Thursday, July 23, 2009

What I Learned on My Summer Vacation

I have been away. Sitting on a mountain; pondering the view. I have a lot to ponder and it was a beautiful view upon which to do my pondering.

What I have found is that at times when I seek answers I end up with more questions. But the new questions take me past the old questions but on to new, higher horizons.

I was very much looking forward to this summer’s trip because my trip last summer simply blew me away. I had encounters and conversations that changed me and challenged me and to which I returned in my mind and heart all year. I was hopeful this trip would be equally energizing.

But God doesn’t do things the same way twice. He may do it again, but it’s never the same. He’s a creative guy and likes to express that side of Himself to us.

Last year I got nature and lots of it, this year I got wildlife – or what I’ll call nurture. Animals and birds of all kinds were my constant companions. I could not seem to escape them. At times I felt like Cinderella or Snow White with all the forest animals following me (deer, elk, chipmunks, humming birds, finches) and chirping (humming birds, finches, hawks, blue jays, magpies) and barking (chipmunks, picas, marmots) at me.

It’s funny how I can sit by myself and find myself in the middle of a love-fest. Little creatures can teach a big creature so much. It occurred to me while sitting there that this wide expanse of earth exists solely for love and to support love. Being loved in return doesn’t seem to be on it's agenda. (Well maybe it is if that love comes in the form of sweet sugar-water or a banana chip left on a rock.)

Love. Its bigger than I give it credit for. It covers more than I let it. Its more than just romance. It’s about a Sacred Romance. And that makes all the difference. The One who invented love did not just give it to us. He gave it to all He created. He had to, He is love and that just rubs off on all He touches.

The longer I sat there all week the more I felt love coming from all I could see and hear and touch. And the more I relaxed the more I let it in. I mean really let it in to my bones. And once that kind of deep, abiding, ain’t-never-gonna-leave-no-matter-what love got in, the more I wanted to give it away.

Love doesn’t do me any good if I just absorb it like a sponge and keep it in my storehouse. It only feels like love when I give it away. It only feels like love when I pass on the gift that was given to me.

I get lost sometimes and think I can’t step out, I can’t step up; I’ll let someone else walk through that door or carry that load. But love, sacred love, is not like that. If I accept it I have to be willing to feel it, let it sink in and get all over me. And when that happens I’ve got no choice. This kind of love takes on an energy and life of its own within me. And it wants back out. And it feels awesome.

Perhaps this summer’s trip was just as energizing as last years. Who knew tiny little humming birds had such big hearts – and liked to share them?

~

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Thought for the Day

Today is not a dress rehearsal;
your Audience is watching.

~

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Let Freedom Ring

Happy Independence Day! Today is the 233 birthday of these United States of America. Today we stop and celebrate the brave men and women who took a courageous stand against tyranny and evil and sacrificed their lives and livelihoods so that we can enjoy ours in prosperity, peace and freedom. Today we celebrate our freedom fighters.

But as the saying goes, “freedom isn’t free.” No, freedom exacts a hefty price. And that price is sacrifice.

Our country is only free today because the men and women back in the 17th and 18th centuries believed that starting a new country and government free and apart from England was important enough to fight for. (And still is.) And sacrifice they did. (And still do.) But signing that Declaration was too important to our freedom to let fear stop them.

Surely they lost touch with friends and loved ones back in England, they lost homes and fortunes during the revolutionary war. Some became prisoners of war. Freedom came with a hefty price tag. But I imagine if we were to ask them today, they’d say it was worth it.

Our founding fathers didn’t go into battle alone. They had a role model to look to for inspiration and guidance. They had on their side the first and ultimate Freedom Fighter. The One who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Freedom. What a beautiful gift it is. John wrote that “if the Son sets you free, you are free, indeed.” (John 8:36). Meaning that if you get freedom from the Son then you get major freedom and nobody can take it from you. That’s some freedom.

Jesus came to set us free – free from strife, free from worry, free from pain, free from harm, free from death. That last one is a doozy. And to free us from that our ultimate Freedom Fighter made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

And what’s really cool is that He didn’t do it in a generic, general “I do this for everybody who comes after me” way. He did it in a “I do this for you [insert your name here]” way.

Unlike our founding fathers, who we rightly honor today, our Freedom Fighter is still on the job. Protecting us and keeping us free. And He knows each of us – by name.

So, today when we are celebrating with family and friends and enjoying our hard fought freedom, let’s remember to take a moment to say Thank You to those who traded their freedom for ours.

Sacrifice – it's how you spell freedom.

~

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Thought for the Day

"The way it always was
is no longer good enough
..."

~Nichole Nordeman
~

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