Things I've Never Done in Bend (and How I Should Be Different)
I was down at Farewell Bend Park after church today practicing my two-handed Skagit casting for an upcoming Alaska fishing trip. It was the Fourth of July weekend, so casting space was at a premium. I felt that I needed to rent a rock in order to find some room.
Anyway, it got me thinking about some things I've never done in Bend or central Oregon. I'll keep the list fairly short:
I've never floated the Deschutes River in town. All those floaters I saw today (even on a cool summer weekend) reminded me I've never done this. Being a fair-haired Irishman, I don't gravitate to being out in the sun anyway. I've floated the lower Deschutes and the John Day, but fishing was involved there. I lather on the sunscreen and swath myself in SPF protective clothing.
Speaking of the lower Deschutes, I've never "caught" or hit the famed salmon fly/golden stonefly hatch. I know friends who have but I haven't. I guess it's fabulous fishing. I've never caught a summer steelhead either.
I've never drunk any of the craft beers for which Central Oregon is famous. I have a personal conviction as a Jesus follower of not drinking. I know other believers don't share that conviction and that's ok. I hope my conviction doesn't come across as self-righteous because that's not my intent. However, I've enjoyed wonderful meals at the microbreweries usually washed down with a diet Pepsi or Coke.
I've never been inside or used any of the products from a cannabis dispensary. I guess you can now buy and ingest psychedelic mushrooms here in Oregon too, but I've never done that either.
Finally, I've never climbed South Sister. It's not that I don't think I could, I just haven't.
As a corollary, I've also never spent one night camping inside the Three Sisters Wilderness Area west of town. Not one night!
By now, I hope you've caught the heavy sense of irony and tongue firmly planted in cheek of what I've written. I don't mean to be political or controversial. My purpose is to get us thinking about what really should make us different as disciples of Jesus here in central Oregon. Is it more about what we don't do or what we do? Again, I'll keep the list short:
Do people see that I really love Jesus? Here's a quote attributed to John Newton of Amazing Grace fame that might help: “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” Newton's great love for Jesus is rooted in his realization of how much Jesus has forgiven him!
Counterintuitive as it seems, our love for Jesus grows in proportion to our understanding of the depth and seriousness of our sin. Peter writes, "Christ died for sins, once for all" (I Peter 3:18, emphasis mine). Jesus commends the woman who washed his feet in Luke 7:36-50 instead of the self-righteous at the banquet by saying, "therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
If we believe it's a trifle that Jesus forgives us or we believe God is fortunate to have us, then we won't love Jesus very much.
Do I really love people? Not the sappy sentimentalism of the "love is love" on the yard sign. I'm talking Jesus love that bestows affection on the downtrodden and condemns the self-righteous and hypocrites. The Jesus love that accepts people but doesn't condone their sinful behavior. The Jesus love that makes us enjoyable to be around but is not afraid to preach the good news to people who need him.
Finally do people see a connection between what I say and what I do? Nothing new here. James says, "prove yourselves doers of the Word and not merely hearers deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22). For example, many who read this are rejoicing in the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. I join with you. But do we back that up by contributing to our local crisis pregnancy center? Are we willing, if able, to house a woman with an unplanned pregnancy to term or even later?
Even then, in our contentious society, don't expect a pat on the back. As someone once said to me, "I do not accept what you believe, but I cannot deny you are living out what you say." The best we may get is grudging respect.
No, I may never do the things on my list as long as I live in central Oregon. But more importantly, am I striving to do those things that set me apart as a follower of Jesus Christ?