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And *Things* To Think About

Along with Bonnies post, I am going to toss a few things out that I would like to talk about within the Christian community... mostly because it is prioritizing and changing my own life.

This week instead of blogging, instead of my own obligations of raising my family, instead of everything else, I am moving my mother into my home. I will be honest and say I have been disappointed in my less than helpful extended family. Yet, I can't seem to escape the commandment "Honor Thy Mother and Father". I don't want to escape it, I want to fulfill the Lord's Will in my life. Now, regardless of how I personally interpret this, how does today's Church interpret the care of one's elderly parents? I would like thoughts from others on this, and perhaps some dialog on this blog about the larger picture of how we view the elderly in our culture, where are we going as a society and how are we molding the future for our own senior years ( which I might say I am approaching faster than I like). ????? If you have a post-size thought , you could contact Bonnie and see about a guest post. When I get back from this stressful and busy week end I will look over whatever conversation, if any, and put more of my own thoughts out there.

Personally, for the last decade I have found myself squeezed as a mother and a person between the needs of still dependent children and increasingly dependent parents. I have gone through the demise of one and all the mistakes of that time and I am facing the caregiving of another.... if you wonder aobut why I blog- part of it is to stay sane ( although I know as a Christian that confession is frowned upon) . I am finding some reality checks in what is considered spiritaul and what is required practically.... and many more things than I can put into this tossed-off post, but I wanted to get the thinking out into the public forum and invite bloggers and commenters to give me their wisdom.

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I also want to remind you of Brians blog "a small faith" which is forming up into quite an interesting blog. He has posts on "free stuff", looking around the Christian blogosphere with stops like "Kyle examines how “community” is missed when we view the church as an enabler towards personal holiness ", and "A Little Taste of Tozer. Good stuff from a blogger that could be better known.

Another new and fine group blog is Natalie Jost's "Godly Creatives", a thinktank, meeting place for all sorts of Christian artistically inclined people, those producing, those seeking to produce, and those interested in the topic of Christian Art . To be found are insights like this:

""Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." (Zech. 4:10 NLT)

All great artists were once beginners. Michelangelo did not begin by painting the Sistine Chapel. C.S. Lewis did not write the The Chronicles of Narnia in English 101 nor did J.R.R. Tolkien pen The Lord of the Rings trilogy as a novice.

I think this is an exciting site.

In an interview with Mary Yerkes, Natalie made a fascinating statement, which I posted in my 'miniblog' category. "Interview with Natalie Jost
How do you define Christian art?

I don’t know if there is such a thing as Christian art really. I believe God created us all originally to be “Christian” in essence, even before Christ, so art in itself would be Christian by default because we would all be in that mindset already. The problem is that the world, through sin, has come to produce art from a worldview which deviates from God’s standard. In that way, you could define Christian art as anything created from a heart of godly worship, where the artist has a personal connection to God the Father, and Christ the Son, and who is led by the Holy Spirit to that end. It is reasonable to say that everything that person creates is Christian art."

Rusty Lopez, who is contributor @ Red Blue Christian thought "Kind of a broad-based pronouncement there, wouldn’t you say?" I can see both sides... and throwing out here to see what you thinking people have to say; in one sense isn't all we do and produce to be "Christian" in essence?

"discuss among yourselves"...as they say

Posted by Ilona at September 7, 2006 12:08 PM Ilona

Comments

I hope this week goes well with all the upheaval and stress that it might involve.

The culture here in the UK certainly doesn't lean towards taking responsibility for your parents in the way that you are doing.

When I was growing up we lived with my Grandparents for several years, my mother was the primary carer for my Granny (her mother-in-law), that was just what you did at that time, there was no question of care homes.

Even amongst christians I know, it is not assumed that they would look after ther parents in old age if need be. The people that I routinely see respecting their elderly and looking after them are the Asians. You often see them living with elderly relatives, especially the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities.

Posted by: Sheena at September 7, 2006 2:26 PM

Ilona,

Thanks for the plug! I will say that it's not just my blog, but the other members as well that contribute their musings on topics from the mundane to the sublime. At this moment I think we're in a mundane phase but it change at any moment - just like life.

We've had a few families at church that have recently dealt with the issue of parents needing care. I'm not there yet, but I've watched them agonize over what is the good and proper thing to do in such situations. One has brought their mother to live with them. Another has helped both parents get settled in assisted living - over 1000 miles away.

How do you deal with the geographical diverseness that modern families have? Should the church be doing more than just offering prayer support for these families? I don't know that there are any easy answers. And maybe there aren't supposed to be.

Posted by: Brian at September 7, 2006 2:34 PM

Ilona, wish I could be there to help you! What a wonderful thing you are doing. Yes, the issue of caring for elderly parents is a complicated one. I think that in general we might all do well to take better care of one another, especially our kin. Geographical distance can really make it difficult. And all the busyness we think we have to do (generalization aimed at our culture, and Christians too).

Am interested in what you said about "spiritual" and "practical" -- not sure if you are setting one against the other or commenting on the conjunction or confluence of the two...

I believe God created us all originally to be “Christian” in essence, even before Christ, so art in itself would be Christian by default because we would all be in that mindset already.

Not sure I follow this... I'm interested in how we might define "Christian essence," though. Is it always recognizable, and can it only be exhibited by a true Christian? Is it possible for a Christian to make art that is not Christian? (I think it is.) There are so many factors involved, craft not being the least of them. Craft itself could be viewed as secular or as universally Christian, being given by God. Very interesting to me as a musician, etc. Would love to explore the idea more.

Posted by: Bonnie at September 8, 2006 12:12 AM

As far as "Christian art" or "Christian essence" I think it goes both ways. I think that when someone who has a sincere love for God and the Christian faith produces a work while focused on that faith, the work will end up showing it.

Likewise, when someone who has professed faith in Christ produces a work of art, that work will (rightly or wrongly) be used to interpret and measure the artist's faith.

But I don't think that you can call all art from a Christian "Christian art," because I don't think we ARE in "that mindset" all the time.

My grandfather moved in with our family during his last years. My mother was already a "stay-at-home mom" so there was someone there in case something happened, but really, it wasn't troublesome at all for us. He was very easygoing and enjoyed helping out where he could. The only frustrating part was that his hearing was so far gone that conversation was very difficult. I hope that your experience will be as enriching as ours was.

Posted by: Dana at September 9, 2006 8:57 AM

My parents have been great examples to me in this area of caring for parents. My father's parents are in a retirement home about a mile from my parents' house, and my father is over there at least 3 evenings a week, playing a game with them or helping his dad with a bath, etc. My mom's mother still lives alone but doesn't drive, so my mom and her sister are over visiting almost every day and doing most of the household requirements.

Something about our American culture of independence, though, I think has turned against the idea of 'being taken care of'. All my grandparents routinely apologize for being a bother, which of course my parents dismiss and reassure them that they enjoy spending time with them. To me, though (I'm in my 20s, my parents are in their 50s), my mom is always saying 'I hope we die before we need that kind of care! Just put us in a home somewhere!'

They willing do for their parents what they hope never to have me do for them. I think this is partly due to my parents' personality (they love to help and have a hard time receiving help) but also partly an American mindset of independence and partly an aversion to aging and heading towards death.

Posted by: Margaret at September 10, 2006 7:36 PM

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