Why Me?

“Invite the poor, crippled, and blind to your banquet and you will be blessed." ~Luke 14:13

The sunshine in their bones radiated outward on that bright day; an aura so thirsty for summer adventure.  She met some friends at the beach on Chesapeake Bay to swim.

After arriving, she dove in quickly and instantly feared something was wrong.  Though she felt no real pain, a tightness seemed to envelop her.  Her first thought was that she was caught in a fishing net.  She tried to break free and get to the surface.

Panic gripped her when she realized she couldn’t move and was lying face down on the bottom of the bay.  As her otherwise healthy lungs began running out of air, she knew she was going to die.

Luckily, her sister saved her from drowning.

Joni’s life changed forever that July day in 1967.  She suffered a broken neck between the 4^th and 5^th cervical vertebrae; paralyzed from the shoulders down.  While her friends were preparing for college in the fall, Joni was fighting for her life and having to accept that she’d spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

Rehabilitation was extremely difficult.   Joni raged against her fate, struggling with depression and often flirting with suicide.  “Why me?” she wondered out of desperation.  

Before the accident, Joni worried that she might be missing God’s plan for her life and prayed that God would change her life – that He’d turn it around.  After months of staring at the ceiling and wallowing in her depression, Joni began to understand that this unexpected path was God’s answer to her prayer – one where she learned, adapted, and grew to better understand herself.

“It led me toward a life purpose that was neither grand nor perfect, but it seemed right,” she professed.  “And the beginning of my journey to wholeness as a person with a disability.”

Joni’s life has been full.  She learned to compensate for her handicaps.  Naturally creative, she taught herself to draw and paint holding her utensils with her teeth.  Her artwork sold to broad acclaim which provided a degree of independence.  She signed her paintings “PTL” (Praise the Lord.)

Joni has also become a sought-after conference speaker, author, and actress, portraying herself in the movie “The Life Story of Joni Eareckson” in 1978.  She’s written 48 books including her autobiography, and many children’s titles.  But her most satisfying and far-reaching work is her advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities.

In 1979, Joni began a global ministry called Joni and Friends (JAF Ministries), fulfilling Jesus’ mandate in Luke above.  She and Ken, her husband of nearly 40 years, preach God’s Word all over the world, bringing inspiration and hope; living examples of how Christ can redeem broken things.  

It’s no sin to ask God why things happen.  But can we handle his answers?

Lord, I don’t have to worry about not having a plan.  Because You have one; You’ve told me so.  It’s not an emergency backup plan, either.  It’s the perfect plan that You’ve had before I was born.  I’ll wait in silence and trust You.  Amen

Celebrate Rest

 “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him." ~ Psalm 62:5

On this brilliant autumn day, I found myself thinking of spring, imagining warm sunshine that comes to melt ice and snow.  I actually believed it for a second, imagining flowers that colored my world in vibrant shades of pink and gold.  The turn toward cooler months left me yearning for lazy summer days and outdoor barbeques that lingered long into the evening.

Those memories came with a chuckle ... this is autumn, a season with her own special ways of bringing happiness.  It’s a time of wool sweaters, warm apple cider, and vibrant foliage that provide an ideal occasion to recognize our many gifts and graces.

Autumn affords many reasons to celebrate.  It marks the end of the growing season; a time to reap the harvest, celebrate its bounty, and stock up for the long winter ahead.  It’s a time to finish projects and let go of what’s unwanted so that winter can be spent relaxing. 

Autumn is the perfect time to be surrounded by nature, or indoors near a window, and practice being still.  It’s a time for slowing down, embracing the quiet peace of God’s presence, and immersing myself in His Word.

When daylight hours shrink, I’m going to take the occasion to appreciate long nights.  They don’t come naturally to me, especially in this day of artificial light and electronic screens that glare brightly day and night. 

Autumn teaches much about rest and rejuvenation.  I will also make some minor changes at home to extol the virtues of this new season.

Better to light a candle than curse the darkness, I think. Candles soften the mood in ways that electric lights can’t.  I plan to color pictures, play board games, and make shadow puppets with my family, using those flames as focal points rather than wishing for more daylight.

As the weather becomes chillier, the air in our house can get stale.  What a perfect opening for filling the space with spicy scents of apple peels and cinnamon sticks.

Instead of huddling inside as winter approaches, I want to take more walks outdoors, when possible, to enjoy the quiet hours between night and day.  The earth’s natural cycle allows our bodies more restful slumber when mimicking the rhythm of the sun.

Spiritually, autumn may be a time of transition for you - with something ending and something else beginning - everything from a fresh start to a loss that brings grief and emptiness.  It might also be a time of hidden preparation for something yet to be imagined.  Our spiritual Autumn leads us to live in the Spirit of the Cross - the daily “dying of self” that, as Christians, we are called to.

Father God, quiet time with You is balm for my soul.  Thank You for the beautiful change of season, that encourages and inspires me to look inward and let go of what is necessary to make new life.  Amen

Another Dream Team

 “Blessed is the one who patiently perseveres under trial." ~ James 1:12

In the ’92 Summer Olympics, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and the rest of the Dream Teamers were heavily favored to win gold.  But few predicted that a new nation formed from the fallen heap of the communist empire would become a medal contender.

When the Soviets won the 1988 gold medal in men’s basketball, four of the five starters were Lithuanian.  They were forced to stand and honor the flag of the country that had systematically slaughtered thousands of their compatriots.

Lithuania’s new basketball team needed money, desperately.  Šarūnas Marčiulionis, a Lithuanian-born NBA star playing for the Golden State Warriors, took up the cause for his homeland.  He wasn’t having much luck finding donors until a local sports writer penned a piece about their struggle in the San Francisco Chronicle.  The article caught the attention of the Grateful Dead.

Jerry Garcia’s group was big on giving money to deserving groups and individuals that they learned about while touring.  The band not only cut a large check but had their designer send a box of tie-dyed T-shirts in red, yellow, and green - Lithuania’s national colors.  It included the band’s iconic image of a skeleton dunking a basketball.

Along with other grass-root donations, the first-year team soon headed to Barcelona.  Emotions ran high for men competing for their own flag for the first time in over 50 years.  

They defeated Brazil in the quarter-finals before falling to the Americans in the Semis. 

But the fight for national pride and historic dignity came when they squared off for 3rd place against their former Russian overlords.  In the end, the tiny Baltic nation prevailed 82-78.  Call it the “Miracle on Hardwood.” 

They became instant media sensations when they received their bronze medals atop the podium wearing the Dead’s flamboyant T-shirts rather than traditional warmup suits.  The Grateful Dead had supported them when nobody else would.  The design was "enshrined" at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts the next year.

Lithuania captured bronze twice more: Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.  To this day, Lithuanian basketball merchandise remains one of the most popular designs on the official Skullman lineup of Grateful Dead paraphernalia.

The Grateful Dead remains relevant 25 years after Jerry Garcia's passing.  The group established the Rex Foundation in 1983 to formally guide their charitable giving based on 1960s ideals: not to define or control, but to allow for enough flexibility to adapt.  To date, the Rex Foundation has awarded 1,300 grants and reinvested nearly $10 million into communities across the globe.  

Despite the odds, the Lithuanian team pushed through hardships and complications with a little help from an unlikely source.  And God offered His two hands – the Son and Holy Spirit too.

Father God, guide our steps, our thoughts, and our attitudes as we partner with You in faith, obedience, and compassion for others.  Spark the flame of faith brilliantly in our lives and keep it glowing by Your power.  Amen

For the Love of a Child

 “Let the children come to Me.  The kingdom of heaven belongs to them." ~ Matthew 19:14

The tiny tot blinked and gazed up at his ginormous Dad in a vague haze.  His miniature frame had finally surrendered to exhaustion.  Carl reached down and picked up his son Jameson and carried him as if it were a hug that kept his heart in sinus rhythm.

Within but a few steps, the boy snuggled into his Dad, safe and secure, letting the world of dreams come in its fanciful way.  Confirmation spread across his normally expressive face; his chatty mouth had gone soft with sleep.  Two hearts melding as one: connected, bonded, indivisible.

Carl savored this precious time with his son.  He felt so light, looked so perfect, and smelled so divine.  He will be Jameson’s protector for as long as he lives; love for him that will last for all eternity. 

A sense of complete and total peace washed over Carl.  Is there anything sweeter in the world than a sleeping child?  He’ll only be a little boy for such a short time, yet he can already name a thousand things he adored about him.

His chest tightened.  The extra weight was no bother, only the anxiety of not knowing how many more times he’d get to carry him like this.  How long before Jameson will be too big for his arms, too old for needing to be tucked in, too grown up for what he was to him right now?  It’s something that’ll pass without witness and he dreaded it.  So for now, Carl would treasure the heft for as long as the boy lets him carry it.

For now, he’ll breathe in the scent of maple syrup and sweaty feet that boys emit and commit it to memory.  He’ll continue to lift him every time he needs it, safely bring him where he needs to be, and leave him when it is time to go.  In short – he wants to love Jameson as Jesus does.  Perfectly!

He wondered: “When he looks into my eyes, will he see the face of God looking back with eyes of delight?  When he hears my voice, will he get a taste of Christ’s love for him?  When he’s being held, will he catch a glimpse of God’s heart beating wildly with excitement in his future?

Of course, that’s impossible, only Jesus can and does love perfectly.  But when His grace begins to transform our hearts, it also begins to transform our parenting.  It isn’t about what we do, but what His grace does through us when we surrender to His wholehearted acceptance of us.  Until we accept God’s wild, unrestricted love, we will struggle in vain to let it flow through us to our kids.

Lord, help me love my children as you love them.  Show me that my ability to love others as Jesus loves them is profoundly influenced by my own understanding and acceptance of how You love me!    Amen

8 Second Chances

“God doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve or punish us for our failings." ~Psalm 103:10

Mutual friends brought them together on a blind date.  He was attractive, fun, and thoughtful.  She was smitten.  They both wanted big families.  George Soete proposed in the backseat of a car and following a six-month engagement, she said "I do."

That big family came quickly.  A daughter arrived just before their first anniversary in 1965.  Three more girls followed roughly two years apart.  The couple thought their family was complete at four, but they welcomed their only son nine years later.  A fifth daughter rounded out their crew two years later.

To casual observers, they were a happy couple.  But with six children, it's difficult to put your marriage first.  Soon neither was investing in the other.

A few weeks after their 20^th wedding anniversary, George told his wife he wanted a life with a woman Cassie considered a friend.  Cassie wanted no part in the divorce.  She meant her “I dos, until death.”  She’d never give up on their marriage.

George gathered all six children (ages 1 to 19) in the sunroom to announce his exit before moving out.  That began a four-year tug-of-war between the family he loved … and the woman he thought he wanted.  Tortured by confusion, he came home to his family seven times, and each time, he left them again for the other woman. 

Eventually, he realized the value of his marriage vows.  On his eighth attempt at reconciliation, George promised Cassie that he’d earn her trust again; that she’d live to forgive him.  And just as he’d vowed, George and Cassie had 30 more incredible years together.  The two of them even began a church ministry counseling other couples considering divorce.

He kept his word.  Then, he died in her arms in 2015. 

His sudden passing opened a new chapter for Cassie to start ministering to widowed persons, sharing in the journey and challenges as a single senior.

To this day Cassie vividly recalled one phone call from a young woman shortly after she and George had reunited.  “Please tell me how you did it," the woman begged, trying to fix her marriage. "I’ll do anything, anything.”

“Well, would you be willing to give 4-and-a-half-years of 'maybe he’ll come back, maybe not,'” Cassie asked.  The woman answered curtly, “Absolutely not!”

“Well, hey, you asked for my advice," Cassie remembered telling the woman. "You don’t have to do it, but all I can tell you is what works and what doesn’t.”

Never underestimate the power of the God of second chances.  But He doesn't envision His forgiveness stopping with Him.  You probably will sooner or later if you don’t need a second chance right now.  Remember, love is always open to second chances.

Merciful God, who pardons sin and forgives our transgressions, forgive me, for foolishly neglecting and taking You for granted in my life.  Thank You for unconditionally loving and guiding me and helping me show others the same respect.  Amen

Capture the Moment

 “Enjoy the blessings of each day." ~ Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Years of practice, planning or often pure luck – there’s no single formula for taking a brilliant wildlife photograph.  Franz often goes to extreme lengths to get that perfectly timed photo, even risking his life in the process.

Franz found himself at Brooks Falls, a remote area of Alaska's southern peninsula.  It provides the perfect natural setting for hungry bears to catch a fresh meal of calorie-laden salmon making the journey upstream to lay their eggs.  The perfect setting for wildlife photographers.

The bears have also picked up quite a tourist following.

Some distance away, a mama bear was a model of patience with her playful cubs.  They tumbled over her as if she were a jungle gym, savoring both the warmth of the sun and their mother’s attention.

Mama bear sauntered along a well-worn path towards the river, curious in her relaxed way.  Just like the many other tourists who’d gathered to capture the moment from atop the bridge, Paige steadied her iPhone.

When the furry mammals stepped into the salmon-rich creek, she heard offensive complaints from those who weren’t close enough and clicking shutters from those that were.  Flashes went off as they all struggled to get the perfect shot.

Returning to the bus, Paige noticed Franz.  About 50 pounds of camera gear hung from a shoulder pack and 3 telephoto lenses dangled from around his neck.  He remained captivated by the bears’ antics; the sort of gaze that spoke of enjoyment, admiration, and reverence.

“Did you get the shot?” Paige asked, breaking his concentration briefly.

“No, no,” Franz replied.  “Sometimes I don’t.  If I like a moment, I don’t like the distraction of a camera … so I stay in the moment.” 

She spun around and realized that she’d missed the ‘moment.’  She missed the energy of those little cubs - learning, frolicking, and loving what they’d achieved.  And for what?

The technology exists that allows us to film every waking moment – a breathtaking panorama, your daughter's first soccer game, that spectacular rock concert.  But, wouldn't your kid rather see you cheering excitedly over her big goal than flashing a feeble thumbs up while trying to keep the camera steady?  Just because we can doesn't mean we should.

A 2011 study on the "Google Effect" found that people don't remember information as well when it can be later retrieved from the internet or from a device it’s been saved on.  It’s like we offload the responsibility of remembering onto an external drive.   We’re basically outsourcing our memory.

Shouldn’t we stop focusing so much on capturing the moment and just enjoy it instead?  Shouldn’t we take more things in with just our eyes, letting the memory be of how fully we experienced that event at the time with all our senses?

Father God, help me live in the present moment - always thankful for the blessing of each day.  Not taking life for granted; not living in the past, but living for God, making the most of every opportunity and living in peace with everyone.  Amen