reflection

June 31st

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When I worked for the bank, in the electronic banking support department, one of the most interesting parts of my job was reading the “contact us” email.  There were emails that make perfect sense, well worded, and straight to the point.  There were also emails that threatened, whined and complained…and I was supposed to come up with some reasonable answer to all of them.

However, there were some that were just downright hilarious, and were amazing in what they said.  One of my favorite ones was a sweet, sincere note..asking for help with their online statement.  It seems they had downloaded the statement, but they felt it was incomplete.  The email basically read “I am having problems with my statement.  When I download it I only get June 1-30 – and I can’t figure out why you cut off the 31st!”. Ok, if you haven’t caught on, June only has 30 days!  And I very politely replied to that effect.  But now when I have one of those days, just the thought “June 31st” can make the worst moment very bearable.

I believe God allows days like that for a very specific purpose.  One is to get us to quit taking ourselves and our immediate “worlds” so seriously…to get us to step back and say, “Really? Am I so worked up about this?”  God does want His children to laugh, and smile, and enjoy their lives…and we need to act like we have unending joy and peace in our lives.

Another reason is to make us humble.  We can be very impressed with ourselves sometimes, and we forget that we are just one step, one thought, one moment in the wrong cirumstances to start downhill towards some very ugly attitudes and habits!  And we just really DON’T impress anyone when we have a judgmental attitude.

And finally, I believe God gives us those days to say, “Look – I am in charge here, if you will just let me work.  And since you won’t always, I have to make you weak so that I can be strong.  In your weakness I shine…so here’s __________to help remind you whose power you need to be walking in!”

So, when a June 31st day happens to you, or maybe a June 31st week, stop.  And look around.  And pray. And ask God what He needs to do through you, or show you, that you aren’t picking up on.  And above all, LAUGH!  To Him be all the glory as we pursue this life as His children!

Chipmunk Lessons

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Peanut shell is right in front of this chipmunk

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This chipmunk has stripped the peanut of everything and is chowing down!

These little guys are some of my favoirtes! Robert and I have been to Estes Park, CO several times – on our honeymoon, a few years later with the kids, and on our 25th wedding anniversary motorcycle trip.  One of the highlights is going to a mountain top by trolley car lift and feeding the chipmunks there.  Going up, watching scenery change all around me, never fails to overwhelm me with the power of our Creator God.

Once on top, the gift store has bags of peanuts to feed the chipmunks.  After getting the bags, it’s a short walk out the deck to get down where the chipmunks are.  We would settle in, put a peanut in our hands and wait.  Soon, one chipmunk would arrive, snatch the unshelled peanut and run off a little way to eat it.  As we stayed totally still and quiet, all that could be heard around us was the munch and crunch!  In a few minutes, that chipmunk would come back, and then other chipmunks would join him, and as they got braver, they would take the peanut, and eat in front of us.

Now, the chipmunks had no idea who we were, or what we wanted.  Hundreds of people every day take that ride and feed them.  We could have been cold blooded “killers”, out to have chipmunk stew for supper.  We could have put poison on those peanuts, and they would have died. All they knew is that we had peanuts in our hands, and we looked innocent enough!  We looked right, sounded right, and offered food that tasted awesome.  And that was all they cared about.

Thinking about church tomorrow (it’s Saturday night), and the Christian radio that I listen to, and the books that I read, it occurred to me – how many times am I like that chipmunk?  Do I obey the Scripture that says to test everything I see and hear as to whether it is true to God’s Word (I John 4:1)?  Or do I take it at face value and believe that because it looks good, sounds good, and feels good, then it must BE good?

God has called us to be responsible in what we believe and live by, and to determine if we are following the one true God and not just someone offering us “food” that may lead to our ruin.  May He help us to be that kind of believer!

 


A Change of Scenery

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100_1299My husband Robert is a “porch sitter” from WAY back.  He spent his first 9 years in the mountains of north Georgia, where life was much more laid back, money was scarce, and your neighbors were mostly family.  They would spend most evenings, especially in the hot summer, on the porch, playing, sharing and laughing.  Therefore for him the best vacation spots are in the moutains, with a porch high up where major relaxing can occur.  This photo was taken at one such place about a year ago, in the foothills of North Georgia – and it was delightful.

As a matter of fact, when we bought our current house, the first thing we saw was the HUGE screened in side porch..and it was a done deal before we ever went inside!

I grew up a city girl, with places to go, things to do, and people to see…and none of it happening at home!  It took me a long time (we’ve been married 32 years) to realize the value of a vacation that involved actual resting – not scurrying around seeing sights, and NOT at the beach -which is what my childhood vacations were made of.

But as I grew older and life got busier, I began to appreciate the time out approach, and now I can’t imagine any other way to go.  Life today can be crazy – and feel hopelessly out of control sometimes.  There are very few moments that truly belong to any of us, with all the demands of our jobs, family, church, and other things.  It is SO hard to just stop..and do nothing.

AND YET!  God calls us to stop. Period. And rest in Him.  Talk with Him.  Enjoy His presence.  Ask HIM about our worries,, and troubles, and concerns. Be with Him.  Let Him remind us of how much He loves us.  But that will not happen, until we find that “porch” in our lives – that quiet place, or quiet 10 minutes, or 30 minutes, where WE do nothing, and He does everything.  He will cause us to feel renewed, refreshed, and ready to go back to our lives, if we will only let Him.  So here’s to some porch sitting!  And may He allow us all to experience the beauty of being in His presence.