Fire and Rage

“Never fear, for I am always with you; I am your God." ~ Isaiah 41:10

In the summer of his 7^th year, the home Chase had grown up in burned to the ground in the middle of the night.  Luckily everyone escaped … in nothing but their pajamas.

They returned the next morning to find their home resembled something out of a horror movie; twisted plastic and burnt ashes, nothing had escaped the inferno.  The charred remains of their house stood hollow as the soul of a skeleton.

It had been so alive, so vibrant.  Inside had been a place of love and security, a place with memories and warmth.  Gone were his favorite books, his baseball glove (and the trophy from last season), even his laptop.

He sucked at air that’d almost become too difficult to breathe.  He wanted to smash something – but there was nothing left to break.  Normally in times of stress, he’d jam in his earbuds and drown everything out.  Instead he went straight at Mom; kicking and pummeling.

Finally he screamed!  It had a primal intensity that told of urgency and desperation; the raw sound of a child in emotional pain.  When his Dad tried consoling him, Chase fell to the ground crying, pleading with God to help his family.

He looked up to see tears in Dad’s eyes too.  “It’s OK buddy,” he said in a reassuring voice.  “Even though we’re sad, things will get better.  We’ll get through this together.”

Chase stood up and turned to face a gathering crowd.

But these weren’t gawkers … but the faces of friends, church members, and a community who arrived with support to help them get back on their feet.  A neighbor offered the use of an empty rental house they owned a few blocks over for “as long as they needed.”

While their home still smoldered, a local business was established as a drop-off spot for donations.  Dad received checks and cash right there on the spot.  Neighbors they barely knew, offered furniture, clothes, and even toys and books for the children.  Over the weeks that followed, others called, sent care packages and wrote loving cards and emails.

Meanwhile Dad had returned to blackened wreckage to see what he could salvage.  The only thing he found was Mom’s wedding rings.  The plastic case she’d put them in that night had melted around them and shielded them from the flames.

It took Chase a while but he finally understood that God had answered his prayer.  He’d watched over and helped his family through the loving hearts of those around them.  God revealed that when you have nothing left but love … you see that love is enough.

Friends, may you always have “Enough” for all the days of your life.

Thank You Lord, for the many people I’ve met on this life’s journey.  Some of them inspire, me stretch me, challenge me, love me and encourage me.  They all help me to realize how meaningful and wonderful my life is.  Please grant their prayers too.   Amen

A Lesson For the Ages

“Forgive one another, just as God forgave you." ~ Ephesians 4:32

The small shop sold snacks, drinks, and other convenience items on the same corner for over five decades.  But lately, it’d become a magnet for local petty thieves.

Its longtime owner, Margie, sat unremarkably behind the counter reading cheesy romance novels when business dragged.  She wasn’t the kind you’d pity with her old bones and feeble limbs, but the kind who could still run an army kitchen given a chance.  Always quick with a joke, Margie knew most customers by name and treated all her visitors with equal respect.

Danny and his friend Miguel had it down to a science.  They’d search for stores where the shelves were lined up in such a way that it was difficult for the cahier to watch them.

They always went in pairs.  Miguel would take his time preparing a Slurpee from the drinks counter while Danny would stuff a backpack full of “saleable” goods that they could sell after school.  They even nicknamed their practice "finger-painting," a combination of having quick fingers and being caught red-handed.  After pilfering several desired items, they’d leave a store giggling and exchanging rebellious glances of teenage arrogance.

Today they weren't nearly as clever as they thought.

When Marge noticed the unfamiliar kids stealing, she didn’t panic.  She simply went over the counter and locked the front door.  Obviously, they hadn’t intended to pay for the ill-gotten gains.  It became equally apparent that they weren’t going anywhere.

Margie’s piercing eyes settled on them.  “Seems to me you have but two choices,” she began.  “You can wait for the cops to take you into custody, or you can put all the stuff back on the shelves.”

Their confidence retreated like a rollercoaster falling backwards.  Clearly not what they’d expected, the boys quickly did as she requested.

They were nearly finished when the police arrived.  Margie unlocked the door and explained that everything had been taken care; no need for their assistance, and went back to her reading.

How quickly most of us would seek punishment for those who commit a crime like larceny.  If we look deeper, however, we just might see people that simply need to be shown the right path.

Compassion isn't always easy, but we're all on this earth together, so we can't just help those that keep good behavior.  Kids who commit such crimes are often some of those that need help with the most basic spiritual and human principles, such as right and wrong.

Sure, we need to keep order and hold others accountable for misbehaviors.  But sometimes less is more … a good, kind example is more effective than harsh punishment.  Certainly, Christ was more effective by preaching responsible behavior than responding to irresponsible conduct.

Forgiving Lord, Your mercy flows to me in spite of my faults and failures.  If I can be forgiven, so can others. Help me demonstrate that kind of love even to those who disappoint and hurt me.  Amen

Happy Tails

“Trust in the Lord forever; He will always protect you." ~ Isaiah 26:4

They say that a dog is “man’s best friend.”  But sometimes dogs need a best friend of their own.

Meet Girard, an aging golden retriever who was blinded with cataracts from birth.  He also had a debilitating seizure disorder.  His owner, a man whose skin was so thin that his heart shined right through, cared for the old dog without regret.  By all accounts, Girard had a wonderful life.

Then his owned died … and his world turned inside out.  Without his human buddy, Girard fell into a deepening state of anxiety.  The panic he felt from not having his owner’s help, his presence, and his companionship intensified his seizure problems.

In fact, the shelter vet recommended Girard be euthanized.  Older dogs with disabilities rarely adjust to new environments.  It’s cruel for dogs like that to live such stress-ridden lives.

That all changed when he crossed paths with a one-year-old black lab mix named Bojangles in the exercise yard.  Bojo had been shot before finding her way to the animal shelter, so she had her own set of behavioral and trust issues.

Dogs have uncanny observation skills.  Bojo sensed that there was something different about Girard; something that left him approachable yet vulnerable.

The two bonded almost immediately.  Noting the dogs’ special connection, staff members began boarding the two together.

As a result, both showed worlds of improvement.  After only a few weeks, Girard’s seizures diminished in both frequency and severity.  The task of caring for his pal had, in turn, made Bojo far less skittish.

There are many myths about dogs and countless surprising truths.  It's times like these that we all wish that dogs could talk to us.  But dog lovers know intuitively what's going on in their minds.

Two dogs who were both incomplete now make each other whole.  Bojo instinctively guides and protects her new best friend through life as a Seeing Eye dog … for a dog.  Bojo is gaining new confidence and warmth.  They learn and lean on each other.

The two were adopted together by a loving couple who understood their special relationship.

As the song says, “We all need somebody to lean on.”  We’re not as self-reliant as we may at times believe.  Everyone is dependent on someone or something, whether he is poor and needy or seemingly “healthy and wealthy.”  Ultimately we must understand that God’s the one in control and come to learn that we should depend on His guidance and leading.

How’re you doing?  Are you leaning on God, or are you handling life on your own?   If you think you're doing pretty well managing your life without God, watch out.  It can all come crashing down in an instant.  Keep Him close … always.

“I love you.  Passionately.  Irrevocably.  Shamelessly.  Undeniably. Completely.  I won't leave you.  Lean in.  I will make a way for you.  I am here.  With you.  Even in your woundedness, Jesus still loves you.  And so do I. ~ God

But God

“We live by faith, not by sight.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7

Headstrong and foolish, Don set out duck hunting without telling anyone that he’d be going to a place he’d never tried before.  Nearly as asinine, he left his cell phone at home.

After settling into his blind, he gripped his gun barrel to clear away some reeds.  He’d learn later that the gunsmith who repaired his shotgun accidently cross-threaded the screw holding the stock to the rest of the gun.  The weapon broke in half when those two mistakes collided.

Dazed and confused, Don slowly realized that he'd shot a hole in his side the size of a plum.  He managed a quick prayer: “God, I'm going to need a little help!”  As he lay there dying, a thick fog smothered the setting sun.

All alone.  Excruciating pain.  Nobody knew where he was … but God.

It was nearly midnight when wife Brenda became anxious about his absence and called a friend who told her that he’d declined an invitation from Don to go hunting.  But he had no idea where.

They organized a search team and drove to a remote spot where the two had hunted before but got lost in the dark.  Scanning the unfamiliar territory they spied the slight reflection of Don’s windshield.  They reached him barely alive; on the verge of hypothermia.

Thirsty from his lengthy ordeal, Don asked for drink.  One of the rescuers offered some grape juice but was unable to open the bottle.  If but for God, Don would’ve likely died in surgery had he swallowed that juice.

The thick fog parted not once but twice for the rescue helicopter to land.  There’s literally no explanation for Don making it to hospital in time, was patched up and able to walk again, but God.

A missionary surgeon, who gained prominence repairing gunshot wounds and worked at that hospital only 1 in every 8 weekends, just happened to be working that night.  The doctor removed a full load, 120 BB’s, from Don’s side.  Had any become dislodged, he could’ve bled to death.

Modern day miracle, or just a great bit of luck?

I don’t really know.  But when I read about a bus driver who happened to put a Bible right in the place where a thug would fire his gun, it tips the scale for me.  It’s a “God Thing” – circumstances that’re nearly impossible to explain, but for God.  Some are almost imperceptible to all but the recipient.  For others like Don, they’re life-changing.

I don’t know why miracles happen to some people and not others.  I don’t know why some miracles result in life while others are found in death.  But I do know it glorifies God when I can’t do something, but He can.

Father God, I’m lonely without You, adrift on a sea of indecision.  I need to speak with You today as an intimate friend - to share my heart, my desires, my fears, and my pain.  I promise to seek You with all that I am, Amen

The Cuddlers

“Anyone who refreshes others will be refreshed." ~ Proverbs 11:25

In an instant, Teri was transported back in time.  She felt the beat of a rhythmic heart and gentle voices muffled by the protective walls of her mother’s womb.

Thrust into life at just 29 weeks gestation, Teri weighed just over 2½ pounds; kept alive in critical condition by machines, medications and a dedicated hospital staff.  Unfamiliar voices, harsh sounds, and bright lights characterized her strange new world.

This dream had occurred before – vivid, emotive, real!

During the earliest days, behavior was her only form of communication.  When stressed or unhappy, Teri covered her face, spit up, or even stopped breathing.

She loved the sound of her mother’s voice best, but any soothing pitch seemed equally reassuring especially when someone sang a lullaby or read a book.  Soft music helped the transition between sleep cycles.

Preemie’s eyes take longer to mature than their hearing, so in the beginning, she spent only brief periods of time with her eyes open and only in dim light.  Faces were Teri’s favorite!

Like most newborns, she had difficulty handling multiple stimuli at once – like trying to listen or focus while feeding.  Confusion and frustration usually followed overstimulation.

For Teri, the fondest memory of her dream was snuggle-time at about 4 pounds.  Feeling Dad’s arms wrapped around her brought hope for the future.  In Mom’s embrace she started believing that there was nothing to fear, that everything was sunshine, aromatic flowers, and kind people.  Cuddles were the only medicine she needed; a friendly star in an otherwise lonely universe.

Busy hospital sounds jolted Teri back to reality ... daydream over.

She gazed down at a docile preemie nestled against her chest, fingers curled into the fabric just enough to reassure him they were together in this odd place.  She felt his warmth seeping into her heart and kissed his tiny scalp with a grateful tear.

For the next 30 minutes, Teri lightly rocked him while reading the children's book, "Corduroy" and then singing "You are My Sunshine."  Before she left she offered a prayer asking the “Giver of Life” to bless this sweet child with the strength to stay alive and grace for a loving and fruitful life.

Love always seems in short supply.  Luckily, there are special volunteers offering up theirs to the tiniest who need it most.  Teri had come full circle – as one once cuddled in the NICU and now as a volunteer “Cuddler.”

Cuddler’s give parents some peace of mind that when they’re not able to be present, their babies are in loving hands and not alone.  And for babies exposed to opioids during gestation, cuddling helps them battle the toughest moments of their young lives - withdrawal.

A newborns’ initial ability only to receive highlights for me how potent is the joy of giving.

"I thank You, Lord as a volunteer, for the chance to serve another year.  And to give of myself in some small way, to those not blessed as I each day.”

 ~ A Volunteer’s Prayer, Pulpit Helps, August 1992

Saved to Serve

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and all your earthly needs will be met." ~ Matthew 6:33

The wizened old man had long since forgotten what it felt like to have joints that moved freely, without pain.  Yet once a week, Old Ed shuffled along the beach to his favorite pier as if honoring a solemn duty.  A bucket of shrimp was his only companion … for the moment.

Soon the brazen squawks of countless seagulls welcome him home.  The night seems oddly bright, casting the birds into dark shadows against a tangerine sky.  They anxiously swarm Ed as he tosses shrimp to the hungry fowl.  Listen carefully and you can hear him say “Thank You” with each toss.

Long after the bucket was empty, Ed remained on the pier; lost in memories piled high with reusable wealth.  Most Boomers likely write Ed off as eccentric, but they’d do well to know his story.

Nicknamed the Ace of Aces, Captain Eddie scored the most American aerial ‘kills’ in WWI.  He could have just as easily been labeled the ‘luckiest man alive’ however, surviving over 125 brushes with death during his flying career.

On one of his flying missions over the Pacific, he and his seven-member crew went down.  Miraculously they all survived and climbed into two life rafts where they floated for weeks in treacherous seas.  They fought the sun and sharks.  Most of all, they fought hunger and thirst.

By the 21^st day the men needed a miracle.  That afternoon they held a simple devotional service and prayed for a sign.  Their strength was fading.

Pulling his cap down to escape from the blistering sun, Ed tried napping.  Time stood still as waves punished their tiny crafts.  Until …

Ed felt a seagull land atop his cap.  “How could that be?” he wondered.  They were hundreds of miles from land and seagulls never travel that far.

Only God knew.

Ed sat perfectly still, planning his next move.  With a flash of his hand Captain Eddie caught the gull.  Its flesh was eaten.  Its intestines were used for bait to catch fish.  Their hopes renewed by the grace of God, the entire crew survived until their rescue 3 days later.

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker lived many years beyond that ordeal, never forgetting the sacrifice of that life-saving seagull ... and he never stopped saying 'Thank you.'  That explains his weekly trips to the pier with a bucket full of shrimp, a heart full of appreciation, and a prayer of thanks to God for the sacrificial visitor that saved their lives.

Friends, we too have received a sacrificial visitor in the name of Jesus Christ – who gave his life for all who claim it.  May our hearts be open to receive the peace, light and spirit of God who brings us this unexpected gift.

Lord, “I’m not so arrogant as to believe that You saved me because of who I am.  It’s clear to me that You had a purpose for keeping me alive.  I was saved to serve!” ~ Captain Eddie Rickenbacker