Last night a series of dreams lead to a place I had not been before. Everything looked familiar, but everything was different. In the end I was asked to go some place. Scene after scene reminded me of something out of our country’s past. Even as I walked past old buildings and beautiful meadows, in the dream I thought this feels like Shelburne Museum or something. At one point it reminded me of the defunct Frontier Town in New York. And then I came to the river…again. I had been here before but I could not remember how I crossed it the first time. I wandered the bank. I thought, “did I swim or take a boat?” Nothing clicked. I clearly was not getting to the other side. As I wandered back towards one of the villages, I thought about it. How would I explain it to others? I sensed defeat, at best failure. Continue reading Do You Really Get A Second Chance?
Category Archives: Ministry
Deep Calling Unto Deep
Many years ago an old man told my father about a fishing spot. He told him it is “bottomless”. My father, the fisherman that he was, decided this is where we are going. A few days later he hooked the rowboat up to the motorboat and early in the morning we headed out. Continue reading Deep Calling Unto Deep
Lay Hands Upon The Sick…
The young woman came to my store every day. Each day she would come by after school and stop in. She was smart, articulate and interesting. She would talk about her hopes and her dreams. She would talk about what she was going to be and where she was going to go. About the world she wanted to see. Continue reading Lay Hands Upon The Sick…
Favor Is Unexpected
Today I have a day off. There was a raffle at work and I won today off. So I am happy. But the announcement of winning at 5PM last night made me realize that while winning a day off was nice, I had not “planned” for it on some levels. What I mean by that is to have the day off meant some things like locating a team mate to take over my calls, emails and such. It meant I had to program my phone, my email and make sure nothing was “hanging fire”. Continue reading Favor Is Unexpected
Disconnected No More
Last night I had the opportunity and pleasure to sit with friends of many a year. They are older and he explained “I am in bed pretty early…around 9”. Well, it was well after 11 when we left. He was not the tired one. I was. Knowing I had to get up early to do what I am doing. Not only for work, but to maintain my articles and such. But our relationship is a good one and they are well worth it in my book. But I thought, we blew right past his 9PM curfew! Why! Because relationship is important. And when people are energized by relationship and friendship, time slips away.
This morning as I got up some 4 plus hours later I realized, “they were worth it”. They have sown into my life over the nearly 20 years we have been together. But just as important was the idea that I need it as well
Relationship in any life is important. I meet people all the time who tell me they “don’t need it” but I am convinced that God hardwired us for relationship. Not only to connect to Him but to connect with one another.
This morning as I reflected on last night and being together with others I realized that our time at their home was a perspective on relationship.
A couple of things I noticed.
I never heard a cell phone go off because both Tina and I left ours in the vehicle when we go there. Too often, we carry our devices into our meetings immediately indicating in most cases our device connections are more important than the ones in front of us.
There was no music or TV going on in the background. We have become so used to these things that perhaps we do not realize how much they interfere with one another and their relationship.
There are relationships we “bank” on but they are often not at the forefront because of busyness and interruption.
It is time to live this area of life we call community and begin to live it on purpose and work on relationships.
Intuitively, I believe we know this, but it is easy to “forget” and disconnect.
Yesterday I had a conversation with a young mom who is working hard to “get her life together”. She is smart, pretty and adept at the work she does BUT she is lonely. While at work as I watched parents come in, many of them had been crying at their children heading back to school.
I heard this phrase but a moment ago, “disconnected no more”.
What if we gave people our full attention? What if put down devices and communications and focused on the one in the room? What if we rekindled the relationships we know to be important?
I know the world is in an unusual place. That the temptation is to to work more, longer and harder to make ends meet. But when we leave the rest of God and allow anxiety and urgency to take over, what have we gained?
I would ask you to consider that.
Disconnected no more!
Help! I Need Somebody!
My friend was only allowed 14 items in the container he was being allotted on the train. He was thinking this would not be a “big” deal and did not ask for help from anyone. The items were varied. Some large pieces of furniture, boxes and crates. People had helped him get the items to the loading area, but then he sent everyone away. He was going to finish the loading himself. Continue reading Help! I Need Somebody!
Trading Your Peace? Consider The Consequences.
In my dream, I had walked out the door. There was a little child who chasing a large winged creature. He was so happy. (The child…not the creature!) I walked back in the building with this sense of trepidation. I met with the editor of the paper. He spoke to me about me “making money” writing and left the room. I looked at the ledger board and I knew what I was making. I also knew what another was making. I felt this sense of competition rise up. Instantly, I judged my feeling. I refused to let myself be cajoled or dragged into someone else’s urgent place or even their thought process. Continue reading Trading Your Peace? Consider The Consequences.
All Hands On Deck!
I wrote the following yesterday.
This morning I woke and was thinking about what if government “leaders” were in isolation or restricted from doing what they were called to because they were being constrained by God or His prophets.
This morning while Tina was away with Jacob at the Y, I was camping out with the Lord. Continue reading All Hands On Deck!
Maneuvering Disappointment
I have a fast growing friend who is going through a series of serious disappointments. He hardly sees his daughter, has a difficult relationship with his ex and finds himself recently losing a “significant other”. After months of “hearing” I knew stepping out into the waters of relationship were on the plate. I did. Yesterday, he shook my hand and said, “thanks for being a friend”. Continue reading Maneuvering Disappointment
Relax. There Is Joy!
Life is to be lived. As I woke this morning, I thought about the things that do not live and the energy folks put into them. It may be a phone, a website or a program. I am not saying “do not use” or enjoy, but what is life in the midst of it?
The next few paragraphs that are “snap shots” of the week. I am certain you will see the thread. Continue reading Relax. There Is Joy!
