I AM NOT FINE

Politeness and good manners are the cornerstone of the South.  When asked how we are from a very young age, we respond, "Fine, how are you?" without a thought. We could be a computer on automatic response.   We are taught to say we are fine before we learn to walk.  After all who wants to hear you aren't fine.  We ALL run from anyone who dares to give their long laundry list of complaints--real or imagined--if they dare to respond from the expected norm.  Why I dare say even the "Pray for me," response would have the best well wisher heading for the exit.  UNLESS, there might be a tad of news to relay from the conversation. 

     

If we all stopped to share how we "REALLY" are, and waited for the "REAL" response, when we asked in return how they were, we wouldn't get anything done EVER!  My poor trainer makes the mistake of asking each session how I am.  He does not get the standard expected reply, instead he gets to hear about what's currently hurting.  (Side note--getting old is not for sissies!)  It would seem after training me for a few months he would realize something always is hurting.  So the question is not if I am hurting, but how bad does it hurt?  Some days he just asks, "How's the hip?".  He has learned he will not get the entire laundry list if he asks specifically about the problem I come for.     

WHO is really fine in today's world?  The world is not an easy place.  If you aren't bruised, hurting, in pain, sick, in distress, worried, angry, jealous, defeated, depressed, lonely, or at least concerned, you must have your blinders on, or just wait, your time is coming.  I consider it a great privilege to pray for others, but sometimes I am overwhelmed by all the needs.

We become so desensitized to not being fine, that we begin to accept it as normal.  Or we decide to stick our head in the sand and ignore the obvious of what is going on all around us.  How could anyone be fine in today's world of anger, hate, turmoil, chaos, tragedy, starvation, human trafficking, suicide, addictions ~~~?  The enemy is wandering around wrecking lives and stealing joy and all is not fine!

BUT GOD!  ONLY with God's help are we fine.  We are more than fine, we are blessed to be called a Child of the King---His Beloved.  Without my quiet still time with Him, the world begins to look bleak and lost.  But God reminds me of Who He is and What He has done for me.  I am not fine, but I am at peace--knowing Who is God Almighty.  I have read the end of the book and I know how all this ends.  For that reason, and that reason only---I am fine.

If then you have been raised with Christ,

 seek the things that are above, where Christ is,

 seated at the right hand of God.

 Set your minds on things that are above,

 not on things that are on earth.

 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

 When Christ who is your life appears, 

then you also will appear with him in glory.

                                            Colossians 3:1-4                                                          

NOT MY STORY

Did you ever play the "Whisper" game?  I still remember the first time I played; I believe I was a young teenager sitting in church youth group fellowship time.  The game involves sitting in a circle.  The leader whispers something in the ear of the first person and then the message is passed on--one by one around the circle.  It was amazing how the message was changed as it was repeated.  It started as "Brownies are for dessert" and ended as "Desert to town."  We all have a tendency to listen with different ears.  

A sweet friend has challenged me to think about telling stories that are not my own.  When does news become gossip?  We talked this over one night in small group.  One of the members asked me, "What are we going to talk about then?"  We all laughed, but then we discussed when does passing on information that is not about us become harmful?  

I have had stories that I had been involved in make a circle and come back to me.  ALWAYS--the true story has been changed in some way and the intent is sometimes lost in the repeating.  We decided when talking this over that when you are passing on information that might help the one you are discussing, it is not gossip.  "Sue (who is our mutual friend) had major surgery yesterday and will be incapacitated for a month."  We both have a relationship with Sue, I have merely repeated the facts, and this gives us an opportunity to help Sue.  No harm is meant, there is no salaciousness in the talk, and both parties have a vested interest in Sue.  It does begin to take on the character of gossip when we are repeating a story for the sake of the story.  As we talked this over, we admitted we all like to be "In the know".  For some strange reason, we think knowing all the latest and greatest talk makes us more important.  My cardinal rule has become--is there any benefit to be derived from repeating this information?  NONE of us like being the object of gossip--and when we begin repeating stories--the truth will get lost in the repeat.  We are opening the door for hurtful mischaracterizations of the truth.  My new answer has become, "It's not my story to tell."  I came across this quote this past week and it resonates with what I am attempting to say, "People will believe any story if it is told well."   Remember that old saying, "What goes around comes around."?  Be careful of repeating stories lest you be the subject of the stories.  OUCH, my toes are hurting!

3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips

Psalm 141:3

CHRIST IN ME

HE IS MY JOY,

MY RIGHTEOUSNESS

AND FREEDOM

MY STEADFAST LOVE
MY DEEP AND BOUNDLESS PEACE

SABBATH BLESSINGS,

DEAR FRIENDS

MEANWHILE HERE IN THE HOOD

THIS IS THE FINAL WEEKEND

OF MARDI GRAS

MARDI GRAS IS RELATIVELY TAME IN 

NORTH LOUISIANA

THE TULIP TREES ARE BLOOMING

JUST WHEN WE THINK SPRING IS COMING

MOTHER NATURE LAUGHS

AND SENDS US

ANOTHER HARD FREEZE

THE BAD THING--

ALL THE BLOOMS

WILL BE AFFECTED :-[

COME ON OVER RED ROVER

I have wonderful memories of hours spent on the playground as a child.  "Red Rover" was definitely a favorite among my fellow rebel rousers.  We had smart and multi-tasking teachers who incorporated physical education with recess to run off all that pent up energy.

Following the dreaded picking of teams (Lord, PLEASE don't let me be chosen last), the teams stood facing each other at the teacher's designated distance.  The trick was in the lining up~ for two weak players (that would be me) side by side was asking for disaster.  The players were slowly called over by chanting the little phrase, "Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Name The Child Over".  The called player would then run full steam ahead and try to break the line.  If they managed to break through, then they could take the player of their choice back to their line.  If they did not break through, they joined the other team.  The object of the game was to end up with all the players.  Certainly there was strength in numbers, but the strategy of lining up was critical.  The runner could try to break the line anywhere they chose, without prior notice.  It was imperative the entire line have their feet firmly planted and be ready.  One quickly learned the closer you stood together, the better the grip and less likely the runner could break the line.  As I thought this over, I wonder why we did not link elbows?  Probably against the rules.  I do distinctly remember a day when the runner hit our firmly linked hands with such force our heads bumped when we were thrown together.  Big knots, but NO BREAK!

We are spending two weeks talking over the shoes of peace in small group.  You put those shoes on to give you the sure footing which comes with the truth and the sure knowledge of the peace God intends us to live in.  As we stand shoulder to shoulder with our feet firmly planted, we present a strong front which the enemy will not be able to penetrate.  I have such a clear picture of standing with linked elbows--close--and our feet hip width apart-firmly planted.  That is the beautiful image of our community of believers and exactly why God desires for us to live in relationships and in community.  We have each others' backs though thick and thin!

This only works when we are united in peace, and peace seems to be endangered these days.  There is so much discord, dissension, and chaos in the world it would take a spider web graph to decide all of those we are not at peace with.  There is strife in families, disagreements among friends, war among believers, and out an out animosity between political parties.  Peace has become a rare commodity.  The enemy LOVES us to be in chaos ~ distracted from that which is eternally important.  We are ineffective warriors whose lines are easily broken and victims dragged off when we are living in turmoil.  Put on those shoes, choose peace, stand firm, and become an effective warrior for The Gospel of Peace.

I leave you with these poignant notes from Wesley~

Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel - Let this be always ready to direct and confirm you in every step. This part of the armour, for the feet, is needful, considering what a journey we have to go; what a race to run. Our feet must be so shod, that our footsteps slip not. To order our life and conversation aright, we are prepared by the gospel blessing, the peace and love of God ruling in the heart, Col 3:14,15. By this only can we tread the rough ways, surmount our difficulties, and hold out to the end.

WAITING ROOM PHILOSOPHY

Another small group member and I went Monday and sat with a dear friend and group member in the waiting room while her husband had surgery---14 hours of surgery.  It was a long day for her and we did our best to keep her spirits up, fears abated, and be a general distraction from the obvious~  her husband was having extensive surgery.   If you have never spent any extended period of time in an ICU or surgical waiting room, it is "Another World" experience.  A microcosm of community which will never be duplicated again.  Everyone in the room is there for one purpose, waiting for news.  In this particular hospital there was no room for private doctor consults following surgery, so everyone in the room heard the discussion once the doctor appeared to give an update.  Technology has provided for more private updates during the surgery via cellphone calls and texts, but the inevitable face to face conversation was on public display.  Thankfully by the time they finished our friend's surgery, we were one of the few left in the hospital, so as we stood in the hall to listen to the surgery outcome, there was no public to overhear this very private time.

As you recall, I recently took a friend's husband to have day surgery when she suddenly became sick.  This also involved a waiting room occasion.  Frankly, I am a people watcher, so reading a book or mindlessly staring at the television does not happen.  I am studying those around me and watching their reaction to time in the "Waiting Room."  If you want time to slow down, go sit in a hospital waiting room or for that matter any waiting room.  We are all guilty of impatiently waiting and are not particularly patient about the time spent sitting in anticipation of what we are waiting for.

Life is filled with "Waiting Room" occasions.  Waiting for the birth of a child is a great example.  Nine long months of change, growth, and anticipation of the blessed event.  Then in a matter of a few hours, life is changed forever.  Waiting to graduate from high school, college, boot camp or any other major milestone in life also comes to mind.  We spend a great deal of time waiting and preparing for our lives to take a major change by completing our course.  Waiting for career changes, home purchases, children growing up, grandchildren arriving~our lives are filled with time waiting for the next anticipated event.  We seem to be in life's waiting rooms a great deal of the time.  The final waiting room comes in our final years.  We are waiting for the last diagnosis, the announcement of our time remaining, or any other event which proceeds the final act.

What is more important than these life changing moments is how we are spending our time in the waiting room.  Are we so consumed with the next "big thing" that we forget to live in the moment?  Do we idle time away instead of using it to the fullest?  Do we live the abundant life while waiting?  The waiting room can be a huge waste of time and filled with doubt and chaos or it can be a productive period of time wisely spent.  There is more time spent waiting than experiencing the "moment".  The challenge becomes to live life abundantly--even in the waiting room.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have life

and have it abundantly.

John 10:10

EVOLVING LOVE

I have been watching the PBS special, "Victoria".  The story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert has them with seven children in the episode I watched this week.  As with all love stories there have been rough patches.  Outside influences, including the queen's own sister, have conspired to estrange the two.  The challenge of ruling the British Empire during an emerging industrial age is huge.  Prince Albert was raised in a different culture on the European Continent.  Victoria was raised as the heir apparent to the throne by an ambitious and domineering mother.  The story has more twists and turns than a modern day soap opera.  Add to this a new baby every time one gets close to walking and you have all the ingredient's for a stress filled marriage.  The two have been at odds in the last few episodes, but tonight saw them realize they were still in love--but the love has changed and evolved with time, maturity, and change of circumstance.  

Most marriages have periods of stress and strife.  I would dare to say that most relationships are stressed at some point.  A counselor friend once told me that if couples will only just hang on they will make it through the rough patches and come out on the other side stronger than ever.  The true test of any relationship is the willingness of both parties to work through the bad times.  The closer we are to someone the more likely we are to become aware of differences of opinion and even disagreements over circumstances.  How important that relationship is to us is then tested as we do the difficult work of reconcilement.  There are times we have to agree to disagree and respect the right to have a differing opinion without it threatening to end our relationship.

With time comes a deeper and more mature love in any relationship.  When thinking of my friendships, I know those which have endured for a long time have matured and deepened over the years.  A mutual respect and admiration has grown into a deep and abiding friendship where ideas are shared and opinions are debated without threat of malice or withdrawal.  With time and familiarity, those relationships have reached a deeper level of understanding and affection.  Love is ever evolving.

So it is with our relationship with God.  As we spend time seeking Him, speaking with Him, and growing in Him, our relationship deepens.  The relationship I now enjoy with The Father is completely different from the one I had even a couple of years ago.  He has grown me and shown me wonderful things about Himself.  I have become more submissive and more dependent upon Him.  I have learned what to expect during the rough spots when life is difficult.  He has shown Himself faithfully to uphold me and provide my needs.  It is a beautiful thing to see how God has drawn me along the road to sanctification.  He is the most important and deepest relationship I have.  And the beautiful thing--though my relationship with Him is evolving--it is only drawing me closer to Him.  Evolving love is a beautiful gift of grace and mercy from The Very One Who Created Love and is Love--God the Father.

16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

I John 4:16