Billboard du jour

When I focus NOT on what I could get and focus on what I could GIVE--life changes!

Quote du jour

Going through stuff at the back of the corner desk in my study--sneeze! Found this quote from Herb Caen, San Francisco Chronicle: "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

I find myself being drawn to the truth that lies within this statement and repelled by it. Indeed it is true, that life waits for no one. Every morning there is a mind over mattress reality that asserts itself. And yet, if running sums up the highest values of life--the quest of pursuit or the race against time--then something is desparately amiss.

Biblical material certainly calls for entering the race and being diligent and all of that. True enough. But maybe, just maybe, we need to know that all of our striving is for nothing if we think that striving is the highest expression of human endeavor. Maybe, just maybe, the highest human endeavor is something that is intuitively opposite of striving.

I think that believing in grace would be a really good thing today. Perhaps trust and dependence stand as alternative expressions of human experience.

Ghost Gas

Late night slumber parties with a bunch of girls can turn up some interesting moments, but a couple of nights ago was particularly entertaining. Four 11 or 12 year old girls giggling and carrying on with all manner of silliness until, as it was reported to me, a strange noise was heard.

Note: To those of you who might be embarassed with some terms to describe certain body sounds, I apologize right now. In fact you would do yourself and me a favor and close this window right now.

The strange noise the girls heard was a fart. Somebody passed gas right there in the bedroom! Of course, whether it is because they are girls or whether is is because they were all being truthful, no one admited to this crime. Now when I was growing up, the saying was "the smeller was the feller," but in this case we had no olfactory evidence, only auditory evidence.

So as they were trying to figure out the realities of the well-attested sound, both the closet door and bedroom door opened. At this point what was silliness and giggles turned into wide open fear. In fact, it was at this point that other members of the household, those members who doing what one is supposed to do at 1 o'clock in the morning--sleep-- were suddenly introduced into this little drama by the emittance of a loud scream by one or more of the aformentioned girls.

So suddenly what was a slumber party turned into a horror movie. Leslie, the mature 18 year old down the hall was quickly consulted. "What should we do," the frightened girls asked. But before Leslie could clear the cobwebs from her brain, Mom entered the room and turned the horror movie into a silent picture show! "Everyone into their cot or sleeping bag! I will check for any unusual creatures and then I don't want to hear any more noise!"

So Mom joined the the now quiet room and laid down by Lauren, our 12 year old. After a few moments of discerning whether Mom was mad or not, she breathed a sigh and said, "Thanks Mom for showing up. We just about lost it!" Guess what, within minutes, sounds were again heard. The sounds of girls sleeping heavily.

Sometimes it takes a parent's presence to get us settled down and back on track, especially when their might be ghosts about!

Knocks on the Door

"The poor will always be with you." Indeed. But knowing that does not ease the struggle of doing the right thing when confronted with a plea for help.

Two cases this morning--a young couple with small children and a single woman down on her luck. How do you respond? Lord, how would you respond? Would you lift the burden of a light bill or aid someone so that they could have transportation to get to their work? Would you act with compassion or would your respond in some way of connecting with the reality of each person's plight?

I guess that if it is true that the poor will always be with you so it is true that Jesus will always be present with the poor.

I guess my biggest struggle is not what would Jesus do, but whether I am willing to do what Jesus bids me to do in His name.

Always Hungry

At 15 years old, I guess it shouldn't surprise me. But when I call Vickie at 5pm in the afternoon and ask how she is doing, I discover that she has just pulled out from McDonalds after picking up two double cheeseburgers for William. Of course, food is a plenty at the house, but with someone looking at our house right now (showings always come at the moment that you are least ready for them), the nearest food source without messing up the kitchen is Ronald's place down the street.

I say, "so supper is coming a little early." However, I hear Will's voice in the car, "no, this is just a snack!" A snack indeed. But, knowing how quickly his metabolism operates I figure that by the time I see him at 6:30 or 7 he will be ready to eat again.

He's always hungry.

The Psalmist cries that he longs and thirsts for God; something is missing. Something is missing inside of him that only God can satisfy. And that something is nothing less than the presence of God. Whatever the tragedy or life event that had emptied God out of him, the Psalmist wants God back--bad. He is hungry.

Can a person be hungry for God without hitting the bottom as the Psalmist did? Can a person simply want God because, like a 15 year old young man, you simply like the taste of a double cheeseburger?

I don't know, but I do look forward to the sweet watermelon in the refrigerator when I get home this evening--providing those prospective buyers ever leave the house!

Rocky Mountain High

Returned yesterday from time with my mom and dad in Estes Park, CO. Dad celebrated 72 years of living and even with the realities of Parkinson's, he continues to find good each day. The nature of the disease makes it hard for him to do the things he enjoys. Walking trails in the Rocky Mountain National Park are not easily done. However, we did make it around Sprague Lake one day.

It was good to spend time with him.

Took my daughter Lauren along. She took to mountain life quickly and loved the trails and all the varied wildlife we encountered. From woodland mice to snakes, chipmunks, squirrels, many varieties of birds, elk, deer, and a coyote who posed for me, the wonder of creation was a great joy. Of course, Lauren loved it all.

Lauren and I, at her request, had our picture taken at a friend's studio who specializes in antique and/or old west costumes. What fun!

Spending time with a daughter, who is already on her way to being a woman, was a pleasure.

I guess it is the moments of paying attention to people that you love and care about that really brings a deep joy to life.

May I pay attention to you today, Lord