a timely topic

Less than a week ago, I was thinking about my exposure to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I realized that I had never read the book and that my only exposure to Huck Finn had been through television. I knew the character, knew some of the story, but had never read the book.

I know. Tragedy, right? I'm embarrassed to admit it, reader that I am.

So, less than a week ago, I started reading the book.

Mark Twain was bold and brilliant. The book captures that in a way the television movies never did.

Last night, I was on twitter and noticed one of the trending topics was Huckleberry Finn. Of course, it caught my eye. Curious, I checked out the tweets and learned people were up in arms about Twain's book being edited to replace the "N" word with "slave."

My initial reaction was, "They can't do that! It represents the climate and culture of the times! Erasing the "N" word won't erase the injustice that was done and the racial prejudice from our history! If anything, it will water it down, and how will we continue to move forward if we minimize where we've been?"

My second reaction was, "Wait a minute. I'm white. Is my response justifiable? Would I feel differently if I was black?"

Today, I had an opportunity to spend some meaningful time with a colleage who has also become a dear friend. We have worked together over the past few years with a focus on diversity in the workplace. We are committed to it and have had countless meaningful discussions in and out of work. My friend is black.

So, today, I asked her how she felt about removing the "N" word from the book. She was opposed. She went on to explain, and I learned her opposition aligned with mine.

I'm grateful for historical literature that thoughtfully and powerfully reveals the climate of our past. I'm grateful that we can know from where we've come so that we can keep moving forward.

There are several good news articles about this debate. I also recommend the NPR audio available online that presents both sides of this debate and the reasoning behind the edit. It's insightful, and the catalyst was not a whacked political correctness campaign, as one might think. I admit, I was quick to jump to that conclusion.

It's a timely topic. At least it is for me. I started reading Huck Finn less than a week ago, simply because it's a classic and I had never read it.

Who knew.

an hour and 15

The big bad nubbly is gone. It's the day after Thanksgiving.

It's true. I over-indulged. Who didn't. (A statement requiring a period. Not a question requiring a question mark.)

Today, though, I did something about it, even on a cool, rainy day. I put the bike on the trainer, burned 908 calories in an hour and 15.

That. Felt. Good.

I only wish the calorie burn had taken care of more than the citrus sweet potatoes and walnut-raisin-cranberry pie.

Oof. I've got more work to do.

the exodus of nubbly

I really didn't want to wake up at 4:30 this morning.

I really didn't.

It makes the inside of my head feel nubbly. Yes, nubbly.

Soon enough, the sights and smells and sounds of Thanksgiving in my kitchen will chase away the nubbly-ness in my head. And, if there is one last nubbly trying to linger, the lovely people and lovely dogs in my lovely home will make it skedaddle.

I just need the people and the dogs to wake up.

dollop

Made homemade cinnamon raisin biscuits. Added a dollop of maple pumpkin butter. Took a bite, then Tom said I turned into a bobble head.

I love autumn.

refueling

‎50 bike miles today. Some of them more humbling than others. And now for the refueling. Nom nom nom nom...

the state of his faith

A few days ago, I finished reading "Night," by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner. A high school English teacher, who is both a friend and a family member, asked for my thoughts about the state of Wiesel's faith at the end of the book.

First, let me say the Holocaust must be remembered. We must teach every generation about it. We must never, ever forget. We must be compelled to raise awareness for any social injustice, be proactive to prevent it, and seek ways to help the victims and survivors.

So, what are my thoughts about the state of Wiesel's faith?

That’s a tough one. How can I comment on the state of Wiesel’s faith after his experience? I will do my best and base my comments on my determination that Wiesel – in a seemingly academic way – dismissed his faith, his God.

It saddens me, of course.

I think the natural way of processing this would be to put myself in that same situation and ask myself some difficult but simple questions: Would I have kept my faith? Why or why not?

To ask myself those questions is embarrassing. It feels like a mockery to the Holocaust victims for me to plunk my comfortable life into their history.

In order for me to comment on the state of Wiesel’s faith at the end of the book, I almost have to do it academically as well, by first considering the many questions that Wiesel and others asked of God as their faith was challenged.

Where is God?
Where is His mercy?
How can God betray us?
Where is the Messiah?

The views that resonated with me were the views that God had abandoned them, and because He had abandoned them, He did not see, know, or understand what they were going through.

This view led me to comparisons of Wiesel’s faith and my faith. Is there a difference?

Yes, there is a difference. The difference is the Messiah. The difference is Jesus.

This is no judgment on Wiesel at all from me, but this is more of a personal journey for me to further understand how desperately we need the Christ, the Messiah. Without the Christ, my understanding of Wiesel’s view is – dare I say it – warranted. Again, my understanding of Wiesel’s view is that God did not see, know, or understand what they were going through, and that He withheld His mercy.

So, if the difference is Jesus, the Messiah, and He becomes part of the equation, the views are no longer warranted. Let me explain…

Food and nourishment (and that is strong name for it) were rationed or flat-out denied. Wiesel cried out with hunger to a God he felt was not there and did not see or understand. Jesus fasted for 40 days.

Wiesel was beaten and whipped. Jesus was, too.

Wiesel felt betrayed and forsaken by God. Jesus did, too. From the cross, Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

The Jews were persecuted for who they were. Jesus was, too.

The Jews died at the hands of other men. Jesus did, too.

Wiesel felt no mercy from God. Hebrews 2:16-18 “…He (Jesus) gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Would Wiesel’s faith have been lost if he had put His trust in the Messiah who had been through everything (and more) that Wiesel had been through?

I don’t really know, but it adds an element to faith that Wiesel did not truly possess or understand.

I admit, the book of Hebrews provides a different perspective to me now. I cannot help but read the above – and below – passages without filtering them through the application it has to the Holocaust victims, Wiesel included.

I can now see specifically how vital these passages in Hebrews are to Hebrews of the Holocaust. It is both melancholy and liberating when I consider their sufferings and the sufferings – and salvation – of the Christ.

Hebrews 4:15-16
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

To put myself in Wiesel’s place and think about how my faith would have survived would only be ridicule. I will not do that. I respect him too much. I can only be grieved that he lost his faith. And I can only see how desperate I am without my Messiah.

quoting wiesel

I loaded up at the local library today.

I continue to be intent on reading books with a focus on social injustice. The book I've just started is "Night" by Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner (1986).

I'm only 13 pages into it, and already certain sentences, certain paragraphs, demand my attention and thoughts before I'm allowed to move on the next.

I am not sure if this quote from Wiesel is from this book. If so, I have not yet seen it in the first 13 pages. It does, however also demand my attention. And my action.

"The opposite of love is not hate; it's indifference."