Loving the Low Life

I’m not allowed to dance. Not in public, anyway.

My friends and family discovered, long before I did, that I was not blessed with the grace or ability to dance. It seems that while my knees function just fine during walking and bending, my knees completely fail me when I dance. I sort of look like a stiff robot. This makes onlookers quite uncomfortable (or so I have been told.) So, I usually just sit on the side and sway in my seat and tap my toes.

There is one dance that I have not given up on, however. It may be the competitor in me but I cannot say no to the Limbo. You know, that Hawaiian concoction using a rapid drumbeat and a bamboo pole. Whenever someone starts one up I just have to see “how low can I go?”

As you might predict, given my ungraceful knee issues, I have never “gone very low” in a limbo dance. (One time I fell out of the dance so early I snuffed out a nearby tiki-torch for revenge. For which I was soon escorted from the event. But that’s another story.)

The limbo is interesting to me. Most competitions, be they dance or athletic, measure and reward the winner for lasting the longest, running the farthest, jumping the highest or achieving the most. It's one of the few challenges with a prize for going the lowest. And I think that is what appeals to me. The one who goes the lowest is rewarded for his or her efforts.

Jesus would have been great at the limbo. Here He was, the Son of God hanging out in Heaven on high but that was not the life for Him. Heaven, it seems, was too high a place for God’s Son to teach the world. So, the King left His home and got low.

Jesus was not sent to earth with all the power and prestige that rightfully belonged to Him. No, He was striped bare of all His position. He could have come in any form. As a full adult if He so chose. But instead He entered our world an infant with all the helplessness that brings.  He chose to go low in order to woo us.

Jesus’s birth was anything but what I would expect when a King is being born. There was no celebrating with extended family. We are not told of any of the usual birth celebration rituals of the day taking place for Jesus as they did for his cousin John born six months prior.

Mary and Joseph were not with family when they brought their son and the Son of God into the world. Joseph was a mere carpenter. They were teenagers. They were alone. In a stable. With hay for their son’s first bed.  Having to feed and change the Son of God.  In fact, the first ones to visit and celebrate Jesus were lowly shepherds. Nothing high and mighty there.

God is a big God and I expect Him to act in big and mighty ways. But when it came to arguably one of the most important events in the history of the world 1, God went low. And Jesus spent His entire life on earth “going low.” He didn’t call attention to Himself. His message was all about loving and helping other people, not yourself.

Loving through living the low life.

And people flocked to Him. He was approachable. He was humble. His heart was open to everyone – peasants and princes – alike. If God had sent Jesus to us in His true form and rightful position I don’t think it would have worked. Some would have been intimidated by His majesty; some would have been put off by a princely arrogance. Others would have ignored Him completely. But because of the way He arrived and the way He lived and the way He died (like a common criminal) He changed hearts, minds and lives. For all eternity.

Low was the only way to go.

Therein lies the challenge. How low can I go? It’s tough I admit. I don’t feel like livin’ “la vida low” sometimes. Because some days I get in the way of me. But when I do go low I love it. I find such peace in the low life. When I am able take my focus off myself and put it on others my spirit soars. That’s when I feel closest to My Savior – loving and living.

The dance is hard and I bump my head a lot on that bamboo pole because I’m not going low enough. But the good news is is that each day I get another chance at the dance and another chance to see how low I can go.

And the best part is no graceful knees required for this limbo dance.
_________________

1 - Big statement but every thing in history is divided into two time periods – before Christ’s birth and after it.

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My Fortress

My fortress is mighty
Strong
And tall

The walls hold back the winds
The rains
And the storms

A mighty fortress
Whose protection is solid
Fierce and true

The rain seems relentless
The storm appears endless
The night feels bottomless

I do not fault the storms for coming
I do not fault the waves for raging
I do not fault the darkness for falling

A wall becomes mightier when fortified by rain
A fortress strengthened when buffeted by wind
A foundation solidified when christened by waves

My fortress is mighty
Strong
And tall
~

Inspired Wisdom

"Can't doesn't live here."  ~ Kelly Sumners

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Wing Man

Let’s get one thing straight right here at the onset, I have a bit of an independent streak running through me. I realize we’ve talked about how we are created to live in community and I agree with that. However, at times I find that I know what’s best better than the community.

I know you do too. Don’t even sit there and try to deny it. It’s the reason we constantly find our selves in troubling situations, we, the know-it-alls of the world.

Take Maverick, for instance. His know-it-all, can-do-it-all attitude got him far but it could not get him all the way to his goal. In the movie Top Gun, Tom Cruise played a Navy pilot nick-named Maverick training to be a top jet-fighter pilot. He got his nick-name because of his independent attitude.

In a key scene, Maverick and his navigator, Goose, were in a simulated dog-fight with another trainee jet against two faux enemies. The pilots were trained to fly together for protection. Maverick was the wingman for the other pilot, protecting him. However, Maverick believed that the pilot had his confrontation with his enemy well in hand so Maverick left to go after the other enemy jet.

Of course, things went terribly wrong. The first pilot was “shot down” by his enemy but things went far worse for Maverick and Goose. They flew through the exhaust of another jet, stalled and had to eject. Goose was killed. Maverick could not fly for weeks.

Like jet fighter pilots, I have a wingman as I make my way through life. He is with me everyday protecting my backside. He is there giving me guidance. He is there showing me the way. He is there helping me through. And He is there showering me with love.

But like Maverick, there are many days when I ditch my wingman and fly off on my own. I feel strong and don’t need His protection. I am smart and don’t need His guidance. I am experienced I don’t need HIm showing me the way. I am capable I don’t need help. I am happy I don’t need love.

Greatfully, I have stumbled and fallen like Maverick and like him I am learning the error of my ways. At the end of the movie, Maverick has become a real jet-fighter pilot and finds himself in a real dog-fight with real enemies. Several times he gets nervous and cannot shoot. But then his strength comes as he asks his friend Goose to “talk” to him. As one enemy flies away Maverick's new navigator implores him to chase after it. Maverick says “No.” And he stays flying along with the other pilot.

The enemy turns around and has them in its sights. Again his navigator shouts to pull out and Maverick says “No, I’m not leaving my wingman.”

Maverick has learned the value of keeping the faith in what he has been taught and that it will keep them safe. The first enemy gets shot down then Maverick pulls off his signature breaking maneuver and shoots down his trailing enemy. Staying with his wingman, Maverick ensured all enemies were defeated and both jets made it home safely.

It’s no easy task, staying with my Wing Man. Faith asks a lot. My independent streak is strong. The harder things are and the darker the night the stronger the pull is to strike out on my own. To say, “God, must have forgotten about me. He obviously doesn’t care about me anymore. So, it’s all up to me now.” That is exactly when I must fight the hardest to stay with Him. I must do what Maverick did and ask my Wing Man to talk to me and give me strength to hold tight. You see, even when I’m grounded and cannot fly, my Man’s got the wings to help me soar.

Come hell or high water, I’m not leaving my Wing Man.

~

To Catch A Dream Thief

Once upon a time I had a dream. It was a big dream. Bigger than any other I had. But I dreamed it anyway. I dreamed I was elected student-body President of my high school.

You might think that as I was Vice President the year before that my dream was not such a big dream. That my dream was easily within my grasp. I’d say “Ha!, you’re wrong.” I was running against our Valedictorian, the smartest girl not just in my class but in the whole school. I was also running against several faculty members and teachers, as I soon learned. Fulfilling this dream would be a mighty task.

Even before I announced my candidacy people tried to thwart me and my dream. I was told in no uncertain terms by the Head of the Upper School, Sister C., that I was to strongly consider my run for the presidency. And that I really should not run. That, among other things, she and other faculty members didn’t find me committed enough for the position.

I was flabbergasted. Sister C and I always got along really well. I responded in no uncertain terms that I was, indeed, committed beyond expression. I thanked her for her concern and set about my task of campaigning.

That’s when I learned that forces that one day like you can really not like you really quickly. I put up campaign posters – Sister C. tore them down for alleged misspellings (she was wrong). I put up big posters – Sister C. instituted a new rule as to the size poster that could be put up. I cut my large poster in half, and put them up really close together – Sister C. instituted another new rule as to the number of posters, one.

Sister C. was not the only one who wanted my dream to fail. Indeed, there were other teachers and faculty who didn’t take to the idea of my presidency. I even learned Sister B., the Headmistress, was one of them. But I did have teachers and faculty on my side. Seemed I had created quite a stir with my little campaign. And the people who noticed didn’t think it was all bad.

Election Day finally came. Valedictorian and I gave our speeches to the Upper School. Votes were tallied. Candidates’ were called into Sister B’s office for the results. I won in a landslide.

Dreams are funny things. We have to hold on tight to them. Really tight. There are evil forces in the world that will try and take them from us if we are not vigilant.

Dream stealers are sent in all shapes and sizes. Some dream stealing soldiers are obvious, like mine was – a person who is visibly trying to keep us from our goal. But other soldiers are more subtle – busyness, that makes us move our dream to the back burner; lack of confidence, that tells us we don’t have any business striving for that goal; lack of contacts or resources, that tells us we will never get there from here; or repeated failure, that tells us we’ve tried and tried but this dream belongs to someone else. And so many more.

Lies. Each one of these dream thiefs is a lie sent by the evil one to ensure we do not reach our goal. Why? Because he knows that if we reach it what joy we will have and what glory God, the dream giver, will have.  The only true way to thwart the thwarter of dreams is to trust in God to get us there. When there seems like no way, there is a way. God is the Way. Even when we can no longer see the dream God can and does. We must do our part and remain in faith. God put the dream in us and God finishes what He starts.

What business did I have beating the smartest girl in school? On paper I should have lost big time. The only way I win that election is with God’s help. And I think satan knew it and that’s why he tried every trick in the book to stop it. Now, I’m not saying my opponent didn’t have God on her side, but perhaps God had a bigger dream planned for her. Something that would bring her even more joy and Him even greater glory.

The dream thief is sneaky and we must remain ever alert and focused to catch him. When we can no longer see the dreams, goals and desires we have set out for our lives we must keep our eyes on God.

He is the one, true way to get there from here.

And that is no dream.

~

Q & A

Hell? No!

Sticks and Swords

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” How many times did I sing that little rhyme when I was a child? Whenever someone would say something that hurt my feelings I would turn to that familiar refrain and say it to them and then say it over and over to myself.

Trouble was it never did make me feel better. Whatever hurtful thing was said to me had a tendency to stick with me. I would find myself mulling over it for hours or even days. All the while trying not to let anyone know that my feelings had been hurt.

I don’t know who came up with that ditty but someone needs to let the author know words can indeed wound, sometimes even more than a stick. The nice thing is, is that words can also build up and repair.

Words matter.

We have said and written many words in an attempt to express the thoughts, feelings and desires we hold inside. Every song on the radio is a singer’s words put to melody in an effort to express an idea or create a feeling within the listener.

Throughout history lovers have devoted reams of paper and gallons of ink to the inexpressible idea of love’s rapture and heartbreak’s devastation.  Words can alter the course of history. 

The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States, The Bill of Rights – words that form the foundation of our country.

Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation – words of freedom.

Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf – words of hate.

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I have a Dream speech – words that inspire and encourage.

Words have power.

Words can give, “You’re hired.” And words can take away, “You’re fired.” Words can soothe, “How can I help?” And words can heal, “I’m sorry.”

In Genesis, we learn that God created the heavens and the earth and God separated the light from the darkness. How did He do this? Did He use modeling clay then wave His hand over it? No. Did He throw a lightening bolt across the cosmos? No.

“And God said…” (Gen. 1:3) That’s all it took. Words. No further action required. Merely by uttering words God called all things into being.

God created us in His image which means our words matter. Our words have power. We can use our words to hurt, kill and destroy or we can use our words to help, love and lift up.

There is another saying, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” The fellow who penned this phrase was a man of wise words.

So the next time someone does or says something to hurt you, instead of picking up a verbal stick or sword, try using 3 of the most powerful words ever spoken, “I forgive you.” I bet it will make you both feel better and it just might alter the course of your history.

It worked for Jesus.

~

3-Dimensional View

I love optical illusions. Those drawings and creations that look like one thing at first glance but if you keep looking at them they morph completely into something else. You’ve seen them. The drawing that looks like a curvy vase but if you look long enough the vase disappears and the silhouettes of two lovers kissing appears.

Some of the craziest optical illusions have to be those 3-D posters which were popular in the early nineties. “Magic-eye” posters were brain splitting. Standing in front of one they looked like nothing special, just a bunch of crazy colorful computer generated lines or colors. Pretty, but nothing great.

But if you waited patiently and focused properly suddenly a 3-D image would appear before you eyes. Instead of a field of green a grasshopper becomes visible. These posters were really fun. For example try: Grasshopper 3-D Stereogram

As neat as these posters could be, it was hard to get the hang of seeing the hidden image. My friends kept telling me to “look through” the poster, don’t look at the poster. Yeah, right, what does that mean? I was told to “soften my focus” or “cross my eyes slightly” and then the image would be revealed. One friend even traced the 3-D image with her fingers for me so I knew what I was looking for – big help that was (not).

The thing is no one can help me see something that is hidden. All the coaching, helpful tips and pointers are nice but it's not going to do any good. You cannot see it for me. I have to do it for myself.

When I decided to tune out my helpful friends, relax, walk away from it for a bit and then try not so hard to “not look AT the poster” the craziest thing happened – I saw the 3-D image suddenly appear – it was a ship and lighthouse. (Slightly crossing my eyes did help.)

It happened so quickly and the ship and lighthouse were so clear and 3-dimentional it kind of startled me at first. One second there was nothing and the next – boom – the thing I was looking for was right before my eyes. The first time took a while but from then on whenever I looked at the poster I saw the ship and lighthouse right away. I learned a new way to see things.

You know God is like that too. He hides Himself from us at times. But like the ship and lighthouse, just because I cannot see Him does not mean He is not there. Someone can explain Him and point Him out and tell me how to “see” Him but they can’t see Him for me. God is someone (something depending on your point of view) that must be experienced personally. And that is exactly the way He wants it.

There were times growing up when all my friends seemed to have this knowledge and relationship with God that I didn’t have. Despite what I thought were my best efforts God and I were not close friends.

During college and after I attended bible studies with my friends, I went to church, had many deep discussions on God and faith but something was missing. I could not see the God that others did. I tried mightily but just could not get there. Then I tried a different way. Perhaps “try” is the wrong word; essentially, I gave up on God and I ever getting close.

And don’t you know it, as soon as I tuned out all the well meaning advice and tips, relaxed and walked away from Him and tried NOT to see Him, God suddenly showed up. That was Him suddenly showing up for the first time bringing my vine back to life, which I wrote about in my last post. Never would have thought to look for Him there!

I can’t see God for you. I can’t tell you how to get close to Him. I can’t reveal Him to you. And you can’t do those things for me. We have to do those things for ourselves – with His help. And sometimes it takes learning a new way to “see” before God reveals new things – of Himself and of ourselves – to us.

Like that ship and lighthouse, He is always there even when He seems hidden from view. But unlike them God is no illusion. He is as real as the paper the poster is printed on. The next time you’re looking for God try to relax and let Him reveal Himself to you. You might be amazed at what suddenly gets revealed.

And the best part is He won’t make you “slightly cross your eyes” to see Him.

~

Pruning Season

It’s Autumn and that means its harvest time. Harvest time is a time for celebration. The hard work is over and the bounty is here. I suppose that’s why there are so many harvest parties and festivals this time of year. (Not to mention the ritual of the crowning of the many varieties of Harvest Queens complete with fancy sash.)

If we look only to the harvest, we would think it all so easy – all this bounty-gathering. But alas that is not so. Sowing is the key. But along with the sowing there is a step of even greater importance to the harvest – the pruning.

I am not a farmer and I am not a gardener. But none of that stops me from desiring a bountiful and beautiful garden. Several years ago I attempted to beautify my home and garden by planting many shrubs, caladium bulbs and plants.

Of particular interest to me were these lovely vines I planted along my wrought-iron fence. The vines were to grow up and along the fence and flower in Spring and Summer. I tended mightily to my garden and vines. Watering, weeding, fertilizing and mulching. To my dismay everything began to grow and flourish as planned. It was wonderful.

However, the vines were getting a bit out of control. There were branches going in directions that I did not want. Pruning was needed. I got out my hedge clippers and began pruning away unwanted branches. And encouraging other branches.

The vine looked so much better after being pruned. But as I more closely inspected one of the vines I noticed that I had cut the main stalk. I had pruned so much that I had cut clear through the vine’s base. Now the all the branches growing from that vine would die. Crushing blow.

I did not dig up the stalk base as I was hopeful that I could get it to grow again. However, my hopes for that were dashed when my “helpful” neighbor was pouring weed killer on the sidewalk and poured some in my bed (and on the vine stump) to kill weeds in the bed. The vine stump showed no signs of life for months on end. It just turned grey, brittle and lifeless.

About eight months later God lead me, for the first time in my life, to a passage in the bible. Sitting in my bed, I felt compelled to open the Good Book and read. Never really had that compulsion in the past but I went with it. The scripture I went directly to was John 15:1-8:

1) I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2) He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6) If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8) This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

I instantly began to laugh as I thought of my job at pruning. I hoped that when God pruned He was much more adept at it and didn’t kill what He set out to help bear more fruit.

The very next morning as I let my dog out I glanced at my errant vine stump wishing that I had the skill of an expert that could have helped it to bear more flowers. And I almost passed flat out at what I saw. The vine was growing! Eight months after getting cut within inches of its life and then that life gets poisoned to death – the vine was sprouting new branches. And as my Heavenly Father as my witness, that growth was not there the day before.

The vine grew into a beauty with long, lovely branches with dazzling flowers. Its harvest was bountiful for many years. What took place with my vine, God does for me. As I have been sowing God has been pruning. He has been pruning me the for last few years. And it hurts more than anything I’ve ever experienced. The good news is the pruning does come to an end. Pruning lasts only for a season.

Harvest time is nearing. And when it’s time there will be a celebration fit for a harvest queen. I just hope it comes complete with a fancy sash.

~

Thought for the Day

You have to face the clouds to see the silver lining.

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