Category: FAITH

A moment of correction

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Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.  Proverbs: 15:31

I remember many years back a moment in a college English class. I had written a paper on Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  On the day our papers were to be handed back to us, my instructor stood in front of the class and told this story…

“This past weekend I walked into a bar to meet some friends, and  I noticed sitting at the bar a beautiful woman.  She had beautiful skin, long silky hair, and a captivating smile.  I was mesmerized.  I had forgotten who I came in to meet and just watched her as she talked, smiled and laughed.  Then, as I was about to approach her and introduce myself,  she reached up, and picked her nose.” He then held up a paper and said: “This paper is a nose-picker!”

He placed the paper back into the stack and proceded to use the opportunity to explain the use of an apostrophe and its importance.  As he explained I felt my face grow hotter and hotter.  I knew the paper was mine.  All these years later, I don’t remember him handing the papers back or if the rest of the class knew it was me.  What I do remember is looking at that big fat “A”.  I made an “A”!  My paper was equated to a “beautiful woman”.  As I thumbed through the rest of my paper, the 11 (yes 11) red circles stood out, and I was once again embarrassed by the boogers in my paper.  However, other than those apostrophe issues there we no other marks.  I had a warm fuzzy moment and I smiled!  I made an “A”!

Today, I still struggle with those issues of apostrophes, commas, and my spelling leaves much to be desired.  But, I have had so many more moments that have encouraged me to keep writing, so I write.  Today, I thank my friend Bill for checking for the boogers in my writing.   But even more so, I thank all those who have encouraged me to put myself out there.

Getting past criticism can be difficult, but there is so much more to see.  Sister Mary Clarence in Sister Act 2 says “if you wake up every day and think about singing you are a singer.”  What do you wake up thinking about?  I encourage you to listen to criticism but more importantly follow your heart and your encouragers.

 

 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

A moment for enjoyment

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What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 (NRSV)

What if we operated at 80%?

We live in a world where we are taught to give it our all.  In the words of Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights   “If you are not first you are last.”   We have wonderful expressions like, “Hang in there,” “Be strong,” “Keep fighting,” and “Never give up.”  So, we press on and try to present an image of being tireless.  Yet we are all quite tired, aren’t we?  We have set our goals at the highest level.  “Reach for the moon, and you will fall among the stars.”  That all sounds great.  Except, I don’t have rocket boots.  And, I am tired.  As a result, the unattainable goal of the moon just makes me feel deflated and unmotivated.

But, if I am shooting for 80%?  Well, that is doable!  In school, 80% is a “B.”  “B” is above average.  That’s a good grade, right?  Quite possibly, at the end of an 80% day, I have successfully achieved what I set out to do.  I am calmer.  And, I have a little left over for someone who might need me.  The friend who called.  The spouse who had a rough day.  My kids who need a last minute hand with a project.  Or, even better, a slow, relaxed dinner with a great conversation about our 80% day.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson

A moment of resolution

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Come they told me
A newborn King to see
Our finest gifts we bring
To lay before the King
So to honor Him
When we come
Little baby
I am a poor boy too
I have no gift to bring
That’s fit to give our King
Shall I play for you
On my drum
Mary nodded
The ox and lamb kept time
I played my drum for Him
I played my best for Him
Then He smiled at me
Me and my drum.

New Year’s resolutions are about self-improvement.   We look at the new year as a starting point for being better than we were the year before.  We, like the boy in the song,  feel we are not enough.  We look around and see the deficit.  We will make resolutions to improve the deficit we see.  It is said that 40% of Americans will make resolutions, but only 8% will succeed.  To me, these are not good enough odds to make it worth my time and effort.
What if we changed our focus?  What if, this year, we decided to give the best of whatever we have? We have all been given something we can offer.    If we take a moment to look at ourselves through the eyes of our Creator, we will see the abundance in our lives and our hearts.  It may not seem like much to us,  but it just may be the blessing that brings a smile and lifts the hearts of others.   I imagine the odds of our success will improve if we shift our focus and offer the very best of even our smallest gifts.
All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21:4

A moment of vulnerability

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For to us a child is born,

As we move through the Christmas season, it is easy for many of us to lose ourselves in the busyness of it all.  We can become self-centered, snarky, and nervous about family relationships that are already tense much of the year.  Is there anything about this baby in the manger that can really change all that?  How do we cope when those family members are up close and at our Christmas dinner table? 

In this Isaiah passage, we hear a message of hope.  A vulnerable child is born and he will be a Wonderful Counselor and the Prince of Peace.  This is a big expectation of a small child.

Moving forward in the story though, we see that this baby will celebrate an important meal with family and friends, some with whom he had a trying relationship.  Peter and Judas were both at this table.  He knew they did not have his best interests at heart.  They were self -absorbed and caught up in other things.

Jesus, in this moment, wasn’t unkind.  But, he did tell the truth.  He told the group that one of them would deny him and one would betray him.  He knew they would hurt him.  He understood his vulnerability.  He understood the human condition and he understood their vulnerability.  Therefore, in love, he focused that evening on teaching his beloved friends and family about servanthood and showing them what love looked like.

Be kind, for even the people who can’t be trusted to look out for our best interests can still be loved.

Be honest, tell the truth about your own vulnerability.

Be forgiving, it is often their vulnerability that makes others hurt us.

 to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)