Turn Toward the Light

 “Instead of turning away from God, draw nearer to Him." ~ Hebrews 3:12

Whether you believe prison exists as a deterrent, a place for penitence, or an avenue to recalibrate a broken moral compass, most everyone would agree on one thing: it stinks.  There’s something about unmeasurable time that is a torture to mind, body and soul.  Perhaps it's because there’s no love there, no hugs or kind smiles, no-one to tell you everything will be okay.  Worse yet, a social faux pas could result in getting the business end of a sharpened toothbrush.

Shockingly, however, some on the outside feel compelled to scramble over the walls and willingly leave freedom behind. 

One such Florida inmate was sentenced to 15 years on a manslaughter charge for shooting an unarmed 19-year-old.  He became a free man, however, after accepting a plea deal for eight months’ probation in exchange for his guilty concession.

After enjoying only 3 days of fresh air, he begged guards to lock him up again fearing the victim’s family members might retaliate against him.  When he was turned down and told to file a police report, the former inmate scaled a 12-foot fence and broke back into jail. 

Attempting to scale a second one topped with razor-sharp wire, he fell and suffered severe lacerations.  Guards escorted him to a local hospital for treatment. 

His outrageous actions were a violation of his probation.  So, in the end, he got his wish. 

In an ironic twist, a Florida judge sentenced Sylvester Jiles for trespassing on jail property and resisting an officer.  He’ll serve the remainder of his 15-year manslaughter sentence in prison. 

Jiles was led out of the courtroom after breaking into an angry, profanity-laced tirade.  His outburst was in stark contrast to letters he penned to the judge earlier, claiming he’d found God and wanted to move to Georgia to start anew and set a positive example for his children.

Have you ever watched someone profess their faith in Christ, followed by dramatic lifestyle improvements?  It’s exciting to see such newfound joy.  But when a difficult trial hits, their faith shatters. 

The book of Hebrews reminds us that we should think again before walking away from Jesus.  Doing so is tantamount to reentering prison.  To leave Jesus is to go back to a life of condemnation, slavery to sin, and the fear of death.

Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, the exact representation of His being.  The covenant He brings is full of love, redemption and forgiveness.  It would be foolish to turn your back on such a great salvation and Savior.

Difficulties come in all shapes and sizes.  Sometimes it isn’t a drastic tragedy, but the busy chaos of managing life.  So, turn toward, rather than away from, the light of Christ in all circumstances.

Jesus, I need you. I’m weary and my burdens are great.  I’m not sure how much more I can bear.  Will You help carry these burdens for a while?  I need your rest for my soul, Your comfort for my heart.  Amen

"Moonshadow"

 “Give thanks the Lord with all your heart." ~ Psalm 9:1

This isn’t a story of heroics, but of utter foolishness … and much more!

As a sophomore in college, a friend and I decided to spend one Saturday afternoon exploring a cave that he’d been mapping for his geology class.  He was an experienced caver; me an enthusiastic novice.  Not taking the necessary precautions spelunkers take – we were fools!

About an hour in and after swimming a short traverse underwater, all 4 of our “waterproof” light sources failed.  Total blindness – only texture, temperature, and noise remained intact.  The underground became a blank page, or one scribbled with words we couldn’t decipher.

Completely disoriented, we tried shaking our flashlights and headlamps to coax out any remaining juice.  No luck!  We decided to swim back in the direction we’d come from, imagining the mental map that’d gotten us there in the first place.  On the other side, we belly crawled, following a shallow stream we prayed would lead us back out of the cave. 

Prayerfully, I slipped into a kind of meditative calm, allowing my thoughts to soften and unspool.  My mind floated through the tunnels in a peaceful detachment, scrambling for any data that would help us regain our bearings.

We eventually emerged safely; exhausted, famished and oh so grateful – a bonus we didn’t actually deserve.

Outside, a full moon cast a milky glow in that night sky.  Having experienced total darkness for nearly five hours, it was the first time I remember getting a good look at the moon unhindered by artificial lights.  It was as if its sight bellowed a song in the eyes of those willing to raise our heads skyward. 

A Cat Steven’s song immediately came to mind.  He too was able to see his shadow cast by the moon; an experience which filled him with wonderment and serenity.

Cat Stevens’ personal favorite, "Moonshadow" was formally released in 1971 as part of his fifth album, “Teaser and the Firecat.”   It spoke of an unabated appreciation for life, imagining that if he had to live without eyes, then he would no longer have to cry.

The vocalist predicted he’d still find a reason to relish his life even devoid of those essentials.  (He wrote the lyrics while recovering from Tuberculosis and shortly before converting to Islam).

Fans found him “leaping and hopping on a Moonshadow,” infused with joy not due to any material gain, but rather life’s simple pleasures, such as seeing his own shadow cast by moonlight.

Gratitude is a CHOICE, a quietness that God whispers of His love as our truth.  When we invite the stillness in, when we savor moments as if each was the greatest gift of all, there’s an appreciation that makes the soul robust, strong enough to greet both storms and sunny days just the same.

Father God, let me never forget all that You do for me.  Sustain me with the hope of my salvation and the other countless blessings You provide with your continuous presence.  Deliver my life in testimony to your incredible blessings.  Amen

Be Here Tomorrow

 “Lord, rescue me from that which troubles me." ~ Psalm 31:15

Twenty years ago on an overcast September day, a 19-year-old teen suffering the psychotic effects of bipolar disorder, looked in the mirror and hated what he saw.  He HAD to die!  Suicide would lift from his family the burden of dealing with someone so crazy.

He wept openly on the bus toward a chosen destination, hoping that just one person would notice his tears, approach him and ask: “Are you okay?  Is something wrong?  Can I help you?”

Following a common pattern among people considering suicide, he reasoned that “If just one person cared enough to ask, he wouldn’t go through with it.”  

No one did.

He paced the famous span about 40 minutes before a European woman, approached and asked him to take her picture.  She handed over a camera and posed.  Kevin took the photos and returned the camera.  She thanked him and went on her way. 

“That’s it!  Nobody cares,” he said to himself.  Leaving his backpack behind with a note inside to his Dad, Kevin quickly leapt off the bridge, falling headfirst into the choppy sea 220 feet below. 

Kevin tumbled roughly the height of a 25-story building.  In the 4 seconds before impact, he realized he’d made a terrible mistake; he didn't really want to die.

He hit the water at 75 miles per hour fracturing an ankle and shattering vertebraes T-12 and L-1.  His legs now unusable, Kevin pulled himself 70 feet back to the surface using only his arms. 

His eyes opened to a foggy hell; a broken body racked by fierce currents in the chilling water.  The asthmatic teen gasped for air as his strength drained rapidly.

Struggling to remain afloat, Kevin felt something circling beneath him.  Suddenly, it didn’t matter how cold the water felt or how much trouble breathing he was having because he sensed he was about to be eaten by a shark.

But the creature didn’t bite him.  It gently nudged him to the surface and held him there.  It wasn’t a shark.  It was a Sea lion.

Officials say more that have 1,300 have leaped off the bridge – only 16 have survived.  Most drown.  But, within 12 minutes of the jump, a Coast Guard rescue team got to Kevin and pulled him out of the water.  He bares a few scars, but otherwise his body is whole again.

Today, Kevin Hines devotes himself to stopping suicide.  He successfully fought to get a barrier constructed under the bridge to deter people from jumping.  He became a suicide prevention motivational speaker urging people to get treatment for mental illness and helping them realize that suicide is not the answer.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is: 1–800–273–8255.

Healing God, we pray for all whose lives have been touched by suicide; especially for those who have died or tried.  Give us the courage, patience and wisdom to be present for those in distress, to offer a listening ear and hope-filled heart.  Amen

A Friend in Deed

 “A friend is born for adversity." ~ Proverbs 17:17

For Gary, shopping during the pandemic felt like an ethical dilemma.  When it came to online shopping, convenience and wide product variety clearly stood out.

Still, Gary tended to favor in-store spending experiences.  Friendly, well-informed sales associates, combined with an up-close look at products, created a more personal shopping encounter.  He was willing to forego convenience and savings in exchange for supporting his local community … and a little less social isolation.

And so it was that Gary found himself shopping for a few items at the local hardware store last summer.  A former Marine who lost both legs above the knee after stepping on a landmine in Vietnam 40 years ago, Gary wobbled down the aisle in a decrepit wheelchair ready for surrender.  He’d requested a replacement from the VA more than two years prior.

In the lawn-supplies aisle, a bolt on the chair’s right wheel snapped sending Gary tumbling.

Before he could panic, a red-vested employee named “Joseph” came to the rescue helping Gary into a nearby patio chair.  He then assembled a team of helpers who immediately started working on the wheelchair like a well-oiled pit crew.

They ask no questions, didn’t feel the need to fill out any forms or phone the boss for permission.  Someone needed help, and they seemed privileged to be given the opportunity – clearly different from his disappointing VA misfortune.

They stayed well past closing time to repair his wheelchair.  By the time they finished, the store was closed and half the lights were out. 

Gary and his wife returned the following day with cookies and a framed photo of the ‘wheelchair repairmen’ as a sign of thanks for their kindness.  They blushed at the notoriety.

The VA took notice after the ‘rescue’ made the local news.  He received a new chair with an apology for it’s unfortunate delay.  “I guess I better order a new one right away!” Gary chuckled.  Then he added, “Isn’t it a little sad that events like this become newsworthy just become someone was nice?”

Hundreds of strangers had already offered to buy Gary a new wheelchair.  He asked that instead they contribute to a nonprofit foundation helping other wounded vets.

Compassion for others' need lies at the heart of happiness and thriving societies.  The very act is reward enough; being there for others means they’re more likely to be pay it forward too.

Note the not-so-subtle hint to Shop Local/Shop Small.  By supporting local economies and smaller businesses, we help build more vibrant and unified communities (neighbors in need also).  When buying from business owners you trust, shopping seems more enjoyable because you know where the products originate and the neighbors behind them.

Father God, sometimes we detach our capacity as humans to be kind and caring.  We pray for flourishing communities, where neighbors help each other without expectation.  Where we learn from each other and all are welcome.  Help us be better stewards of Your love to every person whose path we cross.  Amen

Less Than a Hero's Welcome

 “His angels will protect you wherever you go." ~ Psalm 91:11

It was the war American wants to forget.  We don’t remember Vietnam as a moral or righteous war, but a collective memory of deep sadness and shame for the pain inflicted on our veterans.

The war claimed the lives of nearly 60,000 American service members and wounded another 150,000.  And for those who served in Vietnam and survived unspeakable horrors, coming home offered its own kind of trauma.

Tired of attending the funerals of his buddies returning from Nam, Terry left college and joined the U.S. Marine Corps.  “I couldn’t be in school while this is going on,” he recalled.

Wounded twice - the second time seriously - Terry returned to Boston for treatment.  Strapped to a gurney in a recycled bus, he and other wounded soldiers were excited at being back on American soil, comforting himself with images of girls hugging him in warm embrace.

But looking out the window and seeing civilians glaring at the caravan of hospital-bound vehicles, his enthusiasm turned to confusion.  Protesters flipped the bird, shouted obscenities, and pounded their bus with fists and protest signs.  His imagined safe haven was strewn with land mines of hate.

The America Terry loved had changed.  Anti-war activists declared the war was cruel; a disgrace to America’s moral identity.  For the first and only time in the nation’s history, even veterans publicly marched in opposition to the war. 

Abandoned by their government, many veterans were tormented by their country’s condemnation of the war.  They suffered grievous physical and psycho-spiritual injuries.  Unlike their fathers, who’d fought “The Good War” and rejoined a booming economy, Vietnam vets returned to an America slipping into recession and a VA system incapable of adequately helping them. 

They were just part of a complex web of people who voted in policymakers supporting the war and who paid their taxes to finance it.  He and his troops were merely doing their jobs; carrying the burden of that for everyone else.

Nowadays, there are yellow ribbons, beer commercials showing people clapping at airports, and banners on freeway overpasses.  There are the well-intended "Thank you for your service," and awkward handshakes.

Forty years late, Terry smiles politely knowing it’s done with kind intentions.  Having gone through five decades of trying to reintegrate into the American culture, ribbons and handshakes fall way short of what returning veterans actually deserve.

We learned to distinguish the kids fighting our wars from the adults making the war policies.  But we’ve also become smugly complacent.

On Veteran’s Day 2021 and to veterans everywhere, “Thank You for Your Service.”  For those of you who honorably served in Vietnam yet came home to a second battle on American soil, “Welcome Home, we’re forever sorry!”

Lord, hold our troops in Your loving hands.  Protect them as they protect us.  Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform on our behalf.  Let them feel Your abiding presence.  Keep them healthy and free from sickness.  Amen

Autumn Leaves

 Jesus said, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me." ~ John 7:16

Autumn comes as a chariot of nature's flame; brilliant greens giving way to vibrant golds and vivid scarlets.  A walk in the park became so much more as Daniella and her grandfather strolled through a peaceful woodland setting, enjoying a gorgeous day and each other's company.

They’d walked only a short distance when the little girl suddenly paused in wide-eyed wonder.  Picking up a handful of leaves, she tossed them in the air and watched them float gracefully back to earth – bold, carefree, joyful.  “Grandpa … look at all the pretty leaves.  Where did all of those colors come from?”

Grampa replied, “Leaves are the season's poetry, spoken in color.  They teach us many things - like there’s glamour in every stage of life.  A leaf is beautiful when it’s fresh and green in the springtime and it’s also elegant in autumn when it turns red, gold or brown.”

“Each of us is beautiful at every age, stage, and function of our lives, too,” he continued.  “God appreciates variety, so He created each of us to be special, unique, and extraordinary.  Like leaves, we come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors.”

After considering this she asked, “Can they ever get back on their tree?”

“Ah,” Grampa sighed.  “You ask very good questions Daniella.  Leaves show us that everything has a purpose.  They help to sustain and enhance all life on earth.  Leaves provide shade in the summer and replenish the atmosphere with oxygen as they absorb carbon dioxide.  When leaves fall to the ground in autumn, they put nutrients in the soil to nourish the trees and help new leaves grow next season.”

“God created each of us with a unique purpose and a plan for our lives too, Daniella,” Grampa explained.  “God gives each of us special gifts that make us particularly suited for the purpose He created us to carry out.  Even after we die, we continue to touch others through our legacy, our accomplishments, our memories, and through our children.”

Daniella gazed affectionately into her grampa’s eyes.  “How did you learn so much about leaves,” she asked.

“Just by listening to the stories that all the wonderful things in nature show and tell me each day,” he replied.  “Let’s sit down near that little stream over there and I’ll tell you another story.”

When they were both comfortably seated, the child listened enthusiastically to every word her grandfather spoke.  Then he began telling the story: “A very long time ago, on a cloudless night in a distant country, a bright star appeared in the sky.  Nearby, a little baby was born in a cold, lonely place where animals usually sleep.  The baby’s name was Jesus …”

Gracious God, we, the recipients of Your great love and gospel messages, enlighten the eyes of our heart that we may we may know the purpose for which You have called us in order to make disciples of all nations.  Amen

Never Too Late

 "Be kind to strangers, you may be showing hospitality to angels without knowing it." ~ Hebrews 13:2

Amanda was on her way home from work when she noticed traffic was moving in a strange way.  Traffic had slowed; horns were blaring.  And then the cause of the problem came into view.

An elderly woman stood in the middle of the road.  Apparently, the signal to walk had expired while she was still trying to cross.  While many of the oncoming cars did stop for her, some of the cars in the outer lane kept driving, ignoring that she was left helpless in the middle of the road.  She looked terrified.  

Damian had been standing outside the corner pharmacy waiting to pick up a prescription for his grandmother.  From a distance, he had an imposing stature; someone you might not want to lock eyes with, smirking as if something bad was about to happen.

He could see that she was frightened; a chill that only fear can put in you.  He instantly thought of his own MawMaw.

She, like many older persons, tended to look more at her feet due to the inherent need to plant precise steps.  In turn, she also paid less attention to the traffic. 

He rushed toward the stranded woman.

Even with the smile on his face, she looked worried.  Was he going to rob her; maybe hurt her?

She indicated that she needed to go to the far side.  “Right now,” Damian said kindly, “let’s just get you out of traffic.”  He blocked all cars from moving in any direction. Then Damian escorted her to the other side of the street walking in such a way that the cars would see them both … and know that if you hit one of them, you’d hit them both.

When they reached the other side, the smile on her face grew like a spring flower.  People smile with more than their mouths.  Damian heard it in her voice; saw it in her eyes, and felt it in the way she relaxed.  Pandemic be damned, she hugged him in a way that brought pure joy. 

She thanked him profusely and offered a few bills as compensation.  He refused.  This wasn’t a job to him; but simply helping someone in need.  God only knew how many who had given him a hand in the past.  He lived his whole life that way; it never occurred to him to act any differently.

The world is full of unkindness.  But we all have the choice to be kind.  It costs nothing, but has rewards that are beyond worth.  It has no time table.  It’s NEVER too late to be kind to someone.

Tender Lord, teach us to be more like You in all ways – kinder, more gentle, generous, forgiving, and caring.  Lead us to follow in Your humble footsteps.  Mold and shape us into the brilliant beings we were always destined to become.  Amen