Dear Judi

It's StoryADay Saturday, and the writing prompt for May 10th was a letter-writing prompt: "Write a letter to your 14-year-old self. Address that young person’s fears, concerns, questions, and insecurities. Offer reassurance based on what you now know as an adult." How many of us have imagined going back in time, either to talk some sense into a misguided youth or enjoy the things we had at that age in light of the knowledge we have now? 

Dear Judi

Dear Judi,

     Should I have just said, "Hey!"? I know how you like to keep things casual. Not much formality or intimacy. Anyway, I don't want to simply drop a bunch of advice on you. You know, like, don't smoke, eat right, choose good friends, spend money wisely. I mean it is all good advice, but you're not going to listen anyway, and maybe if I can offer you a better foundation, wiser choices will follow naturally. So, here goes...

     Let's talk about your feelings. I know how you allow your feelings to guide you. You feel as though you have to please everyone, but that's because you're scared of being alone. You feel as though you have to make sure everyone is okay, but that's because you don't like tension. You feel as though your best has to be better than everyone else's best because of what you've been up against. And in this world, that may be kind of true. But you're following your feelings on a road that you can't stay on. You will see unhappy people all along the way, and your feelings will tell you that you must keep going, or face responsibility for their unhappiness; things will get uncomfortable. You will see people struggling all along the way. Your feelings will tell you that you must keep going or face responsibility for their failure; they won't like you anymore. You will see people all along the way who are better, smarter, richer, prettier, faster. Your feelings will tell you that you have to keep striving to be better than everyone because you aren't like the others; you are damaged. And your feelings will lie. You will get tired. You will need to stop and refuel.

     So, can I make a suggestion? Search for truth instead of companionship. Search for truth instead of peace. Search for truth instead of measuring yourself against what everyone else is doing. When you allow truth to guide you, it will open up doors for you, give you serenity, and forge real, everlasting relationships. 

     And, one last thing. Miss Williamson and Mr. Walton are really good teachers. Take better notes (and not that crazy notehand stuff -- I can't read that!). And don't throw them out after the final exam, we're gonna want them later.

Love,     

Me     

                                         

Sunny and 75!

It's sunny and 75! The last few days have just been gorgeous. The humidity has been low, sunshine, light breezes -- perfect deck weather. We start with coffee under the canopy and end our day at dusk. Meals happen out here. Mom naps out here. As you can tell, writing happens out here. The indoors have come outdoors, and who wants to be inside?! A few moments ago, I thought to myself, "I wouldn't trade this for anything." A few months ago, I wanted to. 

A few months ago, I was looking for a miracle. Now, I'm not saying God has ruled that out or I'm not still looking, but I wanted it the way I envisioned it: flashes of lightning, instantaneous healing, in the blink of an eye transformation; the type of miracle that leaves you gasping for breath; the type of miracle where the hair on the back of your neck stands up with each retelling. That's what I wanted, and I believe my exact words were, "I would trade every perfect sunny and 75 ever if You would just ____." It may sound childish or manipulative, but I was in great pain, and I do mean in great pain. I was consumed by that pain. Many moments of the day, I could only see and feel pain -- in everything. The happiness of others made me hurt. Cheery colors made me hurt. Thinking about hope sometimes made me hurt. Sunshine and the fragrance of nature made me hurt. "Get rid of it! Get rid of it all!" my heart screamed in pain; "I just want what will make the pain stop." 

But God screamed back. Yes, sometimes I make Him scream 'cause I tend not to listen the first seven or eight times. He screamed lots of things and, apparently, is still screaming. Today He screamed, "Whatever made you think days like today were ever yours to trade?" Days like today, these perfect sunny and 75s, are blessings. I don't deserve them any more than I deserve a miracle served up nice and hot, complete with "here-I-did-it-your-way" sauce. These days are here to demonstrate God's loving nature and show the world-- a cursed world --that our sovereign God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. These days are the evidence of His nature and by His grace, we benefit from them; but they are not mine to refuse in return for something I'd like better. What an arrogant thought!

We have to be more than appreciative of the blessings God gives; we have to be careful. Yes, God loves us. Yes, God gives perfect gifts. Yes, God's goodness leads people to repentance. But blessings are the demonstration of who He is, first of all. Like saying grace: before we dig in, our hearts and minds should be drawn to God as sustainer and provider, not to the buffet sitting before us. And before we stake our claim to all those sunny and 75s, let's open our eyes to the color and beauty, sniff the fragrant air, hear the birdsong, relish the perfect dichotomy of warm sunshine and cool breezes, and realize this is a picture of God's nature. Let's remember all of this is God telling the world who He is: good, even to a cursed world.

Christ Alone

I went by a cemetery the other day. For years three crosses stood at the end of the property, close to the road; a poignant reminder of Christ's work at Calvary to all who passed. No more. The three crosses are gone, and only the church's logo sits in that spot. To be fair, the logo includes a cross, but it is, very obviously, the logo. Better, right? Mmmm... Looking at those three crosses, I was reminded of the crucifixion, the price paid by Jesus for all who would come to Him. I thought of it as a place all were welcome to sit and pray. I didn't think of it as an advertisement for anything or anyone but Jesus. Now, I am reminded of the business, its members, and its property, and wonder if it would even be appropriate for me to sit there and pray as I once did. I'm not even sure if I see Jesus or I just remember He was once there.

Years ago, I had someone tell me I was "the real deal." It was the highest compliment anyone has ever paid me. Allow me to clarify by saying it was not someone who lives with me and it was during one of the quieter seasons of my life, as I recall; but it is important that people see the authenticity in our walk. Someone once said, "You may be the only Bible someone ever reads." Authenticity in the lives of believers testifies to the authenticity of the One we seek to imitate. We can't keep striving to do things our own way and preach Jesus to others. We have to put ourselves behind the cross. Like little neon arrows, pointing the way to what Jesus is doing. Hey, did you see that? God did that! Isn't that amazing? Isn't He amazing! We can't try to share the spotlight with Jesus and expect people to seek Him. Francis Chan says, "The point of my life is to point to Jesus." Get out of the frame; stop photobombing His work. When people look at you, is Jesus there? Does your ad say "Christ above all others"? Is your living epistle one of faith or one of fear? Does the world see trust or turmoil? I have to be honest, I'm speaking to myself as much as anyone. We don't always get it right. None of us do. Our walk doesn't always reflect our talk. We don't always step back and give Jesus the credit He is due. But we need to be surrendering and praying and working -- yes, working -- toward that end. (In the Church, "work" can be a bit of a naughty word, but that's a discussion for another day.) 

Look, I don't know why the organization I mentioned made the change it did. Maybe the crosses needed to be replaced and they could only afford one. I have to answer for me, and I pray they see Christ advertised, and Christ alone.

The Good Father

Yesterday was StoryADay Saturday, but I saved my post for Father's Day. So, without further ado...

The Good Father

Once upon a time, there was a father who had a son. His son was good and his son was kind. His son was as generous and loving as his father. Of course, they weren't the only father and son. There was another father, an evil father, and he had many, many children. His children were as selfish and reprobate as he was. This father was cruel and a liar. This father would deceive his own children just to get what he wanted, which was pretty much anything he could get his hands on. This father would lure his children into thinking they were good enough just the way they were, so they wouldn't go looking for anything outside of the life they already knew. This father would teach his children to hate people who were different and fear doing what was right. This father had no inheritance to give his children; all he could promise were moments of what seemed like pleasure or success. When those moments were over, the children were left with nothing: emptiness, hopelessness, even death. He had so many children, and the good father's heart broke for them.

One day, the good father, said to his son, "It is time." He had a plan all along. He would send his son to take the place of the other children. Any of those children who would be willing to be sons and daughters of the good father would be made eligible by the substitution. The good father would give up his son for the sake of the others he longed to adopt. He would love them and treat them as if they had been his children all along. There would be no remembrance of their former loyalty; there would be no punishment for the evil that they, like their father had done; they would be given a new identity and the good father's inheritance. But the son had to be willing. And he was. "He was as generous and loving as his father." He would do whatever it took to give the others an opportunity to know his good father.

Now, I'm going to stop my story right here, because I think you know. The son went to the evil father. Willingly. Some children responded to that act by calling the good father "Abba," and loving him with all their hearts. Some children did not. Have you ever known a good man who steps in to care for his wife's children and is rejected? Have you ever known a couple who longs to help a child through adoption or foster care, and the father's authority is continuously disrespected? It's not the father who is wrong, but the child who can't see past themselves enough to see what a good father he truly is. 

God is a good Father. And because of who He is, His Son willingly gave His all to make you His Father's child. *Surprise ending* God did not leave His Son in the clutches of the evil father. And He won't leave you there either.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!