Some teachers just stick with ya forever.
Two of my stickiest were in Junior High; a super-hip husband and wife team. I first had Mr. in sixth grade, and back in the day you’d have him for most every subject. (Apparently, he loved my all-star class of nitwits so much, next year he graduated with us to Junior High, where he taught with Mrs.) He was all-around great: part coach, part artist, all compassionate encourager.
Mr. kick-started my passion for sports, and with his prompting, I bought a profound autobiography from one of my first sport heroes: the great Stan Mikita. Born in Czechoslovakia during the war, somehow his Canadian aunt and uncle smuggled him out from behind the Iron Curtain and immediately plopped him into an Ontario grade school, not knowing one lick of English.
We all know that Canadians are the kindest, most polite people in the history of history, eh? So there must have been some mean, ol’ ‘Merican immigrant kids in Stan’s school, because he was quickly given an extremely derogatory nickname: “DP” (Displaced Person.) He was an unwelcome foreigner. He didn’t fit in. He wasn’t wanted ‘round those parts! Yeah. Even the great Stan Mikita was once picked on and bullied. By the nicest kids on the planet, don’tcha know!
Obviously, once his classmates saw that Stan could fight like a wildcat and play hockey like nobody’s business, that all changed and the rest is Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall of Fame history. But Stan’s story reminds us: every single one of us is a DP. Like the great theologian/historian Henry Jones, Sr. said back in 1989 (or 1938, take your pick!): “My boy, we’re pilgrims in an unholy land!”
Despite cute little babies, Mother Theresa, and the beloved thirteen-time World Champion Green Bay Packers, this world is jacked up beyond belief. (One reason why I don’t dig watching the news.)
We have no comprehension how amazing and beautiful Creation was prior to Genesis 6, let alone Genesis 3! A lot of experts believe Adam and Eve were initially clothed in light (explaining how they knew they were suddenly buck-naked!) And, like the great Chuck Missler often queried, “How do we know they only lived in three dimensions?” That's a mind-blower! Anyways, post-Genesis 3, death, disease, decay, and destruction reign. This world is not as God intended. We ruined it back in Eden. It’s not our real home! We’re just a gaggle of ragamuffin DPs, passing through on our way to our real home, which The Great Carpenter has been banging away at for the last two thousand years! (John 14). But of course while we’re here, we’ve got a twofold mission: love God, and love His kids. For more details, read Genesis 1-Revelation 22!
Don’t forget another “D” consequence from Genesis 3: deception! Satan deceived Eve (Adam, however knew exactly what he was doing-that’s a story for another time) and Satan still deceives us today. Have you ever asked yourself, “Gosh! What if back in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve would’ve told The Shining One to go swing? Then everything would still be perfect and we wouldn’t be in this fix!” Oh really! In the immortal words of Steve McQueen, “Get ahold of yourself, Bartlett!”
Satan absolutely would’ve tried again, and succeeded. He’d have either tried Adam and Eve later, or he would’ve gone after one of their many, many, many kids. He’s a liar and deceiver from the get-go. As brilliant as Satan apparently is, he doesn’t seem to learn; ergo, he sure repeats himself a lot.
I passionately think we need to stop kicking Adam and Eve for all this mess. Like we would’ve been smarter and tougher than they were? Riiiight! They were created perfect, and they walked and talked with God every day! To blame our first parents for our own troubles and wickedness is childish and just plain bad theology. When I blow it, that sin went through my filter, and I’m the reason the Man in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 did what He did, forever defeating The Shining One. Man, that dude hates us; but that’s another story for another time.
Be good and be God’s, my fellow DPs,
-Ron
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