The Road to Multiculturalism

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Some people complain that our city is too white. If they are referring to the snow that is predicted today, I agree. But they aren’t talking about snow. This is a question of race, and it calls for deeper thought.

Would I have a richer existence if I saw more dark skin as I walked through the grocery store? I love dark skin colors. I think they are much prettier than my pale face. But rubbing shoulders with people of different races doesn’t create a multicultural experience.

Should I attend an international festival and try many different kinds of food? No. There is much more to understanding Indian culture than eating curry.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines culture as “the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time; a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization (such as a business).” If I don’t take the time to understand what people believe and how they think and how this affects their way of life, I haven’t experienced their culture.

If I want to become more multicultural, I could close my music studio and move to a more diverse city. I could travel halfway around the globe like they do on House Hunters International. Or I could take the time to deepen the relationships I already have, know my friends, know their hearts, and experience life with them.

The last option will never get me on a television show, but walking that road has brought depth to my life that defies description. I thank each of my friends for giving me this gift.

When Losing is Winning

Recently I entered a sweepstakes for a fake deer head. The shape was perfect, just like the one that used to hang in Grandma’s kitchen. An eight-point buck. But this one was white with pink antlers. Ideal for my bedroom. But I didn’t win.

Lest you think I’m crazy, I’ll admit I didn’t want to win. I had a bigger purpose in mind. One of my favorite websites, Zazzle, is running thirty days of giveaways. Every day you enter, the site puts your name in for the grand prize drawing, a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree.

I cringed as I submitted my name for this faux taxidermy deer. But the opportunity to get $1,000 of merchandise was worth the risk of having a deer head show up on my front doorstep.

Now as I occasionally shed a tear over minor disappointments in life, I think of that deer head, and I realize that God has a bigger purpose. This thing I’m down about was never His plan. Had I gotten my way, I might have discovered it was as unappealing as a deer staring at me while I slept. But there is a grand prize waiting, and it will be amazing

      “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  II Corinthians 4:17-18 NKJV

 

Seeking True Love

Relief! I survived one more Valentine’s Day. As a single female approaching middle age, this lovesick holiday is not my favorite date on the calendar. But the ads for online dating sites do make me think about true love.

If love were just a state of mind, I could manipulate the process. I’d analyze men’s profiles. What are they looking for in a wife? Someone pretty, athletic, outgoing? I’d create the perfect persona. They would fall for me. It would feel so good. But, no…I can’t. There would be no truth.

This seems so obvious when discussing online dating. Why do we forget it when talking about our faith? Many people tell us that all religions are basically the same. Pick the one that works for you, the one that gives you peace and hope. They might have a point if the main purpose of religion were to make us feel good. We could even entertain their proposal if the purpose of religion were to make us do good. But that’s not what Jesus said.

When asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30 NKJV). I cannot love God unless I know the truth about Him. This can be scary. What if I find something I don’t like? What if I have to give up a treasured belief from childhood? What if I have to stand against the values of mainstream society?

Love is frightening. But it’s worth it in life and in faith. My prayer this year is that God will reveal to me more truth about Himself, and I commit myself to following the truth whatever the cost.

The Power of a Name

I'm no good with colors. Are these flowers mauve? Or lavender? Periwinkle? Eggplant? I give up! Let's keep it simple and call them purple. Or is that too simple?

Research shows that our ability to name colors affects whether we can distinguish between colors and remember them. The Himba tribe in Nambia has one word, serandu, for red, orange, and pink so they don’t differentiate between these colors as easily as English children who use three separate words. There is power in a name.

When I learned this, one sentence came to mind: “I have called you by name.” I was pretty sure these words came from the Bible. I didn’t remember the rest of the verse. I didn’t remember the reference. But the words spoke peace to my soul.

God knows my name. I'm not just a person or a female. I'm not generic. I'm Jennifer. God made me unique and special, and He loves me.

                But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
 And He who formed you, O Israel:
 "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
 I have called you by your name;
 You are Mine." Isaiah 43:1  

Why Tannhäuser?

I play violin in the Chippewa Valley Symphony, and we performed Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture for our holiday concert this year. I didn’t get it. Other years we’ve played many movements from the Nutcracker Suite. (We just performed three of the dances this year.) We’ve played parts of Handel’s Messiah. We programmed festive dances one year. But why Tannhäuser? It didn’t fit.

In one rehearsal Nobu, our conductor, admitted that it was a bait-and-switch, or rather a bait-and-add. Draw the audience in to hear holiday music and a local artist. Then give them a real symphonic experience with one of our selections.

I still didn’t think it fit.

Then we got on stage. We tuned. Notes of Wagner filled the air. It worked. The emotions were right. This is what Christmas is about.

The opera Tannhäuser is about a man who seeks love in the wrong place, in the castle of Venus. Afterwards, he desires forgiveness for these sins. He joins pilgrims on their journey to Rome, but even the pope cannot forgive him. The pope declares it would be just as probable that the pope’s staff sprout leaves as it would be for Tannhäuser to obtain forgiveness.

The opera ends with Tannhäuser’s death. He asks a young lady to pray for him. And the pope’s staff sprouts leaves.

Yes, God can offer us forgiveness for things that no church can absolve. Religion in itself cannot wash away our sins, but Jesus can. He was born on earth 2,000 years ago to take the punishment for our sins so that God can be just in declaring us not guilty. That is Christmas.

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV

My Fantastic Boring Day

A friend asked me last night how my day was. I can’t remember what I said. Something nondescript. Okay? Good? Fine?

He replied, “Not fantastic?”

Well, it was a pretty ordinary day. I ate the same thing for breakfast that I always eat – scrambled eggs and toast. I worked all day. I went to orchestra rehearsal in the evening. I guess that means I never go hungry, I have a fulfilling job that pays the bills, and I have friends who enjoy making music together. Nothing tragic happened. That’s pretty fantastic.

As we enter the holiday season, I think of my friends who are going through difficult times, those who have lost loved ones. If you’re one of those friends, please know I’m praying for you.

If you’re not facing tragedy, if you’re more like me, sometimes wondering if life is in a rut, join me in praising God this Thanksgiving for blessing us with so many fantastic boring days.

Forever Is a Beautiful Word

I just stuck a forever stamp on an envelope and carried it out to the mailbox. I’m not sure the stamp will be good forever. But I believe in forever.

I believe that the real Jennifer is not my body that will die. The real me is inside that body and will live forever. That is the reason nothing on this earth quite satisfies my soul. God made me for eternity. He made me forever.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 NKJV