A Great Day
I have had the most wonderful weekend. I have spent the past day and a half with my brother at his place. It is the first time I have been back in the old hometown in 19 years and the first time to just sit and be with my brother in as long. It is easy to forget how powerful family can be when you are open to the possibilities of just being yourself. It is sad it has taken me 55 years to truly realize that. I will be posting more about the past few days in the next week. It has been neat.

The Humility Award
Goes to Joshua Claybourn. His was a shameful appeal for votes at the Superblessed.net Christian Blog Awards 2003. There is no doubt in my mind that Joshua's blog deserves the votes in his category. His humble requests to ignore him and his fine post stating he won't participate in such shameless activites was worth the vote.

I am humbled that the Wanderings of this postModern Pilgrim has been nominated in the most introspective blog category. I will make no such promise of not participating. As an introspective blogger, I am aware that this introverted types are in deep need of support and acclimation from outside. All that time in the deep darkness of introspection is a lonely business that can get in the way of normal human relationships. Affirmations and support are so essential to such as do these. Especially in the postModern Pilgrimage where we have lost all moorings and places of stability. So, in order to help rebuild the foundations of this person on a postModern Pilgrimage, you are more then humbly invited to go at your nearest convenience and vote for me. Ganns is such a perceptive web-master.

The World Series
So far the World Series hasn't been all that exciting- almost anti-climactic after the Division and Championship Series. But it is now 1-1. I expect more excitement when they get to the warmth of Miami. I will go with the Yankees in six, but would not be surprised if the energy of the youthful Marlins did to the Yankees what they did to the Cubs. But the pinstripes will probably prevail.

It's All in the Pinstripes
Which reminds me of the segment of the movie Catch Me If You Can where Leonardo De Caprio as Frank Abegnale explains that the "winning" is all in the outer appearances. His example was the Yankees and their pinstripes. The pinstripes dazzle you. You are awed by their polish and class. It is the pinstripes that make the team. There is "class" to the Yankees. Their uniforms and personal appearance in general give you that impression. Of course even pinstripes can't give David Wells that kind of polish. Hmmm. Maybe that's why the Marlins won the first game.

Such is a common mistake, however. The same one glorified in the song from Chicago- Razzle Dazzle. It is the common error of our modern culture and perhaps of all human endeavors. It may even be the fatal flaw or Achilles Heel of we sinners. As long as we believe it is all in the appearances, the dress for success, then we will ultimately believe we don't have to have talent and ability. We can rely on our class or polish. The barbarians can't possibly win- we are their superiors. Just look at us.

The Pharisees were like that. The religious leaders of many generations can be like that. The holier-than-thou types can be like that. The result is disaster. Yes, class and looking good and the book's cover can be an attraction. But if that is all there is- the Yankees would never have won 26 World Series Championships, pinstripes or not. It is what we do with what we have been given, how we live out our trust first in God, and our admission of our own personal shortcomings and sins that will make all the difference.