Life Thoughts
Lonely?
In a recent study, experts seem to agree that new developments like the internet, texting and tweeting are contributing to increased loneliness. So basically you should stop reading this right now and leave the house and go hang out with some friends.
Who is God to you today?
Who is God to you today? A few days back a good friend asked me that question as they were encouraging me through a very difficult situation. I have thought about that alot lately. What did she mean, and more importantly who is God to me?
You know I have been a believer in God most of my earthly existance, and have had a relationship with him for over half of my life of 41 years, but this question grips me today most unusually so. So I thought I would tackle it from a personal standpoint, not necessarily from Bible definition, for that is what I think my friend was asking.
God is first my friend. When I find myself in a jam, I can always call. He hears me. Like a good friend he doesn’t always bail me out, but he is along with me through the thick and thin. Not once in the 26 years we have been friends has he ever failed me, not once. He may not have always said what I wanted to hear, but he was always honest with me. Sometimes it hurts, but thats what friend does.
God is my encourager. When I feel the world is against me and no one is in my corner, I can always turn around and he is there. He says get up, you can do it. Don’t let it keep you down. Dont let sorrow overtake your joy. Dont let people steal who you are. You can do anything you set yourself to.
God is my helper. Things of life lately often weigh heavy on me. I feel at times I want to just collaspe under the load. However when I feel like I have no strength left, somehow things begin to get lighter. He has never let me be crushed under the load. He has always lifted at the time I could no longer.
God is my teacher. It is said you never stop learning, and I believe it. Just when I think I am rolling along in life find, I discover myself thrust into another situation I have no experience or knowlege how to navigate. I cry out to God. He comes and begins to send people to help me, show me and teach me. I have always made it through, though if left to myself, I don’t think I could have. I have a large bag of lessons and experiences now that I thought I would never have. But I know there is more to come, so I keep the bag open. 🙂
These are just a few of things as I think about God today. What are yours? Who is God to you today?
The Subject of Love
Love. Now that is a broad topic and his been covered all through the ages by better writers and philosphers than myself. I almost feel imtimidated to even speak on the matter at all, almost!
You know I think love is something that we all crave to recieve, but also to give. No amount of words can surpass what the many poets have pened over the years, but I thought I would through my slant into anyway.
As a christian, I am often told that love is defined by what is written in I Corinthians, chapter 13:
- It is patient
- It is kind
- Not evnious
- Not boastful
- Not proud
- Not rude
- Not self-seeking
- Not easily angered
- Doesn’t keep a record of wrongs
- Doesn’t delight in evil
- Rejoices with the truth
- Always hopes
- Always perseveres
- Never fails
When you look at it and think about it, that is a tough list. Yea, I think we all do parts of it well, but who really manages to do it all, all the time. I know for me personally I like to measure how other people love by comparing them to the list (I think thats the judgement side in me) and then measure myself to them. However, I really don’t think that is what God had in mind when he gave us this list.
No I think it was to show us how we truly in ourselves never quite make it. I mean think about the last argument you had with your spouse or mate. Remember that list of offenses that rolled through your mind that was the fodder for the battle? But what happen to keeps not records of wrongs? Or when you got so angry with each other you just walked out (is not easily angered)?
Or what about when the relationship got so tough you considered calling it quits? What happen to never fails, not proud, always protecting, always hoping, and persevering?
My conclusions? I think Paul said it best in the next verse, follow the way of love. Love is something we must follow after or pursue. When we simply sit by and expect it, I think we begin to loose. We must realize that like with any list, we in ourselves will come short. But that is the magnificance of God. With Jesus, who is perfect love, we can compensate for our shortcomings. When we are so angry – Jesus can take our burdens. When we are out our end – Jesus can give us more. When all hope is gone – HE BECOMES OUR HOPE.
So when you find yourself this day running low on love – dig into him. For with Him is hope, trust and perseverance and most importantly the ability to get rid of that list of wrongs!
Suffering Loss
Recently I have begun to go through counseling. This has been a strange thing for me as I always thought I was OK and do not need it. Interestingly enough though as I sit in the counselors office and begin to share where my current thought processes are and what I feel, I listen to what I say and then hear the counselor’s comments and think, “Man I should have done this a lot sooner”.
For those of you who have benefited from sharing your thoughts with a friend, partner, pastor, or counselor, you understand what I am writing about.
Anyway as I rolled through my first couple of sessions the counselor said, “Wow, you have suffered a lot of loss”. As I have pondered that over the last couple of weeks, I have been personally challenged in the fact that I have developed an aversion to loss. I have allowed a slow creeping fear of losing things settle over me. Additionally I think I want to lump in failure in that same category, for what is failure but the loss of a dream.
Now I know that none of us like to experience loss, but how should we handle it?
I personally found myself so consumed with the loss and fear of loss, that I missed what was going on in front of my eyes. For example, my father passed away a couple of years ago. I still think about that and feel the absence and sometimes just find myself sitting and crying. The reality of it is though he was sick for awhile with cancer. His pain stopped. At his funeral I was able to visit with my two brothers and sister with whom I have had very limited relationship over the last 15 years. During that time, we rekindle some relationship and I have able to have more regular dialogue over the last year than over the last 15. So really did I lose? I think not. Sure I miss my dad, but I have all that he instilled in me of himself with me daily. Things like, when you fall, get up and go again.
Do I still feel loss, do things hurt, yes. Can I go on? Yes. Can I benefit from the loss? Yes. Sometimes the gain is greater than the loss itself. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24)
I love the story of Joseph and how through all of his hardships, he continued on to see and be all God had for him. I love when he revealed himself to his brothers and he said – “Don’t be mad at yourselves for selling as a slave, God wanted to save lives, so he sent me ahead”. Wow now that is taking the right perspective. Amazingly though it would be many years from the time he was sold to slavery until he saved those lives. How are you handling your loss today?
