All in the Family

The news was heart-wrenching. It was Christmas Eve when a daughter and her boyfriend visited her parents. Swept by anger into a frenzy, the misguided young woman and her beau, shoot her parents to death. After dragging the bodies into an outdoor shed, more family arrived for a holiday visit. Fearing being exposed for the murder of her parents, this murderous team leaps into action once more. by the time their dark work is finished, two young children and their parents are added to the mayhem. Aren't families great?

Some might wonder whether families are worth all the trouble after hearing stories like this one. For a Basicguy like me, it is all very hard to comprehend. All I can figure is that there must have been something far less than "basic" going on in this particular family... at least in the incomplete mind of this murderous young woman. It is all too sad, especially for a Christmas season.

Fortunately, there are basic families scattered all over the world--unsung and unnoticed by the media--where goodness, peace and joy reign. We had grandchildren visiting our home for Christmas. Not only did their eyes sparkle with the lights on the Christmas tree, but with the pure and exquisite joy of Christmas. You see, Santa did visit and once again did his magic. There was nothing particularly extraordinary or expensive about this Christmas. In fact it was a perfect display of all that is right about Basicguys and basic families. It was just simple joy enjoyed by a simple family that loves being together.

It was a traditional day, where there was as much joy over the Mountain Man breakfast and Orange Rolls as the gifts. To simply look into each face, adult and child, and see the warm glow of joy was enough for the day. Of course gifts are a rich part of Christmas and have been since wise men brought them to a Babe born in a manger in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. But it may be that the silent gifts of adoration brought to the manger by spiritually enwrapped shepherds, are the most lasting and enduring gifts that can be given.

Though I have had many associations throughout my life (at work, in the community, at church), I have found the richest ones as part of a family. It began with the family of my youth in Southern Nevada and now continues with the family of my adulthood. My wife, my children, their spouses, and their children have added to the enduring joy of family. From face to face, both young and older, the warm glow of joy keeps the simple gifts of Christmas alive for me and magnifies the manger in ways I never could have understood as a child.

Basically speaking, most joy in life comes in a family. The family is where it is at. From the Holy family all down through the ages to mine, family is where it is at. I can only hope that everyone is as lucky as I am. If you're not, take me at my word and set about making a family for yourself. I know I'm only a basicguy, but I believe that God intended for all of His children to have a family. I mean we came from one didn't we? How can we be considered God's children if we weren't part of a heavenly family? And so He designed that there would be families here. But life is not perfect. People make mistakes; some very serious mistakes. But that doesn't mean we can't break imperfect chains.

So, since a family is where it's at and the best things happen "all in the family," do your best to be part of one. Do your best to have your own. It's best to do so in God's way. He is the designer of the family... being the first Father that I know of. Doesn't it make sense to follow His lead? Basicguys tend to simply follow their God's perfect lead. Good luck making something "basic" out of your life... all in a family.

Mitt Romney and Mormon Insanity

Republican Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, recently gave a talk to clarify his religious faith. Being a practicing Mormon, it apparently became critical for his candidacies survival. His "Faith in America" speech turned out to be more satisfying to Mormon's than to others. Many complained that he didn't go deep enough into his own beliefs to satisfy the masses. The latest polls out of Iowa seem to confirm this feeling. Romney has slipped further behind Huckabee in a state he once dominated.

My son who is a law student at the University of Nebraska, sent me an editorial written by a poly sci student in Lincoln. I found it really fascinating that in this students mind, everyone else but him seem to believe things that are insane. He pointed out that Scientologists believe in a dark science fiction type character named Xenu who will one day come earth to destroy it. He then likened that to a Mormon belief that an angel named Moroni appeared to a boy named Joseph Smith and directed him to some gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. Because of belief's like these, he then purported that Mormons and Scientologists are insane. How can you vote for someone who believes in such insanity?

Now, I know I'm just a Basicguy, but I feel certain that if I were to pin this young student down on his own religious beliefs I'd find something that borders on the fantastic or even the insane. For example, he claims to believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Does his belief include the Savior's miraculous birth? If so, couldn't anyone with a rational mind conclude that the virgin birth borders on the fantastic or insane? All humans, religious or atheist, can be accused of some insanity. The Jews believe that God wrote commandments on stone books with His finger; Muslim's believe that Mohammad was taken to heaven on a magic chariot; evolutionists believe that all living creatures descended from an ameba living in a miry primordeal swamp. Can't any of these appear fantastic or "insane" to others?

Clearly, I draw a line with Xenu, but what's wrong with an angel named Moroni? Is that so different from an angel named Gabriel or Raphael? Why this student choses to lump the spiritual drama claimed by Mormon's with Xenu and not the New Testament's Gabriel is beyond me. If I had to guess, I'd say he has something against Mormons. Which is unfortunately often the case when individuals choose to accent the excesses of any religion.

I feel bad for Romney. He seems like a sharp guy... unlike most of us basic guys. Anyone who has the smarts to saved companies that are billions of dollars in the red, could probably do a lot to save a nation nearing an economic collapse. Basically speaking, a Mormon can be an American too. Look at me, I'm an American and a Basicguy all rolled up into one. Gee, maybe I could run for president?

Clearing Things Up a Bit

A couple of weeks ago I misplaced my glasses. I can read without them so I often take them off when dealing with things close to me. When I realized they were missing, I searched everywhere for them. I went to the restaurant where we ate that night. I went to the store we shopped at after dinner. I turned the house upside down and wracked my brain, all to no avail.

I finally had to admit that they were gone. So I turned to an old pair of glasses hidden in a drawer for safe keeping. Actually I keep them out of sight. They are rather large by today’s standard and remind me of “That 70’s show.” But what am I to do? I’m just a Basicguy.

I bravely pressed forward with my “better than nothing” glasses. Day after day I was reminded why they normally sat hidden in a drawer. Since they were also a much older prescription, it didn’t take long until I set up an appointment with my eye doctor. I found out it had been 4 ½ years since my last visit so it made double sense.

Each day I realized how difficult life is without clear vision. I failed to acknowledge a waving friend. Street lights were like a kaleidoscope while driving at night. But I could at least read.

Finally, one morning, my wife and I knelt to pray as is our custom. As I knelt at the foot of our bed, I leaned forward and glimpsed something caught between the footboard and mattress. It was my glasses. What joy; what surprise. It was a nice beginning to my day.

To a guy like me, the meaning was obvious. There is a connection between prayer and glasses. Basically speaking, prayer can clear up a lot of things in life. You just seem to see things better when you pray. So when darkness tends to blur things in your life, or friends or other associates seem oddly distanced from you, pray, and see if things don’t clear up a bit.