What's The Duff?

The 'infamous' divot ...

The simple ‘responsibilities’ of life, when not accomplished, oh baby…do they bother you as they do me?

Watching as golfers play past our condo here on the fourth hole at Eagle Crest. A gentleman in his 70's has ‘chip' shot to the hole. While ‘duffing’ his shot, he leaves a ‘divot' behind. He walks forward to retrieve his ball and then returns to the divot. “He's going to replace it”. Or so I think. Oh no, he drops his ball down in order to attempt a better shot. Now, now are you going to replace it? Sadly, no!

The 'guilty' party :(

Though with literally only ‘nine' holes in my golf career and little knowledge of the game, none-the-less, I know that a ‘divot' should be returned to its place with a slight stomp in order to secure its rightful position, properly maintaining the course for those who will soon be playing on the same hole.

Ironically, in the past month I’ve witnessed something that unfortunately we don't see often in current times. That is, I've watched as ten-year-old boys act responsibly. While riding their bikes, helmets on, they stop at the intersection. They proceed to look in all directions, I wave them by, and they return a wave and a thank you. I don’t know if you're old enough to recall, but this is how we operated in the sixties.

A view to enjoy...for sure!

If not obvious … my moral to the story … let us act responsibly! Whether OLD or young alike. And as Christians … perhaps as the Christ, we can proceed humbly with grace and gentleness.

For those who are actually golfers … I found this on pga.com. Just saying!

·       Replace your divots.

·       Turf tends to explode on impact, making it difficult, if not impossible, to replace the divot. In this case, you have two options:

o   You can use the toe of your shoe to kick in the turf around the edges of the divot.

o   Many courses often put containers of a soil/seed mixture on their carts and tees. If this is the case, simply fill in the divot with the mixture.

www.pga.com

“It's in responsibility that most people find the meaning that sustains them through life. It's not in happiness. It's not in impulsive pleasure.” Dr. Jordan Peterson

Plus...one of scriptures most revealing stories of 'responsibility' is found in II Thessalonians 3:6-12. Let's learn to NOT be idle.

Oh...and p.s. ~ I just saw another 70 something golfer do the 'right' thing with his divot. And I say, 'Yes'!!

"I Tell You Rick"!

Bringing a patient to the clinic at Um Tagouk...

“Rick, I’d like you to consider going to Liberia or Uganda”. Africa, I thought. Let me pray about that. I remember the challenge from Ron Hays as if it was yesterday. To be honest, Africa had never been a place that I’d given much thought to. Not that I had anything against Africa, rather, several places had always been on my radar, and Africa was not one of them. As far as praying about this trip, honestly, I don’t recall putting much energy into it. Another week would pass in October of 2004 and Ron called again, this time he said, “I’d like you to consider the Sudan as well”. I’m not sure what changed in my perspective, but for some reason the Sudan, and West Darfur in particular, just seemed to resonate within me.

Karen and I began to support, then, Northwest Medical Teams (today Medical Teams International) in 1985 after the earthquake in Mexico City. Then in 2001, I had the privilege to meet Ron and become a contributor toward the work of NWM Teams EMS program, teaching First Responder and EMT courses around the world. During the five years between 2002 and 2007 I was privileged to be part of three such teams. Though each one brought significant satisfaction and educated countless men and women in developing countries, still, that experience to West Darfur, has always had the greatest impact into my life.

When I hung up the phone that afternoon, I looked over to Karen and mentioned Ron’s other challenge. This time, we both began to pray. Should I go, and if I go, I would love to have a mentor, or connection with someone that would be significant. Why the second prayer, I’m not sure. Yet these were my, they were our prayers. Within two days I called Ron back and said that I would be honored to go to the Sudan and began preparations. Who would be the answer to the second prayer? Or, would the second prayer even be answered? Perhaps I would never know.

The day after Thanksgiving I would begin the journey which required three days before actually arriving into the capital city of El Geneina (Al Junaynah) in West Darfur. My teammate for the trip was a pediatric nurse from the Seattle area. Carol and I would meet in Chicago and then continue through both London and Ammon, Jordan prior to arriving in Khartoum, the Capital of Sudan. A two-day stay was required in order to obtain our credentials which gave permission to travel about the country.

Prayer with James & Asabi in El Genenia

Our compound, in the capital city of more than 200,000 people, was a collaboration of teams providing efforts toward better water, agriculture, well-child care and our medical component. I was shown to my home for the next month and introduced to my roommates, Kenyon, James Sakuka and Dr. Asabi Pierre Misambo from the Congo.

The four teams of the DRC (Darfur Relief Collaboration) were assigned to work in three different communities, though our medical team only worked in the two of Sanidadi and Um Tagouk out of respect of the Red Crescent who was providing medical coverage for the community of Aserni.

Upon our arrival and ready to work, our DRC teams were immediately placed on “stand down” due to some heightened security risk in the direction of our travel. Those two to three days were anything but useless. First, we were able to do some inventory and organization of our medical supplies. Second I was able to give some instruction to Dr. Asabi in regards to two Microsoft Office programs of ‘Word’ and ‘Excel’. What had become almost second nature to me, was all but foreign to Asabi. I was frequently brought to smiles watching the excitement that he was experiencing over these new tools. Later, when Asabi made his way to the States, he would often introduce me as, “This is my brother Rick. He taught me computer”! And I chuckle to myself, “Here I am teaching a surgeon. Seriously?!”

Last, but far from least was the building of relationships. As is often the case, meeting people along the way and upon your arrival most often overshadow the actual object of the mission/operation. Learning the struggle and journey, of which had been so etched into Asabi’s recent years … It was like listening to the life of Corrie ten Boom herself. In the mist of the story, his excitement of how God provided through circumstance after circumstance, brought little sadness, rather it brought great glory to our God. In the process of telling his story, Asabi would often pause … look at me … and say, “I tell you Rick!” He would continue to weave his story from one adventure to another and again he would pause, look up to me and say, “I tell you Rick!”

After dinner in 2011, Santa Ana

Finally arriving in the field, we were able to attend to hundreds of needs both in Sanidadi and Um Tagouk, where we would set up our remote compound. The nights would be full of West Darfurian food, of course rest, but again of most interest were the continued conversations. During one of these nights, Asabi, telling of the wonder of our Creator/Redeemer, he looked up to me once again and said, “I tell you Rick!” Then in quizzical fashion, he looked in the opposite direction and again back towards me and said, “Rick, I tell you a lot … don’t I?” Smiling I responded, “Yes, my brother, yes you do!”

As I’m completing this blog, one in which I’ve thought of writing multiple times over the years, emotion and tears well up in me. Today, August 22, 2019 … nearly fifteen years from our first encounter, my dear brother in Christ … Dr. Asabi Pierre Misambo … has become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.

Our first meeting with Lydia & family, July 2018

So, I repeat, “Who would be the answer to the second prayer? Or, would the second prayer even be answered?” Oh, it has most definitely been answered. Answered in such a way, that only You Father could have designed. You, who provided the ability of a young David to pursue over the giant. In the same way You have allowed Asabi and family to have your provision all these years in the mist of their giants. You, our Father, who protected Daniel in the mist of the lions’ den. You have protected my brother until this day. You, who inspired the Apostle Paul to write to the Romans, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing the suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character produces hope. And hope DOES NOT disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 ESV

And another fifteen years from now, "I tell you Asabi" if the Lord wills, and we are found living upon this earth … that same hope ... that very same hope shall be ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen! ... Amen!

The second song, Agnus Dei by MWS needs to be added to this blog. Asabi, James and I sung it one morning just prior to 5am prayers begun. During breakfast that morning one of the staff  commented how much they enjoyed hearing worship to our Creator/Redeemer ... the Lamb of God. Yes, 'Worthy Is The Lamb'!

Diafonophobia

Ok, agoraphobia…this makes sense to me. I actually witnessed it in a family member years ago, when she experienced a great sense of helplessness regarding life itself and would no longer travel because of it. As well, one day a buddy was underneath my house for a plumbing project for less than five minutes and only feet from the entry when claustrophobia caused his immediate retreat.

And I may even place one onto myself. Yet, if asked, I'm pretty sure that it may well be toward the top of most in regards to phobias. It is called ‘ophidiophobia'. Yeah right, you're making up this word. No, actually it is the fear of snakes. Most will even run from the common garden snake. And I must admit, I’ve stepped back quickly a time or two when found in my yard. But, I've also been the hero a couple of times when rescuing my neighborhood children, and even their mom 😁

As well, you can turn to, what else, but to 'phobia list dot com', to see hundreds of phobias which have been analyzed over the years.

Yet, all of these are overshadowed by the newest, most trendy fear of all, that is “Diafonophobia”. And yes, I just coined the word myself. I even did the almighty ‘Google' search. And the results returned an emphatic, “Your search – Diafonophobia – did not match any documents”. So seriously Rick, what the heck are you saying?

Again, using ‘Google' as our search engine we see that the term “homophobic/homophobia” was first used in 1969. And though “transphobia” tends to be a more recent term, it actually surfaced in 1992.

Today, our culture, the media, constantly bombard us as having one or both of these fears. When in fact, the problem lies within themselves and “diafonophobia”. They have a fear of disagreement!  It is a two-part Greek word, διαφωνεί and φόβος. Most, coming from my position … or as the new termed used, “Talking Point”, are not afraid of homosexual or transsexual people. Seriously, am I afraid of these folks? Perhaps you should do some research. You would find that I along with a great majority who have the perspective in which I hold are not afraid of either one of the above two groups. Rather the fear lies on their behalf. They are ‘afraid’ that we “disagree” with them.

Our Founders quickly recognized the need to add to our great constitution. And with it came the ‘Bill of Right’s’. The VERY first one … is that of the freedom of speech. Such wisdom which allows us to say, to think … as we so choose. Yes, as a follower of Christ, I firmly believe that our speech should always be with grace and seasoned with salt. Salt, providing a great means, in order to savor our disagreements.

Note: This blog was in regards to the use/misuse of terms. I realize that harm and violence has occurred within people of homosexual persuasion, and some of this from professing Christians. I 100% "disagree" with those committing such. That said, just because I disagree with those who cause harm, it does not place me into a category of "fear", no more than you are afraid of me. So, might we have honest discussion, even knowing that often we will "disagree".