Enough already...

Any so-called material thing that you want is merely a symbol: you want it not for itself, but because it will content your spirit for the moment. --Mark Twain

What good does it do for people to win the whole world yet lose their lives? ~Mark 8.36

 
 Recently, one of my co-workers told me of trading his paid off truck in on one that he was going to be making 6 years worth of payments on.  I noticed two things: 

1. I wasn't jealous (really)
2. I felt sorry for him


Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate new cars as much as the next guy and would love to have something with nicer than what I have sometimes - but it's a lot easier to deal with when I ask myself this question: "Once the "new" has worn off, will I still be paying for this?"

Greed.


I've been a slave to it in the past. The excitement of feeding the demon with new "stuff" - things that I could brag about and show off to all my "friends" (who were never as taken with my recent acquisition or me as I thought they should be).  


Stuff, Toys, Things, Stuff...


Never enough.  Never as thrilling as the purchase itself or the hours spent online researching - justifying myself as a "smart shopper".  Never satisfied, always convincing myself that there's always room for more...


I'm sure my pontification about all my toys wore some to the bone - but they never uttered it.  

It's nice to grow up a bit and find contentment in my family and things that cant be seen yet are as tangible as a brick wall - peace, love and a decent night's rest.

I'm thankful for what I have and am becoming thankful for the blessing of not having most of what I used to think I wanted.

Time to be FREE.

My Name is Life

My Name is Life

Adam Bogle

2011 TRP Music, Inc. (All Rights Reserved)

V1

Does the tree in an empty forest

Fall to the ground silently?

Are the tears you cry 

And the pain inside

Not really there cause no one sees?

VII

Can the emptiness be filled with something

When there's nothing else in sight?

Will there ever be a new day dawning

When all you ever live is night?

CI

There's got to be

Just reach for me

My name is Life

VIII

Is there an ending to the story

When you cant even read the words?

Is there a song you could be singing 

When the music can't be heard?

VIV

Is there a way across the tracks

Behind this never-ending train?

Or the promise of a rainbow

When all it ever does is rain?

CII

Oh yes it's true

I reach for you 

My name is Life

B

My name is Light 

When there's darkness all around you

My name is Peace

When all you're living is a war

My name is Strength 

When the road is long and you can't go on...

...And when all your living is done 

My name is Life

"Spoiled Rotten" or "Too Good To Be True"

 "Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?" ~Matt 7.11 GWT

I just picked Westyn up from school - he's in the 7th grade.  This is something that I try to do every chance I get, which is not very often.  One thing I noticed while I watched the middle-schoolers getting into their parent's cars was the common look of disdain at having to interact with them.  The body-language which said, "you're lucky I don't dis-own you as my mom/dad."  Typical adolescent behavior I suppose -  but I can't help but wonder, is it bred or learned?  When Westyn got into the car with the same attitude, I had to ask myself: "are we (parents) to blame?"

Nothing bothers me more than to think my kids are going without something they need.  The idea of them going to bed hungry is banned from my options for bed-time as Traci can attest.  They've milked it more than once just to stay up a few minutes longer than usual.  I work lots of hours to see that their needs are met and that most of what they want is only a "badgering Dad" away. 

Who could blame them for learning how to manipulate the old man into getting what they surely must deserve? Sheesh, I must be an easy mark....

Wait, hold on a minute.  

Now that I think about it, how many of us behave the same way toward God most of the time?  We short-change Him in time and ability and He keeps loving and providing for us without reservation. 

Only difference?

He's Not At Fault.

I'm thinking maybe it's time we got out of middle-school.

It's time to grow up.

Thank you God for Loving Us, I know I dont deserve it...

A Rumbly in my Tumbly

"He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands." ~Luke 1.53

 "There's nothing here to eat except Pizza Rolls and diet Pepsi..." ~Westyn (age 10)

I first saw the image above a couple of years ago and from the very first time, it has never failed to speak volumes to me every time  I look at it.  I also remember searching for and reading the story behind it, as written by the photographer who took it.

He spoke of how the boy pictured was oblivious to his presence and focused only on the food, the source of another day's existence. 

The boy's hunger was the most powerful force in the world to him at that moment.

A few minutes ago, I realized that I hadn't eaten for several hours and began to fix something to eat.  While reaching up into the cabinet, a voice inside said: "Hunger is good, it makes you feel alive."

It's the first time that I have ever looked at it that way.  Throughout my life without fail, hunger has been a negative thing - something to be remedied as quickly and completely as possible.  Something which needed to be soothed and made better, like a cut finger or backache.

Hunger is good? 

Something to be Desired? Sought after? Needed? (even wanted?)

Yes - think about it.

The gnawing belly, growing stronger simply through time - the only thing which gets more powerful when not fed - overcomes the brain and yells louder and louder until something is thrown it's way.

But the gnawing belly is only doing it's job.

Without it, we'd starve.

So is there a lesson to be learned from this?

Maybe, I think so. 

I think that recognizing what I'm passionate about, crave, what defines and makes me who I am and who I am becoming is vital to satiating my real hunger.  Then to experience the taste of total immersion in those things is key to being fulfilled.

I don't know about you, but I'm starving...

....Time to eat.

The Image of You

The room is dimly lit
Illuminated only by the faint glow of the screen.
The only sounds are the white noise lullaby
And the slow, steady rhythm of your breathing.

No glasses, but I stare at you
Watching you fade into sleep
An image more imagined than real.

Memories of your beauty
Filling in the spaces left
By eyes that get weaker each year.

The perfume of your skin
Mostly hidden underneath  
A tropical bouquet
Is there nonetheless.

Stirring memories of
That same scent in
distant scenes we've shared-
I smile in contentedness.

Instinctively.
My calloused hand
Moves to take yours.

Finding it.
Without need to search
for the familiar.

Similarly -
My heart finds yours
With no effort at all.

And one day
When the room
Is bright.
And my eyes wont
See in spite of the light.

The image of You
Will belong to me.

The image of You
Does belong with me.

"Anti"-mosity and the fear of being real....

"If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back." ~Matthew 18.15 (NLT)

There seems to be an increasing use of under-handed, cutting remarks and responses on the social networks these days.  Whatever happened to good old, face to face conflict resolution?

It's been my experience that there are few things more refreshing than to "have it out" with a friend and move on to healing and growth together.  

It's also true from my perspective that dealing with a perceived injury - emotional or otherwise - through indirect, snide remarks does nothing to resolve the root cause and only serves to foster further resentment and anger. 

Has the internet with it's inherent cushions provided a "safe" way to point out how far "superior" one is or is it paving the way for the development of "Cowardly Baggage Handlers"?

If the hurt is deep enough to carry with you, it should be important enough to get rid of.

Time to "man-up" and put on the gloves.

Identitiy Crisis

"I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope." ~Jeremiah 29:11

Sometimes, it's too easy to forget who you are...

                                                                             ...it's time to remember.