I’m sure you’ve heard the quote about a Chinese proverb or curse about living in interesting times.

Well almost – as NOBLE (North of Boston Libary Exchange) points out.

In a speech in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 7, 1966, Robert F. Kennedy said, “There is a Chinese curse which says, “May he live in interesting times.” Like it or not, we live in interesting times…” Journalists picked up the phrase and it has become a commonplace. However, the popularity of this “Chinese curse” puzzles Chinese scholars, who have only heard it from Americans. If it is of Chinese origin, it has somehow escaped the literature, although it may be a paraphrase of a liberal translation from a Chinese source, and therefore unrecognizable when translated back to Chinese. It might be related to the Chinese proverb, “It’s better to be a dog in a peaceful time than be a man in a chaotic period.”

Stephen DeLong, who has been researching this quotation for several years and details his quest on his own website, has traced the quotation back to a 1950 science fiction story: “U-Turn” by Duncan H. Munro, a pseudonym for Eric Frank Russell.

I love how many so called quotes turn out to either be completely made up, or a result of misunderstanding, mistranslating or muddled up understanding of what’s been said or written.

I get a lot of forwards from people containing a lot of so-called quotes. You’ve probably seen the “real life” quotes from grade school kids, Sunday School classes, etc. We must love those kid quotes don’t we? But I’m convinced that many, if not all of them are in whole or in part made up.

Of course that doesn’t stop me from using the really funny ones as sermon intro’s – so keep sending me the good stuff!

Here’s another great quote that actually has been documented. I first read it in Serious Times by James Emery White.

John Adams to his friend Thomas Jefferson toward the end of their lives. “You and I have lived in serious times.”

The Revolutionary Generation did indeed lived in serious times, but we are living in times that are no less serious. Between the cultural decay all around us, Islamic Terrorism, other kinds of terror (such as ELF and other enviromental and animal rights groups, etc.) I don’t think anyone would deny that the times are serious!

But I don’t believe that means we have to be so darn serious all the time! Or so easily offended either.

You can’t say anything today without someone taking “grave offense” and yelling about their rights being violated and implying a law suit.

This goes double for Christians – especially Christians who take the Bible seriously. In the midst of all the battles we’re fighting, we have lost our smile in big way.

We aren’t happy warriors anymore. And if we’re going to win our culture we need to be. William Wordsworth asked, “Who is the happy warrior?” and then spent a long time answering it. I won’t inflict the entire poem upon you – for I would hate to rob you of whatever smile you might have left, but here’s just a part of it.

But who, if he be called upon to face

Some awful moment to which Heaven has joined

Great issues, good or bad for human kind,

Is happy as a Lover; and attired

With sudden brightness, like a Man inspired;

And, through the heat of conflict, keeps the law

I’m not sitting here trying to tell you which battle you ought to fight. As you may guessed I pick my fights very carefully. So while I have very strong political views I try and stay away from them publicly so that I can focus my energies on the far more important spiritual battles that rage around us every day.

Perhaps you are different.

No matter. What counts is that as Christians we fight our separate battles in a Christian way! Which means in part we need to be Happy Warriors, who radiate the Joy of Christ and offer His Grace in all that we do and say.

Grim, angry, mean spirited believers are not needed in today’s battles. Instead we must be like our Lord Jesus, offering strong word, unwanted truth, and unlimited love and grace to all.

Help us do just that Lord, we pray!