Friday, September 24, 2010

Can!....Can't?.....Will!...Won't?...Do!...Don't?

Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.
Henry Ford

I have watched an eagle glide gracefully across the sky in a lazy looking circle. I noticed that eagles do not do a lot of flapping. They seem to instinctively know that they can ride the wind and not waste a lot of energy.

Lately, I have not been very eagle-like. I feel like I'm flapping for all it's worth. I start the day out pretty positive that I can accomplish much. Then I watch the hours slip away and become easily overwhelmed as I realize how much "stuff" I have piled into one day. AND I can't get it all done so why start? "It" will still be there tomorrow waiting to get done. Unless I stop my flapping long enough and change my thinking, the can'ts will win tomorrow too. As soon as we put not on the end, the gliding ends and the flapping begins.

When I get in moods like that, I need to be careful not to push my can't, won't or don't on other people. Most have enough of their own flapping going on.

I was reminded in a song:

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

May we all be blessed with strength today and remind ourselves that we are not flying alone....flapping or gliding.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Handicap....judging :(

A thought hit me this AM.  The last 2 days my right ear was REALLY plugged up.  I could barely hear out of it.  The left one was pretty bad too.  I was at the grocery store buying a mylar balloon (grocery store because my local $ store closed :( and balloon....because I am the balloon buying, hair bang aunt to the triplets!).  So, I find a balloon that still has some helium in it (AND it says I LOVE YOU).  I go to pay and I kind of hear the cashier tell me the other lane can help me.  Both cashiers looked kind of annoyed as it took a few moments for my recognition as they gestured and started to talk louder.  I had not realized how bad my hearing had become.  A trip to the dr later in the day fixed the problem.  However, I have a deeper issue that needs some attention.

I thought back to a time many years ago when we had parked in a handicap space at a store.  My mom had a hurt leg, but wore a brace so it was not visible.  As we walked into the store, a "gentleman" (using the term generously) said "I was waiting to see which one of you was handicapped."

There are many handicaps that are not visible to the casual observer.  There are people that do not limit themselves by what others would consider a handicap. I so admire those people!  Where it would be easy to make excuses, they go above and beyond expectations.  There are casual observers who judge those seen as being handicapped.  Sadly, I have done that more than I would like to admit.  I have put limits on myself and others based on what I think they can and/or should do.

We truly never know what someone else is going through if we have already judged them and think we know.  Unless we take the time and effort to get to know someone better and truly listen to their story, we may miss out on the perseverance it takes to make it through the day.  Things we take for granted.  We need to see our way past the disability to the ability. 

I wasn't sure if I would find a verse to tie this together.  I typed "handicap" in www.biblegateway.com and in the NIV version nothing came up.  The Message version though had this: 

2 Corinthians12  7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
   My grace is enough; it's all you need.
   My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

Monday, September 06, 2010

The Night Before School Starts

By KL 
Based on The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before school starts, when all through the house

All the children were sleeping, even the spouse;

The backpacks were hung by the front door with care,

In hopes the kids would be ready when the bus would be there;

The children were rushing to get into their beds,

Soon visions of seeing friends danced in their heads;

While mom put back on the toothpaste cap,

Busy, busy no time for a nap,

From one of the bedrooms arose such a clatter,

Mom rushed right in there to see what was the matter.

Up to the bedside she flew like a flash,

Stepping on toys, she heard something smash.

Here was her child

Sometimes shy, sometimes wild

What to her wondering eyes should appear,

that the child had eyes of a headlight struck deer,

With all the mom know-how, so lively and quick,

She knew in a moment the child wanted to be sick

More rapid than eagles her excuses they came,

And she shared all her worries and called them by name;

What if I can’t find all my classes?
What if they don’t like my new glasses?
What of those bullies who teased me last year?
And what if I try out, but don’t get to cheer?

So out of mom’s mouth encouragement flew,

A smile, a hug, and a prayer too.

And then, in a twinkling, the morning was here

The beginning of another school year.

She came down the stairs in her new skinny jeans,

The mom shook her head and looked at her teen.

Mom started to think about all those years back,

When the only worry was what was for snack.

They heard the squeal from the brakes of the bus

Quick out the door, no more time to fuss.

She ran to the bus with just a quick wave

One more memory for mom to save.

As the bus drove on, out of her sight,

Mom quietly whispered “We’ll be all right”.

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

The Genesis Code - my opinion.....GO SEE IT!

I saw The Genesis Code movie.  When I was invited to see it, I didn't even know what it was about...other than a lot of it was filmed in Grand Rapids.  I quickly checked before I went and found out it had something to do with spirituality and science. 

I was pleasantly surprised and hope that this movie makes its way into more theaters in the country.  Many times, movies that make you think don't tend to do that great in theaters.  It seems people want to sit and be entertained or horrified by what takes place on the screen. 

This movie has a little bit of everything: sports (hockey), college life, guy and a girl, believers and non-believers/questioning faith, science, gun shots, life support and the whole realm of questions that brings up.....

The movie seeks to answer the often asked question of how Genesis states the earth was created in 6 days, yet science can "prove" that the earth is indeed billions of years old....and what about dinosaurs?

The movie has some "stars".  A lot of the people I did not recognize, but still good acting.  It was a well produced movie....and if you live around Grand Rapids, it is interesting to try and recognize where they filmed.

This would be a great movie for middle school/high school age as well.  It deals with the pressure of being a believer among very politically correct friends, teachers and family.  It seems like the characters are supposed to be tolerant of everything and everyone (EXCEPT for Christians) as each person finds their own version of right and wrong.  Her "academic adviser" advises her that there is no absolute truth.  The adviser's viewpoint will give you much to think about what you believe and why.  Later, the adviser meets with the reverend and that is a great conversation as well.

Overall, it is a movie that will get you thinking and hopefully discussing with fellow viewers.  I usually have a hard time justifying the cost of seeing a movie in the theater.  However, if we want more movies that do more than just entertain and horrify, we need to support the film makers.  If you can't get to the theater, it will definitely be a great movie to watch as a church group, small study group, etc.