"Good job, Grandpa!"
I heard those words several times this morning from granddaughter #2. She's just 2 years old, but has already learned to be an encourager.
Her toy dinosaurs needed "a mommy' she said. "They are crying". Gail told me there was a bigger one at the top of the steps in the attic. So as I started climbing up the pull-down ladder she said, "Be careful, Grandpa."
"What are you doing, Grandpa?". Gail had brought in the last of the Christmas decorations from our deck and a few tiny leaves dropped on to the floor. So I was picking them up. "Picking up these leaves", I said.
"Good job, Grandpa!"
In the kitchen I was chopping up some onion to go with the ham, eggs and cheese I was preparing for breakfast. "What are you doing, Grandpa?" "I'm chopping onions."
"Good job, Grandpa!"
She loves oranges, so I was peeling one for her after her two bowls of "Snap, Crackle, Pop". "What are you doing?" "I'm peeling an orange for you".
"Can I help you, Grandpa?"
Encouragers are worth their weight in gold. They seem to come along (sent by God I believe) at just the right time. And when they speak those words cheering you on or offering to help or just showing that they care, they can be the missing piece in your track that allows you to move forward rather than retreat or give up.
Encouragers provide the anti-venom for the critics, gossips, whiners and complainers that seem to be so vocal and active.
God knew we all can use someone to come along side us and say just the right things that give us courage and dissolve our fears. So in the church He has even gifted some with a special ability to do just that.
To the Roman church, located in the heart of a pagan Empire ruled by a mad man named Nero, Paul wrote, "When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours." And, "If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging."
Chances are you'll be around someone today who could use an encouraging word. And if you don't know what to say, sometimes all it takes is a smile or a nod.
Personally I like, "Good job, Grandpa!"
If a two year old can do it, can it be that difficult?
Showing posts with label life lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life lessons. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Saturday, October 29, 2011
He's Not Superhuman: A story from the life of the "Prince of Preachers"
Since we're still in October, which someone has dubbed "Pastor Appreciation Month", I thought this blog on an incident in the life of Chas. Spurgeon, arguably the greatest preacher of the 19th (or maybe any) century.
I dare say that 99% of a pastor's church never knows or even thinks of the hurts he bears. Most of us have learned to swallow them and bear them deep within our souls. But as Spurgeon's story shows, that's not healthy. Eventually there needs to be healing.
There are some great points in this blog that as I read I said, "Amen!"
I dare say that 99% of a pastor's church never knows or even thinks of the hurts he bears. Most of us have learned to swallow them and bear them deep within our souls. But as Spurgeon's story shows, that's not healthy. Eventually there needs to be healing.
There are some great points in this blog that as I read I said, "Amen!"
- "Members leave easily when hurt. Why can’t we?"
- "Jesus intends to teach us how to talk about such things to him and to entrust these pains to him. Moving too quickly gives temporal relief but leaves us still unskilled in this thing with which Jesus wants to empower us."
- "Jesus interprets our life and calling, not our critics."
- "Keeping us put, Jesus disciples us in fellowship with him. He teaches us how to sometimes live with uncorrected and incorrect reports about us so that we can stay with the gospel regardless. Our identity is hid in him."
- "Our reputations as someone who is more than human need to crash."
- "Those ready to learn humanity and dependence will not leave you."
Friday, September 9, 2011
In My Seat - The Pilot Who Got Bumped from Flight 11
What a powerful, gripping story. Watch it to the end. It's 15.5 minutes.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Tiptoeing Through the Tulips
If you know me, you know I love to laugh and have fun. But on those rare days when I’m angry and, as we say in the South, “ill” in mood, it’s often because I’ve allowed negative or critical people to ruin my day. Note I didn’t say they ruined my day. No, I allowed them to do it.
But there are some folks who seem to thrive on being offended by the most insignificant things. Another driver cuts him off and he takes it personally – personal enough that he speeds up beside the offender to look at him (or her) with a menacing glare or one-finger salute. The server at the restaurant waits on the table that arrived after they did first and now the entire meal is ruined.. Her covered vegetable dish at the church dinner somehow was mixed in with the desserts and was largely ignored. She’ll never speak to the covered-dish-table committee again.
So, here are ten lessons I’m learning from experience about how to avoid being easily offended.
1. Don’t be so quick to judge another’s motives. In fact, realize that unless you can see within another’s heart (something only God can do), judging their motives is impossible.
2. Not everyone is like you. Some people assume that everyone else thinks like them – especially those who are dishonest and untrustworthy. So, if I’m a liar, I believe everyone else is as well, so I trust no one. If I’m a thief, I expect people to steal from me. Not true.
3. Figure out something else to do with that chip on your shoulder. Daring the rest of the world to look at you or challenge your thinking can’t be a fun way to live. The chip is there because you have some warped sense of needing to be defensive. Find a way to get rid of it.
4. No one enjoys walking on eggshells. Life’s too short to constantly be scared of being taken the wrong way by a thin-skinned narcissist. I’m going to have fun and attempt to be myself. Here’s a fact of life: neither you nor I are the center of anyone’s universe (except maybe our own…).
5. Really, who actually lives to offend others? I’m sure there are some truly mean to the bone people in this world. But I don’t know any. Well, I remember one guy in college. But I think he was just immature. But if I did, I’d just steer clear of them. Most people don’t mean to offend or hurt. So, if you’re offended consider that maybe it isn’t them that has the problem, but you.
6. Be confident in who you are. God created you to become a person of significance. Unless you’re a total jerk, it’s doubtful that everyone is in a conspiracy against you. Guess what? They’re not. Until you grasp that, you’ll always think there’s a target on your back. Isn’t that paranoia? Get real. Be reasonable. Chances are the vegetable dish wound up with the desserts accidentally. Isn’t it possible that you have simply taken something the wrong way?
7. Learn to laugh at yourself. Life’s too short to take everything so seriously. If everyone is laughing at you, maybe you should join them. And if they’re laughing, it’s because they can see the humor in life. Most of the dumb things I do are trivial, not life altering. One of my oft quoted sayings is, “Rick, you’re such a dufus.”. Really…is your name Charlie Brown?
8. Get the burr out of your saddle. If you’re easily irritated, get up and find out the root of your irritation. And likely you won’t have to look beyond your own dissatisfaction with yourself. It the source is avoidable, then avoid it. If not, then get to work on making the situation better.
9. Even if your day is ruined that’s no excuse to ruin someone else’s. Nobody wants to hear your whining. Sorry, but it’s true. Don’t be surprised if people head the other direction when you walk into the room.
10. If what somebody said/did seems out of character, it probably was. Give them the benefit of the doubt. But maybe your interpretation totally doesn’t match their intent. Everyone has a “bad day”. Maybe they just slipped. Extend some grace. Let it go. Get over it and move on.
Oops. I think I hear egg shells cracking…
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Toughest Lesson
I’m no psychologist. But I did take enough psych classes in college to remember Freud’s concept of id, ego and super-ego. Not that I find Freud the “go-to” guy in matters of the “heart”, but there is something to be said about our innate desire to elevate our own desires above others. His “ego” helps explain human self-centeredness and selfishness.
Of course, it wasn’t a 19th century Austrian neurologist who came up with the notion that we are basically driven by our own desire to be king (or queen) of the mountain. It harkens all the way back to the very first of our species to inhabit earth. When Satan, in the form of a snake tempted Eve with the forbidden fruit, his enticement that broke down her resistance was the lie that she would be like God once she ate.
So, seeking our own way is really part of our heritage. It’s in our DNA, so to speak. We can’t help it! It’s who we are. It’s what we do…naturally. The craze in our culture for “reality” TV has brought selfishness to the forefront, hasn’t it? Have you seen those bridezilla shows? Wow! But then, don’t we feed that kind of thing? “It’s your wedding day, sweetheart. It’s all about you.”
Now maybe you’re one of those people who learned early in life that you weren’t the center of the universe. Whether that was because of incredibly effective parenting or you chalk it up to your “personality”, you are amazing and rare. My hunch is that most of us truly battle with wanting the world to revolve around “me”. My observation is that most of us see self-centeredness for what it is, but that some go through life blinded by their own need to be affirmed and catered to by everyone else.
Something in me nauseates my soul when I realize I want it all my way.
It must be that when you take a look at our Savior you find the direct opposite of someone who lived for self. His mission was not to be served, He said, but to serve. When He was challenged about His agenda He said He had come not to do His own will but the will of His father. When His closest friends totally missed the lessons He was trying to get through to them He didn’t give up on them.
Once, when an opportunity was given Him to exercise legal authority that was His and condemn a guilty lawbreaker to death, He instead chose to gently and compassionately extend grace. Faced with impending arrest, torture and death, His request in prayer was for His own will to be submissive to His Father’s. Later that night, as those closest to Him betrayed, then abandoned and denied Him, He completed His mission on their behalves.
There was not a self-centered cell in His body. Not a bad example to follow.
Someone noted for following Christ was a former egomaniac with a self-appointed calling to destroy the movement Jesus began. But once He came to know the very one he had hated, his life was changed in a radical way. To the Galatian churches he penned these words that so well describe a better way to live than for self.
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
When I see myself as dead to self because of the new life given to me by Christ then and only then can I abandon self-centeredness. It may be the toughest lesson in life to learn: “It’s not about me”. But once it is embraced life becomes a smile instead of a pout.
Friday, April 1, 2011
From my perspective
Anyone who knows me well knows that possibly my favorite place in all the world is the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The Parkway that meanders along the peaks gives views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Piedmont to the east that are at times breathtaking. I love it. From high on the mountain you can see for miles and miles. At the same time you can see what's right in front of you.
But I've also been down in the Valley - a beautiful place as well. Yet at the lower elevation my vision doesn't allow me to see as much or things as distant as when I'm higher up. And if I'm in the forest, surrounded by trees, or in the fog my vision only allows me to see feet away.
Perspective makes all the difference in the world. Our opinions, judgments and conclusions are shaped by our view. And our view is shaped by our life experiences and that which has influence over me. That would include books I read, sermons I hear, internet blogs and sites I visit, conversations, and just plain things that happen in life.
God, we're told, has ways that are "higher" than our own. I take that to mean those ways are clearly seen by Him, but because of my perspective they may be mysterious or oblivious to me. I don't have and will never have His vantage point. So I accept Him and His ways by faith - the evidence of things hoped for and the substance of things unseen. That I can (usually) handle. I'm not God.
But what about my fellow humans? Could it be that there are some, who because of their perspective and position - higher than mine - see far more than I? We sometimes refer to being able to see the "Big Picture", referring to vision that requires a higher elevation. The CEO of a corporation sees more and what is farther away business-wise than the entry level employee.
This is true in every area of life, not just business. It's true spiritually, relationally, corporately, morally. Some, because of their relative immaturity, like the entry-level mail clerk can only see the mail room. The chairman of the board sits on the top floor in a corner office with windows looking out. Someone who has walked with God for years or decades can "see" a bigger picture than a new believer or one whose life is cluttered with "fog" or "trees", which can be other people, emotions, schedule, "baggage" and so on.
I have leaders in my life that I should respect because they have proven character and a greater perspective than me. If their character is questionable they shouldn't qualify to be my leaders. Maybe I don't understand why they do what they do, but that they occupy a "higher" place should cause me to consider their perspective before questioning their judgment or decisions.
What's the old proverb about not criticizing someone until I've walked in his shoes?
But I've also been down in the Valley - a beautiful place as well. Yet at the lower elevation my vision doesn't allow me to see as much or things as distant as when I'm higher up. And if I'm in the forest, surrounded by trees, or in the fog my vision only allows me to see feet away.
Perspective makes all the difference in the world. Our opinions, judgments and conclusions are shaped by our view. And our view is shaped by our life experiences and that which has influence over me. That would include books I read, sermons I hear, internet blogs and sites I visit, conversations, and just plain things that happen in life.
God, we're told, has ways that are "higher" than our own. I take that to mean those ways are clearly seen by Him, but because of my perspective they may be mysterious or oblivious to me. I don't have and will never have His vantage point. So I accept Him and His ways by faith - the evidence of things hoped for and the substance of things unseen. That I can (usually) handle. I'm not God.
But what about my fellow humans? Could it be that there are some, who because of their perspective and position - higher than mine - see far more than I? We sometimes refer to being able to see the "Big Picture", referring to vision that requires a higher elevation. The CEO of a corporation sees more and what is farther away business-wise than the entry level employee.
This is true in every area of life, not just business. It's true spiritually, relationally, corporately, morally. Some, because of their relative immaturity, like the entry-level mail clerk can only see the mail room. The chairman of the board sits on the top floor in a corner office with windows looking out. Someone who has walked with God for years or decades can "see" a bigger picture than a new believer or one whose life is cluttered with "fog" or "trees", which can be other people, emotions, schedule, "baggage" and so on.
I have leaders in my life that I should respect because they have proven character and a greater perspective than me. If their character is questionable they shouldn't qualify to be my leaders. Maybe I don't understand why they do what they do, but that they occupy a "higher" place should cause me to consider their perspective before questioning their judgment or decisions.
What's the old proverb about not criticizing someone until I've walked in his shoes?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Guard Your Heart
Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (GWT)
All of us are emotionally wired. Of course that doesn't mean we all react emotionally the same. Some of us are fairly calm and even-keeled. Others, however, wear their feelings on their sleeves and seem to ride a roller coaster, going from emotional heights to depths at the snap of the fingers. Regardless of how you or I are emotionally predisposed, the bottom line is that we're each responsible to have self-control.
God's Word says that guarding my "heart" - the seat of my emotions - is a wise thing to do because my heart, more than anything else will determine the direction and passions of my life. It's why Jesus told us to love God will all our heart. If my love for Him consumes my "heart" then my emotions will be governed by that love. And that can only mean my emotions will resemble Christ's.
Sadly, I have met men and women who equate emotional highs and the warm fuzzies with God. So many are stressed and beaten down by life, poor choices and things that are just out of their control. Surely, they reason, God can help and they begin looking for Him. Maybe they start attending church. After all, isn't that where God shows up? And there's nothing wrong with seeking after God.
But maybe at church a song or a sermon or just the whole experience tugs at their heart strings and while they may be looking for God, what they experienced was mostly or maybe even purely emotional. The truths of the song, sermon, service may have never penetrated their hearts, but they leave with an overwhelming sense of feeling good. And they equate that feeling with God.
The opposite can happen as well. Something happens at church or is said in a sermon that makes them feel bad or angry. Rather than asking, "Is it possible that what has me upset or angry really God working in me to bring about changes", they walk away hurt, concluding that either God or that church isn't for them.
This is why it is so necessary that our "religious experiences" are based on faith and fact, not feelings. Feelings come and go; rise and fall. Feelings not only can be deceptive, they can be destructive to those with the feelings and to those close to them.
God said this about our emotions. The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. - Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)
So guard your heart. Give God control over what feeds your emotions. Know what your hot buttons are and resolve to not put yourself in places or situations where you know they are going to get pushed. Before you let your emotions get the best of you, calm down and seek the balance that comes with giving your heart's control over to the Holy Spirit. Let your life and how you react be dictated by faith and fact. They don't lie.
And a grounded faith based on sound doctrine won't lead you or I to act in ways we'll later regret.
All of us are emotionally wired. Of course that doesn't mean we all react emotionally the same. Some of us are fairly calm and even-keeled. Others, however, wear their feelings on their sleeves and seem to ride a roller coaster, going from emotional heights to depths at the snap of the fingers. Regardless of how you or I are emotionally predisposed, the bottom line is that we're each responsible to have self-control.
God's Word says that guarding my "heart" - the seat of my emotions - is a wise thing to do because my heart, more than anything else will determine the direction and passions of my life. It's why Jesus told us to love God will all our heart. If my love for Him consumes my "heart" then my emotions will be governed by that love. And that can only mean my emotions will resemble Christ's.
Sadly, I have met men and women who equate emotional highs and the warm fuzzies with God. So many are stressed and beaten down by life, poor choices and things that are just out of their control. Surely, they reason, God can help and they begin looking for Him. Maybe they start attending church. After all, isn't that where God shows up? And there's nothing wrong with seeking after God.
But maybe at church a song or a sermon or just the whole experience tugs at their heart strings and while they may be looking for God, what they experienced was mostly or maybe even purely emotional. The truths of the song, sermon, service may have never penetrated their hearts, but they leave with an overwhelming sense of feeling good. And they equate that feeling with God.
The opposite can happen as well. Something happens at church or is said in a sermon that makes them feel bad or angry. Rather than asking, "Is it possible that what has me upset or angry really God working in me to bring about changes", they walk away hurt, concluding that either God or that church isn't for them.
This is why it is so necessary that our "religious experiences" are based on faith and fact, not feelings. Feelings come and go; rise and fall. Feelings not only can be deceptive, they can be destructive to those with the feelings and to those close to them.
God said this about our emotions. The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. - Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)
So guard your heart. Give God control over what feeds your emotions. Know what your hot buttons are and resolve to not put yourself in places or situations where you know they are going to get pushed. Before you let your emotions get the best of you, calm down and seek the balance that comes with giving your heart's control over to the Holy Spirit. Let your life and how you react be dictated by faith and fact. They don't lie.
And a grounded faith based on sound doctrine won't lead you or I to act in ways we'll later regret.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Parenting by Proxy
Billy Ray Cyrus is an example of parenting by proxy. God gave your kids to you to instill within them (by your example) values that will take them through life. He did not give that responsibility to a ball coach, a dance instructor, the school system, day care or even a church youth pastor. It's not Disney's fault. The buck stops with parents. It doesn't take a village - too many idiots there. It takes parents. Parenting by proxy doesn't work.
Character counts in parenting probably more than any other facet of life, because it requires you to make the toughest of decisions, including having to say "No" when your begged by someone you love and don't want to lose to say "Yes". But hopefully parents have garnered wisdom from their life experiences to know what is good and what is not for their kids. They (kids) don't understand that - they don't yet have those life experiences. So they pout, argue, threaten, call you the worst names imaginable.
The time to establish those values and boundaries is not when they are old enough to start challenging them. So if you are parents of young children or not even a parent yet, now is the time to put those values down. Write them out. Hold yourself accountable. Be a team with your spouse - your values need to be the same or your kids will know how to team up with one of you against the other.
I'm no expert, but I am a parent who has survived rearing three children. How do you think I got this gray hair! I also learned young from those who had walked the path before me. Listen to your elders, parents. Gain wisdom from God and His Word. Surround yourself with other parents who have similar values and determine that you will be whatever it takes to love and protect the lives entrusted to you.
And your heart will be achy breaky.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
A Lack of Understanding
I'm told that I have a quick mind - a quick wit, able to come up with replies on the spot. That can be a blessing, but it can also be a curse.
On more than one occasion I've made a snap judgment about someone or some group that resulted in me having "egg on my face"...looking and sounding stupid because my judgment was wrong. And the reason it was wrong? I hadn't taken the time to at least make an attempt to understand.
Some things, frankly, are beyond my comprehension. For example, when someone in the government starts talking billions and trillions of dollars, I really can't grasp that. I'm a tens and twenties kind of guy. Or when another church or organization takes on a ministry or outreach with goals of reaching millions or hundreds of thousands of people, I have a hard time processing that. I'm in a small church in a county of 30,000 people.
I suppose when others step out of my box it becomes easy for me to quickly dismiss them as misguided, illogical or heretical. And I can say that partly because I've been judged in those terms by others who don't understand me or the purposes of the ministry I lead. I should be the last to condemn what I don't understand.
According to the Bible Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. The reason for his wisdom was that when he was asked by God what he wanted most as king of a great nation Solomon's request was not for riches or power or fame. Instead he asked for "understanding". Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. - 1 Kings 3:9 (NLT)
Solomon knew he would face questions and decisions that would otherwise overwhelm him. He didn't want to misjudge others. Many of the Proverbs he later penned tell about the priority we should have in our lives for gaining understanding and wisdom.
Even for those of us who might not be the sharpest knives in the drawer, God's Word gives us wisdom and understanding beyond our abilities. Your word is a doorway that lets in light, and it helps gullible people understand. - Psalm 139:130 (GWT)
The opposite of having understanding and wisdom, of course, is ignorance and foolishness. I want to be neither ignorant or a fool. But there are many opportunities in life that could and would make me both.
So, what I'm learning to do is to seek understanding first. And then, even if I can't wrap my mind (which is finite at best) around something that seems out of the ordinary (of my experience) yet is being espoused by someone whose reputation I trust, I'll withhold judgment.
I wish you would keep silent. For you, that would be wisdom. - Job 13:5 (GWT)
Sometimes the wisest response is either a delayed response or no response at all.
On more than one occasion I've made a snap judgment about someone or some group that resulted in me having "egg on my face"...looking and sounding stupid because my judgment was wrong. And the reason it was wrong? I hadn't taken the time to at least make an attempt to understand.
Some things, frankly, are beyond my comprehension. For example, when someone in the government starts talking billions and trillions of dollars, I really can't grasp that. I'm a tens and twenties kind of guy. Or when another church or organization takes on a ministry or outreach with goals of reaching millions or hundreds of thousands of people, I have a hard time processing that. I'm in a small church in a county of 30,000 people.
I suppose when others step out of my box it becomes easy for me to quickly dismiss them as misguided, illogical or heretical. And I can say that partly because I've been judged in those terms by others who don't understand me or the purposes of the ministry I lead. I should be the last to condemn what I don't understand.
According to the Bible Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. The reason for his wisdom was that when he was asked by God what he wanted most as king of a great nation Solomon's request was not for riches or power or fame. Instead he asked for "understanding". Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. - 1 Kings 3:9 (NLT)
Solomon knew he would face questions and decisions that would otherwise overwhelm him. He didn't want to misjudge others. Many of the Proverbs he later penned tell about the priority we should have in our lives for gaining understanding and wisdom.
Even for those of us who might not be the sharpest knives in the drawer, God's Word gives us wisdom and understanding beyond our abilities. Your word is a doorway that lets in light, and it helps gullible people understand. - Psalm 139:130 (GWT)
The opposite of having understanding and wisdom, of course, is ignorance and foolishness. I want to be neither ignorant or a fool. But there are many opportunities in life that could and would make me both.
So, what I'm learning to do is to seek understanding first. And then, even if I can't wrap my mind (which is finite at best) around something that seems out of the ordinary (of my experience) yet is being espoused by someone whose reputation I trust, I'll withhold judgment.
I wish you would keep silent. For you, that would be wisdom. - Job 13:5 (GWT)
Sometimes the wisest response is either a delayed response or no response at all.
Monday, January 17, 2011
A "Reap what you sow" Story
Over a year ago I misplaced a money clip. I don't like keeping paper money in my wallet, so I had a clip where I kept folded bills in my pocket. Somehow I lost it. I thought it was in the house somewhere, but could never found it. There was some money, I couldn't remember how much in it, but eventually I bought another clip and moved on with life.
Friday I was coming out of Wal-Mart and just before I got to my truck I looked down. There was a picture of a young girl staring up at me from outside of a wallet on the parking lot. "Uh oh. Somebody's going to have a bad day", I thought. I picked it up and carried it to my truck.
Inside the wallet must have been a half-dozen credit cards, a drivers license, military ID, Medicare card... Lots of stuff no one wants to lose. I keep a phone book in my truck and was able to match the last name and address with a listing in the white pages. The number dialed, I had to leave a message with my name and phone # and a brief message: "I found your wallet and would like to return it to you."
A few minutes after arriving at home my phone rang, and we set up a location between us to meet. Her husband was glad to get the wallet back, and I felt good about the fact that they got it back intact.
The weather lately has left my truck pretty filthy, so on Saturday I took it to the local car wash for a cleaning inside and out. After it had been vacuumed, windows cleaned, dash dusted and washed and dried, I got back in and started to leave the parking lot in my shiny clean truck.
There on the passenger seat were a few things they found underneath my seat as they vacuumed. One of them was my long-lost money clip, cash intact.
God's watching, and He loves to reward.
"You will always harvest what you plant." - Galatians 6:7
Friday I was coming out of Wal-Mart and just before I got to my truck I looked down. There was a picture of a young girl staring up at me from outside of a wallet on the parking lot. "Uh oh. Somebody's going to have a bad day", I thought. I picked it up and carried it to my truck.
Inside the wallet must have been a half-dozen credit cards, a drivers license, military ID, Medicare card... Lots of stuff no one wants to lose. I keep a phone book in my truck and was able to match the last name and address with a listing in the white pages. The number dialed, I had to leave a message with my name and phone # and a brief message: "I found your wallet and would like to return it to you."
A few minutes after arriving at home my phone rang, and we set up a location between us to meet. Her husband was glad to get the wallet back, and I felt good about the fact that they got it back intact.
The weather lately has left my truck pretty filthy, so on Saturday I took it to the local car wash for a cleaning inside and out. After it had been vacuumed, windows cleaned, dash dusted and washed and dried, I got back in and started to leave the parking lot in my shiny clean truck.
There on the passenger seat were a few things they found underneath my seat as they vacuumed. One of them was my long-lost money clip, cash intact.
God's watching, and He loves to reward.
"You will always harvest what you plant." - Galatians 6:7
Friday, July 9, 2010
Return of the Purple Lady
Years ago when visiting, then living in the Portsmouth, VA area I used to wonder about the legendary "Purple Lady" and those telephone poles along US 17 that were painted purple up to about 6 feet off the ground. Why? Who is this person?
Now 24 years after moving away from there I learned the answers.
Life is best lived when we follow our passions. True, her's was a bit out there. But she brought a lot of people smiles and enjoyment by doing what she loved. How about you? Are you doing what you love and loving what you're doing?
Now 24 years after moving away from there I learned the answers.
Life is best lived when we follow our passions. True, her's was a bit out there. But she brought a lot of people smiles and enjoyment by doing what she loved. How about you? Are you doing what you love and loving what you're doing?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Makes You Wonder Why
The leading news story tonight is about a police chief killed in a single car accident. His pick up truck blew a tire, he lost control and was ejected from the vehicle. He was not wearing a seat belt.
Last June, in the same town, the mayor was killed in a traffic accident. He was a career firefighter. He was not wearing a seat belt.
The news is both sad and perplexing. Wearing a seat belt is the law in their state. Surely both knew that. In fact, the chief was sworn to enforce the law. The firefighter has no doubt seen way too many traffic fatalities not to know that wearing them saves lives. His department has a policy that when riding fire apparatus the truck doesn't roll until everyone has their seat belt buckled.
Would the seat belts have saved their lives. I guess we'll never know.
Makes you wonder why we do the very things we know are wrong and don't do the things we know are right, doesn't it? But we do.
Last June, in the same town, the mayor was killed in a traffic accident. He was a career firefighter. He was not wearing a seat belt.
The news is both sad and perplexing. Wearing a seat belt is the law in their state. Surely both knew that. In fact, the chief was sworn to enforce the law. The firefighter has no doubt seen way too many traffic fatalities not to know that wearing them saves lives. His department has a policy that when riding fire apparatus the truck doesn't roll until everyone has their seat belt buckled.
Would the seat belts have saved their lives. I guess we'll never know.
Makes you wonder why we do the very things we know are wrong and don't do the things we know are right, doesn't it? But we do.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Ebb and Flow of Life
My racquetball game got interrupted today. A police officer was on his way to the Y where I was playing to get me to accompany him to make a death notification - one of my roles as a chaplain in public safety.
Often when someone has died suddenly, unexpectedly or violently (as was this case), next of kin, if they are in another location, are notified by their local police who have been contacted by law enforcement at the scene of the death. Telling someone, even a stranger, such news is always sad. That is is 3 days before Christmas even magnifies the pain.
Thankfully, however, death is only one end of our existence. At the other end of the scale is birth, and as making a death notification is painful, receiving a birth announcement is joyous.
While we were tracking down the next of kin I received a phone call from a close friend that her daughter had just given birth to their first grandchild! Her joy was in stark contrast to the misson I was undertaking at the time.
That's life. The Bible's Job understood more clearly than most when he said about God, "He gives and takes away. Blessed be His name."
Often when someone has died suddenly, unexpectedly or violently (as was this case), next of kin, if they are in another location, are notified by their local police who have been contacted by law enforcement at the scene of the death. Telling someone, even a stranger, such news is always sad. That is is 3 days before Christmas even magnifies the pain.
Thankfully, however, death is only one end of our existence. At the other end of the scale is birth, and as making a death notification is painful, receiving a birth announcement is joyous.
While we were tracking down the next of kin I received a phone call from a close friend that her daughter had just given birth to their first grandchild! Her joy was in stark contrast to the misson I was undertaking at the time.
That's life. The Bible's Job understood more clearly than most when he said about God, "He gives and takes away. Blessed be His name."
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Hey Blue! What Game Are You Watching?
Nobody's perfect. Let's start with that. We all make mistakes. Some are inconsequential, but some can ruin lives.
Baseball is a game. It's not life and death. But it is also a game of rules. Without the rules it would, like anything else be nothing but chaos. Last night's Yankees-Angels game got pretty chaotic.
I can easily understand an umpire missing a bang-bang play at a base, or calling a pitch traveling at nearly 100 MPH on the edge of the strike zone a ball happens. A throw arriving from 300 feet away to be caught and then applied to a sliding runner arriving at the same moment can be a difficult at best. Wearing blue can be a tough job.
It's even tougher when a stadium full of fans and millions more watching on television know that among the foundational rules of the game is that if you're not on the base you're not safe, and everyone in the universe sees it happen but the umpire standing feet away.
As the catcher Napoli applied both tags I screamed, "Double play!" (I'm pulling for the Halos, but my hope level is pretty low right now). I thought I saw a most unusual double play. Two runners, neither touching third base were tagged out by the catcher. I know I saw it. So did you if you watched the game. And that's the rule. Both guys are out. It wasn't close. A Little League umpire would have made the right call.
But not last night. It was in so many ways a less than perfect game. But it's just a game.
There is an Umpire who gets every call right every time. He never misses a play. His strike zone is consistently the same. He not only knows the rules, He wrote them. Arguing His calls does no good because He always wins.
Grace is a great thing.
Baseball is a game. It's not life and death. But it is also a game of rules. Without the rules it would, like anything else be nothing but chaos. Last night's Yankees-Angels game got pretty chaotic.
I can easily understand an umpire missing a bang-bang play at a base, or calling a pitch traveling at nearly 100 MPH on the edge of the strike zone a ball happens. A throw arriving from 300 feet away to be caught and then applied to a sliding runner arriving at the same moment can be a difficult at best. Wearing blue can be a tough job.
It's even tougher when a stadium full of fans and millions more watching on television know that among the foundational rules of the game is that if you're not on the base you're not safe, and everyone in the universe sees it happen but the umpire standing feet away.
As the catcher Napoli applied both tags I screamed, "Double play!" (I'm pulling for the Halos, but my hope level is pretty low right now). I thought I saw a most unusual double play. Two runners, neither touching third base were tagged out by the catcher. I know I saw it. So did you if you watched the game. And that's the rule. Both guys are out. It wasn't close. A Little League umpire would have made the right call.
But not last night. It was in so many ways a less than perfect game. But it's just a game.
There is an Umpire who gets every call right every time. He never misses a play. His strike zone is consistently the same. He not only knows the rules, He wrote them. Arguing His calls does no good because He always wins.
Grace is a great thing.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A chapter closed today
Today my Aunt Nita was buried next to her husband, parents and sister. She died Thursday after a long illness. It was her time and she was ready.
In November Aunt Nita would have been 99 years old. Think of all the changes she has seen in her lifetime. It's mind-boggling.
The last of her generation in our family, she was a great little (I don't think she ever quite made it to five feet tall) lady with quite the sense of humor. Laughing at things she said and did was great sport in our family, from her fondness for burnt toast to her calling team mates Andruw and Chipper Jones when they were on the Braves "salt and pepper".
I guess her death moves me up one more step on the ladder to the position of "next to the oldest generation". There's a sobering thought.
Last night at the reunion I'm attending I heard the word "legacy" mentioned more than once. That's an important concept to me - leaving behind a legacy. I heard it put this way (reminding me of what we used to say as Boy Scouts about our campground): "Leave it better than you found it."
Aunt Nita did. Any life she touched was the better for it. I hope the same will be said of me, whether my time is now at 54 or (heaven help my children) at 98.
In November Aunt Nita would have been 99 years old. Think of all the changes she has seen in her lifetime. It's mind-boggling.
The last of her generation in our family, she was a great little (I don't think she ever quite made it to five feet tall) lady with quite the sense of humor. Laughing at things she said and did was great sport in our family, from her fondness for burnt toast to her calling team mates Andruw and Chipper Jones when they were on the Braves "salt and pepper".
I guess her death moves me up one more step on the ladder to the position of "next to the oldest generation". There's a sobering thought.
Last night at the reunion I'm attending I heard the word "legacy" mentioned more than once. That's an important concept to me - leaving behind a legacy. I heard it put this way (reminding me of what we used to say as Boy Scouts about our campground): "Leave it better than you found it."
Aunt Nita did. Any life she touched was the better for it. I hope the same will be said of me, whether my time is now at 54 or (heaven help my children) at 98.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Adios Mr. Z.
Twice now this week I've received news of the death of someone who was special in my life. I really hope bad news doesn't come in threes.
My earliest recollections of Mr. Z are of him sitting in his living room showing off his dancing poodle Holly. He would sing this little ditty and get the dog to get up on her hind legs and "dance". It brought him great joy. And he did this every time I came over to their house. So, as best I could as a fifteen year old, I would watch in "amazement" and humor him.
Back in those days he was always a pretty serious guy. So my mission was always to say or do something to make him think I was totally insane.
I remember that same year when he and Mrs. Z, then in their forties put their faith in Christ as Savior. An emotional guy, I've often seen tears in his eyes. He was a proud man in a good sense: proud of his family; proud of his church and pastor; proud of his immaculate back yard with fruit trees and chilis; proud of his Mexican heritage; proud of his ability in his 70's to climb a wall when pursued by vicious dogs!
He worked hard his whole life in construction. In his "retirement" he worked just as hard doing concrete and block work in and around his Orange, CA home. His handywork was everywhere. But even more importantly he used his knowledge and experience in building churches in Mexico with missions teams from his church. That brought him the greatest satisfaction.
In my adult years he and Mary often opened up their home to Gail and I when we would go out to California for a visit. It was understood that "Mi casa es su casa" at the Z's home. And the few times I came out and didn't bring her I was chastized by him. "Next time you come you bring your wife!"
When his beloved Mary died a year and a half ago after being married forever it took the wind out of his sails. Yesterday evening she no doubt was escorted to Heaven's gates to welcome him home. I'm sure today she is taking him on a tour of his forever home.
My hope is that he was told on arrival to take off his shoes and go barefooted on the golden streets because it is holy ground. (Those who know him best will understand and smile in agreement with me.) I would love to see the expression on his face.
Hasta luego, amigo viejo.
My earliest recollections of Mr. Z are of him sitting in his living room showing off his dancing poodle Holly. He would sing this little ditty and get the dog to get up on her hind legs and "dance". It brought him great joy. And he did this every time I came over to their house. So, as best I could as a fifteen year old, I would watch in "amazement" and humor him.
Back in those days he was always a pretty serious guy. So my mission was always to say or do something to make him think I was totally insane.
I remember that same year when he and Mrs. Z, then in their forties put their faith in Christ as Savior. An emotional guy, I've often seen tears in his eyes. He was a proud man in a good sense: proud of his family; proud of his church and pastor; proud of his immaculate back yard with fruit trees and chilis; proud of his Mexican heritage; proud of his ability in his 70's to climb a wall when pursued by vicious dogs!
He worked hard his whole life in construction. In his "retirement" he worked just as hard doing concrete and block work in and around his Orange, CA home. His handywork was everywhere. But even more importantly he used his knowledge and experience in building churches in Mexico with missions teams from his church. That brought him the greatest satisfaction.
In my adult years he and Mary often opened up their home to Gail and I when we would go out to California for a visit. It was understood that "Mi casa es su casa" at the Z's home. And the few times I came out and didn't bring her I was chastized by him. "Next time you come you bring your wife!"
When his beloved Mary died a year and a half ago after being married forever it took the wind out of his sails. Yesterday evening she no doubt was escorted to Heaven's gates to welcome him home. I'm sure today she is taking him on a tour of his forever home.
My hope is that he was told on arrival to take off his shoes and go barefooted on the golden streets because it is holy ground. (Those who know him best will understand and smile in agreement with me.) I would love to see the expression on his face.
Hasta luego, amigo viejo.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Leaving a vapor trail
For about a year now I’ve been a Facebooker. (I know…spell-check says that’s not a word, but I say it is.) Via this internet social networking phenomenon I have re-connected with friends I haven’t seen or heard from for decades. Mostly it has been a fun experience.
A lot of my FB friends are men and women from my college days. In fact, Facebook has been a primary tool in organizing a reunion coming up next month. Over 200 of us who were linked together because of our passion for working with youth are getting together to reminisce and compare wrinkles, bald heads and other signs of aging. It will be fun!
One guy who will not be there is Doug Turner. He died Saturday.
Doug and I would often hit McDonalds for breakfast after attending an early morning class together. It gave us time to talk about our lives and school and stuff. Already married to Cindy, Doug was more mature than his age, and I looked up to him for whatever wisdom 21 year olds can possibly have.
When a one-time opportunity for service came up in the ministry Doug led came up he asked me to fill in. That one-time became my regular responsibility (I guess I did OK) and helped me grow, gaining valuable experience for the future.
In 1979 I was living in Oklahoma and Doug had just moved to Texas. We met again with someother friends at a national convention for youth ministers in Minneapolis. Doug and I slipped away during down time on Sunday afternoon, walked across a huge parking lot and went to a Twins ball game in their old stadium. We both were surprised at how cool an August afternoon was up there, shivering in our shirt sleeves. That was the last time I saw Doug.
Until last December. We had once again made contact through Facebook. Doug had settled with Cindy and raised a family and built a successful business in Melbourne, Florida. Gail and I were just 45 minutes away from there, visiting our daughter and son-in-law for a week. So I thought I’d give Doug a call and arrange a visit. I wanted to get by to see him because I knew Doug had been sick.
Scleroderma can manifest itself in a number of ways, and its effects on the body can range from mild, attacking the skin, to life-threatening, attacking vital organs. Doug’s disease was the latter, and rapidly sapped him of his physical health, forcing him to retire and spend countless days either hospitalized or confined to home care. When I saw him at home in December his over 6 foot frame supported just over 150 pounds and his voice was weak, like that of an octogenarian. I was frankly shocked when he came to the door and hoped my expression didn’t convey what I felt.
We sat and talked about old times. But mostly we talked about his career, his family and his faith. Here was a man in what should be the prime of his life and has had his ability to work and be active taken away by an obscure disease, yet there was not an ounce of bitterness or regret. Everything out of his mouth was positive, even though he knew there would be no cure. When so many would turn such a fate into anger against God Doug had nothing but praise and thanksgiving for His Lord and was humbled that God would use his weakness to give him opportunity to share his faith with others. I was humbled even more by Doug.
He’ll be buried on Wednesday. Looking this morning at his obituary I realized he was one day older than me. One day. Fifty four years and one week was all he had. But he lived it to the max, even on the days when the max was barely minimal by anyone's standards.
Life is indeed brief. A vapor that appears then disappears. Someone said that all men die, but not all men really live. Thanks, Doug for showing me that each day is precious and that there’s no time to let anger or bitterness keep me from living it with all the abundance God can give.
A lot of my FB friends are men and women from my college days. In fact, Facebook has been a primary tool in organizing a reunion coming up next month. Over 200 of us who were linked together because of our passion for working with youth are getting together to reminisce and compare wrinkles, bald heads and other signs of aging. It will be fun!
One guy who will not be there is Doug Turner. He died Saturday.
Doug and I would often hit McDonalds for breakfast after attending an early morning class together. It gave us time to talk about our lives and school and stuff. Already married to Cindy, Doug was more mature than his age, and I looked up to him for whatever wisdom 21 year olds can possibly have.
When a one-time opportunity for service came up in the ministry Doug led came up he asked me to fill in. That one-time became my regular responsibility (I guess I did OK) and helped me grow, gaining valuable experience for the future.
In 1979 I was living in Oklahoma and Doug had just moved to Texas. We met again with someother friends at a national convention for youth ministers in Minneapolis. Doug and I slipped away during down time on Sunday afternoon, walked across a huge parking lot and went to a Twins ball game in their old stadium. We both were surprised at how cool an August afternoon was up there, shivering in our shirt sleeves. That was the last time I saw Doug.
Until last December. We had once again made contact through Facebook. Doug had settled with Cindy and raised a family and built a successful business in Melbourne, Florida. Gail and I were just 45 minutes away from there, visiting our daughter and son-in-law for a week. So I thought I’d give Doug a call and arrange a visit. I wanted to get by to see him because I knew Doug had been sick.
Scleroderma can manifest itself in a number of ways, and its effects on the body can range from mild, attacking the skin, to life-threatening, attacking vital organs. Doug’s disease was the latter, and rapidly sapped him of his physical health, forcing him to retire and spend countless days either hospitalized or confined to home care. When I saw him at home in December his over 6 foot frame supported just over 150 pounds and his voice was weak, like that of an octogenarian. I was frankly shocked when he came to the door and hoped my expression didn’t convey what I felt.
We sat and talked about old times. But mostly we talked about his career, his family and his faith. Here was a man in what should be the prime of his life and has had his ability to work and be active taken away by an obscure disease, yet there was not an ounce of bitterness or regret. Everything out of his mouth was positive, even though he knew there would be no cure. When so many would turn such a fate into anger against God Doug had nothing but praise and thanksgiving for His Lord and was humbled that God would use his weakness to give him opportunity to share his faith with others. I was humbled even more by Doug.
He’ll be buried on Wednesday. Looking this morning at his obituary I realized he was one day older than me. One day. Fifty four years and one week was all he had. But he lived it to the max, even on the days when the max was barely minimal by anyone's standards.
Life is indeed brief. A vapor that appears then disappears. Someone said that all men die, but not all men really live. Thanks, Doug for showing me that each day is precious and that there’s no time to let anger or bitterness keep me from living it with all the abundance God can give.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Sometimes there are no answers
Tragedy struck close to home yesterday. A car accident resulted in the death of a high school student. He was an only child. His girlfriend was driving the car.
These kinds of life events cause great pain that is sadly compounded by questions that no one can adequately answer; at least not me. I've learned to say, "I don't know."
Skeptics may call "religion" (I don't consider my relationship with God a "religion") a "crutch". And maybe it is. But what's wrong with having support when you hurt and are limping around? I'll take all the "crutches" I can get when I'm not able to make it on my own. (Which is 24/7.)
I'm grateful to have faith and a God who is there for me when I need Him. And I'm glad to know that whenever I need Him He is there, even if I am searching for answers that just don't/won't come. I've found it's not answers I need. It's the comfort of knowing that the One who knows is the One who cares most and simply says, "Put your cares on me. I can handle it."
These kinds of life events cause great pain that is sadly compounded by questions that no one can adequately answer; at least not me. I've learned to say, "I don't know."
Skeptics may call "religion" (I don't consider my relationship with God a "religion") a "crutch". And maybe it is. But what's wrong with having support when you hurt and are limping around? I'll take all the "crutches" I can get when I'm not able to make it on my own. (Which is 24/7.)
I'm grateful to have faith and a God who is there for me when I need Him. And I'm glad to know that whenever I need Him He is there, even if I am searching for answers that just don't/won't come. I've found it's not answers I need. It's the comfort of knowing that the One who knows is the One who cares most and simply says, "Put your cares on me. I can handle it."
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Love is in the air
I hope your Valentine's Day is awesome. I got my sweetie some flowers and maybe we'll go out on a date tonight.
But there are lots of opportunities in our lives today to show someone who wants to know what love is. (I know that's bad grammar, but it's the way the song goes.) Not romantic love, but God's love.
If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth£ but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;£ but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 6It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8Love will last forever...
(1 Corinthians 13 NLT)
I've got an idea, myself.
But there are lots of opportunities in our lives today to show someone who wants to know what love is. (I know that's bad grammar, but it's the way the song goes.) Not romantic love, but God's love.
If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth£ but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;£ but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 6It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8Love will last forever...
(1 Corinthians 13 NLT)
I've got an idea, myself.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Nobody knows the troubles I've seen...
Do you have those days when you just want to get in the car (or for me, truck) and take a long drive away from it all? They come often if and when you deal with people.
Don't misread me. I'm a "people", too. And not the easiest in the world to deal with.
But somedays you gotta wonder, "OK God. What's the deal. Do I really deserve this?" You know, someone did something you didn't like. Someone forgot to follow through. Someone looked at you cross-eyed. There's an elephant sitting in the room. Whatever. But none of it really is stop the world and get off stuff. In fact, I don't think I've ever had one of those.
Then I stop and consider what others are dealing with; things that truly would not only rock my boat but likely capsize it. And it's then I'm a bit ashamed of my little pity parties.
Don't misread me. I'm a "people", too. And not the easiest in the world to deal with.
But somedays you gotta wonder, "OK God. What's the deal. Do I really deserve this?" You know, someone did something you didn't like. Someone forgot to follow through. Someone looked at you cross-eyed. There's an elephant sitting in the room. Whatever. But none of it really is stop the world and get off stuff. In fact, I don't think I've ever had one of those.
Then I stop and consider what others are dealing with; things that truly would not only rock my boat but likely capsize it. And it's then I'm a bit ashamed of my little pity parties.
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