Shopping with a Step Stool

      I am always in a hurry when I shop. I know what I need; I know where it is so I get it and go. Prescriptions were ready, so I decided to pick up some skim milk and ice cream. I know-those two don’t go together. I grabbed a cart so I didn’t have to carry cold ice cream in my arms and headed for the milk at the back of the store.

      Alas, it was 4 p.m. and people had been shopping all day. Half gallons of skim milk were now only available from the back of the shelf, and I couldn’t reach one. I am vertically challenged.
      This has happened to me before. In fact several readers have come to my rescue; you know who you are. But this week- no taller people in sight. I even looked down several aisles to see if there were any tall people there. Nope.
       I came back to the milk and then I saw a gentleman at the far end, taking pictures of yogurt. He had a name plate on his shirt, but I could not read it from a distance, so I’m assuming he worked for the yogurt company. Who else would photograph the yogurt display?
       I thought about calling out to him: “Sir, could you help me here?” But I don’t like to raise my voice in the grocery store. What’s that about? It’s not a library! I didn’t want to interrupt his photo shoot either, so I kept looking. I felt a bit like I was stalking the milk display.        
       I studied the bottom shelf which has a four inch metal plate on it, and looked around. Should I stand on that? I could. I decided against it.
       Kudos to the lady who helped me. I said something stupid like, “I’m looking for a tall person.” She politely asked, “What do you need?” She had to stand on tip toe to get the carton.
       I understand the advertising rule: most popular items are eye level or lower so they can easily be chosen. I’m fine with that. I may start bringing my step stool with me though. I promise I will share with others who need it.

God Lets Go Sometimes

     I remember when our son was a senior in high school, asking to go to New York City for New Years, and to the Florida Keys for spring break. How I wanted to say, "NO!!! It's NOT SAFE!" I prayed about it, and I heard, "He will soon be 18. Let him go; I will go with him."
     Phil was trying to find himself, and these forays into the unknown were the adventures that would help mold him. It was so hard. I knew that there were going to be things happening of which I might not approve. But I had to let him go, and see what he learned. I had to trust that God would go with him.
     As I began again this week to read Romans, I came to a phrase I've read many times. This time it has bothered me a bit --- I even woke up at 3:30 a.m. thinking of this phrase: "God abandoned them..." to whatever they wanted to do, even the things that did not please Him. Other versions say, "God gave them up to..." or "God let them go..."
     God lets us go when we insist on our way. He does not always protect us from the consequences of our choices. But He's always watching and waiting for us to turn around and come back home to Him. The next question is: "Why is it so hard to turn around and come back?"
     Sometimes other people have shaped our view of God - and He may not be exactly how He is portrayed by others. If I really know Him, His love, His long-suffering nature, His forgiveness, His grace and mercy, His delight in me...then I can trust Him with my plans, dreams, my very life.
    

Jesus' Amazing Prayer

      I am slowly reading through the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in John 17. In verses 20-23, Jesus prayed for people who would believe in Him because of the early disciples. Now, who would that be? I don't think I'm stretching it to say, "IT'S US."
      Jesus prayed then for something we need NOW:  Perfect unity among all followers, and that we would all experience and share the Glory of God as Jesus did, so that people would want to know Him.
      Then He said something that stopped me in my tracks. Jesus to His Father:  "YOU LOVE THEM AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE ME."
      Where do you go with that thought? What does that mean to you?  I will be thinking and writing more about that soon...let me know what you think.

Complaining

Lord, do you always have to answer me when I talk to you?

Sometimes I wish you wouldn't.

Today my monologue was all cut out;

and then you started answering.

 

I complained to you about the world and the state of its affairs.

And then you asked me what I'd done to change it.

 

I complained to you about your church and all the troubles that beset it.

And then you asked me what I'd done to help it.

 

I complained to you about the suffering that I see:

the poverty, the illness, and the abuse of human rights.

And then you asked me what I'd done to alleviate it.

 

I complained to you about some friends

who just didn't seem to measure up to what I had expected.

And then you asked me what I'd done to measure up to them.

 

Lord, I'm beginning to get the picture.

Stop complaining and start doing!

 

 

 

 

 

Copied from Souvenirs of Solitude by Brennan Manning, copyright 2009.
Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved.
www.navpress.com

Don't Tell Anyone

     I'm reading another book I've read before: The Divine Conspiracy: Discovering Our Hidden Life in God, by the late Dallas Willard. I was challenged yesterday to simply read the red-letters, the words of Jesus. I decided to start in the short book of Mark. I didn't get very far. I spent yesterday writing about "REPENT AND BELIEVE," and what it really means. 
      Today I went further into the first chapter. I got to the story of Jesus and a leper. The man had amazing faith to even approach Jesus, and he said, "If you are willing..." to which Jesus replied, "I am willing." Then Jesus TOUCHED A LEPER!
      Unthinkable, unbelievable. Jesus just didn't follow those religious rules. Jesus would now be considered unclean. Take a minute and imagine what that would mean to His religious community.
      But it's verse 44, just the first sentence, where I got stopped today. Jesus told the man, "DON'T TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS."
      Huge crowds would soon begin following Jesus, and He would be hindered in His teaching ministry. It would be a struggle to go where He needed to go.
      Is it possible some followers have taken these words of Jesus to heart?
"Don't tell anyone..." Is this why we never talk about Jesus, and how He can bring joy and freedom, peace and hope in this difficult world?  I doubt it, because I'm not sure we remembered it was in there!
      Reading the red-letter words of Jesus is going to be an amazing challenge!
Join me!

Rare Remote Wars

     The following is an article that will appear in my Hint of Humor column soon. Wanted to share it with those who don't get our small town paper!
     My friend shared this hilarious story with me, so I will pass it on:    Our church choir in Post Falls always enjoyed taking holiday music to assisted-living facilities. The room in Hayden, Idaho, provided just enough space for the choir to stand in two rows between the fireplace and the audience of residents.
     Special arrangements were made for two female patients. They were brought in separately on their adjustable recliners and placed side by side. They were a scant four feet away from the bass section, so it was difficult for the singers to ignore what happened.
     The caregivers had inadvertently switched the remote controls and given the opposite buttons to each of the women. Somewhere after the "Halle" and before the "lujah," one resident decided to move the back of her chair up. To her amazement, the furniture stayed in the same position, so she pushed the "down" button a couple times instead. Getting no response, she proceeded to press the "up" and "down" in rapid succession. Still no change. 
      Meanwhile, the helpless lady in the recliner next to her was being flung backward and forward against her will. After nearly being thrown to the floor, she reached over to her neighbor's arm and latched onto the offending controls.
      This angered the already frustrated resident, and a noisy tug of war ensued, complicated by more up and down thrashing. It only took a few moments for the responding aide to locate the problem. Through tears of suppressed laughter, the choir never stumbled.
      Wonder what I will be like when I need constant care?  Sure hope I keep my sense of humor about it all!
  

        

He's Crazy About Us

     I'm almost finished with Souvenirs of Solitude by the late Brennan Manning. Because he was a recovery person, with a checkered family history, he wrote a lot about God as his real Father. His famous, Abba's Child, was one of the first.  
     In almost every writing, he reminds me that God is my Heavenly Father, and He's crazy about me. He wants to spend time with me. He wants to listen to my crazy meandering mind and words. He delights to be with me, and wants me to know that.
     This concept is not easy for people who have attachment problems. Our insecurities nag us with the thought that others aren't particularly fond of hanging out with us. Sometimes we push people away to prove our point. Or we choose friendships/relationships with people who are unhealthy and who will leave no matter what.
      I keep marveling that God wants to hang out with me! Does that tug at your heart too? He loves being with you and with me. What difference can that make in our lives today?