Odds & Ends #5

Every now and then I put out a blog article titled “Odds & Ends” to serve as a catch-all for announcements, updates, and thoughts that might not require as long an article as usual. This is one of those times, so sit back, relax, and get comfortable as some new “odds and ends” come your way . . .

1. As you’ve probably noticed by now, my blog has a slightly different look. For those who have followed this blog from the beginning, it shouldn’t look too unusual, because it’s very similar to what I first had. The main reason I changed back was due to a report I get on my administrative page that shows which pages visitors actually look at. What it showed was that a number of viewers don’t get past the “home” page, which only showed the first paragraph of the three most recent articles. That meant that some people weren’t getting to read the entire article, because they had to click on the title of each article to go to that article’s page. So, just in case that second step was keeping readers away from the articles, I made the new home page consist of the entire new article. All the previous information is still available on my “Greeting” page, which link is in the overhead menu. I hope the revised format makes your reading smoother.
2. I added a few new pieces of information, too. On the “Martin Luther Live” link, I added a report about last October, when I portrayed Dr. Luther at the AALC’s 500th Anniversary of the Reformation celebration. I presented the Reformer at each of the two lunchtimes, on the 31st and November 1st. One of the attendees drew an amazing sketch of me making the presentation, and our national newsletter’s editor, Lisa Cooper, wrote a a very kind article about the presentations. With their permission, I added the sketch and the article to this page of my website.
3. I also just finished revising my new book, Raising Ebenezers: Recognizing God’s Miracles in Your Life, and am now seeking final editing and publication. I included a description of the book (with a mock-up cover picture) on my website under the “Books” menu link. Hopefully, before long I’ll be able to include publishing and availability information as well!
4. Many, if not most websites include paid advertising that pops up alongside or beneath the writers’ articles. This is very common, and is one way for the “blogist” (Is there such a word? If not, there should be – “blogger” sounds so mundane. . . ) to pay for his or her site, or even to make money, based on the number of views they get. I have decided not to use paid ads, for three reasons. First, because I’m not doing this site to make money, and I can afford the low cost the web hosting company charges. Second, I can write what I believe without looking over my shoulder at sponsors, being afraid to run afoul of their editorial policies. I already have one very special Editor looking over my shoulder regarding my writing – and He is the only one I am accountable to. Third, in most cases the bloggist, er, blogger, does not get to choose which ads appear on the site. I have seen Christian blogs with some very questionable ads, and my immediate reaction has been to ask why the bloggers chose those ads – and then I remember they didn’t have a choice. So, to avoid those mixed messages, I chose not to take ads.
5. For those of you following the ongoing drama (or is it a comedy – or better yet, what they call in TV a “dramady”) regarding my foot, here’s the news: I finally have a surgery date of October 4 this year to have my foot attended to. I’ll spare you the details, but the main point is that this procedure should correct an ongoing problem I have had with recurring ulcers on my left foot. This means I’ll probably be cruising around in my wheelchair until the end of the year – so I need to warn you to watch out when you see me coming, since I don’t have a back-up beeper!
6. Wheelchairs can be difficult at times, though I’m very glad to have one to use. The worst time I ever had was several years ago (during one of those ulcer episodes) when I decided to go see a movie. I dropped Karen off to shop elsewhere in the shopping center before driving to the theater. I went right to the handicapped parking area, but found it was full. So I drove up and down the nearby lanes looking for a parking space, but they too were all filled. So I drove further out, still having no luck, until I was a block away from the theater entrance. There was a free spot! With the start time of the movie fast approaching, I took the space, and unloaded the wheelchair from the back of the car, using crutches to get from the driver’s seat to the tailgate. Then came the arduous roll down (actually, up) the length of the block. By the time I got to the box office, my arms and legs were aching from the exertion. I caught my breath, bought the ticket, and went in. Only to discover the actual theater showing that movie in the multiplex was the furthest one in the place from the entrance, back in the direction I had just come. So, I rubbed my arms took a breath, and started rolling. If you’ve ever had to use a wheelchair, you know that rolling on a smooth surface is one thing, but rolling on carpet is another. The carpet seems to fight you the whole way and makes the roll twice as tiring. Of course, the place was carpeted. So, by the time I got to the theater’s door, I was exhausted. Then, when I rounded the corner into the theater proper, I had to laugh (or did I cry?) because this “Handicapped accessible” theater was uphill. That’s right, after all I had exerted already, I was now facing a steep incline to get to where I could even see the screen. I struggled like never before. I cried, I sweated, I bled (okay, that was an exaggeration), and finally pushed up backward until I made it! Finally I was in the theater! And there before me, were several empty wheelchair spots. With what was left of my strength, I rolled the last few feet, swung around to face the screen, and settled back to relax. That was when another wheel chair came in, pushed by someone else. They decided to take an open spot just past me. Which they did – but not before ramming their chair into my bandaged foot. And the movie wasn’t all that good.
7. You may have noticed I used the word “handicapped” when the preferred term these days is “disabled” or more euphemistically, “variously-abled.” As someone who has a parking placard granted to me as an authentic “disabled person,” I have to say that I prefer the term “handicapped.” Supposedly, the term comes from a time when beggars went around England holding cap-in-hand, asking for money, so the modern use of the term is seen to be insulting to people with disabilities, calling them beggars. On the other hand, I think saying people are dis-abled means they can’t do what other people can, and is more limiting to them. Handicapped persons are still able, but if they’re disabled, then what? I look at it this way: golfers have handicaps, race horses have handicaps, the tortoise had a handicap compared to the hare, but they are all still able to win. So don’t feel bad to call me handicapped – because I’m still very able to do a lot.
8. When you read the Bible, you find that people’s physical limitations, whether you call them disabilities or handicaps, are stated plainly and without any circumlocution. People are said to be blind (also a spiritual condition), deaf, and lame. There’s no attempt to soften their conditions with nice words. The Bible says what is, and what is not. Imagine Isaiah’s prophecy of the works of the coming Messiah being written today:”The unsighted will see, the hearing-impaired will hear, the differently-abled person will leap for joy.” Even the prophecies of the resurrection would have to change: “The passed-on ones will rise again.” Of course, Paul did use one euphemism – for the dead in Christ. He said they had fallen asleep, but that was because he knew their death was temporary, and they will rise from the dead as sleepers arise to the new day. Jesus said the same about Lazarus, until his dense (or is it, “intellectually-challenged”?) disciples misunderstood him -so then he said, “Lazarus has died.” (John 11:11-15). There are times to be kind and gentle in speech so as not to cause shame or affront, but there are times to speak plainly, with no malice intended, to address reality and perhaps to improve upon it.

Well, that’s about it for now. Until next time: May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Read: John 11, and Judges 3:12-30 for brutal honesty in biblical speech