True Grit

“Don’t look back.  Lengthen your stride and press toward the goal." ~ Philippians 3:13-14

The 1972 Munich Olympics are perhaps best remembered by the murder of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches by Palestinian terrorists.  Mark Spitz won a record-setting seven gold swimming medals.  Yet the unsung hero of the Munich Games was another American swimmer - Steve Genter.  Never heard of him?  Read on.

Young Steve’s Olympic dream began at age ten.  Rigorously practicing every single day for seven years, he qualified first in the 200-meter freestyle qualifying event and became the odds-on favorite to win the gold medal in Munich.

Less than a week before Olympic competition was to begin, Genter suffered a partly collapsed lung.  Surgeons opened his chest, repaired his lung and stitched him back together.  Pain boiled through his lung like boiling water; more intense than he could have ever imagined.

Doctors warned Steve that his dream was over; the pain would be too great to swim in the finals without medication; Olympics rules banned all painkillers.  Even Mark Spitz begged him to withdraw (the event was the second most worrisome final of Spitz's seven).

Yet, Genter soldiered through the pain, nausea and sleeplessness which dominated every thought.  When his name was called, he stepped proudly onto the starting block; his surgeon at poolside.

When the gun sounded, he flew from the platform, adrenaline pumping with every ounce of concentration.  In a dead heat with Spitz, an awkward flip turn at 100 meters tore his stitches loose!  Fifty meters later there was blood in the pool.

Despite losing 24 ounces of blood during final lap, Genter lead with 25 meters to go.  But he was spent.  Spitz raced past him capturing gold by less than 1/10 of a second.  Genter won the silver medal.

Two days later his team won the 4x200 meter relay and Genter collected a gold medal.  He added a bronze later in the Games before returning home in Spitz’s shadow.

What happens to you when things go wrong?  Are you ready to quit or compete through the pain?  Do you surrender to circumstances or do you “Genter” through them?

When we strive for excellence and follow God's unique plan for our lives, we always win.  God's emphasis is not on overcoming or outsmarting our competitors but on the development of our own vision, passion, and perseverance.  The race is not against other contenders but against ourselves.  Success is not measured by the margin of victory over our rivals, but how we did compared to how well we could have done.

Our emphasis, therefore, must be on performing to the measure of our personal capabilities, on exercising discernment, discipline, and dedication in achieving the goals we believe God has set for us in our personal sphere of influence.

Lord, those who put their trust in You will never be disappointed.  Help me to keep trusting in Your great love for me even in the darkest, most painful times when I don’t understand Your plan.  Amen

The REAL Family Von Trapp

“As mothers console their children, so I will console you." ~ Isaiah 66:13

Like many true stories filtered through Hollywood’s overly sentimental lens, the screen version of The Sound of Music differs significantly from the actual tale of the von Trapp family.  Let’s start at the very beginning!

The actual Maria Kutschera was orphaned a toddler and sent to live with an abusive uncle.  She didn’t discover religion until college where she joined a convent in Salzburg.  Maria described herself as “the worst novitiate you could imagine!”

Captain von Trapp was arguably the more interesting and famous of the two characters.  As perhaps Austrian most decorated naval officer in WWI, he sank 13 ships and captured another – the most victories by any Austrian U-boat submarine commander.

Unlike the cold-hearted patriarch portrayed in the movie, he was actually a gentle, affectionate parent who encouraged musical activities with his family.  Though dutiful to his core, Georg was ambivalent about the carnage created by his sub and imperial rationalizations for war.

After the war, he lost the two loves of his life: his beloved wife Agathe (to scarlet fever) and the navy (land-locked after the war, Austria no longer needed one).  He settled in Salzburg with his seven children.

In 1926, he hired Maria from the nearby abbey as a tutor for his bedridden daughter.  She quickly endeared herself to the children ... and later to him.  Twenty-five years her senior, they married a year later.  “Maria, with her emotionally stunted upbringing, was the one who needed thawing.”

Like many families, the von Trapps lost their fortune after the Great Depression of the 1930s.  Forced to raise money, they took in boarders, including Father Franz Wasner, who immediately recognized their musical talent.  The priest (not Heir Detweiler), crafted the von Trapps into professional singers, saying mass for them daily as they travelled the world.

When the Nazis annexed Austria in 1938, Georg and Maria realized they were in great peril against a regime they detested.  Georg declined a naval command and a request for them to sing at Hitler's birthday party.  Fearing retribution, the family of twelve, traveled by train to Italy; (not Switzerland), under the guise of a concert tour from which they never returned.

One of the most disappointing parts of the film was its sanitization of the family’s faith.  Maria and the Trapp Family were all about living a Catholic Faith.  The family’s repertoire was largely religious choral music and folk songs.

From Italy, they came to America penniless and needing to learn English.  The family built, mostly on their own, a large home in rural Vermont, and a lodge for visitors to stay and hear their concerts.  They continued touring worldwide as the Trapp Family Choir, and some, including Maria, became Catholic missionaries to Papua New Guinea.

“Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream!”

Father, thank you for my family. Thank you for the laughter, the learning, the tears, and the triumphs that fill our homes. Teach us; root us in your Word.  May we glorify you in our victories!  Amen

A Forgiving People

“Practice whatever you’ve learned or heard from me, or seen in Me." ~ Philippians 4:9

The simple, rural life she knew shattered on Oct. 2, 2006, when her oldest son, Charlie Roberts, stormed into a one-room Amish schoolhouse carrying three guns and a childhood grudge.  He ordered the boys and adults to leave before barricading the doors and opening fire on a dozen little girls between the ages of 6 and 13.

Five died; others were badly injured.  Then the 32-year-old husband and father of three young kids took his own life.

Terri Roberts heard the sirens and heard helicopters.  Soon her husband Chuck’s sunken eyes revealed the unthinkable, the unimaginable.  Their son Charlie had been the executioner.

Terri crawled into a fetal position, feeling as if her insides were ripped apart.  Chuck, a retired cop, wept into a towel; his mind laid waste by the brutality of the tragedy.

Amish parents waited in a nearby barn for news about which of their daughters had survived.

Minds stuttering for their emotions to catch up, they shared stories, consoled each other, and prayed for their community.  Feelings of anger, hostility, or retaliation were completely absent.

Nearby, a knock at the door came softly; then silence.  Chuck cringed.  Had they come to avenge their son’s murderous rampage?  He rose in the weakened state of a man both frightened and grief-stricken.

Henry, an Amish neighbor with full grey beard sans mustache, glared back at him though the peephole.  When Chuck opened the door, a dozen or so Amish men also stepped into view.

“We come in peace Roberts,” Henry explained in a gentle voice.  "We love you and don't hold anything against you or your son.”  Henry stepped forward and massaged Chuck’s defeated shoulders.  "We are a forgiving people!"

The Amish didn’t see them as enemies.  They saw them as parents who were grieving the loss of their child, too.  Later they would donate money to the killer's widow and children.

Terri Roberts wrote a book, “Forgiven: The Amish School Shooting,” about the touching relationship she developed with the Amish community in the aftermath.

Once a week until her death in 2017, Terri spent time with a 13-year-old victim named Rosanna who sat in a wheelchair and ate through a tube after being shot in the head.  She bathed and talked to her, brushed her hair, read books and sang hymns.  Chuck began a second career driving families to places farther away than their horses and buggies could carry them.

For most people, a decision to forgive comes, if ever, at the end of a long emotional journey that may stretch over years.  The Amish invert the process.  Their religious tradition predisposes them to forgive even before an injustice occurs, believing that God's long arm of justice removes the need for human intervention.

God, we pray for those who suffer injustice and those who suffer senseless violence.  Only the miracle of peace will bring about healing. Use us however You will to bring about Your peace in this broken world.  In Jesus.  ~ Amish Prayer

"My Country 'Tis of Thee"

“Blessed is the nation whose god is the Lord." ~ Psalm 33:12

I’ll admit, I didn’t deserve to be born in America.  I don’t deserve this place any more than I merit any other of God’s graces.  His Kingdom is my final loyalty, but under that banner it’s OK to be thankful that others paid a high price to preserve our land with its freedoms and its cultural proclivities.  Nevertheless, America still has a way to go.

When I think of America’s Independence celebration, I’m reminded of several patriots who fervently believed in, and help define, the American dream: George Washington, Susan B. Anthony, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Each was an outcast, but rose to the pinnacle of political and social influence to shape our nation and the world.

Perhaps the most unlikely of those heroes is Rev. King.  Unlike Gen. Washington, he embraced nonviolent protest, but mobilized a citizens’ volunteer army to achieve revolutionary goals.  He didn’t have to fight against gender discrimination like Anthony, yet he led a crusade to challenge profound prejudice.  And unlike Lincoln, he didn’t hold public office, but he too laid down his life for the ideals he believed.

King differed from many of today’s social justice activists in four obvious ways.  1) He was a minster of the Gospel who loved and preached Jesus Christ as his Savior.  In his ‘American Dream’ sermon, he preached, “God is love!  His Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy to a friend.”

2)  He loved America and its founding principles.  “When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.”  (‘I Have A Dream’ speech, July 4, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial)

3) He expressed love toward his adversaries.  Jesus didn’t say ‘Like your enemies.’  ‘Like’ is too sentimental a word ... but Jesus recognized that love is far greater.” (Loving Your Enemies)

4) He constantly talked about unity and equality for all peoples, rather that division.  In his ‘Letter from the Birmingham Jail’ he wrote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to injustice everywhere.”

His God-inspired words still ring true today.

My heart’s burdened by events and attitudes unfolding around us lately.  We’re not united; we’re divided by political and social ideologies.  People’s rights seem to be valued over peoples’ lives.  It breaks God’s heart too.

America is imperfect.  But we should find hope that we have a great future home in heaven.  But for now, America is our homeland.  We have both the opportunity and freedom to continue making her better.

In His unending grace, God chose broken people to complete His mission.  Why believe that He can’t use a broken nation to do the same?

Father, please help heal our nation.  We’re in the middle of a great battle; one that can only be won on our knees.  Draw us close, Lord.  Deliver us from its darkness, that we might be a light to others.  Amen

Faith On Fire

“Let your light shine brightly so others may see your virtues and glorify God.” ~ Matthew 5:16

Next week is America’s Independence Day.  For Isabelle, it reminded her of the many wonderful fireworks shows she’d attended with her family.  There’s something magically hypnotic about those brilliant colors exploding like rainbows against a dark sky.  Each one draws a pattern into the sky; unique and breathtaking, never to be precisely repeated.

Some resemble ‘Old Glory’ - changing from red to white to blue as sparks fall from the heavens, almost touching the earth before fading away.  Others seem to escape the ground, screaming as they spiral upward sending a trail of hot sparks into the night air, leaving behind the slightest hint of burnt gunpowder.

In her mind’s eye, a rapid series of rockets followed, ranging in height and power, exploding across the horizon, like continuous fountains of brilliance in a garish display of dazzling colors.

All went quiet as if the show had ended.  She knew the sponsors deliberately left that small delay to help build some tension before the grand finale.

Then thousands of shells burst into the sky, like paintballs on a canvass of stars, igniting the sky from daylight to darkness then back to daylight, before fading away for the final time, leaving blackness and silence once more.

Reflecting on her present life experiences, Isabelle thought the same was true of many of the “fireworks” experiences in our own lives.

Fireworks displays are mesmerizing!  Each tiny light burns its way skyward as perfectly-timed fuses erupt, creating a kaleidoscopic masterpiece high above.  But if the shell sits in a covered box, protected from anything that might ignite it, then the incredible vision of light it provides is, sadly, never revealed.

We should have faith like fireworks, but expressing our faith is challenging at times.  Putting our faith forward can rub some people the wrong way.  Explaining our convictions can sometimes result in the opposite effect than was intended.

Yet, God’s Word reveals that we’re called to be a ‘light’ in the world by living our faith out loud.  As Christians, we must not be afraid to shine God’s light, revealing the beauty of the Gospel to a dark, anti-Christ world.

Just like the perfectly-timed fuses contained with the shells of fireworks, the Holy Spirit within us can show us the way to spread the Light of the world.  Watch for opportunities to share your own faith story.  Always be ready to talk about the hope God has entrusted in you.  Take action by serving others and accepting people right where they are.

What a wondrous display of God’s light to live each day intentionally, doing our part to love others!   Enjoy this July 4th, be brave and share your faith like fireworks.

Almighty Father, light my lamp, and let it shine brightly in these dark times. Help me bring Your hope to hearts that feel defeated.  Bring Your love and compassion to those in pain.  Amen

Amen

“Amen, amen, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." ~ John 6:47

Toddlers don’t seem to have an off switch and Sylvie (4) was definitely not the type to wind down easily.  But a strict routine had made it much easier: warm bath, pajamas, brush teeth, prayers, and a short story before lights out.  Only then could Margaret enjoy a few precious moments before collapsing into her own bed.

 In unison they said: “Thank you, God, for the world so sweet, thank you God for the food we eat, thank you, God for the birds that sing, thank you, God, for everything, Amen!”

“Mommy?” Sylvie asked hoping to buy a little extra time.  “Why do we say “Amen” at the end of our prayers?”

“That’s a great question, dear,” Margaret replied, hoping to stall for an accurate, age-appropriate response.  “Amen is the most widely known word in the world.”

“Too often we treat “amen” sort of like a punctuation mark; like OK, the prayer’s over.”  But “amen” means a whole lot more than that.

“When you say or whisper 'Amen' after having just said a prayer, it means: Yes!  I believe this is true because of Jesus.  Our Amen means, “God, we agree!”

“Soooo,” Sylvie asked, If I pray God, I have faith that You will bring me a new, pink bicycle, Amen!” “Will it come true?”

“Well,” Margaret stammered.  This child is clearly too smart for her own pajamas.  “That’s not really faith honey.  Faith can be born only after hearing God speaking to us first.  God will answer our prayers according to His plan for us.  Then ‘Amen,’ means we agree that God is wonderful!”

Also, ‘Amen means,’ “God, we accept Your Commandments; we will obey your voice.''

“Sometimes in the Bible, God uses this word “amen” to get our attention.  For example, Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.”

Margaret glanced over marveling at how peacefully Sylvie lie sleeping now, lost in their own little world of dreams, with no cares or worries; resting safely in a cocoon of warmth and love.  Instantly she, too, felt more relaxed and worry free.

Religion can be a scary thought for a little kid, perhaps she’ll not remember this Bible lesson.  But by teaching our children about the word Amen, we can give them a deeper understanding and appreciation for prayer.

Teaching them that it’s okay to have doubts, for example, will give them the courage to ask questions and learn more about faith.  Children will be faced with a lot of differing opinions about the Lord, so it’s important to tell them what you, as a parent, want them to take away from Christianity.

Let there be peace in our world.  Amen!  Let all the sick be healed.  Amen!  Let God bring joy to all those who are suffering.  Amen!  And may God’s glory be manifest on earth so that the entire world will declare His praises and join us in saying “Amen!”

Being Useful

“Do good!  Just do good." ~ Hebrews 13:16

When I describe Grandpa, it’s with pride and sadness.  He was a man who made and kept friends with ease; always finding the best in others.  As an orphan before joining the army, I marveled at how well he did with his life.  So, it was with earnest desire, I sought his counsel one afternoon about his secret to life’s purpose.

“Ah, that age-old question,” he began.  “There are many different paths.”

“A few people find life’s meaning immediately.  Early on, they develop a clear sense of purpose and pursue their dreams with energy and enthusiasm.  Still others have to look a bit harder, but if they persist and keep looking, they’ll find something to live for.  Unfortunately, too many become frustrated with the search and give up, returning to a life of pointless wandering.”

Mostly confused, I remember asking Grampa what this had to do with finding my purpose?

“The reason people have difficulty finding life’s true meaning is that they equate purpose with goal-based achievements.  Happiness can’t be a goal in itself; it’s not something that’s achievable.  God isn’t interested in your accomplishments … just your heart.

Listen to God and your inner self.  Be patient and understand your unique gifts.  There are many opportunities along the way to serve your purpose.  You don’t have to change the world, just make it a little bit better than before you were born.

What if I told you that you fulfilled your purpose when you took extra time to talk with that elderly woman in the nursing home?  Or you paid for a young couple’s dinner in the restaurant or saved that dog in traffic?  Or when you helped your coworker with something that wasn’t your job.  Or when you took your mother to a spa, tied your father’s shoes, or read a bedtime story to a child?

When you choose to act out of kindness, compassion and love, you’re already aligned with your true purpose.

No need to look any further!”

Grandpa reminded me how little I see with my eyes; how much I can see with my heart. Our eyes can only tell us what happened - never the reason, the intention, or the deep emotions that swim below.  It’s only with your heart that you can see joy, happiness, love and compassion.

He lived every day as a wonderful gift, not counting down but counting up.  Every day was something extra he'd never been owed … but given.  I think that's why he lived so long and why that wrinkled smile was never far from his rugged face.

Lord, help me live today day in humility of heart and with self-control.  Help me to walk in spirit and truth and to do only those things that I’ve heard from You, through the Word of God and the gentle promptings of Your Holy Spirit.  Amen

The Puppy Mentor

“Be quick to listen, slow to speak and gentle in your anger." ~ James 1:19

When year-old Owen entered Kevin’s life, he was a marked dog.  An Alsatian German Shepherd pup, he'd bitten little girls, trainers, other dogs, car tires and demolished countless pairs of dress shoes.  Owen was basically a shredding machine unlikely to celebrate his second birthday.

His frustrated owner surrendered Owen, not because Kevin seemed to be the only trainer who'd had any success with him, but because the experienced trainer also owned Rusty the wonder dog - the savant who'd helped save hundreds of other Owens’ from premature demise.

Rusty was tough, strong and confident.  Having spent six feral months foraging through dumpsters with a pack of tail-wagging hooligans, he’d earned a K-9 PhD in socialization and survival.

A born dog mentor, he was a role model whose gentle approach and presence instinctively knew what other dogs needed in order to feel welcome; to feel safe.  Rusty knew when to lead, when to ignore, when to inspire.  Kevin barely had to do anything once Rusty worked his magic touch.

As Kevin slowly approached the obedience-trained Rusty for their initial encounter, little Owen became agitated.  Rusty sat calmly, simply watching for directions.  Confidence and indifference sold Owen on the idea that Rusty wasn’t a dog to be messed with; but one to be respected and listened to.

The little buzz saw promptly ended his antisocial behaviors almost the moment he met Rusty.  On the odd occasion when he did try to snap at someone or some other dog, Rusty would chase him, stare him down, then ignore him for a few hours.  Never was Owen mistreated by his older, wiser mentor.

As weeks passed, the two became inseparable.  Owen learned to mimic the older dog’s manners and gradually realize that, whatever Rusty deemed safe must be okay for him too.  Owen marveled at how Rusty welcomed strangers cheerfully.  It was just the kind of attention he craved but hadn’t known how to attract.

We can learn much from Rusty’s mentoring talents.

The best ways to establish a connection with anyone - is simply to listen.  Dogs get it!  If you’ve ever had a bad day, you know you can count on ol’ Fido to sit and listen, no matter the topic.  They never listen to bark back.  Dogs listen because they care!

Even when it feels like the world is against you; your dog will always cheer for you.  And he or she is just as likely to rejoice in your victories too!

The best mentors do the same.  They’re your best advocates and your #1 ally.  Be that person who’s excited about someone’s triumphs and is always there to listen when they’re down in the dumps.  What a wonderful world this would be if we all had hearts like dogs.

Lord, nobody listens better than You.  Help me become a much more engaged, attentive, whole-hearted listener.  Help me hear what people are meaning to say, not what interpretation I place on their words.  Amen

God Isn't to Blame

“Our faith serves as an anchor for the soul; firm and secure." ~ Hebrews 6:19

Scott’s tremors started during a typical Michigan winter.

Following a routine exam, their pediatrician referred him to a neurosurgeon.  When the specialist agreed to meet with them sooner than normal, Karen sensed that something serious was affecting her active 4-year-old child.

Within days, Scott’s trembling intensified.  Karen and Doug watched helplessly while their sweet boy’s energy faded from a body betraying him.

An MRI scan of Scott’s brain confirmed the presence of a tumor.  Surgery was necessary in order to remove what everyone hoped was benign.

After eight hours, the operation finally ended.  The neurosurgeon explained that they removed only half of the tumor.  “It’s highly aggressive, rare and malignant,” he added. “Options are limited because of Scott’s age.  An experimental treatment is available, but chances of surviving the "grueling" treatment are pretty low.  The only other alternative is to return home and receive hospice care.”

Shock turned to sadness; then emptiness.

The couple prayed and consulted experts before making the decision to care for their dying son at home.  In the final weeks of his life, thoughts turned toward heaven.

For Karen, there was a moment when Scott suffered so much pain, she prayed that God would just take him; ‘Don’t let him suffer anymore.’  Then she wondered ‘What if he arrives in heaven and doesn’t know Jesus?’  Such silly thoughts go through your mind.

Karen prayed at Scott’s bedside, pouring out her heart to Jesus when a vision emerged.  Scott was with a group of people when he turned and saw Jesus smiling directly at him.

His face lit up with gratitude as he ran into Jesus’ open arms.  The message seemed clear: ‘Scott will know Me because he’ll recognize the love you gave him when he was yours.  He’ll feel that love here too.’  From that moment Karen felt at peace conceding her child’s transition to eternity.

The next morning, as Scott sat on his Dad’s lap, he relaxed and took his final breath.  Doug knew his son had gone home to be with the Lord.  He called the office to pass on the news.

“I’m so sorry,” the doctor replied.  “In all my years, I don’t know why God takes children so young and so innocent.”

Doug’s reply came quickly and without remorse.  “God didn’t take him, the tumor did.  God was there to accept him.”

It was incredibly liberating for Doug to know also, that when he witnessed his son suffer in pain and death, he knew with clarity that ‘this was not from God'.  It meant he could maintain a passionate faith despite such terrible loss.  And that if we choose to wrestle today with God’s role in suffering, our faith is better prepared for tomorrow’s pain.

Dear Lord, the One who holds me up, the One that loves me even though I’m undeserving.  You are good.  Help me remember that on the hardest days too.  Amen

Solitary Man

“The Lord God said: It isn’t good for a man (person) to live alone." ~ Genesis 2:18

Shawn loved the solitude of a trout stream or a good book, and every now and then, when life got too crazy, he’d wish everyone would just leave him alone.  “Our busy world is demanding; there’s nothing wrong with sitting back and enjoying the silence once in a while,” he thought to the only heart beating in his house.

Then his life’s journey met an inflection point.

A few years back he was isolated from people after drinking radioactive iodine as a treatment for papillary cancer. No visitors, not even the doctor (who stood behind a lead screen at the door to talk with Shawn).

The first few hours were calm, peaceful, and untroubled.  Soon though, he needed human contact.  Though periods of solitude are a welcome respite from ‘busyness,’ the truth is, something happens to people when they’re totally isolated.

No one else could relate to the seclusion he experienced.  As his struggle intensified, Shawn found himself pulling away from even those he cared about; blocking out the stress and emotional turmoil boiling within.  Amid the fear, confusion, and uncertainty, he felt utterly alone.

Yes, there were those who tried to empathize, offer their suggestions or ways they could relate, but it always fell short of any real solace.  No one could truly enter into the pain, heartache, and loneliness that grew within his heart.

After months of sheltering at home, Shawn recovered; forever changed by the experience.  Quite surprisingly, he discovered an appreciation for the deserted road he’d been forced to travel.

For with it came a greater understanding of what it meant to be a follower of Jesus Christ and to know him not only as his Savior, but his comforter and redeemer.  He learned that it wasn’t until his worldly comforts got stripped away that he began to experience the true depth, length, and height of God’s love.

Friends, by removing the earthly comfort of those around us, the Lord moves us in one of two directions: towards a deeper intimacy with Him, or towards the unveiling of an unrepentant heart, one which ultimately desires comfort more than Christ.

He allows this time in our lives for a season to draw you nearer to Him and to drive us deeper into his Word and prayer in search of a hope-filled and life-giving oneness with Him.  Christ knows we cannot find true and lasting comfort in anyone but Him.

Some of you have been asked to walk incredibly painful, lonely roads.  My hope is that you will be encouraged, strengthened, and determined not to give way to the fallacy of the loneliness of pain, allowing it instead to magnify the gospel in your life.

Father God, Lord of heaven and earth, in these times of isolation, apart from loved ones distant from friends and away from neighbors, thank You that there is nothing in all of creation that is able to separate us from Your love.  Amen