stuff i think

I'm not sure how we got on their mailing list, but we returned to Kansas City to find a stack of Parents Magazine back issues waiting for us. Not having a lot of free reading time, they have been used as coasters the last day or two. I am beginning to think it is their higher purpose.

This morning, I had a few minutes while hoarking down a bagel so I paged through a copy. First of all, it's difficult to comprehend parenting from a perspective that doesn't make space for God. As adorable as they are, children are the preiminent teachers of the doctrine of original sin. Likewise, it's tough to parent without exploring the idea of grace...for the child and the parent.

I ran into one feature that left my speechless...a one page layout pointing out how parents say one thing and do another. It spoke of the tendency for parents to tell kids to share while the parent was hogging the remote control. It referred to managing your child's anger while blowing up at your spouse. Example after example was offered...but absolutely no resolve to the issue. I literally searched the magazine thinking "surely this is continued on page whatever...". Nope. No answers, just the assumption that all parents are essentially highly developed liars.

Contrast that with my reading this morning in John 3. Verse 21 says... "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (NIV).

The New American Standard says "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light...'.

I think I like the New King James best - "But he who does the truth."

Truth is more than an abstract concept to be pursued...it is a reality to be exemplified. It is a deed to be done. When you live lives congruent with what you espouse, you do the truth.

Please ignore the coasters at the Casa de la Bohlender. They are headed to the curb on Friday.