THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

The song "The Impossible Dream," is once again in the headlines as it was performed at Senator Ted Kennedy's memorial service this week. This is no commentary on the late senator, but rather on the lessons learned from that inspiring song's story: Man of LaMancha.

If you've never seen the show, rent it. It is a powerful presentation not only of what is noble, right, and good, but of how the world-at-large wages war against the virtue of nobility.

Don Quixote, the main character, is cracked and there is no avoiding that fact. But, his dementia is such that he believes himself a valorous knight, righting wrongs, saving damsels in distress, and dispatching dragons (even when the "dragon" is only a wind mill). But what comes through time and again in the program is: Don Quixote sees good in almost everyone.

His demeanor at first alarms and then woos many to actually believe in themselves, and to have their lives transformed by this odd, but ever-so-noble man.

There are the other people in the story, however: those who are embarrassed by this nut of an uncle. They set out to bring him back to reality, to abandon this "noble nonsence" and get back to the real world. Ever know anyone like that? Life's wet blankets?

As you set out to live your noble plans, there will be those who embrace what you have to offer with a hunger and thirst. Everyone thirsts for the knowledge of Truth. Everyone is hungry to know that they can make a difference. Everyone has a spark within them that yearns for nobility.

He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor. — 1Sa 2:8

Yet there are others who feel such sentiments as noble living are an impossible dream, that they are unrealistic and absurd. Be forewarned and ready my friends. If it were impossible, then Christ never should have, never could have come. If you are of the household of faith, then you are a princess or a prince of the Most High God, and no nay-sayer can decry you. And if they do, it is only because 1) they have lost hope and desperately need your inspiration — though they will hide their starvation behind fat pride and corpulent masks or 2) they envy who and what you are and just as in number 1, they need you to feed their souls.

If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. — Ro 12:20

So as you go about your day-to-day routine, try being quixotic. You don't have to be a nut case, just perform random acts of kindness and beauty. And when your critics rise, bless them and realize how terribly hungry and thirsty they are.




"A noble man devises noble plans; and by noble plans he stands."
– Isaiah 32:8

GOLDEN GOBLETS

It is better to drink a wholesome draught of truth from a humble vessel than poison mixed with honey from a golden goblet
— Nennius, 9th Century

Packaging: it's all around us. Books are in fact judged by their cover. Wine sells not on the reputation of the vintner, but by how attractive the label looks. Ad mail arrives in your mail box designed to get you to open the envelope. And on and on and on.

Packaging has been used for a very long time: from the forbidden fruit in the garden, repurposed by the serpent to offer undeserved promises to Eve, or in Nennius' case, poison in a golden goblet. From the cars we drive to the fashions we wear, we are all "packaged" to convey a message to those who see us.

Not all packaging is evil, of course. In and of itself, packaging is neutral — neither good nor evil. How it is used by people, whether for ignoble or noble plans, helps determine the moral outcome.

How are you packaged? What message do you convey with your life? What is the moral outcome? What kind of goblet are you?

Wisdom says, ". . . drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding" (Prov 9:5-6).


"A noble man devises noble plans; and by noble plans he stands."
– Isaiah 32:8

SPIRITUAL GRAVITAS

From Noble Plans

It seems that to be someone today, you need gravitas. From a worldly perspective, having gravitas is how you get ahead. But what about spiritual gravitas? Take a look at Philippians 4:8:

"Finally, . . . whatever is noble. . . think about such things." That's a noble plan!

Yes, there is a lot more to that verse, but I assume you have a pretty good grasp on the rest of the list: whatever is true, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. And when Paul uses the term, "finally," he is summing an important lesson.

The Geneva Commentary on this verse reads: "Whatever things are such that they beautify and set you apart with a holy gravity."

A-ha! Spiritual gravitas!

One step more, this time from King Solomon: "As you think in your heart, so you become" (Prov 23:7, my paraphrase).

Now you know how to build spiritual gravitas — think on such things as truth, nobility, righteousness, purity, loveliness, excellence, and praiseworthy — think on them, and so you will be!


"A noble man devises noble plans; and by noble plans he stands."
– Isaiah 32:8

[The photo is my own leaf from a 16th Century Geneva Bible, with a favorite verse of mine, Deuteronomy 13:2]

FREEDOM!

One of the most memorable moments in Mel Gibson's cinematic hit Braveheart (1995) was the movie's theme of freedom. Even after 14 years, William Wallace's final bellow into the crisp blue sky, "Fr-ee-ee-ee-dom!" still rings in my ears and heart.

Freedom is a theme in the Scriptures as well: "To proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1). Yet even as far back as the 16th Century—as England was still reeling from the wounds of political and religious persecution—biblical scholars recognized that this had little to do with political freedom and everything to do with fallen man. The Geneva Bible commentary states that freedom to prisoners was a message to those "who are in the bondage of sin."

There is much in the news these days about freedom and liberty. Some feel that they are under ardent attack here in the USA. Others feel this is the time — from their world view — to expand freedoms. There has been no meeting of the minds, only an increasing friction fed by flippant speeches resulting in civil unrest such as I have not witnessed in my adult life.

I think Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest gets right to the heart of the matter in his book Biblical Ethics:

Paul continually dealt with people who under the guise of religion were libertines; they talked about liberty when what they really meant was, “I insist on doing what it is my right to do, and I don’t care a jot about anyone else.” That is not liberty; that is lawlessness (96 R).

We live in interesting times, to be sure. How does one rise above the fray and exhibit nobility? Once again, Oswald Chambers shares some insight:

We call liberty allowing the other fellow to please himself to the same extent as we please ourselves. True liberty is the ability earned by practice to do the right thing.
(Biblical Ethics, 96 L)

I think Paul would back up Oswald's "True liberty is the ability earned by practice to do the right thing." "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Gal 5:13).

Peter understood it as well: "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God" (1Pe 2:16).

There you have it: a noble plan for navigating the tide of incivility that threatens to stream around you. It may not be easy. Doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do is almost always difficult, made even more challenging when your way of life is being tasked with or without your consent. So as your heart calls out, "Freedom!"— avoid lawlessness, live nobly.


"A noble man devises noble plans; and by noble plans he stands."
– Isaiah 32:8

OF CROWNS AND KINGS, & NOBLE THINGS

Few symbols represent royalty so well as a crown. They seem to have an uncanny power to bedazzle and impress. Maybe that is one of the reasons our Sovereign King, the Lord God Almighty, promises his loyal subjects a crown of their own.

• “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).
• “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1Pe 5:4).
• “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life? (Rev 2:10).

The promise seems quite clear, crowns await the faithful.

A favorite of mine is Isaiah 62:3: “You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” The Geneva Bible commentary on this verse reads, “He will value you as dear and precious as a king does his crown.”

The signs of nobility, of noble living, are found throughout the Scripture like ornaments of golden thread. Sadly, our modern culture has lost some of its savor for the symbols of sovereignty, but you are able to recapture it!

“I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown” (Rev 3:11).

This passage from the Book of the Revelation, with Christ’s message to the church in Sardis, clearly indicates that their crown is a foregone conclusion — if they hold fast to their faith.

Here’s a noble plan: live your life today as if you already wear your crown. Not as one who lords power over others in some arrogant, condescending way, but as a noble woman or man who bears the crown of life, the crown of glory, the crown of beauty, and the crown of righteousness. Live today as a princess or prince of the Most High God, representing His Throne and His Will here on earth. It can change your perspective on how you view yourself and others.

“There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2Ti 4:8).


"A noble man devises noble plans; and by noble plans he stands."
— Isaiah 32:8