Have you ever received an invitation to a party about which you were unsure? A party that you were not real sure that you wanted to attend! No, it was not because of the people having the party because you loved them very much. It was not because you did not want to dress up as your favorite character because it was not that kind of an event. The timing fit your schedule and the place was not far from your home. The problem was that you knew the party was going to be a "pity party" for the host or hostess! That's was the only kind of "party" they understood!
I wonder how many of us have been trapped into such a situation? I know you have!
Those who host such parties are overcome by their personal concerns. Those concerns may be health related, financial shortfalls, spousal abuse or abandonment...the list is long and difficult. These folk have known tremendous failures of one kind or another and have been overcome by the enormity of the problem. They never intended to be addicted to "self pity" anymore than a drug addict intended to be taken in by cocaine or heroin. It happened! How? Generally, it started as a kind word or gentle gesture on the part of someone feeling another's pain. That pain is demonstrated once, twice or more and it felt good to the hurting person. It felt so good that more of it was desired and sought. Within in a matter of time it felt so good that only a larger dose of the sympathy would satisfy the individual's need and at that point the addiction to pity was set.
With a loving heart others joined the party and began sharing their sorrow for the host of this "self-pity party!" They meant well, but were only compounding the addiction. What was needed was some "straight talk" regarding overcoming the addiction! But, what does one say?
Jesus asked a man one time if he wanted to get well, even though he knew the man had been lying on a mat for thirty-eight years due to some form of paralysis. Did the man need a miracle for his body? Uh...maybe! Did he need a miracle for his mind? Probably! Jesus simply said with great force, "Get up! Take up your mat and walk!" Straight forward talk! No touching! No spittle made from the dirt! Just...simple instructions to a man that was playing the blame game so common to those engulfed in self-pity! What happened? The man got up and walked!
There are those among us who need no more addictive empathy, but a panacea for their personal feelings of pity! Help them overcome this addiction! Encourage them to seek help for the addiction!
Remember, a "pity junkie" does not need to be introduced to a supplier of this deadly poison!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
"I Want To Pray...NOW!"
I wonder what we would do if a little lad expressed a desire to pray...RIGHT NOW! Would you say, "Well, I guess it depends upon where we were and what we were doing?" Maybe so, but I want to tell you about a very "special" little guy. My buddy, Brady, is probably six years old (I am guessing about his age) and I was privileged to count him among my friends while his father served in the military near Williamsburg, Virginia. At one time, my favorite "Brady story" was him trying to figure our what to call me. You see, most of our kids at church call me, "Mr. Bill," but Brady was torn between "Mr. Churchman" and "Mr. Preacher." I got one or the other of these most of the time!
Just today, I got word from his mother, Montie, about another, much more precious, "Brady story." Let me share it with you.
Yesterday as Brady and his parents left church (they now live in the Atlanta, GA area), Brady stopped them in the hallway and said, boldy, "I want to pray. Now." Remember, the opening question of this blog? He and his parents stopped right where they were, bowed their heads, and little Brady prayed, "Dear Lord, Thank you for Taylor, and Jack, Lee Ann, Thomas (...a pause...) Jefferson, and Martin Luther King. Amen." Now, I don't know Taylor, Jack, or Lee Ann, but they were important enough to Brady to include in a list of some pretty important people.
As I read Montie's note, my heart melted! No, not for Brady, but for the rest of us. We often take prayer for granted and never think of its importance. How many times have you wanted to stop and pray, but decided to go on with what you were doing and bring up this matter in your nightly prayers. Not Brady...he wanted to pray NOW! Isn't that what we need to do? An hour or a few hours may be too long to wait! We may forget what was on our minds, forget the person that we needed to remember, or disaster strikes before the sun sets. When is the "right" time to pray? NOW! Just ask, Brady.
Dear friend of mine, prayer is a powerful display of faith on the part of God's children, but it is, also, a powerful source of strength! Please...please, don't forget to pray NOW!
Just today, I got word from his mother, Montie, about another, much more precious, "Brady story." Let me share it with you.
Yesterday as Brady and his parents left church (they now live in the Atlanta, GA area), Brady stopped them in the hallway and said, boldy, "I want to pray. Now." Remember, the opening question of this blog? He and his parents stopped right where they were, bowed their heads, and little Brady prayed, "Dear Lord, Thank you for Taylor, and Jack, Lee Ann, Thomas (...a pause...) Jefferson, and Martin Luther King. Amen." Now, I don't know Taylor, Jack, or Lee Ann, but they were important enough to Brady to include in a list of some pretty important people.
As I read Montie's note, my heart melted! No, not for Brady, but for the rest of us. We often take prayer for granted and never think of its importance. How many times have you wanted to stop and pray, but decided to go on with what you were doing and bring up this matter in your nightly prayers. Not Brady...he wanted to pray NOW! Isn't that what we need to do? An hour or a few hours may be too long to wait! We may forget what was on our minds, forget the person that we needed to remember, or disaster strikes before the sun sets. When is the "right" time to pray? NOW! Just ask, Brady.
Dear friend of mine, prayer is a powerful display of faith on the part of God's children, but it is, also, a powerful source of strength! Please...please, don't forget to pray NOW!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
"It's My Job!"
Sometimes I wonder why people complain about their jobs! Oh, I understand why a construction worker would complain about working out in freezing temperatures or why a chef would get tired of the smell of grease all day. There are probably some jobs that are a bit boring due to repeating the exact same chore all day long and others are frustrating as you deal with dissatisfied customers. But, why do some seem to complain about a job that is exciting, rewarding and envied by many, many others?
Do you know who Lin Hao is? Think real hard because many of you have heard his name and have seen him on television (or maybe a few who were lucky enough to have seen him in person). Most of the world first saw Lin Hao about six months ago on television! Does that help any? Okay, he was the little nine-year-old Chinese boy that carried a small version of the flag of China during the Olympics. He was dwarfed by 7'6" Yao Ming as they led the Chinese athletes into the stadium during the opening ceremonies. Did you watch long enough to know who Lin Hao was and why he was leading the parade of 639 Chinese athletes?
He was a survivor of the May 12, 2008 earthquake that hit China. The tremors that caused the death of 69,000 people brought Lin Hao the chance to teach the world a great lesson. You see, he was trapped in a primary school building that had collapsed with all the children inside. He struggled and got out of the rubble although suffering a head injury (the scar from the injury was obvious during the parade). However, even after escaping, he went back in and led two of his classmates to safety who were doomed to death unless someone helped them, but in crawled their hero, Lin Hoa.
The story does not end with the rescues! Lin Hao was interviewed frequently during the Olympics and always answered the same way when ask about his heroics. His response was always, "I am the class leader and a hall monitor. It was my job to look after my classmates!" That's it...he was doing his job!
Friends, we need to understand that we all have a job to do. It may not be the most exciting job in the world nor one that will grab publicity, but it is our job! We need to do that job with pride, enthusiasm, and dignity. At a time when thousands are losing their jobs everyday, we ought to be grateful to have a job to do, right?
So whether you go to a school, restaurant, factory, hospital, or construction site...do your job! Why? Because that's what we all must do...our job!
Make today a profitable day of work and you will rest more comfortably tonight!
Do you know who Lin Hao is? Think real hard because many of you have heard his name and have seen him on television (or maybe a few who were lucky enough to have seen him in person). Most of the world first saw Lin Hao about six months ago on television! Does that help any? Okay, he was the little nine-year-old Chinese boy that carried a small version of the flag of China during the Olympics. He was dwarfed by 7'6" Yao Ming as they led the Chinese athletes into the stadium during the opening ceremonies. Did you watch long enough to know who Lin Hao was and why he was leading the parade of 639 Chinese athletes?
He was a survivor of the May 12, 2008 earthquake that hit China. The tremors that caused the death of 69,000 people brought Lin Hao the chance to teach the world a great lesson. You see, he was trapped in a primary school building that had collapsed with all the children inside. He struggled and got out of the rubble although suffering a head injury (the scar from the injury was obvious during the parade). However, even after escaping, he went back in and led two of his classmates to safety who were doomed to death unless someone helped them, but in crawled their hero, Lin Hoa.
The story does not end with the rescues! Lin Hao was interviewed frequently during the Olympics and always answered the same way when ask about his heroics. His response was always, "I am the class leader and a hall monitor. It was my job to look after my classmates!" That's it...he was doing his job!
Friends, we need to understand that we all have a job to do. It may not be the most exciting job in the world nor one that will grab publicity, but it is our job! We need to do that job with pride, enthusiasm, and dignity. At a time when thousands are losing their jobs everyday, we ought to be grateful to have a job to do, right?
So whether you go to a school, restaurant, factory, hospital, or construction site...do your job! Why? Because that's what we all must do...our job!
Make today a profitable day of work and you will rest more comfortably tonight!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
"Sing And Be Happy!"
As I sit here this morning and look out of the window in my study, I see gray skies, trees trembling in the wind, and drops of rain falling lazily to the ground. It is not a "stormy" day, but it certainly is not a "bright sun shiny day" either! I wonder how many people see life that way! You know, not so bad, but not that good! I have heard folk say, "I wish it would get cold and stay cold or become warm and stay warm!" They don't seem to like those mediocre days of partly cloudy skies and intermittent sunshine!
This reminds me of the devotional song that says, "If the skies above you are gray, you are feeling so blue..." The encouragement is to, "Sing and be happy, press on to the goal, trust Him who leads you, He will keep your soul."
That is solid advice for all of us! It is when we let our surroundings (weather, confusion, disappointments, etc.) determine our joy that we discover that our trust in God has weakened significantly. I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I am a believer and the son of believers! Behind every cloud is a "silver lining" that shines in the heavenly land! Today's agonies will be overwhelmed by tomorrow's blessings! This moment's disappointments will be overshadowed by the next moment's realities! So, why not "sing and be happy?"
It really doesn't take too long for you to turn a gloomy gray sky day into a bright day of sunshine by just singing a happy tune! Whistle while you work and notice how much easier the work seems to be. Hum a happy melody and notice that the people around you are really your friends, not your competitors.
There is one line in the above mentioned song that is bad advice. It says, "When the dark clouds vanish away then your heart truly can sing." Do we have to wait until the sun shines again before singing? I think not! It is the singing that drives the clouds away and brings back the sun! There is no reason we cannot enjoy life while the raindrops are falling on our heads. If one has to wait until the storm passes by to be happy, he may miss the blessing of trusting in God! My happiest moments are trusting God when there seems to be no reason to trust Him!
"Don't worry...be happy!" There you go! Simple, but profound!
This reminds me of the devotional song that says, "If the skies above you are gray, you are feeling so blue..." The encouragement is to, "Sing and be happy, press on to the goal, trust Him who leads you, He will keep your soul."
That is solid advice for all of us! It is when we let our surroundings (weather, confusion, disappointments, etc.) determine our joy that we discover that our trust in God has weakened significantly. I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I am a believer and the son of believers! Behind every cloud is a "silver lining" that shines in the heavenly land! Today's agonies will be overwhelmed by tomorrow's blessings! This moment's disappointments will be overshadowed by the next moment's realities! So, why not "sing and be happy?"
It really doesn't take too long for you to turn a gloomy gray sky day into a bright day of sunshine by just singing a happy tune! Whistle while you work and notice how much easier the work seems to be. Hum a happy melody and notice that the people around you are really your friends, not your competitors.
There is one line in the above mentioned song that is bad advice. It says, "When the dark clouds vanish away then your heart truly can sing." Do we have to wait until the sun shines again before singing? I think not! It is the singing that drives the clouds away and brings back the sun! There is no reason we cannot enjoy life while the raindrops are falling on our heads. If one has to wait until the storm passes by to be happy, he may miss the blessing of trusting in God! My happiest moments are trusting God when there seems to be no reason to trust Him!
"Don't worry...be happy!" There you go! Simple, but profound!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
"Old Dogs And New Tricks!"
"Wisdom is wasted on the old!" I just read the preceding thought and wondered what the author had in mind. It reminded me a bit of a saying that I remember seeing on the side of my Dad's scotch tape holder. It read, "Too soon old and too late smart!" I guess that's about the same thing, isn't it?
As I tried to think through both statements, I came up with only one conclusion. They are both saying that the young need the wisdom of the old, but wisdom is wasted on the old because they won't change their minds or lives, even if change is needed. Hmmmm? I guess that is assuming that young folk would change their minds and lives if shown that change would make their lives more desirable. Is this conclusion assuming things that are basically not true?
Remember hearing, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?" I am wondering again if that adage is true! How old does a dog have to be before he cannot be trained anew? What determines if such training will be useless? Even if it takes an old dog a bit longer to learn a new "trick," does that mean we should not make the effort to improve his life? What if the old dog resists discovering new "tricks," are we to cease making the effort? I wonder!
There is one thing for sure, the above adages do not apply to humankind. Period. I have seen folk who were well into the sunset of their lives make drastic changes in their lifestyles. They have learned to eat well, exercise more, and live happier even after years of missing all three. I have, also, seen young flexible teenagers who did not change even when shown their lifestyles were detrimental physically, mentally and spiritually. Well, there goes the above theories!
What does that mean for those of us who are trying to help people have healthier, happier, and more contented lives? It means, if you are working with "old dogs," you might want to give up a bit sooner, but if you are reaching out to "young and old people," you never, never give up!
What do YOU think?
As I tried to think through both statements, I came up with only one conclusion. They are both saying that the young need the wisdom of the old, but wisdom is wasted on the old because they won't change their minds or lives, even if change is needed. Hmmmm? I guess that is assuming that young folk would change their minds and lives if shown that change would make their lives more desirable. Is this conclusion assuming things that are basically not true?
Remember hearing, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?" I am wondering again if that adage is true! How old does a dog have to be before he cannot be trained anew? What determines if such training will be useless? Even if it takes an old dog a bit longer to learn a new "trick," does that mean we should not make the effort to improve his life? What if the old dog resists discovering new "tricks," are we to cease making the effort? I wonder!
There is one thing for sure, the above adages do not apply to humankind. Period. I have seen folk who were well into the sunset of their lives make drastic changes in their lifestyles. They have learned to eat well, exercise more, and live happier even after years of missing all three. I have, also, seen young flexible teenagers who did not change even when shown their lifestyles were detrimental physically, mentally and spiritually. Well, there goes the above theories!
What does that mean for those of us who are trying to help people have healthier, happier, and more contented lives? It means, if you are working with "old dogs," you might want to give up a bit sooner, but if you are reaching out to "young and old people," you never, never give up!
What do YOU think?
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Baton Will Soon Be Passed!
I wonder what's going through the mind of President-elect Barrack Obama about now! In a week and a day, he will walk into the oval office as the President of the United States of America for the first time. Wow! With a simple, "I do," he becomes the most powerful man in the world! On his shoulders will fall the fortunes of 350 million citizens, plus the futures of billions more. He will control the most powerful military ever known to humankind! He will preside over a budget of thousands of billions of dollars! Mind-boggling, isn't it? How do you suppose he feels about now? Excited? Humbled? Scared? Nervous? Probably all four and many more!
It was interesting this morning to listen to the farewell press conference of George W. Bush as he prepares to return to his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The questions were unlike those asked in previous news conferences because this would be his last as the sitting president. Questions like: Do you have any regrets? What was your biggest mistake? How did you feel the first time you walked into the oval office? Would you do anything differently? Very few of the questions were about current situations in the world because there was not that much time now to deal with them. The wars and the weak economy will be passed on to the 44th president next Tuesday, January 20. He will then pass the ruling baton to another generation of politicians!
My prayer is for this country and the possible new direction that it will take! I am not a prophet and have no crystal ball, but I pray that God's will can have free reign in people's lives. That God's truths will be held in utmost esteem! That the problems plaguing the nation at this point will be resolved and peace can break out throughout the world! That Mr. Obama will be safe and provide some much needed leadership for us all!
I don't wish our new president luck....I promise him prayer! Will you join me?
It was interesting this morning to listen to the farewell press conference of George W. Bush as he prepares to return to his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The questions were unlike those asked in previous news conferences because this would be his last as the sitting president. Questions like: Do you have any regrets? What was your biggest mistake? How did you feel the first time you walked into the oval office? Would you do anything differently? Very few of the questions were about current situations in the world because there was not that much time now to deal with them. The wars and the weak economy will be passed on to the 44th president next Tuesday, January 20. He will then pass the ruling baton to another generation of politicians!
My prayer is for this country and the possible new direction that it will take! I am not a prophet and have no crystal ball, but I pray that God's will can have free reign in people's lives. That God's truths will be held in utmost esteem! That the problems plaguing the nation at this point will be resolved and peace can break out throughout the world! That Mr. Obama will be safe and provide some much needed leadership for us all!
I don't wish our new president luck....I promise him prayer! Will you join me?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
On With Living and Loving...
Leo Buscaglia, known as "Dr. Love," once noted, "Don't brood! Get on with living and loving. You don't have forever!" Buscaglia was one of my favorite modern day philosophers years ago. He was not a scholarly theologian, but more of a practical philosopher. When I was in my twenties, I ran across one of his paperbacks on "love" and I read that over and over again until I had nearly digested it all! I finally passed it on to someone else and I hope they gained as much common sense out of it as I did.
When I read the above quote the other day on the website, "Brainy Quote," it spoke to my heart (my heart needed someone to speak to it!). It is so frustrating to brood over matters that are really unimportant in the big picture of life. I wonder how much precious time is wasted by trying to work out that which is unable to be worked out? A lot, I am sure.
You and I need to get on with living because as Dr. Love suggests, "...You don't live forever!" At some point life will cease as we know it and there will be no more time to "get on with living!" Two things are terrible things to waste: one's mind and one's life!
Now, what was it I was brooding over? Oh, well...it does not matter because I have to get on with living and loving!
When I read the above quote the other day on the website, "Brainy Quote," it spoke to my heart (my heart needed someone to speak to it!). It is so frustrating to brood over matters that are really unimportant in the big picture of life. I wonder how much precious time is wasted by trying to work out that which is unable to be worked out? A lot, I am sure.
You and I need to get on with living because as Dr. Love suggests, "...You don't live forever!" At some point life will cease as we know it and there will be no more time to "get on with living!" Two things are terrible things to waste: one's mind and one's life!
Now, what was it I was brooding over? Oh, well...it does not matter because I have to get on with living and loving!
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