Refractions and Reflections

This morning, early, I updated my status on Facebook as follows: " If I never have children, I can live with that just fine...but one of my regrets about it will be that I never got the chance to love someone so unconditionally just because it was a 'reflex,' almost, to do so. I think I would understand God's love much better with that experience. However, on the other hand, because God's love IS like that, I understand the Scriptures that assure us He is the Father of the fatherless. God's love is so beautiful." It struck me after the fact that it was an appropriate posting for Father's Day. At the end of my Quick Takes post on Friday, I included a couple videos of the song "All My Tears." One of the lines in it says, "...I will not be ashamed, for my Savior knows my name." The old TV show Cheers had a themesong, "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name...and they're always glad you came." The cou...

  This weekend I watched the movie The Godfather for the first time. (I know, where have I been?!) I really liked it – I must now see the sequels!   I found the character of Vito Corleone pretty interesting. In the opening scene, he denies one man’s request and tells him, “You never wanted my friendship. And you were afraid to be in my debt. …You never needed a friend like me. …[And now] you don’t even think to call me godfather. …What have I ever done to make you approach me so disrespectfully?” So the man changes his approach, says, “Will you be my friend?” bows his head, and kisses the godfather’s hand. That changes everything; the don will now come to his aid – stand as his ally, his protector…his friend. But no one gets something for nothing. The trade is unconditional loyalty…up to and including a returned favor if ever asked.    When not conducting business, the mob leader is quite the family man. He dances with his wife at their daughter’s wedding...