Collision Course

“At the proper time, we’ll reap a harvest if we don’t give up." ~ Galatians 6:9

They were on a collision course of sorts.

DeAndre started a car-cleaning business when he was just 18 years old.  He rented a garage, hired helpers, and created advertising brochures.  The business prospered.  He intended to sell it and use the proceeds to pay for college, so he was thrilled when a buyer expressed interest.

After some negotiations, it seemed that the transaction would happen.  But at the last minute, the deal collapsed.  DeAndre felt like an undertaker watching a man being swallowed by a shark.

“God must have a better plan,” he thought without much conviction.  It wouldn’t be until almost 17 months later that a new potential buyer came forward with a unique idea.

Luke, it turned out, had done time in prison.  Illegal drug use had left him a shell of a man.  His marriage had failed.  And after multiple charges, he was sentenced to 9 years behind bars.

He knew that he needed to change but also knew that he was powerless to change on his own.  He enrolled in Prison Fellowship’s spiritual development classes.  It was there Luke came to realize he’d been given unique talents and abilities.

With God’s provision, Luke improved both his life skills and his character.  But that was only the beginning.  He learned how to create the business plan, and once paroled, shared it with DeAndre.

With a small business loan and the backing of his Prison Fellowship sponsor, his plan relied on ex-cons.

Sure, he’d heard all the reason not to hire former prisoners.  But his heart (and some research) suggested that employees with criminal backgrounds were much less likely to quit their jobs and no more likely to misbehave or get fired than non-ex-offenders.  And he knew from personal experience that a failure to obtain legitimate employment is one of the strongest correlates to criminal recidivism.

This collision course had a very happy ending.  DeAndre went on to earn his diploma.  Luke earned the respect of men who he’d give a second chance.

It’s normal to be disappointed when God’s timing and design for our lives don’t match our own expectations.  But what’s more important - achieving our hopes and dreams, or our love for God?

DeAndre understood the true nature of life, that you can't judge any event as the "end.  Our life doesn't play out like fictional works.  There aren't definite breaks that separate one moment from another; there's always tomorrow.

There are a million effects which can arise from one event.  Good and bad are interconnected.  They’re two sides of the same coin.  If things seem perfect, they aren't.  If it seems like a disaster in your corner of the world, it's not.  Things can change in an instant, at all times.

And they will … at some point or another.

Lord, give me the patience to wait on Your plans.  Silence my racing thoughts and self-imposed time limits.  Thank you for showing me that putting You first is what’s best for me.  Amen

Life's Collection of Moments

“Be beautiful in your heart, with the lasting charm of a gentle spirit." ~ I Peter 3:4

Laney sank into the recliner, feeling its soft leather mold around her as she prepared for the long day ahead.  She let her head roll back and eyes pull to a close.  Her feet dangled over the edge just like they had when she was small.

Just the slightest nudge from her imagination and she soared amongst the clouds, off down a path of distant memories.  Her first semester in Kearney had her feeling depressed, alone, and isolated.

She missed her Appalachian Mountains back home.  Laney loved walking in their forests of Maple, Oak, and Hickory trees.  She loved how the leaves turned a thousand shades of green in the Spring and then became a sea of red, gold, and orange in the Fall.  The sweet smell of clover and wild flowers shot through her like adrenaline right to her soul.

Nebraska was flat.  The grass looked burnt.  All she could smell was a mixture of corn, mud, and cattle.  How she had longed of being home again … until she saw her first Prairie Sunset.

She watched the sunset at the horizon, spreading its largess into a grateful sky.  Rich hues of gold, red, orange and purple flowed together in a picture painted by Heaven's own hand.  It took her breath away; filled with a distinct oneness with God.  All the loneliness, insecurity, hurt – gone!

She’d been foolish and judgmental.  The vast prairie had its own special beauty.  It too was a part of God's Creation.  Laney took a moment to imagine what God was whispering about her current situation as her faith stirred again.

She readjusted her position now in the infusion chair.  Today marked her 4^th chemo treatment.  Her hair had fallen out weeks ago.  People tried reassuring her that she’s still beautiful.  But as a product of western culture and custom, Laney wished she could believe them.  Every time she looked in a mirror, her appearance reminded her of all that’d happened since her diagnosis.

Most disturbing was that hair loss unmasked her as a cancer patient.  With pitying eyes, total strangers would ask what kind of cancer she had, how treatment was going, and how much time she had left.

Suddenly, God’s message crystalized.  Physical attractiveness has no relation to goodness, character, or godliness.

Like nature’s infinite wonders, each of us has special beauty as well.  We each have unique talents, abilities, and dreams.  Each of us has a powerful love, a vibrancy, that only we can share.  And God wants us to share it.

May you always do so then.  May your life always shine bright.  And may love radiate from your soul like a sunset on the Prairie.

Dear Lord, thank you for creating me in Your image.  Please help me to embrace even my flaws, and imperfections too.  Forgive me for the times I spent too much time complaining about my physical appearance and changing what you created.  Amen

All Tangled Up

“Let’s work for the benefit of all every time we get the chance." ~ Galatians 6:10

When the school bus bounced over a pothole, the Scotch tape that held Aubrey’s glasses together broke apart.  She could try fixing them after school; maybe with glue this time.

As always, she got off the bus last and rushed into the classroom.  She quickly took off her jacket and rolled her frayed sweater sleeves back to the elbows.  At least that way no-one could see that they looked like a rat had been chewing on them.

Her hair was as wild as the jungle, untamable and unruly.  It tumbled like beached kelp after a storm; so knotted and tangled that it might be easier to shave it off and start over.

Mrs. Boyd, the kindergarten teacher, noticed her hair also.  It’d been getting progressively worse for several weeks now.  So she pulled a brush from her purse.

“Aubrey would you like me to brush your hair?” she asked.  “My daughter has long hair, so I have lots of practice getting tangles out and I know how to be gentle.”

“OK,” replied the self-conscious little girl.

While the rest of the children amused themselves, Mrs. Boyd worked until every last tangle had disappeared; soft and smooth as an infant’s.  While she worked, Aubrey had sat patiently without making a sound.

When finished, the sweet child gave her teacher a grateful hug.  In Mrs. Boyd’s arms she felt safe.  Her worries disappeared like rain on summer earth.

"Thank you Mrs. Boyd,” she said.  “My Mom’s sick and can't brush my hair anymore.  I’m happy you did it.  Someday I want to be a teacher just like you!”

Mrs. Boyd’s tears came unexpectedly.  One never knows the challenges others face.  Yet despite her struggles, Aubrey remained happy, cheerful and thankful.  What a precious baby!

Mrs. Boyd had seldom felt that kind of love for another soul.  For those fleeting moments – she felt a slice God’s unconditional love.   It was as if He’d overtaken her heart; like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short time.  The emotions were so strong and so pure that she knew they had to be God's own.

Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of such a divine moment completely unaware of its significance.  It was a ‘God Moment’ she’d never forget.

Whether or not our dreams come true isn't as important as how we live each day God gives us.  A hug shared today can never be replaced.  An act of kindness not given is lost forever.  An act of love missed can never be made up again.  Every second is precious and priceless.

Don't waste them.  Embrace them ... with a heart full of love, a soul full of joy, and a life full of kindness.

Heavenly Father, help me grow in grace and live my life as You would have me live - in spirit and in truth.  Help me to be kind, compassionate, and gracious towards my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Amen

The Blue Spot

“Give thanks to the LORD; for He is good." ~ 1 Chronicles 16:34

Ralph Elliot had an inspiring teaching style; educating students beyond the traditional curriculum.  He taught students how to believe in themselves, develop meaningful relationships, and enjoy life to its fullest with the passion of a lifelong mentor.

He was one educator the kids could never get the better of.  Whatever witty retort they had; he did one better.  He turned their rebellion into an advantage, not by belittling them or wielding authority.  He checked their behavior with a style of humor they could relate to, even aspire to.

Today when he entered his 7^th grade classroom he placed a sheet of plain white paper on the whiteboard - blank except for a single blue spot.  He waited until all eyes were focused on the odd image; their confused stares begging for an explanation.  “Tell me what you see,” he questioned.

Some of them described the blue spot, trying to explain its position on the page (lower right-hand corner).  Others tried to attach realism to the shape itself (looks like a Victorian mask or a genie about to escape from a lamp).  One clever lyricist even tried to simply define the spot’s color (blue like a midwinter night an hour before pitch darkness).

After all ideas had been exhausted, Mr. Elliot began to explain.  “A fascinating discussion,” he began, “surely something to think about.”

“I’m surprised, however.  No one described the white part of the paper.  You focused on the blue spot.  The same happens in our daily lives.  We have a blank canvass to observe and enjoy, but we always focus on the dark spots.

Each moment we’re given is a precious gift from God.  We have so many reasons to celebrate: our friends around us, nature renewing itself every day, miraculous discoveries ... but we focus on the dark spots - health issues, money problems, complicated relationships, and other disappointments.  The dark spots are so small compared to all that’s good in our lives, but they’re the ones that draw our attention.

Research shows that people who practice and attitude of gratitude are better able to cope with stress, have more positive emotions, and are better able to reach their goals.  Scientists have proven that they’re even heathier.

Cultivating a sense of appreciation will help you refocus your attention toward what’s good in your life, rather than dwelling on the negatives and all the things you may feel are lacking.  And, like a muscle, this mental state can be strengthened with practice.

So my message today,” Mr. Elliot concluded, “is take your eyes off the blue spots in your life.  Enjoy every one of your blessings, each moment that life gives you.  You’ll feel more fulfilled and joyful.

Class dismissed!”

Almighty Father, forgive us for when we don't thank You enough, for who You are, for all that You do, for all that You've given.  Thank you for Your amazing power and work in our lives and for Your blessings over us.  Amen

Never Too Old

“Be strong and never give up; your work will be rewarded." ~ 2 Chronicles 15:7

She charmed people wherever she went.  A tiny, dynamic woman with mischievous gray eyes and a quick wit, she could be sharp-tongued with a bootlicker and stern with a defiant child.

Cheerful, as a lark, she remained keenly observant even in her later years.  She worked every day until her last birthday.

Born the 3^rd of nine children, she left home at age 12 to work on a neighboring farm.  Until her marriage at age 26, she earned a living sewing, cooking, and housekeeping for wealthy families.

The couple had 10 children (but only 5 survived past infancy).  In addition to her work as a farm wife and mother, she helped support her family by selling various homemade foods.  Sadly, her husband died in 1927; the widow never remarried.  She continued to work the farm with the help of her youngest son, busying herself with needlepoint and quilting.

By her late 70s, her fingers were no longer nimble enough for the small detail work of embroidery.  She found it much easier to hold a paintbrush and tried her hand at painting.

The old woman felt her farm and country scenes were good enough to show at the fair.  Her raspberry jam won a ribbon.  No one noticed her paintings.

Undeterred, she continued to paint, using whatever materials she could find: ground ochre, grass, flour paste, slack lime and sawdust.  And although familiar with the hardships of farm life, she portrayed happier childhood memories of fields and storms, barn dances, and holidays of rural life.  She deliberately omitted telephone poles, tractors, and other examples of industrialization.

One day an art collector noticed several of her paintings on display in the window of a local drug store.  He bought them all.  When he showed them to his friends in the art circles of New York City, they were more curious about the artist.

Soon, "Grandma Moses" gained an international reputation.  Her widely-collected works of art were featured on calendars, greeting cards and in exhibitions in the leading galleries, including the Modern Museum of Art in New York City.

Even more amazing, it’s reported that 25 of her more than 1,600 paintings were done after she had turned 100!  Her 100th birthday was heralded by Life magazine on its September, 1960, cover.  The character Granny on the popular 1960s TV comedy series The Beverly Hillbillies was named Daisy Moses as homage to Grandma Moses.  She lived to be 101 years old.

Though her success began late in her life, she still left a legacy.  Individuals have learned from her experience that it is never too late to start something you’ve always dreamt of doing.  Isn’t it time you got started?

Father, thank you for the blessing of maturity.  The elderly bring to life the wisdom that comes from having failed as often as they succeeded, relinquished as much as they accumulated, and keen insight into what’s most important in this life.  Amen

Sweet Surender

“I will give them comfort and joy instead of pain and sorrow." ~ Jeremiah 31:13

They arrived early for the first of (hopefully no more than) 8 chemotherapy treatments and scanned the cancer pavilion.  What a cruel gathering of bald heads, steroid-swollen faces, and weary forms.   The old seemed childlike, the young acted senile, everyone in between looked disheartened.  It was never a club they’d expected to join.

When the oncologist explained the possible effects of chemotherapy in detail, cancer’s reality sunk in.  His wife’s treatment would require painful, expensive, eco-harmful drugs.  But there she sat waiting for her battle to commence.  “Carrie must be so scared,” Russell thought, trying to look confident … fooling absolutely no one!

After the last of the fluids entered the port under her skin, a nurse removed the needle and they headed for home.

The following three days were good; no side effects from the chemo what-so-ever.  She’d gotten through the whole ordeal just fine … and then it began to happen!

Nausea and exhaustion were expected yet manageable.  But soon her entire upper body hurt terribly: neck, arms, glands, abdomen, back, throat, head; even eyeballs and fingernails.  Carrie cried as if her brain was being shredded from the inside; sobs only interrupted by the need to draw breath.

“The pain must be unbearable,” Russell thought, wondering too about the invisible effects of chemotherapy.  She’d quickly gone from content to tortured; a transformation Russell didn’t know how to reverse.  To hide his own tears, he leaned in and cradled her like a precious child.

In that moment his arms squeezed a fraction tighter and Carrie breathed more slowly, her body melted into his as every muscle lost its tension.  He’d hugged her before, but never like this.  There was something so warm; so reassuring.  She let her body sag; her worries lost their sting, her optimism restored.

Russell felt it too, as if the world stopped still on its axis.  There was no time, no wind, no rain.  His Almighty Father was hugging him too, gently caressing his burdened shoulders and rubbing out the rawness of his own desperation.

He felt Carrie’s body press in, now quiet and at peace.  “I love your Russell,” she whispered before dozing off into a restful slumber.

It was the relief he’d waited for, prayed for.  He inwardly thanked God for offering His affection and never being too busy to embrace His human creation.

God hugs are timely gifts.  They soothe, comfort and calm.  His compassion never fails.  His mercy flows fresh every day and remains present until healing occurs.  He never lets go!

Your Father in Heaven can’t wait to embrace you in your shame, stress or success.  He runs to greet you with warm acceptance, so throw yourself into His arms.  Cast your cares on Christ and surrender your life to Him.

Precious Lord, let me rest in Your arms and cherish Your sweet embrace.  Search out my heart and change me into the person that You desire me to be ... whatever it takes.  Amen

Called for a Purpose

“Go now and tell what God has done for you.” ~ Luke 8:39

Traffic snaked up the hill; two lines of steel and rubber; each capable of over 100 MPH but averaging only 5 in their start-stop manner.  Frustration simmered like scorched concrete that stretched for miles ahead.

Logan tapped his car’s accelerator and inched forward.  He sighed heavily; eyes constantly shifting from his watch to the speedometer to the traffic ahead.

Finally, after a painfully slow crawl, Logan saw the problem.  A repair crew had closed down half of the two-lane highway, leaving a single lane for the Friday afternoon, get-me-to-my-cabin traffic to bleed through.  He didn’t have time for this!

Marking the start of a coned-off section stood a safety-vested flagger holding an unmistakable ‘Stop’ sign.  Squinted into the sun, Logan considered the poor man’s plight.

His job consisted of barking orders across a two-way radio to the other flagger at the end of the construction zone.  Every so often he rotated his sign from ‘Stop’ to ‘Slow in order to direct the traffic flow.  “His time must flow like a three-toed sloth,” Logan surmised.

As he approached the repair area, the flagger turned his sign to ‘Stop.’  Logan rolled his eyes, applied the brakes, and turned off the ignition - he knew he’d be waiting a while.  The aroma of fresh asphalt wafted in.

Logan stopped within earshot of the flagger and decided to strike up a conversation with the young man.  In a tone of almost sympathetic-honesty, he said, “I’m sorry.  That’s got to be the most boring job on the planet.  How can you stand it?”

A smile spread across the flagger’s face.  “I love this job,” he proudly exclaimed without hesitation. “I LOVE it because it matters!  I keep everybody safe.  I get to make a real difference every day.”

As if the flagger was trying to decide whether to say it or not, he added, “I’m so grateful that God lead me here.  He never wastes a single one of us.  This is my “spiritual gift.”

To most people, this story might seem hard to believe.  This guy was not a teacher, pastor, social worker, or doctor.  He definitely wasn’t Gandhi, Mother Teresa, or Martin Luther King Jr.  He was a road construction flagger!

Yet it bears all the hallmarks of a calling and the highway was his mission field.  God gives us specific spiritual gifts as the primary avenue for Him to bless and encourage others.  Natural talents are imparted when we are born; spiritual gifts on the other hand, are increased as we mature in our relationship with God.

Ours’s is a mysterious and clever God.  He speaks to us and guides us in many different ways, and we’ll probably miss His voice if we aren’t listening.  But when we do hear Him, it can change lives.

Lord, help me find the courage and the desire to share what You’ve done in my life.  Turn my past into my purpose and refuse to let my suffering be for nothing.  Amen

God-given Talents

“Thank you, Lord, for making us so marvelously complex!" ~ Psalm 139:14

We humans have difficulty relating to fish.

That’s partly because their world is vastly different from ours.  They’re not furry, cuddly, or funny; they can’t express emotions or do cute tricks.

They’ve long been misread as primitive, dull, and boring.  But this couldn’t be further from the truth.  They actually live dynamic lives, often blessed with remarkable abilities.  Take the amazing Frillfin Goby for instance.

It’s kind of an ugly little fish that lives in the inter-tidal zones of the Atlantic Ocean.  When the tide goes out, the fish lives in small tidal pools; isolated and safe from the predatory fish that threaten its existence.

See a goby and you’re not likely to give it much thought.  It’s not pretty like so many tropical species, nor is it impressive in size.  It's not even good to eat.

They each have a home pool, but sometimes when the tide rolls out, the waves sweep them into a different pool.  These small puddles become the perfect hunting ground for crabs and shorebirds.

With no place to hide; the goby developed a remarkable technique for escaping to its home pool.

It can fling its 4-inch body into a nearby rockpool, and if necessary, to another, then another, and so on.  But how does leap precisely into the next pool without landing on bare rock … especially since the fish is blind?

Answer: At high tide when they’re still able to swim freely above the pools, gobies swim over the area creating a mental map of the sea-floor’s topography.  Essentially, they create a mental GPS that allows them to make what would be an otherwise dangerous escape.  It’s a trait now passed down through generations; another reminder of the marvelously complex world we live in.

The goby’s natural ability is almost super natural.  And it represents just a fraction of God’s brilliance.  No one can fully understand how imaginative and detailed God is.

He also created each of us with special talents and gifts. To suggest that you don’t have a talent is to call God a liar.  Some have talent in artistry, some in computer programming, still others in singing.  Some people have great skills in business, or teaching, or carpentry.

If you don’t know what your talent, it’s not because God hasn’t given you one.  You have one, you just haven’t discovered or applied it yet.  The first step in finding purpose or even wealth in life is by seeking the Kingdom of God and wait patiently for Him to real what He has planned for you.

If He can make a blind, pea-brained fish fly, imagine what he can do for you with the wisdom and skills He’s provided for you!

Lord, as we walk throughout our day it’s so easy to just glide past the intricacy and depth of the world around us.  May we never forget how marvelously complex our world is, and how brilliant You, who created all things, are still today.

Self-ful

“The second greatest commandment is “Love others as yourself." ~ Mark 12:30

Karyn was in the middle of a busy day when her cell phone buzzed.  “Mom again!”

She’d been so lonely since Dad died; always seeking company, asking for little favors that’d draw Karyn in for another "quick" visit.  Mom always found plenty to talk about.

But the shoe store loomed ahead, new sales on all the styles she’d forced herself to walk past for months.  Karyn silenced her phone; Mom wasn't ruining this for her.

There was daughterly duty and then there was soft Italian leather.  No contest really.  Two hours later she’d spent nearly $700.  She had all year to pay it off and perhaps with a few carefully placed hints - Mom would settle her debt (again).  “She'd earned it lately,” she reasoned.

Karyn unmuted her phone, 12 missed calls ... from the ER.  “Oh God!” she gasped racing to the hospital; fighting the urge to admit guilt.

Karyn pulled back the ER curtain to a lifeless patient, unconscious from a nasty fall.  Memories began flooding her brain like a hammering tide.

Her Mom wasn’t formally educated; she gave up dreams and aspirations in exchange for a family.  She spent money and time on her kids; barely any on herself.  Selfless, wise, and practical.

“How would she manage if the “rock” that held everything together left the earth today,” Karyn wondered through salty tears.  All she wanted to do was lay in bed with her Mom and cuddle.

It would be several hours before the doctor somberly approached.  Mom would remain in an induced coma until the swelling subsided, but she would LIVE.

It gave Karyn time:  1) time for fear to recede; 2) time for reflection, 3) time to rebuild a relationship that’d gone stale.

Sometimes God uses fear and helplessness to show things we normally can’t see.  For Karyn, fear may have been the most effective way to get her attention.

“Giving yourself a little attention isn’t selfish – it’s sensible,” she thought.  If I feel genuinely loved and cherished, I’ll have more to give others.  But ‘loving’ doesn’t mean ‘indulging’ oneself.”

To that end, she invented a new word be added to the dictionary: ‘self-ful’ (as in ‘helpful’, ‘grateful’, ‘purposeful’).  The self-ful person loves and cares for themselves as much as they love and care for others.  They neither give too much or too little.

She took a hard look at her schedule and the routines in her life in order to create room for self-ful living.  It created a margin for helping her Mom (and others) reclaim a sense of dignity that they often haven’t felt in a long time, showing them that someone does think they are important, and assisting them in regaining their self-worth.

God always has a better plan!

Lord, protect me from a small, selfish mindset.  Help me to be the kind, gentle person You want me to be.  Especially, at times when I only seem to care about “me”.  Amen

Budged by His Nudge

“I will instruct you and teach you as My loving eyes watch over you." ~ Psalm 32:8

Market shopping was her favorite time of the week.  Every Saturday morning Sheela would drink in the colors, the aromas and the atmosphere of the farmer’s market like an elixir.  She loved interacting with local stall holders, each one a caricature of bubbly sociability.  They knew her by name and usually kept a few of their freshest items behind the counter that they knew she would buy ... and she always did.

This to Sheela was life.  Real life; not the sanitized pre-packed convenience world of individual yogurts and personal cheeses.  Just after loading her backpack with fresh veggies, she heard it.

The woman’s harsh, demeaning words startled her:  “Straighten up you little s**t or I’ll blister you’re a**.  Times like this, I wish I’d never had you!” she said with heat in her voice before disappearing into the crowd.

“The hurtful words stung, and they weren’t even for me!” Sheela thought.  Moms should be your biggest cheerleader, never your worst critic.

The little girl’s eyes stared blankly; a void so black no light could penetrate.  Maybe six, her innocence had shattered long ago; an open wound that no amount of salve would ever heal.  Sheela knew instantly from the look in her terrified eyes that they'd hit their mark.

Sheela felt a clear nudge from God to approach the child, hug her tenderly, and explain the truth: that she was worth more than diamonds, she was beautiful, and the God of the universe loved her more than she could imagine.

She didn’t do it.  She ignored His nudge.

As Sheela continued shopping, she couldn’t get the little girl with her big blank eyes out of her mind.  She circled back to find the girl and speak life into her.

She didn’t find her; it was too late.  She hadn’t followed God’s leading, and felt terrible for months.  Her tears could have filled a large bucket.

That precious child needed to hear the truth.  God had asked her to convey it, and she had not followed His lead.

But God knew how to get through to her anyway.  That moment joined the palette of paints God used in Sheela’s ever-developing portrait of how she would live in His world.  She’d listen more carefully, seek His counsel more frequently, and act more forcefully.

We’ve all miss His call, sometimes by choice!

But God doesn’t give up!  If anything, He finds ways to reach us even when we’re unreachable.  His nudge can come during a walk in the park or boom at us via the thunder and lightning of a summer thunderstorm.  Luckily, He finds us even when telephone and internet lines are down.

Lord of love, help me feel Your nudges.  Use me - in ways big and small - to accomplish Your will here on earth.  Help me respond without hesitation whenever I hear Your voice calling me into action  Amen