June 28th, 2010
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My Sunday School class visited Angelic Ministries again this past weekend. I think this make my fourth trip there and I always seem to walk away feeling more blessed by the people we are there to help than they probably are by us. Don’t get me wrong, they are very appreciative of the things we do for them. I am always amazed at what people who have little or nothing in this world to call their own are willing to give.
One simple act of kindness stood out for me this trip. A group of us rode the bus that picks up some of the homeless in the area, to a spot where many of them wait to be picked up. We got off the bus and handed out water and crackers to those who would have to wait for the second or third trip. The water is a big help when you spend most of your life outdoors and the temperatures are above ninety degrees for weeks.
While I am always impressed with the patience and friendliness these people show, one lady made a small gesture that really hit me. One of the ladies on our team, brought her two boys who are 6 and 7 years old, with her. The boys were helping to hand out water when one of the homeless ladies waiting for her ride came up to them and talked to them. She talked with the boys for a few minutes and then she gave them both a piece of bubble gum.
I know this seems like no big deal, but this woman has next to nothing and yet she shared what little she did have with two strangers. It really put things into perspective for me. This woman, like the woman in Mark chapter 12 of the Bible, gave something from what little she had to give. For no other reason than to see the happiness that it would bring to two young boys, she gave up something that would be heard for her to replace to someone who could easily get all of the gum they could want.
It just proves that true kindness and love can come from anywhere. I wonder why we are so concerned with hanging onto all of our stuff, when even such a small gift can have eternal meaning.
June 7th, 2010
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I just read a good book titled Unfinished Business: One Man’s Extraordinary Year of Trying to Do the Right Things by Lee Kravitz. The book had many interesting chapters, but one of the most interesting to me was the chapter on how he set out to find and visit his old high school friend who had become a monk.
During his visit with his friend he came to understand what the draw is to being a monk, but knew it was not right for him. I feel kind of the same way. I have a friend who was a monk and I have had some conversations with him about his time as a monk and what drew him to that life. I see a lot of things that make that lifestyle appealing to me, as well. I can see the joy and peace that could be found in a lifestyle that is completely focused on becoming closer to God. However, there is one big problem that would make it difficult for me.
God has made me with a great love for other people. I love talking to them. I love working with them. And I love helping them. When Jesus was asked what the greatest of the commandments was he replied “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
This would seem to make the life of a monk the calling for us all and for some of us, it is the calling God would have for us. However, Jesus did not stop there. His next statement was “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:39-40) This is where I feel my calling comes in.
I work very hard to try to live up to the first of these commandments, but in the midst of normal everyday living, I often fail. This is where the attraction to being a monk can be found. Without so many of life’s distractions, I feel I could grow much closer in my relationship to God. But, that is not the way He has wired me. He has given me a strong desire to help others and this is the calling He has for me.
So no matter how appealing I find the life of a monk to be, I am still here muddling through my life, doing the best that I can to fulfill the calling God has for my life. Am I bitter or jealous of those who are called to become monks? Not at all. I love my life and where God has placed me. I wish I were better at building my relationship with God, but I guess that means I just need to try harder.
Unfinished Business: One Man’s Extraordinary Year of Trying to Do the Right Things (Hardcover)
April 23rd, 2010
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Let me start by saying that today is my Big Sister, Cindy’s, 50th birthday. I have been thinking about this for the last week or so, trying to come up with something devious to do in honor of her being a half century old. I thought about the usual stuff. You know, black balloons, sending her AARP information and Geritol, and suggesting she have a fire extinguisher handy when she has to blow out the candles on her Birthday Cake. At my Mother’s suggestion, I even started to doctor up one of her photos to make her look old and wrinkled. She’s not, by the way. However, nothing seemed quite right.
But then I had an epiphany! It was a radical new idea. It was sure to catch her off guard and be totally unexpected. I wavered for a moment because I really had to consider the implications of what I was about to do. Would there be repercussions? What damage was this going to do to our long standing relationship as brother and sister. After several minutes of heart wrenching turmoil, I came to a conclusion and I was going to go through with it. It truly was new ground for me, but it was worth a shot, I thought. So here is the plan. I am going to be nice to my sister! Shocking, I know.
No , honestly, I do love my sister. She has been great to me over the years. She took care of me when I was younger and Mom had to work. She even let me tag along on some of her dates when I was a little older. I have many fond memories of things like her making us popcorn as kids or the time she told me that The Blob was in one of my Christmas presents. (See my post Christmas Memories for details on that one.) It has also been fun to watch her family and mine grow over the years since. We actually even seem to get along now even though I’m sure Mom did not think that was ever going to be the case when we were kids. But even when we did not get along, I still looked up to her and admired her and thought she was the coolest person. I still do!
So, Sis, on this date that marks your 50th year of life, I just want to say, I love you and Happy Birthday!
Oh and one more thing, you better print this out because I’m not sure how long I can leave it up here without getting sick. I’m sure you will want the proof!
