Many things we may wish for ...could stagger our imagination, but having a best friend does not come about by wishing. Having that kind of friendship is something that develops over time with much concerted effort, and not to abandon at any cost.

There were two men in their fifties ...who'd been best friends in high school, and kept in close contact ever since.  One had gone on to become a priest, and the other married in college before getting his degree and becoming a pastor.

Pastor: I've decided that I am going to divorce my wife.  The Bible says that Moses suffered men to put away their wives because of hardness of the heart ...and I believe I've suffered enough because of her hard heart.

Priest: The Bible mentions a time when Jesus was speaking to men because the hardness of their hearts, not their wives.

Pastor: That may be true, but I believe that it goes both ways ...and not a soul should be denied the opportunity to be happy.

Priest: Do you think it will make your children happy?

Pastor: They all have strong faith ...they will do fine.

Priest: If fine can be de-fined as being scripturally sound, but don't you think it may effect them in ways not even they can see or realize?  This is an emotionally difficult life at times ...for all of us, and we don't need to cave into the temptation of becoming numb to it.

Pastor: I'm afraid I've contributed for quite some time to that numbness ...with all the back and forth debates we've had.

Priest: Spiritual debates can be enlightening ...as long as all parties have the sincere intent to be enlightened, as well as be humble and honest.

Pastor: You know I was not speaking of spiritual debates.

Priest: I know ...and I have no right to pry into what those debates may have been, but do they not appear rather petty compared to the vows that married couples so eagerly profess?

Pastor: I know you've performed many marriage ceremonies also, but do you know how hard it is to keep those lofty promises?

Priest: Do you know how hard it is to keep a vow of celibacy?

Pastor: I guess that's a fair comeback ...and I'm sorry for sounding so insensitive.  Yet, I must ask how it is that you so religiously support an institution that accepts such frail exceptions to the vows ...as to try to reason away through arguments of whether a marriage was truly consummated or not.  Isn't that accepting divorce, while trying to say that you are against it?

(A boy walks in, and silence falls upon the two men as the young teenage boy politely waits until he establishes eye contact with the priest.)

Boy: Father, I've finished mowing the grass ...and I picked up the cookies from the store. With your permission, I will just relax in the courtyard.

Priest: My friend and I will not be long ...I will bring out the milk when we are finished here.

Boy: Okay, thank you ...Father.

(The boy departs.)

Priest: He is such a nice boy!  Now, as you were saying about the way we legitimize marriage ...well, often young people don't know what they are getting into, but they don't know that they don't know.  They think they are in love, but they are actually just emotionally eager ...thinking that this phase of wanting to be with the other will go on, forever and ever. 

Pastor: Does anyone ever know how long the feeling will last? Or how does a person distinguish between what is legit ...and what is not?

Priest: We try to distinguish between what is legitimate and what is not ...by the fact of whether we feel the person was misled.

Pastor: Young people who don't know their own feelings, and who aren't intentionally misled ...but who are nonetheless misled?

Priest: Yes, that's about it.

Pastor: Isn't that a possible situation for anyone?

Priest: Yes, I suppose it is.

Pastor: How about that young boy who is waiting for you? Do you feel comfortable with how things may progress?

Priest: How they will progress?

Pastor: Yes, let's not mince words here.  We both know you were transferred here because the previous priest assigned here had not used proper discretion.  And though I do not know the facts, nor am I assuming his guilt ...there seems to be more of an effort for the defense for the religious position, than for the possible horrendous offense that could have been inflicted upon a young vulnerable life.

Priest: We feel God will justly judge ...as for us, we must adhere to our faith.  And the Bible says to judge not, lest we should be judged.


Pastor: But, when a priest takes a vow to become a priest ...that vow should be taken seriously, and if not, he shouldn't take it.

Priest: I would agree ...and I believe that any priest who violates that vow, should no longer be allowed to continue in the priesthood.  More so, if anyone violates another human being, they should be prosecuted to the fullest.  I do not agree with the way the church has conducted itself with the handling of such serious issues ...treating all cases as if they were the same. Though I must say that the priest who was here previously did not get reassigned because of a legal case.  You must understand that priests go to confession too ...if a priest confesses of a struggle he has, he can be reassigned.  His confession is held in confidence as anyone else's may be ...and it is not to be made public by the church itself.  If the church reported confessions, how many people do you think would come to us with their problems, asking guidance and absolution?"

Pastor: I do see your point, in that case.  But, do you see my point.  How do you annul a marriage, yet I have to be considered divorced if my wife and I find our differences to be irreconcilable?"

Priest: Well, you also have a point there. You got me thinking, that an annulment treats a marriage as though it never existed ...declaring it to have no legal existence.  And we certainly don't support abortion by annulling a pregnancy ...as if it never existed.  We are very firm on that stance. Thank you, my friend, that definitely gives me something to think about."

Pastor: And as a friend, I must say I don't think it is wise for you to have one of your altar boys spending so much time with you ...you know, it could be perceived as ..."

Priest: He's not an altar boy ...he's my brother's son. My brother is in the courtyard too.  They are from Switzerland, and will only be here one more week. Would you like to meet them?

Pastor: I believe I should be going.  I think I should have a long talk with my wife.  I made a commitment and a vow too ...and I should never have doubted God's power of restoration.  If I had ever claimed that I have any love at all, I should not have allowed it to sink from the heights of love I professed on my wedding day ...to what it has become today.  I know I've disappointed God, more than my wife and I could ever disappoint each other ...and God still loves me, and remains with me.  Thanks for helping me see the light, my friend.

Our spiritual life should not be merely wishful thinking.

What then should it be??

Whether we do things wrong unknowingly ...or whether we tweak it a bit to avoid calling it sin, yes, we do all make mistakes. And we all do need to try to move on ...not on away from God, but 'on' a path to recommit to doing what we can confidently say God would have us to do.

We are not to confuse the forgiveness that God extends as a green light to promote to others that they have a free pass to do the same without consequence.

Our motivation should not be centered on consequences in the first place.  And perhaps the consequences of our actions will not be felt by us, as we may be truly forgiven, but the impact may be sadly felt by future generations.

Most of us don't want anything to befall our children ...we love them so much!!

Yet, do we love the future generations we don't see??  Do we love the grandchildren when they get beyond the cute stage?? Our children will certainly love their own children ...and their children will love the children they will one day have.  But, who can anticipate or foresee the changes that will undoubtedly take place as a result of our putting our love for them in a perspective that dodges any questionable feelings, or challenging moments where love would forbid be misinterpreted as tough??         

Tough love is more often considered lack of love in today's world.

So, it may be called complacency ...or it could be called universal acceptance, where in the past it may be called lack of backbone and avoiding conflict at any cost.

But, what has been the cost.  Who wants their children to furrow their foreheads, gathering a tear, and barely able to voice the cruelest of realizations: "You hate me!"

"I say, NO, to tough love ...that's not love at all!  I doubt you even know what love is."

Or is that all wrong??  The greatest love of all is always in doubt in the minds of many, though it is still undoubtedly there...the love of Jesus, the love of the Father who sent His Son, and the love of the Holy Spirit who so often settles for last place with our divided attention, yet continues to encourage us in areas that seem otherwise hopeless.

In fear of our children not understanding our love, we've even attempted to tweak the Word of God to suffice gaining their approval.  And in doing that, the greatest fear that I can imagine has been horrifically realized.  So many don't truly know God.

In fear of not offending, we have by default ...promoted so many wrong things, that the Bible clearly states as wrong.  And we've replaced the validity of the Bible with our own authority of what the majority feels is right and true.

And it didn't even begin with the majority ...but, with a very organized vocal minority who convinced the marginal middle of their authenticity and led them to believe they were the majority, until they could increase their vocal base to be even more convincing.

Yet, He was not in the strong wind, the fire, or the earthquake ...but, in the soft quiet voice.  There are many who speak strongly and blow like the wind.  There are those who will fire their words, and make it seemingly too hot to endure.  And there are those who attempt to shake the earth, and make your spirit quake.  Yet, there is a soft caring voice, waiting to soothe your soul.

        *****************(1 Kings, Chapter 19)********************