Hello friends,
I gotta tell you... I got my feelings hurt-bad. It's a very lonely place to be right now. I have been doing a lot of soul searching about this situation. My soul searching has led me to ask myself the following:
Is it me? This took some brutal honesty.
Is it them? I've got to be fair here.
Will trying harder improve or fix the situation?
If YES... then continue my efforts.
If NO... then it's time to move on and invest elsewhere.
I think I have made my peace with this situation. It's not the outcome I want but sadly, it is time to just move on.
Moving on requires me to forgive. Moving on requires me to figure life is short and I had better be wise as to where I invest my time and effort.
I'm moving forward and shaking the dust off my feet.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
The gift of a soul.
I just finished reading Ben-Hur : A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace. This book is a difficult read due to the high vocabulary level but it also has colorful characters and a great plot. The book is set in the time of Christ's life. The main character, Judah Ben Hur, is anxious to help Christ set-up a political kingdom and overthrow the Roman government. Judah, through a long series of events meets Balthasar, one of the three wise men. Balthasar understands that Christ's Kingdom will be a spiritual one. The following discussion ensues as Balthasar mentors the young Ben-Hur: (this is long but very profound).
Balthasar speaks:
" I cannot tell you when the idea of a Soul in every man had its origin. Most likely the first parents brought it with them out of the garden in which they had their first dwelling. We all do know, however, that it has never perished entirely out of mind. By some peoples it was lost, but not by all; in some ages it dulled and faded; in others it was overwhelmed with doubts; but, in great goodness, God kept sending us at intervals mighty intellects to argue it back to faith and hope.
"Why should there be a Soul in every man? Look, O son of Hur-for one moment look at the necessity of such a device. To lie down and die, and be no more- no more forever-time never was when man wished for such an end; nor has the man ever been who did not in his heart promise himself something better. The monuments of the nations are all protests against nothingness after death; so are statues and inscriptions; so is history. The greatest of our Egyptian kings had his effigy cut out of a hill of solid rock. Day after day he went with a host in chariots to see the work; at last it was finished, never effigy so grand, so enduring; it looked like him-the features were his, faithful even in expression. Now may we not think of him saying in that moment of pride, 'Let Death come; there is an after-life for me! He had his wish. The statue is there yet.
"But what is the after-life he thus secured? Only a recollection by men-a glory unsubstantial as moonshine on the brow of the great bust: a story in stone-nothing more. Meantime what has become of the king? There is an embalmed body up in the royal tombs which once was his- an effigy not so fair to look at as the other out in the Desert. But where, O son of Hur, where is the king himself? Is he fallen into nothingness? Two thousand years have gone since he was a man alive as you and I are. Was his last breath the end of him?
" To say yes would be to accuse God; let us rather accept his better plan of attaining life after death for us-actual life, I mean-the something more than a place in mortal memory; life with going and coming, with sensation, with knowledge, with power and all appreciation; life eternal in the term through it may be with changes of condition.
"Ask you what God's plan is? The gift of a Soul to each of us at birth, with this simple law-there shall be no immortality except through the Soul...
"...A word as to the pleasure there is in the thought of a Soul in each of us. In the first place, it robs death of its terrors by making dying a change for the better, and burial but the planting of a seed from which there will spring a new life... behold me as I am -weak, weary, old, shrunken in body, graceless; look at my wrinkled face, think of my failing senses, listen to my shrilled voice. Ah! what happiness to me in the promise that when the tomb opens, as soon it will, to receive the worn-out husk I call myself, the now viewless doors of the universe, which is but the palace of God, will swing wide ajar to receive me, a liberated immortal Soul!
...I leave to him the organization of my Soul, and every arrangement for the life after death. I know he loves me."
The gift of a soul is really the only thing that matters. How easy it is to get caught up in everything else this life offers. God forgive me for forgetting the gift of my soul.
Balthasar speaks:
" I cannot tell you when the idea of a Soul in every man had its origin. Most likely the first parents brought it with them out of the garden in which they had their first dwelling. We all do know, however, that it has never perished entirely out of mind. By some peoples it was lost, but not by all; in some ages it dulled and faded; in others it was overwhelmed with doubts; but, in great goodness, God kept sending us at intervals mighty intellects to argue it back to faith and hope.
"Why should there be a Soul in every man? Look, O son of Hur-for one moment look at the necessity of such a device. To lie down and die, and be no more- no more forever-time never was when man wished for such an end; nor has the man ever been who did not in his heart promise himself something better. The monuments of the nations are all protests against nothingness after death; so are statues and inscriptions; so is history. The greatest of our Egyptian kings had his effigy cut out of a hill of solid rock. Day after day he went with a host in chariots to see the work; at last it was finished, never effigy so grand, so enduring; it looked like him-the features were his, faithful even in expression. Now may we not think of him saying in that moment of pride, 'Let Death come; there is an after-life for me! He had his wish. The statue is there yet.
"But what is the after-life he thus secured? Only a recollection by men-a glory unsubstantial as moonshine on the brow of the great bust: a story in stone-nothing more. Meantime what has become of the king? There is an embalmed body up in the royal tombs which once was his- an effigy not so fair to look at as the other out in the Desert. But where, O son of Hur, where is the king himself? Is he fallen into nothingness? Two thousand years have gone since he was a man alive as you and I are. Was his last breath the end of him?
" To say yes would be to accuse God; let us rather accept his better plan of attaining life after death for us-actual life, I mean-the something more than a place in mortal memory; life with going and coming, with sensation, with knowledge, with power and all appreciation; life eternal in the term through it may be with changes of condition.
"Ask you what God's plan is? The gift of a Soul to each of us at birth, with this simple law-there shall be no immortality except through the Soul...
"...A word as to the pleasure there is in the thought of a Soul in each of us. In the first place, it robs death of its terrors by making dying a change for the better, and burial but the planting of a seed from which there will spring a new life... behold me as I am -weak, weary, old, shrunken in body, graceless; look at my wrinkled face, think of my failing senses, listen to my shrilled voice. Ah! what happiness to me in the promise that when the tomb opens, as soon it will, to receive the worn-out husk I call myself, the now viewless doors of the universe, which is but the palace of God, will swing wide ajar to receive me, a liberated immortal Soul!
...I leave to him the organization of my Soul, and every arrangement for the life after death. I know he loves me."
The gift of a soul is really the only thing that matters. How easy it is to get caught up in everything else this life offers. God forgive me for forgetting the gift of my soul.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Evil doers.
There has been a lot of trouble in the United States this week. Many, many sad things have happened all over the country. The Boston Marathon bombing and North Korea's threats are foremost in my thoughts. These troubles have been caused by some very evil men. In that context this passage of scripture really stood out to me.
"They(evil men who occupy seats of power) pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
The crush your people, O Lord;
the oppress your inheiritance.
They slay the widow and the alien;
they murder the fatherless.
They say, "The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob pays no heed."
Take heed, you senseless ones among
the people;
you fools, when will you beome
wise?
Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?
Psalm 94:4-10
Good reminder for me. God is still in control.
"They(evil men who occupy seats of power) pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
The crush your people, O Lord;
the oppress your inheiritance.
They slay the widow and the alien;
they murder the fatherless.
They say, "The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob pays no heed."
Take heed, you senseless ones among
the people;
you fools, when will you beome
wise?
Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?
Psalm 94:4-10
Good reminder for me. God is still in control.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Same couch... five years later.
I ran into an old acquaintance at the store today. We chatted awhile about our lives. This retired, smart, attractive, healthy woman is bored out of her mind. Sadly, she really has nothing to do. I hadn't seen her about five years and she was in exactly the same place in her life that she was five years ago. Bored.
I have another friend whose son dropped in to visit with some old friends. These friends had not been a good influence on him but he told his mom same place, same stuff, same couch five years later. The son was wise enough to decide that he didn't want to "sit" on that old couch any more.
Change is hard. Really hard... and it's scary too. I think that I have to be very intentional with some good life planning so I don't end up on the same couch five years later. That for me is even scarier than change.
What couch are you sitting on? Is it time for a change?
How do you over come your fear of change?
I have another friend whose son dropped in to visit with some old friends. These friends had not been a good influence on him but he told his mom same place, same stuff, same couch five years later. The son was wise enough to decide that he didn't want to "sit" on that old couch any more.
Change is hard. Really hard... and it's scary too. I think that I have to be very intentional with some good life planning so I don't end up on the same couch five years later. That for me is even scarier than change.
What couch are you sitting on? Is it time for a change?
How do you over come your fear of change?
Friday, March 29, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
GRIT
Grit is defined as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Grit entails working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress. The gritty individual approaches achievement as a marathon; his or her advantage is stamina. Whereas disappointment or boredom signals to others that it is time to change trajectory and cut losses, the gritty individual stays the course". Grit is the best indicator of success. According to a study by W. W. Willingham* follow-through (here, referred to as grit) was the single best predictor of significant accomplishment in science, art, sports, communications, organization, or some other endeavor.
One gritty individual is William Carey. Carey is considered the father of modern missions. Carey was born in 1761 in Northamptonshire, England. Carey was apprenticed as a cobbler and spent many years repairing shoes. Carey showed a talent for languages. Carey learned Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Dutch and French while cobbling shoes. Carey had a growing conviction that God was calling him to translate the Bible into the Indian language. As Carey prepared to leave England Carey's father questioned his decision to go to India. His father could not envision what skills he would take to India. Carey told his father "I can plod". With that single qualification William Carey left for India in 1793 with his family and a desire to reach the Indian people with the gospel. He and his family suffered many, many hardships.
At the heart of Carey's mission work was the development of a dictionary, grammars, and the Bible in both the Bengali and Sanskrit languages. On March 11, 1812 a fire swept through the printing building destroying 17 years of pain-staking work. Carey did not give up. Carey went back to work translating the Bible one page at a time. By the time of his death in 1834 the Bible had been translated into 44 languages. This is grit in action.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of you faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
James 1: 2-4
Please share your examples of Grit in action.
*Willingham, W.W. (1985) Success in college: The role of personal qualities and academic ability, page 213. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.
One gritty individual is William Carey. Carey is considered the father of modern missions. Carey was born in 1761 in Northamptonshire, England. Carey was apprenticed as a cobbler and spent many years repairing shoes. Carey showed a talent for languages. Carey learned Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Dutch and French while cobbling shoes. Carey had a growing conviction that God was calling him to translate the Bible into the Indian language. As Carey prepared to leave England Carey's father questioned his decision to go to India. His father could not envision what skills he would take to India. Carey told his father "I can plod". With that single qualification William Carey left for India in 1793 with his family and a desire to reach the Indian people with the gospel. He and his family suffered many, many hardships.
At the heart of Carey's mission work was the development of a dictionary, grammars, and the Bible in both the Bengali and Sanskrit languages. On March 11, 1812 a fire swept through the printing building destroying 17 years of pain-staking work. Carey did not give up. Carey went back to work translating the Bible one page at a time. By the time of his death in 1834 the Bible had been translated into 44 languages. This is grit in action.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of you faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
James 1: 2-4
Please share your examples of Grit in action.
*Willingham, W.W. (1985) Success in college: The role of personal qualities and academic ability, page 213. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Dancing in front of the mirror...
Narcissus was a mythical Greek youth who pined away in love for his own image in a pool of water and was transformed into the flower that bears his name.
It is so easy to get pulled into the pool of self admiration. Facebook and You-tube all drag us into the world of "hey look at how great I am". It's hard to resist dancing in the mirror because it's just so impressive to see ourselves on a screen.
What are your thoughts? I find myself dancing in the mirror too. How should we handle our Narcissistic tendencies?
It is so easy to get pulled into the pool of self admiration. Facebook and You-tube all drag us into the world of "hey look at how great I am". It's hard to resist dancing in the mirror because it's just so impressive to see ourselves on a screen.
What are your thoughts? I find myself dancing in the mirror too. How should we handle our Narcissistic tendencies?
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