Word for today: testament In the search through family documents online yesterday, I can across a passport application from my great great grandfather, George Reed. I thought passports had changed significantly in my own lifetime going from the glued on photo version to the digital signature type, but apparently in 1878 a passport app looked a lot more like a permission slip for a field trip. There is no photo, I assume that technology was too expensive or frivilous to deem it necessary. It’s hand numbered and contains a description of George that reads: Age: 43 years, Stature: 6 ft, Forehead: High, Eyes: light gray. His nose is listed as “Grecian”, his mouth is medium, whatever that means... I guess he does not have Mick Jagger lips LOL. His chin is round, he has a black head of hair and a full face. My favorite term used to describe him is this: complexion: Florid. All of this information is somewhat subjective and easily described differently by someone elses point of view. What it does show is how much people generally trusted one another, that if you could match a reasonable description to your passport and had the document in hand, you could go anywhere. On a separate section of the page is the affidavit of application. A Mr. Oliver Perry swore a testament under oath that he was personally acquainted with George Reed. He was vouching for his authenticity. He was testifying to the truth that George had light grey eyes and a florid complexion. No other proof was needed. A mans word was his honor and it meant something back then. I wish it meant as much today. In a post 9/11 world we’ve stopped trusting each other to an alarming degree. We take nothing for granted when we ask someone to prove who they are, from whence they’ve come and for what purpose. We interrogate people because we are scared of everyone until they prove to us that they are not here to do us harm. The coin has completely flipped from taking a person at their word to making someone prove their worth before we trust them at all. Even Ronald Reagan would not recognize the place. “Trust but verify” in the 1980’s which is not that long ago relative to today would more likely be called “never trust anyone, even if you verify they only had good intentions”. We have broken faith with each other and testaments are rendered pointless and false simply because they are not always verifiable. Everyone wants rock hard proof of anything before they believe for a brief moment in someone else. When did the personal testament to the human spirit die? Perhaps it’s buried in the smoke and ashes of the world trade center. Maybe it’s in the halls of congress smothered under piles of useless paper containing language intended to keep us from believing in each other anymore. Maybe it’s been suffocated by all of the superpac money being thrown at elections, much of it designed to make us doubt the truth. I have to ask out loud~ Have we all hurt each other so badly that we are willing to live this life alone rather than than die in the pursuit of happiness as friends? I don’t know the answer to any of these questions. But I know for myself that while I may experience instances in my life where people betray me, hurt me and take advantage that will not stop me from seeking love until my soul leaves my body. I will not allow the actions of a few to render me prostrate in submission inside my own heart. How can we believe again? How does the world find it’s way back from fear? The only testament that I know contains the universal truth about love and the direction we are asked to follow is the New Testament. The Old one sets the stage for the New one to perform miracles of faith. If you want to know how to find your way back from the brink, back from fear, loneliness, doubt and hatred, read the new book. If you have not read it recently I’d encourage you to read it again. It’s the number one bestseller of all time, did you know that? Even Harry Potter has not outsold the Bible. If you don’t have one, the next time you stay in a hotel, check out the drawer next to the bed. The Gideons have likely put one there for you and you know what? You are free to take it. They’ll replace it. They trust you to use it and for God to speak to you through those pages of testament to universal love. Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 13:16:35 +0000
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