and customs of your host culture. You will quickly learn, if you haven't already, that life itself is a classroom, and you will be more likely to remain a life-long learner as a result.
• It looks really good on a resumé. Let's be honest. In today's competitive job market, international experience on a CV can often be the difference between you and other qualified candidates for the position. What does that experience signify to an employer? It says you have taken the time to invest in yourself, to stretch yourself, to make yourself more adaptable to new environments, and that you're adventuresome.

And once you've experienced one such adventure, you will find yourself hungry for more....

How to Avoid the Pendulum

riding pendulum

Are you a swinger? As I mentioned in my last post, we are often prompted to react in unsavory ways when adversity, fear, or disappointment hits. Yes, cynicism is often the result after so many disappointments and so much disillusionment.

But another human syndrome I've observed over the years is the pendulum swing.

When a certain course of action doesn't produce the desired result, something tells us we should look for the opposite as the solution.

• Your weight problem has you so frustrated that you decide starving yourself is the only solution.

• Fleeing your puritanical upbringing, you dive headlong into satisfying your fleshly desires.

• After years of feeling overlooked or invisible, you go to great lengths to attract attention.

• Your first wife was too controlling, so you marry someone the complete opposite.

• Your rat race life led you to sell everything and move as far away from civilization as possible. (OK, maybe that one's not as common.)

• And on a collective level: we get fed up with seemingly failed policies so we elect the polar opposite in the next Congress or Oval Office.

Is there a middle ground? Is the middle only "mushy", as extremists insist? Is there no place for making slight corrections rather than knee-jerk reactions?

The word equilibrium literally means "equal or level scale or balance." Funny that the symbol for justice, a balance, is so often overlooked in our lives that are often nothing more than a series of reactionary decisions. When you want to even the scale, you add weight to one side in small increments, not overwhelming weights. If you are in leadership, this is all the more vital.

Take strength training as a metaphor. If you want to build muscle, you add weight to your routine only in small increments. Everyone knows it would be foolish to add a ton of weight all at once. Yet that is often how we make decisions when we feel a change is called for.

Are there slight adjustments you could make that would lead to a healthier life for you as a person or for your organization?

The ship that makes slight corrections in its course is the one that remains upright.

Why Cynicism is Enemy Number One

hello-my-name-is-whatever

It happens to the best of us, and it is deadly. It has been said that half the battle is recognizing your enemies, and I have found mine -- or at least one of my top three.

Life can throw some serious curve balls at us. Even the most optimistic among us can end up bruised and broken by different forms of adversity that come our way. I have been accused more than once of being an idealist, and in some ways, the more idealistic you are, the more potential you have of becoming a cynic. After being hurt so many times, after so many disappointments, it is easy to slip into a self-protective cynicism, as if that will somehow save us from future disappointment.

The longer you live, the more opportunities you have to allow that heart of yours to develop a nice, crusty shell around it. But the truth is that you don't have to be as old as I am to become a cynic. You can start whenever you like -- as soon as disappointment or trauma appears.

You stop believing for the best in people and begin to distrust everyone.

You find yourself fixated on the darker side of humanity and fail to see the good and the beautiful. And here's the kicker: you blame God for the woes that have beset you, because, after all, we have to have someone to blame.

I know because I've been there. And the frightening thing is that it can sneak up on you so subtly that you wake up one day and discover that all the positive energy has been zapped from your life. And here is a great irony: while you are believing that everyone is nothing but self-interested, you yourself are becoming more and more self-focused. Let's face it -- it's hard to be others-oriented and cynical at the same time.

A recent Huffington Post article lists a number of the symptoms and consequences of a cynical outlook on life. Do any of these look familiar?

• physical ailments
• poor sense of well-being
• avoidance of cooperation or collaboration

...and some from my own observation:

• reduced creativity
• self-pity
• lack of vision
• lethargy
• isolation

In my next post, we'll talk about some ways to recognize and overcome Public Enemy Number One.

How you have you been affected by cynicism? No, not your neighbor, you!

Tell Me of Tuscany

Photo: Ben Scott

My wife and I have had the pleasure of conducting a number of cultural tours to Europe, the most recent of which was this past June. We visit three of the world's greatest cities: Rome, Paris, and London. We see some of the finest art the world has ever known. We tread where kings and emperors trod. We see amazing performances. We shop in some of the best markets anywhere. We see sights many only dream of seeing. And yet, from the feedback we receive, our experience in Tuscany almost always rises to the top as the highlight of the three-week tour.

There are many reasons for this. Of all the phases of the 3-country tour, these days based half an hour outside Florence contain the most human contact with the local population. We are hosted by two wonderful families: the Ammirabile and Volle families. Our housing consists of newly renovated studio apartments overlooking the valley pictured above. (You could do worse than waking up to that every morning.) In between our day trips into Florence or to some of the "hill towns" of Tuscany, we share in experiences that are an inviting window into what appears to be an almost idyllic lifestyle.

Caty w oven

Our good friend Caty (Caterina) heads up the meal preparation and offers lessons in Italian cuisine in the process. We enjoy some pretty delicious food throughout Europe, but everyone seems to agree that Caty's cuisine is the finest -- whether pizzas of all kinds baked in her outdoor oven with olive and other local woods, to pasta cooked just right or even simple bruschetta, every meal is a feast.

Giovanni2

Grazia

Perhaps it's how closely the Ammirabile family lives to the land that makes them so endearing. The family runs both a wine growing and an olive oil business, and one of the highlights of our time is the tour of the vineyards by Giovanni, the patriarch of the family. A committed Christian, Giovanni explains the role of the winegrower while alluding to Jesus' teachings on the vine and the branches. The man knows what he is talking about. He has been "pruned" himself more times than I know about -- and yet the sparkle in his eye as he talks about his vineyard indicates a faith that has survived his trials. His wife, Grazia, doesn't attract attention to herself but has a heart of gold.  

Even though food is not the focal point of our Tuscan adventure, it is surely the time spent at the table that stands out in our participants' memory. A welcome contrast to the too-often rushed American meal, it is often surprising to realize how long we've been lingering at the table, simply enjoying the moment, being together in such a pastoral setting.

Whatever the case, you can be sure these few days in the Tuscan countryside will be an ingredient of the World to the Wise cultural tours for years to come. Between the bustle of great cities like Rome and Venice, it is like landing in a bubble of peace and tranquility.

Ask anyone who has been with us and you will most likely be answered with a sigh.

Evening vineyard

I've Changed My Mind

creative-thinking

The origin of the English word "symposium" is a lot less academic than it sounds in modern usage. In ancient Greek it actually meant "drinking together," and was generally done after a meal, as the Greeks normally didn't drink with their meal. "Its enjoyment was heightened by intellectual or agreeable conversation (italics mine), by the introduction of music or dancers, and by other amusements." (Century Dictionary) We would be naive to think there was always unanimous agreement at these symposia, but the discussion was generally framed in the context of civil exchange with the idea of learning something.

We've come a long way -- in the wrong direction.

I've been thinking lately about the delicate balance (there's that word again) between standing firm in your position on the one hand, and being open to reconsider on the other.

It all comes down to one fundamental question: are we more concerned about being right or being enlightened?

Surely all of us have evolved in our thinking on certain subjects. I most definitely have. This would obviously have been impossible if I were so entrenched in one way of thinking that I couldn't see any alternatives. The areas where my thinking has changed -- where I've changed my mind -- mostly happened because I was seeking the truth. I've wrestled. Grappled. Questioned.

If your point of view is different from mine, I will gladly listen to you, but only on one condition: is your opinion thought through? If you are just reciting a party line or dogma, you'd best move on. If you are letting anger cloud your judgment, you'd better take a step back, take a moment and consider what you're saying.

If we both listen to each other in a convivial atmosphere of mutual respect and common quest for truth, we will all be much better off.

And we might both end up changing our minds -- at least a little. And that's a good thing.

Ethno What?

refugees

The Pew Research Center has just released a report stating that the foreign-born population in the United States is increasing so fast that the record set in 1890, percentage-wise, could be broken within the next decade. I'm not here to discuss the number of illegals versus legals, nor am I in a position to put forth an opinion on whether we should slow the influx of immigrants who continue to seek a new life on our shores. I do know the number of Syrian refugees the US has agreed to take is far less than proportionate to its population and far inferior to the number requested by the UN. My question is: what is at the heart of much of our reluctance to accept more immigrants? Yes, a large number of new arrivals at once could stretch our resources and strain our infrastructures. But if we're honest, there is something else at play here.

In his recent visit, some of Pope Francis's first words in addressing the American public included the fact that he himself is the son of immigrants. (His Italian parents left Italy when Mussolini came to power when Francis was four years old.) We all know that we are a nation of immigrants, so where is the disconnect? Who decided enough was enough, and when? What's more, I can only imagine what Native Americans are thinking.

Question: would we be reluctant to accept "new Americans," as some are calling the recent immigrants, if they were English, Irish, Scottish, or Dutch, the Europeans who initially populated the East Coast? Yes, many others followed: Spaniards, Scandinavians, Italians, Eastern Europeans...not to mention the African slaves who had no choice in the matter. And now fully 47% of recent immigrants to the US are from Mexico and Central America, followed by 26% Asians. But what language won out as the national language in this so-called melting pot? Seems the other languages melted away...to the point where Slavic and other Eastern European immigrants would change their names at Ellis Island to more English-sounding surnames in order to blend in better.

Is it possible that we Anglos are so used to being the majority that the ever-increasing number of minority immigrants threatens our position? And then what will happen? I believe it is this fear that is driving much of the rhetoric flying around in the immigration debate. It's not fun to admit to being ethnocentric, but I'm ashamed to say I see traces of it in myself.

Do you?

In Search of Truth

evolution

At times over the years I have been a part of discussions on human origins and the ongoing debate between the scientific and religious communities. This is of course not simply a two-sided debate (see my post on binary thinking here) -- there are multiple scientific theories, biblical interpretations and opinions -- more than enough to choose from. The debate between Bill Nye the Science Guy and Ken Ham in February 2014 was an unfortunate parade of two extremes, and an excellent example of asking the wrong questions. The one thing these two gentlemen and the camps they represent have in common, however, is this:

They are seeking the truth.

So in that same pursuit, I say to the creationist community:

Good science and good scientists are not necessarily out to disprove anything; they are seeking the truth. You trust them to vaccinate your child or treat your ailing parent, based on what they have learned through research. You trust them to provide you with what are now basic services (electricity, running water) as a result of advances using the scientific method. And yet, when it comes to delving into our distant past, whether the age of mankind or the planet he inhabits, you become defensive and fearful. Fearful that what you believe to be true will be undermined, and -- worse yet -- the foundations on which you have built your life will crumble. I would humbly suggest that we're asking the wrong questions. Perhaps the right question, or at least one of them, is not "Is the Bible true or not?" but "How should we read and interpret the Bible?" If only all of life's answers were Yes or No.

To the scientific community I would say:

What if we were to let go of the notion that all reality -- all truth -- had to be or could be proved? What if some things simply surpassed our understanding? What if the inexplicable were to be placed in the category of Someone who knows better than we do? To quote 17th century French philosopher and scientist Blaise Pascal, what if "the heart has its reasons that reason knows not of"?

In his book The Language of God, scientist Francis S. Collins brings these two worlds together in a masterful way. Also check out his organization, BioLogos.

"Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality." - Carl Sagan

Sept. 23, 2015 - A Day of Convergence

Pope Francis

On this beautiful first day of autumn (in the Northern Hemisphere), we're still here. What's the big deal about that? Many sincere followers of biblical prophecy fully expected the rapture to happen on this most important date on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. I dare not ridicule these people for their genuine desire to see the return of Christ and the fulfillment of prophecy; it just appears that the puzzle, as some of them call it, is a little more elusive and mysterious than they claim. In the meantime, today also marks the first visit to the U. S. of Pope Francis, who has by all accounts received not just a papal, but a royal welcome. How refreshing it is to hear people from all corners of the religious and political landscape (with some exceptions, of course) lay aside their partisan rhetoric. You may be right if you label this collective embrace hypocritical on the part of some, but the Holy Father's visit, and his words in particular, point to something in each one of us: to quote a book title by a late friend of mine, it's the "truth you know you know". We all know, deep down, that mercy is not just an action but a way of life. We all know that the plight of the poor must be addressed in some way. Why it takes a papal visit to remind us of these things is another question.

Whatever the case, if we take his words to heart and use them to do some recentering, it might not hurt anything. Or in the words of the prophet Micah, "...do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."

And perhaps, in the process, we'll be a little more ready for the Second Coming, whenever that may be.

A Tradition We Could Learn From

Old Chinese man

Our kitchen calendar reminds me it is Respect for the Aged Day in Japan, celebrated on the third Monday of September every year. The most elderly are honored and featured in the Japanese media. What if we were to adopt such a custom in the West? In honor of this, I am reposting an earlier blog called Senioritis of a Different Sort. Enjoy:

I’ve been musing a lot lately on the way we view aging and the elderly. Perhaps this is because I’ve been in a number of conversations lately where I was the oldest person present; at one time or another comments were made implying either pity or embarrassment for me, as if my age were a disfiguring disease.

This is something that varies from one culture to another. Most of us are aware that in Eastern cultures the elderly are treated with more respect than in the West. Their life experiences and lessons learned along the way are considered, of all things, an asset and not a liability. It is a given in Asia, as well as in most African cultures, that a family will care for aging family members in return for having been raised by them. In the West, this is so often absent that the death of several French senior citizens due to neglect during a heat wave a number of years ago brought it painfully to the light.

I’m not naive enough to believe, however, that the grass is COMPLETELY greener on the other side. Many families, while providing food and shelter for their aging parents, secretly resent that their resources are being drained or that their parents are ungrateful. That said, it would not hurt us, in the West, to learn something about honoring our elders and the road they have walked. For my part, I’ve resolved to wear what is left of my gray hair as a badge of honor.