Diversions

Diversions

Yesterday, I watched a commercial for a television news program while I was on my phone. A pretty and slender blonde woman, mother of two pretty blonde girls, shown working in a medical clinic, then shepherding the girls to soccer, then preparing supper, all the while smiling was presented with the caption; “You Can Juggle Life.”  And to help your juggling act, watch our news program at 7:00 PM.   
What this ad portrays is an encapsulated version of the lives many of us lead.  Juggling work, children, sports, chores, relaxation and sleep, we are on the go from sunrise to long after the stars come out.

So occupied are we that even to attend to the news requires timing and planning.  No longer is there a stretch of time where we allow ourselves to walk instead of run, to cook instead of order out.  We are busy doing many things.  Good things, important things.

BUT I wonder what I may be missing as I pass by in a rush from one activity to another.  What can I not look at because I am too intent on keeping all the balls I am juggling in the air?

It is true that each choice to do one thing is also a choice to not do everything else.  Choice is a good gift, a way to direct my actions and energy, but when do I have too many options?  And do I ever stop to ask “Why?”  Why do I need to do this?   Why should I do this?     What am I missing?

All those questions take time; time to ask, time to ponder and truthfully, who has that kind of time?

Have you ever noticed that no one walks or jogs anymore unless they have ear buds in and can listen to something?  Have you recently seen people out at an event and not seen smart phones in everyone’s hand?  We seem to crave the diversion of constant input.  Music, news, gossip, tweets, messages, all keep us up to date, and perhaps drowning in diversions. 

I believe it would be a good thing to assess our activity level. It would be a good thing to seek to understand why we feel the need to feed ourselves so much information, activity and stimulation.  But to do that, we will have to stop with the diversions.  Stop the noise, seek a quiet place and let the Creator speak to us, and listen with patience, for His answer.

A steady diet of diversion is not healthy, even as a steady diet of Oreo cookies is not.  We cannot binge on diversions and expect to become lovely and beautiful people.  That diet leads only to a frazzled soul.

Does God Have an Ego?

“‘God, to me, it seems, is a verb, not a noun, proper or improper,’ designer and architect R. Buckminster Fuller once said. And it makes sense. As long as we do our work honestly and not hurt others, what does it matter if we believe in some invisible superman in the sky, who happens to have such a fragile ego so as to condemn people for not believing in him, no matter how good they might be? “
So wrote Anu Garg to open the week for A.Word.A,DAY listserve. The words are powerful, but are they truthful? Is the God of the bible a superhuman with a fragile ego? Does He need our attention in order to be happy and fulfilled? What kind of God am I following if He gets angry at me if I don’t stroke His ego? Does He even have an ego?
The problem with the thought expressed by Mr. Garg is that if God does exist and has made humans, then ego, His ego, is not the issue; our egos are the issue. What would happen to us if God did make us to be worshipers of Him as our purpose, our reason for existence. Made in a way so that all that made up life, done in a manner recognizing God as our creator, constituted worship. In worshiping we would reach our truest selves, we would find ultimate fulfillment, we would in fact be real. To not worship would then be self destructive and foolish beyond imagination. Any activity or attitude which drew us from worship would be detestable.
What person wants to be unfulfilled, to be less than real, less human, less themselves. Are we not all trying to find out who we are and why we exist? Do we want to just make it through the years we have, finding joy and satisfaction for moments only? Trying to be good ( who defines good?) and honest (defined by whom) and harmless to others (except when must take a stand) seems to be a rather ordinary, lackluster goal for life. This ideal would be beige if it were a color, it would be dry toast if it were a food. A life lived well enough to make ends meet, but not outrageous enough to acknowledge anything beyond one’s self.
Why is it so fearful to look into the world and see something else, to seek to know the One Who made it all happen. Of course I believe in a Creator; One to Whom I owe my very existence. I do not stroke His ego by acknowledging Him any more than my child strokes my ego by calling me “Mommy.” It is what my child calls me, it is appropriate and right, because I am the mother. Acknowledging my Creator is to admit I receive all things from One outside of me. Nothing is ultimate about me, but the One Who is Ultimate made me and knows me and is for me.
No, God does not get angry because we don’t give Him the emotional strokes we thing He needs. Any anger proceeds from Him because in thwarting Him, we destroy ourselves; in not honoring Him, we dishonor ourselves. We were made for Him and only in Him do we find true fullness.

To Be Remebered

"She remembered me." So said the contestant on American Idol. So impressed that the singer and actress, Jennifer Lopez, knew her, remembered her. The contestant was clearly moved and grateful.
To be recognized or remembered by someone of high standing, someone who has achieved the success we seek, is a true motivation to continue. It is an emotional boost, a confirmation that we are important, special, worthy of notice; life has meaning.
But who is the one of high standing, the successful person? What is the reason and source of the position we give them? Is there a standard of success that applies to all people; one which my role model has achieved? Or is their success only temporary, for the present time, fleeting. If I look to someone, a role model, whose standing and achievements are successful and acknowledged but transitory, then I can really hope for no more than the same. And the meaning and boost that comes from the recognition by them is also only temporary. It will not last. Either time or frailties or changing preferences will erode the success of the role model and the value of the recognition. Although I seek it far too often, I have learned this recognition from others does not last; it does not satisfy.
Slowly, I am learning to rely on the words of the One who says He has counted the hairs on my head. He has not merely remembered me, He has called me by name, stored my tears in a jar, gone so far as to purchase me and has good plans for me. He has even etched my name on the palm of His hand. Yes, the One Who remembered me will never forget me. His success will not pass away. In fact His success will only increase, His standing among us, grow. He will never be outdone or outdated. To know that is a great joy, a lasting boost to my spirit, a true hope.
Yes, He remembers me!

Singing into Eternity

Timelessness


How will eternity feel? What will existence be when ”now” is all we know? Before and after will have no place. Age will not be a factor, because age is a function of time. What will eternity be like? This morning, I had a preview, a “taste” as I sang in church. I do not even remember the song, and it is not important, because as I stood, eyes closed, singing praises to the God of the whole of existence, it was only now...only He and I, no hurry, no effects of time on my mind or body; He and I, only that. And until it was over, I hadn’t been consciously aware of it. As the song was ending, I returned to the realm of here and of now. A brand new experience, one I have never had, may never have again; what a gift from the Father. Like getting a glimpse from a distance of the light of home, left on for me.

The Kingdom is Here

I am reading through a bible study on the Lord's prayer, seeking a new study to lead for the year ahead. While I have not been led one way or another, there is one thought I will mull over for some time from this booklet. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." What soaring words, a grand desire, the grand desire of so many who want the Lord to rule, to rescue, to right the horrible evil in this place. Yes, many of us want His kingdom to appear and take charge. However, as the author of the study admits, not many of us are willing to allow God's rule to set up shop in our own lives, our hearts, our wills.
Let God rule the life of our president, our spouse, our children....but as for me; well I think I am pretty well in control and have been keeping my ducks in a row quite well, thank you.
Wasn't it Luke who mentioned that the Kingdom of God is within? The kingdom comes to each one, and we either receive the King and allow His rule or we reject the King. Why attempt to foist this King off on others while resisting His rule myself? What kind of a person does that make me; a hypocrite perhaps?
The kingdom already is here, we have the choice to align ourselves with the King. No trumpets, no confetti or ceremony here, although I believe there is an angelic party each time a new peace treaty is made between the King and a human. He is king, He rules and He is returning soon, but as He asked, will He find any faithful ones here? The faithfulness begins as I say yes to the King, the King who is also my Father. Yes for His rule, His way. Each day of agreement, of alignment with the King is a new day. A New Day, for each one of us. How great to start walking in the kingdom of our God where each day is a new, beautifully grace-filled, joyous day.

Far from Home

Tonight I feel the ache of the verses that describe leaving father and mother, homes and lands for the sake of the gospel. Far away from family while they celebrate a milestone in life, I must send my greetings, not speak them in person. I must imagine the party, the laughter, the joy.
This is the cost, this is the result of putting father and mother aside for the sake of the gospel. Never before has it been this real to me. And so I will choose to believe the words: "He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it." And: " And every one that has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Both passages from the book of Matthew and both remind me that no matter how difficult or sad, this is not the end, I am not missing the best celebration, the real one. Now it is sad, by faith I look forward to the joy to come....

Good Quote

I found this quote on another blog and thought it worth sharing (copying).