Andy Post - 2011

O Lord, I still miss him so much!

The carving in the wood (his desktop),

     The luggage tag named “Doc” on the wall,

Taz sitting watchfully on the bookcase,

     Waiting for the return of his friend – his all.


Lord, I confess my amazement,
     That while you made our minds to think
           Thoughts grand and deep and surreal,
It is the small things of life that get us,
     And constrict our hearts with bands of steel.


His favorite jacket hanging in my closet,
     The lock-back knife in my desk drawer;
The computer disk with his password lost,
     All these and many, many more.


The old pipe in its velvet sleeve,
     With sweet aroma lingering still;
The story of his traitorous stump,
     Turning over on the hill;
The memory of that afternoon,
     Will chill my soul and be with me till . . .


I wait like Taz with hopeless yearning,
     My joy unfulfilled in this earthy state;
Knowing that his eyes are glory viewing,

    As I await my time with him across the gate.

It is the small things of life that get us,

     And constrict our hearts with bands of steel;

O Lord, I still miss him so much!

     Will it end – this grieving feel?

A Remarkable Book about Books

I just finished reading Pat Conroy’s My Reading Life. I actually bought the book at the Blue Bicycle Book Store in Charleston while we were on vacation. Blue Bicycle is a great source for everything Conroy and when I saw this little book (though overpriced) I had to have it. I started it on the beach but heavy philosophy reading assignments kept me from the final third of the book until this week.

Pat Conroy may be my favorite author. I have read all his books except The Boo, and My Losing Season. All of his books are autobiographical. The pain of abuse by his father and the loving care of his bibliophilic and thoroughly southern mother come through on almost every page. This little book is just what the title offers: a delightful tour through those books and authors that have become part of the writing persona of Conroy.

One entire chapter is devoted to his mother’s, and subsequently Pat’s, affection for Gone with the Wind. His mother read the book so often (and at least once a year out loud to Pat) that she would wear out copies and had to buy a new one. Conroy has this to say about the book: “To Southerners like my mother, Gone with the Wind was not just a book: it was an answer, a clenched fist raised to the North, an anthem of defiance. If you could not defeat the Yankees on the battlefield, then by God, one of your women could rise up from the ashes of humiliation to write more powerfully than the enemy and all the historians and novelists who sang the praises of the Union.”

In another chapter he shares the story of his high school encounter with the school librarian. It is a Catholic school and she was obviously not hired for her knowledge of books. Conroy is sitting in the library reading Hugo’s Les Miserables. He is cross-examined by the librarian as to why he is reading the book, “are you just reading it for the dirty parts?” “I didn’t know it had any dirty parts” responds Conroy. “Well it’s by Frenchman and you just can’t trust them.” At which point she suggests he read a good book about football and promptly gives him a copy of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (as it so happens, also by Hugo).

The book contains chapters about his favorite used book store in Atlanta (The Old New York Book Shop), which became a meeting spot of local authors and a launching pad for new books by those same authors. We learn about the lifelong impact of his college literature professor and the poetry of James Dickey. If you read this enchanting little book with a notepad and a dictionary by your side, you will end up with an expanded vocabulary and a reading list that goes a long way towards being the Great Books of the English Language. I feel the need for more bookcases!

To Grandson Sean on the Death of Odie, His Beloved Cat

Sean,

I am so sorry about Odie. He was a good cat and I know he was a good friend to you. As soon as I received the email from your mom it was like a switch was thrown in I my brain and some long forgotten memories resurfaced. Growing up the animal I was most attached to was a little mixed-breed dog named Friskie. She was my everyday companion. The house I grew up in had a driveway that came down one side of the house and made a semicircle to the garage on the other side. The inside of the semicircle was fenced for a dog run. There was a little back porch off the kitchen over the garage door. That little porch was my day-dreaming place. I would go out and sit on the floor of the porch, sometimes for hours at a time, and imagine wonderful things, including how I would be the hero of any circumstance when I was grown. Friskie would lay on the porch with her head in my lap for as long as is sat there (except when a cat or another dog would trespass in our yard). With the help of Mom and Dad, I took good care of her. Every year we took her to the vet and got her shots. We made sure she had good food and plenty of exercise. During the winter, Dad would rig a 150-watt light bulb in her doghouse for some heat. And, if it got really cold, we would fix a bed in the basement and bring her in.

In those days, the annual shots for dogs did not include a shot to prevent distemper. One day when I came home from school Mom said that Friskie must have a hurt paw because she was not walking right. We checked to see if she had a cut or thorn stuck in the paw but could not find anything. Within a few days, she was having trouble with both her hind legs and we knew something was wrong. We took her to the vet and he said that he thought she had distemper. He gave her a shot but said that distemper was almost impossible to treat once the animal was infected. We took her home and we hoped – and I prayed for my dog. For a few days she did not get better but her condition did not worsen, encouraging our hope. We kept her in the basement and placed her food and water close to her bed so she didn’t have to walk far. Every day, as soon as I got home from school, I headed directly to the basement to check on Friskie. One day, about a week after the trip to the vet, I saw her perk up as I came down the steps. By the time I reached the bottom, she was out of her bed coming across the floor to me – only her back legs didn’t work at all. She was dragging herself across the floor with her front paws to be close to me. I knew right then that the battle was lost – she was not going to recover. For a couple days this scene was repeated only it was obvious that she was in pain as she drug herself across the floor. That night Mom and Dad set me down and explained that Friskie was not going to get better and that she was suffering. Since she was my dog, I needed to be the one to make the decision. I knew what that decision needed to be though my heart was breaking. The next afternoon I sat with my best friend in my lap for a couple of hours until Dad got home and then I said goodbye to Friskie.

That was over 50 years ago and I am weeping as I write this. God has given us such a great gift in the animals we love and who become so dear to us. I’m not the greatest theologian but I believe that there will be animals in the New Heavens and the New Earth – God wants us to see the perfection of His creation as it existed in the Garden. I wanted you to know that, if I could, I would carry all your sadness for you – but I can’t. I certainly know how you feel and I am very sad for you.

Love,
GP

Pleadings of an Old Man

“And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, 24 ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? 25 Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ 26 But the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again.’” Deut 3: 23-26


For the first time is several years I committed myself to reading through the Bible this year. It is amazing how many passages, especially in the Old Testament, seem so fresh and new. The one quoted above just seemed to jump off the page and has stayed in my mind for some time. There are four thoughts or insights I had from these verses.

1. Even after being told that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land, Moses makes one final petition – he had a strong desire to see the land.

If nothing else, Moses had a keen understanding of the promises of God. Since he is the one that committed the book of Genesis to writing, he knows the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I would imagine that thoughts about the land were a daily occurrence for Moses. When God told him that he could not enter the land due to his sin, I am sure this was a crushing blow. Though he did not have access to the New Testament, I suspect his familiarity with God was such that he understood the parable Jesus told about the persistent widow who gave the judge no rest until he ruled in her favor. Maybe these thoughts were in Moses’ mind as he pleaded his case to God one more time.

Moses could stand on the mountain and look across the Jordan to the land. It is interesting that Moses’ prayer was specific about wanting to see “the good hill country and Lebanon.” What he was asking for was not just to be given permission to cross the Jordan but to travel throughout the land. This is a bold prayer and should be an example for us. I know that my prayers tend to be small and timid as if I forget the power of the God I pray to – Lord make me bold and keep me from shortening your arm!

2. Moses, who experienced the burning bush; who witnessed the miracles of the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, manna, water from a rock; who stood before and spoke with God, says “you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand.”

If this does not give us chills when we think about our future in the presence of God, nothing will. Remember how the face of Moses glowed with the reflected glory of God. It was so bright that he had to wear a veil for an extended period of time because it was more than the people could stand. Wow! And Moses says that this is just a small beginning of what is to be experienced we will be exposed to the full glory of God (and maybe we will never be able to experience the full glory because we are the creature and not the Creator). Again, I am lead to think about how much richer my prayer life would be if I spent even a little time each day meditating on God’s glory.

3. Moses states that the Lord was angry with him “because of you [the people].” Even the godliest of leaders have trouble taking responsibility for their sins.

We probably need to review the backstory just a bit. In Exodus 17, the people of Israel were camped in an area in the wilderness were there was not sufficient water for the people. Moses interceded with God and the Lord told Moses to take his staff and strike the rock. When he did, the rock opened and a stream of fresh water poured out that was large enough to provide water for all the people. This place was Massah (testing) and Meribah (quarrelling). In Numbers 20 the people have reached a place (also called Meribah) where there is no water. Moses and Aaron intercede again with God. God tells him “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water.” Moses instead strikes the rock with the staff instead of speaking to it. This is his sin. So, what’s the big deal? Moses did the same thing he had done before, why was God angry with him? I’m sure there are a lot of opinions about this event. I think that God had Moses to strike the rock the first time to continue to establish his role as leader of the people and as the prophet of God. Forty years later Moses’ role was not in question. On the second occasion God told Moses to speak to the rock and not use the staff. I think this was to make it clear to the people that it was God who brought water from the rock and not some trick of Moses. By striking the rock with the staff, Moses stole some of the glory that was God’s alone. This is a big deal.

God calls some men to be leaders among his people. All through scripture, and especially in the NT, these men are characterized as ‘servant leaders’ and one of the hallmarks of such leaders is humility. One of the greatest temptations for our leaders is to lose some of the humility and begin to take pride in their abilities and talents. When this occurs, they are diminishing the glory due to God. Whether we are in leadership positions or not, we all are prone to the same temptation. Think about how different Moses’ prayer would have been if he had acknowledged his sin openly before the people rather that blame-shifting.

4. The God of mercy says “No” to Moses’ pleading.

What about when God answers the deep pleadings of our heart with a ‘no’? Most of us have probably experienced this at some point in our lives. Sometimes we get angry with God. Sometimes we begin to search for that hidden sin we must have committed that cause God to respond this way. And, there are a good number of other ways we respond to what the country music song terms “unanswered prayer.” Many of the people I have met who clearly demonstrate deep faith live in Africa. And, they have a saying that seems appropriate for the moment: God is good . . . all the time! We don’t have always have a good answer to the “why” question, but we always have a good answer to the “Who” question.

The Water is Wide

One of my favorite authors is Pat Conroy and one of his books that is on my favorite list is The Water is Wide. I read the book about two years ago and have been trying to find a copy of one of the two movie adaptations ever since. The first move was titled Conrack (the way the students pronounced Conroy’s name) and starred Jon Voight. It was made in 1974. The movie is not available on DVD and a very used VHS copy sells for over $80 (too rich for my blood). The Water is Wide was a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV Movie made in 2006. I just found it on DVD two weeks ago. According to the published reviews, both are faithful to the book, which is autobiographical. Conroy tells the story of when he took a teaching job (1969) a couple of years after graduation from the Citadel. The job is at a two room schoolhouse on an isolated island off the coast of South Carolina. Before discussing the movie, a little review of the backstory may be helpful.

The name of the island in the book and movies is Yamacraw Island. However, the name of the actual island where Conroy taught is Daufuskie Island. Following is a portion of the history of the island from the Daufuskie Island Historical Society’s webpage.

“Plantation owners and slaves fled the island at the start of the Civil War. Union troops then occupied the island. After the war, freed slaves (Gullah people) returned to the island, purchasing small plots of land or working for landowners. The boll weevil destroyed the cotton fields in the early 1900's. Logging and the Maggioni Oyster Canning Factory provided jobs for the predominately Gullah populated island at the turn of the 20th century. Oysters continued to be harvested and shucked on the island after the cannery closed and were shipped elsewhere for processing. Daufuskie Island oysters were sold world-wide. Life was hard, made more so by being cut off from the mainland. As a result, island residents created a caring, close-knit community, one crossing racial lines.

“When pollution in the Savannah River closed the oyster beds in the 1950's, the island's economy declined. The Gullah began to leave the island for better opportunities. By the 1980's the population of the island decreased from a high of around 2,000 to less than 60. At that time developers came to the island, and Haig Point, Melrose, Oakridge and Bloody Point were subsequently built. The island's Historic District has retained its breathtaking natural beauty. The entire island is on the National Register of Historic Places.”

By the time Conroy takes the teaching job on Yamacraw Island he has developed a decidedly rule-breaking disposition. He was raised in a home that was dominated by a strict, military father (The Great Santini) and had attended a military college (The Lords of Discipline). He was in full rebellion against strict, rule-centered institutions. When he arrives at the school, he is introduced to the principle and co-teacher, Mrs. Brown. She is African-American educated in a private school that instilled the notion that it is more important to teach the “colored” children proper behavior than to be overly concerned with formal education. She is thoroughly convinced that the way to success is through generous doses of corporal punishment.

Conroy discovers the first day that his students (5th through 8th grades) are mostly illiterate and not a single one knows what country they live in. He and Mrs. Brown quickly clash. In one scene she gives him textbooks for the students and makes sure that he understands that the rules of the School Board required each student to finish the book before the end of the year. He asks how he is to accomplish that when the students can’t read. She tells him the rules require him to do it and it is his problem to work out the “how.” He does find ways to teach them through music, both popular and classical, stories that he makes up out of historical or geographical facts, and field trips around the island.

When Conroy arrives on the island, none of the parents (or grandparents) of the children will have anything to do with him. It is easy to get the impression that this is because he is white (the only other whites on the island are a husband and wife who serve all the roles of government on the island: fireman, policeman, school bus driver, postmistress, librarian, etc.). What Conroy finally discovers is that the parents have been told for years by Mrs. Brown that she is responsible for the school and education of their children and they are to stay away. Conroy is able to breakdown this barrier and get the parents back involved. His first success is when he discovers that one of the children is practically deaf and has developed powerful defense mechanisms so he won’t be teased by the other children. He goes to see the boy’s grandmother and assures her that he knows about the deafness and that the other children will not torment him any longer. He wins over the heart of the grandmother who is a most respected member of the Gullah community. From that time on, parents begin to feel that they can have a part in the education of their children.

Mrs. Brown complains to the school board officials about Conroy and, at the end of his first year he is dismissed for failure to follow the rules. The Gullah community objects and demands that they be in charge of their school. Conroy is not rehired but the educational environment on the island has been changed, including Mrs. Brown’s attitude and approach.

This is a great and true story about what one man can do to change a horrible situation. As an interesting sidebar to the movies, the cast of the 1974 movie had a reunion in 1996. Of the 20+ actors who played the children, 19 attended the reunion. Of those 16 had become teachers. Most credited the experience of the movie with their desire to become educators.

It is sad to me that the source of income for these “island” people was taken away by industrial pollution that was allowed to continue unabated until any hope of recovering the oyster beds was gone. And now, in place of a community of hard working people who preserved a culture that was centuries old, we have gated neighborhoods full of multimillion dollar homes. And there is no record that the Gullah people received anything other than a pittance for their land. It reminds me of the Bible passage that warns about those who have little will have even that taken away.

The Death of an Enemy


Proverb 6:16-19 says the following: “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breaths out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (ESV) I think most American Christians would agree that Osama bin Laden fit these seven characteristics to perfection. So, the question is already out there as to whether America was justified in killing bin Laden. A number of Christian writers, most much smarter than I, are trying to apply passages of Scripture about loving our enemies to the situation implying we did not have the moral right to take this action and, as Christians, we should not rejoice in the death of this mass murderer.

For those Christians who reject the Old Testament as having any relevance to our New Testament times, please stop reading now. For those who consider the entire Bible as both true and authoritative, please bear with me. In the NT, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for them. The context (Sermon on the Mount) seems clear that he is speaking to us as individuals. It is most difficult to understand how corporate entities can “turn the other cheek.” We are called to be at peace with all men (Rom 12:18 and Heb 12:14) but this is as individuals. In Romans 13 we are called to be in subjection to the government authorities “who do not bear the sword in vain.” In the Old Testament, God directed Joshua to claim the promised land for God’s people and utterly destroy the people who occupied the land. In Deut 9:5 we learn that God is giving the land to his people “not because your righteousness . . . but because of the wickedness of the nations [Canaanites].”

I agree that we need to be careful not to try to equate America with God’s chosen people of the Old Testament. However, the American government is a lawful authority that has been granted the power of the sword. Unless you reject the “just war” argument entirely, then you accept that American has the moral authority to protect its citizens from attack by entities who pledge to destroy our country. Osama bin Laden was an evil man that was part of a false and evil religion that seeks to destroy the Body of Christ as well as our country. Our government has the moral right to kill the enemy and we have the same right to rejoice as did Israel when the walls of Jericho fell.