Stats vs. Stories

I have something to admit.  I am not afraid to say it.  I am a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.  I am proud to say it.  I realize of course that there may be some readers who will be appalled at this announcement but I make no apology, unless you are a fan of that team that is east of Ottawa and west of Nfld and Labrador (my keyboard will not allow me to type the name  - thankfully) and then you may need to see a doctor and it would be cruel and in bad taste to ridicule you.

Back to my rambling.

If you have been following hockey in the NHL you will have no doubt noticed that TML are making an incredible push for the playoffs.  They may even make a movie about these late season heroics!  I have been playing close attention to all of the games and what's more their stats - player stats, team stats - goals, assists, hits, save percentage etc.  I have even been paying attention to the other teams that they are trying to catch - their home and away record, number of games left, etc.  I have been making calculations about how many games my team needs to win and how many games the other teams need to lose to clinch a playoff berth.  You probably get the point - stats and more stats.  They are helpful for many things.  In this case, I think they are more helpful for Las Vegas bookmakers and player agents trying to negotiate new contracts because when the two teams get on the ice the winner is usually the better team in that game - period.  All the stats and the analyzing go out the window.  This year the Toronto Maple Leafs have made a valiant effort to get into the post season and they have some great stats.  Some players are having career years for stats, but in four games their season may or may not be over.  And, if it is over you can take all those stats and toss them into the nearest trash bin because, unfortunately, they will mean nothing.  Harsh but true.  There will be great weeping and gnashing of teeth and I will be among those doing so.

So do the stats mean anything?  The stats will say again that for the sixth year in a row this storied franchise will be golfing, and many will make their snide remarks.  But will that be an accurate reflection of this season?  No way!  This team which is the second youngest in the league have made dramatic improvements - they have done remarkable things and it has been the most entertaining season of the last six, in my opinion.  My point?  Stats will never tell a complete story - but a story can.

Stats should be used to inform - perhaps highlight - some important issues or factors, but they are incomplete and should never be used as the sole deciding factor.  They lack context, texture and emotion.  No where has this proved more true to me than in Christian ministry.

I believe ministry is reflected most accurately in stories.  The inspiration for ministry is derived from the belief in the Bible and, more importantly, who it tells a story about - Jesus Christ.  Jesus is Jewish and he told stories.  Some were in parable form, some not.  But, it has always been the custom of the nation of Israel to tell stories to tell the story.

Stories capture the context, the texture and the emotion.  The stories we tell about the people we serve is what truly informs and creates passion and inspiration.  Our stories tell of miraculous growth even if in incremental steps.  Our stories tell of personal victories and experiences that mold us and shape us into who we are and who we will become through God's working Holy Spirit.

I listened to a man's story today who suffers from schizophrenia.  His story inspired me and helped me to understand who he is and where he has been and how far he has come - stats on his illness could never have done that.

Stats can be important but, in this writer's opinion, they never tell the whole story - only stories do and the "honour" is being part of them.

Redivivus

It has been a while since my last post (I can hear the trumpet in the back ground) and due to some gentle encouragement from my lovely wife - I love my wife -  I have decided to try again. I confess that I am not a writer - I am a talker - a verbal person who would rather talk than write. It  is easier and I am admittedly lazy at times but my wife has won the day so here I am writing a post about writing a post.  

I offer the word Redivivus as the theme for this post - it is latin for "restored or living again". It makes me feel smart to say something in latin. So here in I apply it to this blog - it is living again. 

Actually Redivivus is the word my wife and I would use to describe our lives since we were restored to Christ and what we would like to see happen to his church. If my laziness does not get the better of me I will write from time to time on my thoughts and opinions about this and other musings - I may let my wife edit before I post and I may not - do not hold her responsible for any future rants. I like to rant but not rave - raving is over rated.

Strength?????

I write this post sitting in the front room of the house I live in. I am watching my son and daughter play at the park across the street. It is amazing and scary to watch them grow and learn about the world  - its blessings and its curses. They absorb and learn at a very fast rate - they are like little sponges. My son who is about to turn six comes to us daily to tell us about a new product or service that he has seen on a commercial - "Mommy did you know  that you can get rid of all those spray cleaners and get the new magic thingy" . We  of course laugh hysterically but part of me is scared about his gullibility and innocence - he believes everything. My son is learning about the world from all over - the TV, kids at school and hopefully from his parents and he is beginning to form his own opinions. Which brings me to my point - where will he learn strength?

 I do not mean the type of strength that comes from hours spent grunting and sweating in a gym but the kind that heroes of old possessed. Where will he learn about character and integrity and resolve? Hopefully he can look to me but as he gets older he will realize that his dear ol' dad is not the master of all things and he will need to look to someone or something somewhere to find it - to see it  - to want to imitate it and make it part of who he is. I know this because I seek it and what I find is that there are few  who stand for much anymore. I find that often the word or handshake of a man is no more trustworthy than a Calgary weather report (pardon me ladies speaking about my own gender). Where are the men that used to ride gallantly into battle upon their trusted steed? Where are the tough guys that would fight for the honour of a woman? Where are all of institutions and bastions of integrity, and honour and duty and truth? Where can my son look to find unwavering strength that will teach him to stand boldly in the face of injustice and protect the innocent? Where can my son look to find that kind of resolve that will inspire him to respect and honour not only others but his own word or his own promise - where will he go? 

Some may say the government, but the double talk, broken promises and abuses of power from all levels make it a bad source. What about schools of higher learning some may quip but even they have at times been elitist and discriminatory to many so they too are are an unworthy option. Forget TV too often the men on TV today are portrayed as too stupid or too lazy. What about the church? As an Officer with The Salvation Army that would be my hope as well but sadly the  church as an institution has been too judging, too condenming, too corrupt and so often too weak. These are no doubt some of the strongest reasons why the church has lost its voice in society.

Alas, where can my poor boy look to find that commodity of strength that  loosed the chains of slavery, that freed  captives, that spoke boldy against oppression of marginalized classes and that called corrupt government and authorities to change.

He can find it where it has always been - in the one who stood to face his accusers with conviction. He can find it in Jesus whose love changed the world forever.

My son can look to Jesus for strength as will I.

If the church that Jesus died for ever begins to act like the one it claims to worship perhaps the world will want to know who he really is.

Why The Vorpal Sword?

Known for its defeat and decapitation of the Jabberwocky in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, the Vorpal Sword is a weapon that has no earthly equal. Although Carroll himself claims to have no explanation for its name, others have given their opinions. Some believe that due to the mathematical precision of the angle of the blade that it never becomes dull no matter how many heads it lops off, another has said that Vorpal is the two words Verbal and Gospel combined by every other letter.

Whatever the case the Vorpal Sword has done two things - It has taken down the Jabberwocky and ended the reign of terror by the bloody Red Queen and brought restoration to the inhabitants of Underland.

It reminds me of the Bible - its words can be razor sharp, never losing their edge, being able to cut to the heart but also being able to restore it.

That's why its The Vorpal Sword.