Hibernation

It was a lovely season of warmth, a period where the outdoors invited us to come out and partake of its vibrant colors, soothing breezes, and embracing sunshine. We too extended an invitation to the outdoors to come inside with us through open windows and drawn back curtains. However, there inevitably comes a time when we must realize that it is over, where we must go our separate ways. Try as we might to force it to linger and hold on just a bit longer, it is clearly not under our control. The days get shorter and those warm winds quietly are replaced by a gentle nip at our necks. Summer is over. We have no choice but to acknowledge the truth and make our preparations for the oncoming autumn and winter. Deck chairs are put into storage, the pool is covered, and our jackets are pulled out from the back of the closet.

This change does not really signal the end you know. It's just a temporary good-bye. It will all be back next year for us to enjoy again. In the mean time we should continue to seek out and embrace life. While bears and other critters purposefully go off into hibernation, shutting down and letting the cold season pass them by, we must not allow this to be our mindset. I know that I have a tendency to just try to endure the winter, to mark time and just get through. My own personal form of hibernation. However, if this is our mindset, we simply miss out on too much living. If we shutdown until the flowers and birds return, we are effectively cutting short our own lives. So this year, I plan to purposefully seek ways to enjoy the season ahead, to look out and look up, instead of just looking in and down.

Downpour

After a peaceful, noteworthy, or productive day, have you ever thanked the Lord as you would a friend who presented you with a wonderful or thoughtful gift? I know I usually do. Recently, at the end of a particularly satisfying day, I spent some time in prayer thanking God for being so close to me and for blessing me. At that moment I was struck with how absurd and short-sighted my words really were. The Lord doesn't just bless me and walk with me only on days that I enjoy. He is always and consistently working with me and through me for His ultimate good. His blessings and grace are a continuous shower pouring down on me, whether I understand them, appreciate them, or even recognize them.

I think most folks who have been around the block a time or two, can appreciate this statement. Sometimes after we have survived a particularly troubling personal season, and enough distance has put itself between then and now, we can look back with clarity. We come to understand that the painful experience was necessary or that we ultimately ended up better off. I have listened to many folks speak of absolutely excruciating stories where their lives were ripped apart or turned upside down either through their own actions or those of others, but, in time, they came to understand that they were being richly blessed. They would not undo that time for anything. Perhaps they came through stronger and more confident, made peace with a troublesome person, found a job that was much better for reasons that they could never have seen at the time, suffered through a painful divorce and found out who they were or who they were not, or fought with health issues and gained needed perspective. There are endless examples I am sure. The point is that even in the depths of our hurt, we were never alone or forgotten, and the blessings were still pouring down.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2)

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (Isaiah 48:10)

I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. (Zechariah 13:9)

HAVTA

For some reason, as the kernel of the idea for today's post came into my mind, I couldn't help but think about the 80s/90s television show Designing Women. I heard that the show declined rapidly in popularity when it morphed from a comedy into a weekly sermon of the various political and social viewpoints of the show's creators. Perhaps, this entry may be a bit preachy. However, I have an important truth based on my own experience and findings that may serve to strengthen your marriage.

I have found that when your spouse has a relationship issue, she will typically ask you about it. Perhaps you watch too much television, or hang out too often with your buddies, or spend too much time at work, or go on too many business trips. If you do not take action or try to ignore her initial plea, eventually she will Ask you again and then she will ASK you again. The fact that she continues to come back with the same issue time after time, given the condition of our heart and our attitude, usually becomes perceived by us as nagging. What follows then is typically quite predictable. We finally address the area that we have been ASKED about, all the while grumbling and complaining. We do this just to shut her up, while making it clear to her that we would rather not do what she ASKED us to, but are doing it just for her. So much pomp and circumstance. Theatrics.

What a sign of maturity and realization that she is the most important person in our lives, if we talk to her about the issue and come to a mutual, respectful solution. If you indeed agree to give up some activity or change how you approach some aspect of your life, do it with a proper, cheerful spirit. Do not grumble and complain and play the role of martyr. Do it quietly, with respect, realizing how important it is to her. Do it because you love her and want to really become ONE with her, not just one or One with her.

Happy in Him

I stumbled upon this old gem from John Newton that pulled me in and made me want to wrap myself in its truth. I think I found these words just when I needed them.

How tedious and tasteless the hours
When Jesus no longer I see;
Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers,
Have all lost their sweetness to me;
The midsummer sun shines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay.
But when I am happy in Him,
December's as pleasant as May.

His name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music his voice;
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice.
I should, were he always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear;
No mortal so happy as I,
My summer would last all the year.

Content with beholding His face,
My all to His pleasure resigned,
No changes of season or place
Would make any change in my mind.
While blessed with a sense of His love,
A palace a toy would appear;
And prisons would palaces prove,
If Jesus would dwell with me there.

Dear Lord, if indeed I am Thine,
If Thou art my sun and my song,
Say, why do I languish and pine?
And why are my winters so long?
O drive these dark clouds from the sky,
Thy soul-cheering presence restore;
Or take me to Thee up on high,
Where winter and clouds are no more.

Leafer Madness

There is an expression in our vernacular about someone who just flat goes nuts when the repetitive nature of their jobs or activities overwhelm them. It is called "going postal". The poor Post Office employees sit at their stations sorting mail that never stops coming. There is nothing that they can point to saying that they have made any progress or that their work is done. It just keeps piling in incessantly, never ending, never abating, if only for a short time. Eventually for some of these people, something inside of them snaps, and they go insane. They go on a killing spree to ease their tortured minds. It finally gives them a sense of accomplishment. See, that lifeless corpse, I did that. I set my mind to it and completed the job. Check one off for me .... finally.

I have come to understand the notion of "going postal". I get the mindset of people stuck with never-ending tasks. I can relate. You see, I have a yard. I have many trees in and around my yard. It is now fall. Fall is called "fall" because that is when the leaves drop from their holding positions in the tree limbs and drift down onto our properties. One job of a homeowner is to rake that unsightly foliage up and put it into bags on the curb. However, no sooner have we raked the yard, bundled up 5 or 10 huge garbage bags with leaves, then our yard is covered once again. It never ends. It is maddening I tell you. I brings me to the freakin' edge man!!

My problem is that I believe in the sanctity of human life. Even if I snapped, I don't think that I have it within me to kill another human to relieve my cranial dementia. But, I have noticed that tree squirrel eyeing me and chitter-chattering at me. I bet he is somehow responsible for all of this. Rocky over there will be my first victim when I lose it.

Joseph

Sometimes people suffer greatly for no reason at the hands of another, yet still come into full bloom. Such is the story of the Hebrew Joseph that is told in the Bible. In Volume 3 of Charles Swindoll's Great Lives Series, Joseph, A Man of Integrity and Forgiveness, we walk through the life of Joseph, a true and faithful hero of the Old Testament told in the book of Genesis. When Joseph was only 17 years old, his brothers in a fit of jealousy plotted to murder him in cold blood because he was the favorite of their father Jacob. At the last minute their guilty consciences were mollified by instead selling him into Egyptian slavery. Joseph ended up as a servant in the house of Potiphar, the chief of pharaoh's personal security force. Joseph proved himself to be competent and trustworthy; ultimately he was put in charge of all that Potiphar owned. However, there was lust for Joseph in the eyes of Potiphar's wife. She pursued and he rebuffed her advances. Eventually, she grew so angry that she accused Joseph of attempted rape. Potiphar, backed into a corner, had to support his wife over his slave, and Joseph was sent to prison.

Joseph again showed himself to be competent and trustworthy; the head jailor eventually put him in charge of the daily operations of the jail, although he remained a prisoner. During that period, he correctly interpreted some strange dreams from two of pharoah's servants. At some later time after pharaoh himself had a strange dream, it was remembered that Joseph had a talent in this area. Indeed, Joseph interpreted the dreams that foretold of a time of plenty that Egypt was about to enjoy, followed by a long period of famine. Joseph impressed pharaoh enough that he was made prime minister of all Egypt, charged with seeing Egypt through the famine and saving her people.

Eventually, the famine, which had ravaged Egypt and all of the surrounding areas, including Joseph's home of Canaan, brought his brothers before him as they sought to purchase food from Egypt. Joseph recognized his brothers though some 20 years had passed since he was sold into slavery. They, however, did not recognize him. When Joseph finally revealed himself, his brothers were expecting a full measure of revenge and pay back. Instead, Joseph demonstrated his wisdom, his maturity, and his relationship with God. "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid." (Genesis 50:19-21)

What a wonderful example of maintaining a life-long faith in God, showing that following Him brings hope in the worst of circumstances. When we are patient with God's timing and have full trust in his plan, forgiveness is never tinged with hatred or lingering thoughts of revenge. A great life indeed. Next up in the series is Moses, A Man of Selfless Dedication.

600

As a culture, we seem to love round numbers. They tend to get folks all excited. They are the cause for celebration and parades and dancing. In the world of my blog, several round-number milestones have been achieved amid great fanfare.

• Blog #100 - February 14, 2009
  
• Blog #200 - June 13, 2009
  
• Blog #300 - October 8, 2009
  
• Blog #400 - February 2, 2010
  
• Blog #500 - May 29, 2010
  

I have come to understand, just like the assassination of JFK and the alledged "moon landings", most folks can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing for each of the above postings. I get it, it really is a big deal. Now, today, here in this moment, we celebrate blog #600. Still so much to say and explore and talk about. Will you be around for the next 100? I hope so.

Thanks again to my loyal readers for taking time from your busy lives to stop by and spend a few moments with me. Your patience and caring and feedback stirs up positive things within me.