The Dirk had a car breakdown yesterday (my sons will recall many of  of those!). I was stranded for several hours in a high traffic area, next to a McDonald’s during the middle of the day. The only people to offer help and the help I received was from women. I would like to say that the Dirk’s good looks and charm moved these women just to talk to me. The fact is that I am so NOT threatening. Not one man asked or offered to help me in almost three hours. The young mother who helped went home to get jumper cables and came back. She was a recent resident of the area from Granbury, Texas (how ’bout that, Huldrich?). She wanted to make sure her son knew that helping people is the “right thang” to do.

I thank God for the ladies who stopped and especially the sweet Texas gal that helped!

The car still is doesn’t work…sigh.

The Dirk

When does two plus two equal nothing? By the way, I am not soliciting answers…it is a rhetorical question.

The Dirk

For years I have contemplated heaven. Recent physical challenges have highlighted the idea of “no more pain.” As a Christian, I have been taught (and taught others) the amazing future for believers in Jesus Christ: no more pain, tears, or the inevitable aging breakdown. I had a professor during an oral exam ask me if I thought that dogs would be in heaven. I gave him latitude because he was close to dying with cancer. Some Christian cults or sects believe in a heaven of sorts (paradise on earth, etc…) but there are differences from Christian orthodoxy. Starla maintains that Heaven will have herds of Guinea Pigs running through the streets (of course, guarded by Marines). The same professor also asked me if we would read books in Heaven…I fumbled through that answer.

However, the overarching teaching from most pulpits, books, and even sectarian Christianity is the emphasis of the elimination of human frailty and pain.

The most piercing question I have had to face (and have asked many others) is: “Would you be OK with the Heaven as advertised sans Jesus Christ?” In other words, would a pain-free, peaceful, eternal life-after-death satisfy your earthly salvation experience but Jesus was absent? Please do not mistake this as a soteriological question as to HOW one gets to Heaven. This only addresses the post-physical life existence in Heaven after one makes the approved journey.

I am terrified personally that I often fall into the category of viewing Jesus as an auxiliary benefit of celestial citizenship and the physical remedies as the primary draw. I am ashamed to admit that I also have unconsciously taught this as well.

Reading books, I answered the terminally ill professor, compared to the presence of God that no desire would exist for anything else. It did not satisfy him and I am not sure I believed it at the time. He simply and reflectively replied “Eternity is a long time.” The answer has bothered me ever since.

There is a country song lyric stating that “when I die, I want to live on the outskirts of heaven.” The sentiment is reflecting his love for God’s creation as he experienced in the rural country. I understand that, but as I think on the teaching of the Bible and who the wondrous Triune God is, when I die I want to be as close to Jesus as possible all the time. If the description of God Almighty is true, even the “baby-talk” version we comprehend exposes an endless and limitless source of beauty, truth, wonder, excitement, and my mind fails to adequately continue.

I daily forget this reality as the pain or challenges of this fleshly existence seem overwhelming but I often try to “renew my mind” with the truth of the wholly other, limitless, Creator of the Universe knowing that I will be completely satisfied (at peace and healed) simply in His presence. Before anyone thinks that I am too sanctimonious and self-righteous to be around…it only happens when the Holy Spirit reminds me to STOP WHINING!

Dirk

That’s right…carjacking! This is another incident related to a medical appointment as my life seems to revolve around such. So, I had HAD it! Someone needed to pay for all this crap! I was going to take someone else’s car and go joy riding!

Well, my optometrist, at a recent visit, was worried about an optic nerve abnormality and referred me to the top glaucoma specialist in our state. The visit truly was a pleasure. The staff and technicians were friendly, professional, and efficient. The doctor had the best “bed-side” manner of any doctor (and I have seen a score of them) I have encountered… probably ever. I told him so. The tests were extensive and one specific test almost ignited my fight or flight response. I have a fear of anyone or anything near my eyes. I even hate eye drops of any kind. This mentioned test required that the technician touch my eyes with an instrument! Arghhhhhhhhhh! Anyway, of course, my eyes were dilated for examination, so I looked like an old anime homeless man.

The news regarding my eyes was very good and one of the best medical visits I have had in many, many years. I even had a good cup of coffee from them. The one thing they forgot were the ugly snap around sun shields for my light sensitive eyes. I thought, “Oh well, Starla has a pair of the over-the-glasses shades in the car.” So, I just covered my eyes with my hand until I got to the car.

What a relief provided from those funky shades! But, I had to do a few errands before returning to the homestead. The first was to my second home (maybe my first home since I spend more there than on my mortgage), Home Depot. My ego did not allow me to wear the funky shades into the Depot, so I shaded my eyes as I walked in and I was able to tolerate the lights inside. Everything was overly bright and sparkling but I was successful in my product search and purchase. I did struggle some getting to the car and loading my stuff but prevailed. Back on went the funky shades and off to my next errand. I needed to order my new glasses at the Sears optical shop. I repeated the process of shading my eyes on the way to look at frames. The “customer service” representative basically ignored me after I told her that another sales rep helped me before, so I left rather miffed.

I stomped out (a fearsome sight with my cane) to my vehicle, unlocked the door with my key fob and jerked the door open! There was another man in the driver’s seat of my car! A white guy of about thirty-five, on his cell phone, mouth open and leaning away from me. Then I realized that a similar colored vehicle parked right next to mine and closer to the store. Shielding my eyes had blocked the vehicle distinctions and I opened another person’s door! I am not sure who was more puckered. I began to apologize claiming I had everything from an eye exam to a head injury. He nervously accepted my repeated regrets and I hobbled to MY car mumbling that could have been shot and that I couldn’t even carjack a parked car from a pudgy guy…lame.

See you later…maybe,

The Blind Dirk (I guess I will bring my own sunglasses for my next eye doctor visit…just saying!)