The sky was dark and ominous and it was so black that it was hard to see anything outlined in the world outside. Thunder resonated noisily in the air and the sound seemed like a huge bass drum rumbling near the finale of a piece of music. Wide streaks of blinding white lightning zigzagged across the sky piercing the vast darkness into two distinct vertical blocks. Heavy drops of rain poured down in sheets on the window panes in Beth’s bedroom. The only source of light in the room came from the various sized candles which gave off a soft luminescent yellow glow. The electricity had been off for an hour.
Beth gave a long exaggerated sigh and wondered if the gloomy weather would ever change. It had been raining for over two weeks. It wasn’t so frustrating at first but as the days turned into weeks it became more of a hassle. Mentally she was worn out and a thick cloud of depression set in. Beth knew there was no conceivable way to control the weather but she certainly wished that the sun would move away from its hiding place behind the clouds and shine its bright yellow rays downward. Normally she could keep the depressive feelings beneath the surface but this time the hopeless despondency felt like nothing would ever be the same. All the joy and fun of living seemed to dissipate into thin air. It felt like happiness was a million miles away. Would there ever be a time when she would feel joy? Not just a superficial emotion but a joy that carried way down to the depths of her soul. Where did I go wrong?
Daughter, listen to my voice! I hear your cry for happiness.
When had the happy moments vanished? I had been busy for so long that just trying to sit down and relax was a problem. The sound of four active enthusiastic boys in the home were silenced as they one by one moved away and finished college. Empty nest is what everyone calls this season of my life but at times I feel lost without all the activity. God, show me the path I need to take now.
My child, trust me and I will show you new opportunities for service.
Wait! That’s the difference. I’ve tried to handle things my own way over the past few weeks. I always used to get up early in the morning to read my Bible and pray. I have started my day in a rush without even a minute of thanks. God, I have left you patiently waiting for me each morning, expectantly hoping I would take just a few minutes with you. Please forgive me for pushing you into the background.
Beth, forgiveness is only a prayer away.
That night I opened my Bible and talked to God. The heavy burden I had been carrying was lifted and the following morning I set aside quiet time for just God and me. The day had a new focus and although I felt sad at times, I began to see the positive things that were hiding in each day. A simple smile or “Thank you” helped others to feel special. Time spent outdoors opened my eyes to new and wonderful moments of peace and admiration for God’s creation. All the little things seemed more precious that day. A pink rose in full bloom, the chirp of a bird, and the shades of green in the landscape were all part of the Maker’s portrait. I began to see His hand in everything. Hearing His voice beside me gave me assurance and quieted my restless moments.
Daughter, I love you and will give you the joy that you desire. Cherish each day and let me show you the way
I have discovered happiness lies within me. When God is a part of my daily life, my soul can soar with Him and the depression leaves. When I take my Heavy heart to God with an Apologetic attitude offering a Penitent prayer I can have Perfect Peace. The Yoke of bondage falls off my shoulders and Christ’s face illuminates the dark recesses of my mind. Even if the sun fails to shine each day, when the Son shines in my heart I can be happy.
Psalm 68:3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. (NIV)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
I'm back and writing again...
Hi Everyone! For those of you who are regular readers, I have been taking a couple of months off and have been writing for a Christian website. The site has a weekly challenge and the topic changes from things like "happy", "embarrassed", "confident", or other emotions. Topics like music, children's stories, shopping, adventure or teacher are also part fo the challenge topics. It tests my ability to write on a specific topic and has a word count restriction. It has been a real learning experience.
As for other things that have kept me busy, I have made two trips to Atlanta and will be going there again this week. It's always fun to take some time to spoil my grandchildren. We have taken long weekends to visit our other boys. We haven't seen Jason yet but we are looking forward to seeing him over Labor Day weekend.
My goal for now is to try to spend more time on this blog and hopefully my brain can give me some new thoughts or stories.
As for other things that have kept me busy, I have made two trips to Atlanta and will be going there again this week. It's always fun to take some time to spoil my grandchildren. We have taken long weekends to visit our other boys. We haven't seen Jason yet but we are looking forward to seeing him over Labor Day weekend.
My goal for now is to try to spend more time on this blog and hopefully my brain can give me some new thoughts or stories.
Friday, May 11, 2007
WHERE'S MY DUCKY?
There it was at my feet. A blue “fishing pole” with a knit ducky attached to the end by a string. The fishing pole came moving forward towards me and then fell at my feet. There it was waiting for me to pick it up. It was the first thing I did every morning. My Bengal cat was ready to play and his favorite toy since he was four months old was the ducky. It was his favorite thing to do and whenever he was ready to play, he let me know by bringing the ducky from wherever it was in the house.
The game was rather simple. Use the “fishing pole” to hide ducky under the bed while Beau waited for the right time to pounce on the toy. Sometimes he liked to hide under the bed ruffle and wait for the ducky to swing by. Then at times he liked to have ducky up on the bed where it could hide under the covers or fly up in the air. That trick meant that Beau had to catch his prey in the air and bring it down to his level where he could show ducky that he was the king. The game fascinated him and it was played more than once through the day. Each time he brought the toy to me and begged to play.
Cats are known for their independence and usually when I want to spend some time with him in my lap, he could seem to care less. He will jump down and walk away. Then when I am really busy he becomes very insistent that he wants my attention. He will crawl over the computer desk, sit down on the bed while I am trying to fold clothes, or sit on the back of the rocker and put his paws in my hair. For some reason that satisfies him but the resulting hairdo is much less than perfect. But then that is why I like cats. I appreciate their personality and rather than make them behave I have to “read” their facial expressions or body language. I have the challenge of meeting them on their own terms.
There is a wonderful comparison between my cat and his antics and my relationship to God. Unlike my cat, I don’t have to get God’s attention. He is always there and hears me whenever I call upon Him. I can call upon Him and don’t have to wave anything back and forth to get His attention. He always has time for me and even when I have lost my way He still is there beside me. He knows my emotions and doesn’t have to play a guessing game to see if He can find me. Isn’t it great to know that God cares enough so that I always have His attention!
The game was rather simple. Use the “fishing pole” to hide ducky under the bed while Beau waited for the right time to pounce on the toy. Sometimes he liked to hide under the bed ruffle and wait for the ducky to swing by. Then at times he liked to have ducky up on the bed where it could hide under the covers or fly up in the air. That trick meant that Beau had to catch his prey in the air and bring it down to his level where he could show ducky that he was the king. The game fascinated him and it was played more than once through the day. Each time he brought the toy to me and begged to play.
Cats are known for their independence and usually when I want to spend some time with him in my lap, he could seem to care less. He will jump down and walk away. Then when I am really busy he becomes very insistent that he wants my attention. He will crawl over the computer desk, sit down on the bed while I am trying to fold clothes, or sit on the back of the rocker and put his paws in my hair. For some reason that satisfies him but the resulting hairdo is much less than perfect. But then that is why I like cats. I appreciate their personality and rather than make them behave I have to “read” their facial expressions or body language. I have the challenge of meeting them on their own terms.
There is a wonderful comparison between my cat and his antics and my relationship to God. Unlike my cat, I don’t have to get God’s attention. He is always there and hears me whenever I call upon Him. I can call upon Him and don’t have to wave anything back and forth to get His attention. He always has time for me and even when I have lost my way He still is there beside me. He knows my emotions and doesn’t have to play a guessing game to see if He can find me. Isn’t it great to know that God cares enough so that I always have His attention!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
FINDING THE BEST SHORTCUT
Saving time. It's something we all try to do. It no longer seems like a day is a full twenty-four hours. There are committments to keep, jobs around the home that need attention, and children who need help in getting to a sports activity, doing homework or just need some special time or advice from a parent. It's so much to keep up with. That's why shortcuts are used so often.
Perhaps one of the most obvious things we all do is take a shortcut when we are around the house. I may need a hammer to hit something but rather than find the hammer, I use a block of wood or other flat object that looks like it will do the trick. Eventually I realize that only a hammer will work and I go on a hunt for the tool that I should have used in the first place.
The shortcut I take more than anything else is using a substitute for a ladder or step stool. I am about 5 feet tall and it always seems that everything is just out of my reach. I know I need a ladder but I try to stand on the closest thing nearby that I think will support my weight. Things may come down from the shelf but they don’t come down safely. I may stand on a chair or on the bed to change a light bulb rather than take the time to use a short step stool. The other area where I use shortcuts is when I am in the garage. Since our garage does not look like the neat and tidy ones on the home improvement shows, I usually have trouble finding what I want. That’s when I try to reach across a box or behind an object and hope to latch onto it so I can avoid moving all the clutter to get to what I needed. Usually that is when something falls down and I have a worse situation not than when I started. The quick fix caused more trouble that if I would have done things right the first time.
Our family is not mechanically inclined. We depend on an auto shop for repairs and maintenance for our cars. But at times we may have to wait to get something fixed/ That is when we usually take some type of shortcut so we can have a little more time to get the money we need to pay for repairs. On one of our visits to Pennsylvania we had a problem with our car. We would be driving along and from time to time we could not get the car started. We took it in to a mechanic where we were vacationing and he told us how much it would cost to fix it properly. The cost seemed high and we really wanted to have it serviced at home. The mechanic then showed us how to get safely home with a "little fix". There was a little cog that had been broken off and whenever that broken part came up to the top where the belt was, the car would not start. Here's the way we ended up and drove home. We started the car and if the engine wouldn’t turn over, we lifted up the hood and took a hammer and hit in the area where the missing cog was. With a little ingenuity we could start the car and continue on our way. We traveled over 350 miles like that!
Another shortcut I remember was also on vacation. We were within a couple of hours from our destination when we cane across a road closed sigh. If we took the time to turn around and go back to the nearest town we would lose 30 minutes of our time. My husband and his parents had constructed the cabin in the ‘60’s where we were going. Since he was very familiar with the area and claimed that he knew a shortcut, I put my trust in him. He was very familiar with the area and we were tired and wanted to just get to the cabin where we could rest. After several minutes passed I began to question whether or not he had missed a turn. He reassured me that he knew what he was doing and it wouldn’t be much longer until we reached the road. After almost an hour of driving we ended up back at our starting point. Trying to save time and take the shortcut took a large amount of time that we could have saved if we had followed the sign in the first place.
I know of an elderly lady who is living by herself. She does not have a lot of resources of money to get everything fixed. She has been having trouble with her washing machine for years. Rather than buy another one she takes a stick of wood and places it inside the washer, gives it a couple of whacks and the washer starts the cycle again. Not the best way to solve a problem and definitely there is a risk of getting hurt in the process, but it is a quick fix solution and apparently works.
I have a friend who is single and decided to clean and update part of her home. She decided to work on the floors in the kitchen and dining room and together we scrubbed off the old dirt and polished the floor so it was clean and shiny. She had dining room table set on the floor with a rug under it. Rather than move the table and clean the floor underneath, she simply ignored it because no one could see it. On another occasion she decided to paint the walls in her front hall and living room. She worked hard to lighten up the dark colors and the room looked brighter and more inviting. But she had heavy furniture and a large aquarium that was set up. Rather than move the furniture or even try to move the aquarium, she painted only the portion of the wall that she could reach. So, in several areas the wall was the original color, you just couldn’t see it. Another homeowner who purchased the home would see the problem because it would be visible.
As humans we try to find quick fixes for solutions in life. We spend money that we don’t have to help us feel better. We go on vacations that we can’t afford. We may binge eat or not eat at all to help us deal with the emotions of hurt, anger, and loneliness. We work hard at covering up problem areas in our life rather than face the situation “head-on”.
What is the one stabilizing force in our life that can help us? For Christians and others who look to us for answers the only to have the strength to work through the difficult times of life is to take our problems to the Lord. There is no “quick fix” for healing our minds and getting us focused on actually solving the problem. There is no shortcut to salvation. The steps are simple and all we have to do is to put our trust in the Lord. There are no quick solutions here. You must first believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that through Him We don’t have the answers to many things in life and without Him we can do nothing. Once we have accepted His sovereignty, confessed our sins and asked for forgiveness we put Him in control of our life. When we move through life with Him at our side we can find peace and happiness. The result of letting Him into our life is the “best fix” for everything.
Perhaps one of the most obvious things we all do is take a shortcut when we are around the house. I may need a hammer to hit something but rather than find the hammer, I use a block of wood or other flat object that looks like it will do the trick. Eventually I realize that only a hammer will work and I go on a hunt for the tool that I should have used in the first place.
The shortcut I take more than anything else is using a substitute for a ladder or step stool. I am about 5 feet tall and it always seems that everything is just out of my reach. I know I need a ladder but I try to stand on the closest thing nearby that I think will support my weight. Things may come down from the shelf but they don’t come down safely. I may stand on a chair or on the bed to change a light bulb rather than take the time to use a short step stool. The other area where I use shortcuts is when I am in the garage. Since our garage does not look like the neat and tidy ones on the home improvement shows, I usually have trouble finding what I want. That’s when I try to reach across a box or behind an object and hope to latch onto it so I can avoid moving all the clutter to get to what I needed. Usually that is when something falls down and I have a worse situation not than when I started. The quick fix caused more trouble that if I would have done things right the first time.
Our family is not mechanically inclined. We depend on an auto shop for repairs and maintenance for our cars. But at times we may have to wait to get something fixed/ That is when we usually take some type of shortcut so we can have a little more time to get the money we need to pay for repairs. On one of our visits to Pennsylvania we had a problem with our car. We would be driving along and from time to time we could not get the car started. We took it in to a mechanic where we were vacationing and he told us how much it would cost to fix it properly. The cost seemed high and we really wanted to have it serviced at home. The mechanic then showed us how to get safely home with a "little fix". There was a little cog that had been broken off and whenever that broken part came up to the top where the belt was, the car would not start. Here's the way we ended up and drove home. We started the car and if the engine wouldn’t turn over, we lifted up the hood and took a hammer and hit in the area where the missing cog was. With a little ingenuity we could start the car and continue on our way. We traveled over 350 miles like that!
Another shortcut I remember was also on vacation. We were within a couple of hours from our destination when we cane across a road closed sigh. If we took the time to turn around and go back to the nearest town we would lose 30 minutes of our time. My husband and his parents had constructed the cabin in the ‘60’s where we were going. Since he was very familiar with the area and claimed that he knew a shortcut, I put my trust in him. He was very familiar with the area and we were tired and wanted to just get to the cabin where we could rest. After several minutes passed I began to question whether or not he had missed a turn. He reassured me that he knew what he was doing and it wouldn’t be much longer until we reached the road. After almost an hour of driving we ended up back at our starting point. Trying to save time and take the shortcut took a large amount of time that we could have saved if we had followed the sign in the first place.
I know of an elderly lady who is living by herself. She does not have a lot of resources of money to get everything fixed. She has been having trouble with her washing machine for years. Rather than buy another one she takes a stick of wood and places it inside the washer, gives it a couple of whacks and the washer starts the cycle again. Not the best way to solve a problem and definitely there is a risk of getting hurt in the process, but it is a quick fix solution and apparently works.
I have a friend who is single and decided to clean and update part of her home. She decided to work on the floors in the kitchen and dining room and together we scrubbed off the old dirt and polished the floor so it was clean and shiny. She had dining room table set on the floor with a rug under it. Rather than move the table and clean the floor underneath, she simply ignored it because no one could see it. On another occasion she decided to paint the walls in her front hall and living room. She worked hard to lighten up the dark colors and the room looked brighter and more inviting. But she had heavy furniture and a large aquarium that was set up. Rather than move the furniture or even try to move the aquarium, she painted only the portion of the wall that she could reach. So, in several areas the wall was the original color, you just couldn’t see it. Another homeowner who purchased the home would see the problem because it would be visible.
As humans we try to find quick fixes for solutions in life. We spend money that we don’t have to help us feel better. We go on vacations that we can’t afford. We may binge eat or not eat at all to help us deal with the emotions of hurt, anger, and loneliness. We work hard at covering up problem areas in our life rather than face the situation “head-on”.
What is the one stabilizing force in our life that can help us? For Christians and others who look to us for answers the only to have the strength to work through the difficult times of life is to take our problems to the Lord. There is no “quick fix” for healing our minds and getting us focused on actually solving the problem. There is no shortcut to salvation. The steps are simple and all we have to do is to put our trust in the Lord. There are no quick solutions here. You must first believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that through Him We don’t have the answers to many things in life and without Him we can do nothing. Once we have accepted His sovereignty, confessed our sins and asked for forgiveness we put Him in control of our life. When we move through life with Him at our side we can find peace and happiness. The result of letting Him into our life is the “best fix” for everything.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
CONCENTRATE ON THE IMPORTANT THINGS
“May I help you?” asked Mike, the salesman at the computer department.
“We are looking for a new computer. Our old hard drive is acting up and we would like to buy a complete new system.”
The computer salesman looked knowledgeable and since a computer is a rather expensive item, we had questions that needed to be answered. We had already been in a couple of other competitor stores, so we knew what was available. We had researched several models and had also spent time over the phone discussing computers with our sons who are experienced computer technicians. Getting a good price was important and we didn’t want to buy one model only to learn later that another model was better.
We located a video game set-up on a computer nearby and decided to spend our time there until Mike could finish up his current sale. After a few minutes, Mike listened to our specifications and directed us to the display of computers. He showed us a new model that met most of our needs. We felt like we were really making progress, but in the middle of everything, Mike dismissed himself to go to the restroom. He returned several minutes later and we returned to the discussion about computers. Within a few minutes Mike had to leave the area to turn off the alarm that was ringing in the digital camera section. He returned to finish the discussion, but once again the alarm rang and he left the area.
Since we had been doing comparison shopping, we mentioned the price of a similar item at another store. Mike made the phone call and verified that the prices were both the same. Comparison shopping is very much a part of computer shopping and since the cost of the entire system would be around $900, we wanted to be sure that we were satisfied with everything.
The salesman directed us to the display of computers and showed us a new model that met most of our needs. The complete package was just over $900. Everything seemed to be going quite well until the salesman excused himself for a bathroom break. From there the experience went downward. On at least two other occasions Mike left during our conversation to shut off the alarm that kept going off in the camera department. He did take the time to research a comparable with another competitor and did verify that the prices were the same.
With all the interruptions we decided that we would go ahead and purchase the computer. We had waited patiently for almost an hour and in a few minutes more we could walk out the store with our computer and take it home and set it up. Mike left again, but this time when he came back he told us that the system was out of stock. Perhaps I am not as tolerant as most people, but checking the availability of the computer system at the beginning of the presentation would have saved all of us a lot of time. And, just as we were ready to leave, the alarm in the camera department went off again. Mike just couldn’t stay focused because of the interruptions throughout the day.
We returned to another store where we knew the item was in stock and bought the computer system there. It may have cost a little more overall but the service we received made the experience positive. It just didn’t seem that the customer was top priority in the store where Mike worked. We lost an hour of our day while waiting for answers to questions which was really unnecessary.
Trying to keep concentrated on one task seems to be a problem for me right now. I usually haven’t had much trouble in this area but recently there have been so many interruptions that I have lost my sense of direction. I may start one task and be asked to work on another one that needs my attention. During this time, my focus is changed and it is twice as hard to get back to the original problem that I was solving. We have to keep our eyes on our goals or we will not feel satisfied because the original ones have been pushed off to the side.
The same is true for Christians. We live in a world where everything calls out for our attention. The lure of money, the enticement of parties and having fun, and the desire for sexual satisfaction through worldly examples are just a few of the temptations that can get us off course. We have to keep our eyes on Christ and His example to be sure that we walk close to Him. In Psalm 32:8 we read, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye.” And in Psalm 119:18 we see that David requests “Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law”. Notice that the emphasis is on the eyes. The eyes that see and give us direction are important and help us to stay focused on the goals we set. These goals should include any specific directions or guidance that comes from God and the Holy Spirit. Without that, we wander around aimlessly and fail to see the blessings that God has for us.
Give special attention to the direction you are moving in life and see if you are truly focused on God and His will for your life. If not, then ask Him to show you the way so that you will not miss out on the blessings He has for you. Let your eyes look to Him so that you can follow the right path. By committing your life to Him you can be motivated and can keep your concentration on the right things.
“We are looking for a new computer. Our old hard drive is acting up and we would like to buy a complete new system.”
The computer salesman looked knowledgeable and since a computer is a rather expensive item, we had questions that needed to be answered. We had already been in a couple of other competitor stores, so we knew what was available. We had researched several models and had also spent time over the phone discussing computers with our sons who are experienced computer technicians. Getting a good price was important and we didn’t want to buy one model only to learn later that another model was better.
We located a video game set-up on a computer nearby and decided to spend our time there until Mike could finish up his current sale. After a few minutes, Mike listened to our specifications and directed us to the display of computers. He showed us a new model that met most of our needs. We felt like we were really making progress, but in the middle of everything, Mike dismissed himself to go to the restroom. He returned several minutes later and we returned to the discussion about computers. Within a few minutes Mike had to leave the area to turn off the alarm that was ringing in the digital camera section. He returned to finish the discussion, but once again the alarm rang and he left the area.
Since we had been doing comparison shopping, we mentioned the price of a similar item at another store. Mike made the phone call and verified that the prices were both the same. Comparison shopping is very much a part of computer shopping and since the cost of the entire system would be around $900, we wanted to be sure that we were satisfied with everything.
The salesman directed us to the display of computers and showed us a new model that met most of our needs. The complete package was just over $900. Everything seemed to be going quite well until the salesman excused himself for a bathroom break. From there the experience went downward. On at least two other occasions Mike left during our conversation to shut off the alarm that kept going off in the camera department. He did take the time to research a comparable with another competitor and did verify that the prices were the same.
With all the interruptions we decided that we would go ahead and purchase the computer. We had waited patiently for almost an hour and in a few minutes more we could walk out the store with our computer and take it home and set it up. Mike left again, but this time when he came back he told us that the system was out of stock. Perhaps I am not as tolerant as most people, but checking the availability of the computer system at the beginning of the presentation would have saved all of us a lot of time. And, just as we were ready to leave, the alarm in the camera department went off again. Mike just couldn’t stay focused because of the interruptions throughout the day.
We returned to another store where we knew the item was in stock and bought the computer system there. It may have cost a little more overall but the service we received made the experience positive. It just didn’t seem that the customer was top priority in the store where Mike worked. We lost an hour of our day while waiting for answers to questions which was really unnecessary.
Trying to keep concentrated on one task seems to be a problem for me right now. I usually haven’t had much trouble in this area but recently there have been so many interruptions that I have lost my sense of direction. I may start one task and be asked to work on another one that needs my attention. During this time, my focus is changed and it is twice as hard to get back to the original problem that I was solving. We have to keep our eyes on our goals or we will not feel satisfied because the original ones have been pushed off to the side.
The same is true for Christians. We live in a world where everything calls out for our attention. The lure of money, the enticement of parties and having fun, and the desire for sexual satisfaction through worldly examples are just a few of the temptations that can get us off course. We have to keep our eyes on Christ and His example to be sure that we walk close to Him. In Psalm 32:8 we read, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye.” And in Psalm 119:18 we see that David requests “Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law”. Notice that the emphasis is on the eyes. The eyes that see and give us direction are important and help us to stay focused on the goals we set. These goals should include any specific directions or guidance that comes from God and the Holy Spirit. Without that, we wander around aimlessly and fail to see the blessings that God has for us.
Give special attention to the direction you are moving in life and see if you are truly focused on God and His will for your life. If not, then ask Him to show you the way so that you will not miss out on the blessings He has for you. Let your eyes look to Him so that you can follow the right path. By committing your life to Him you can be motivated and can keep your concentration on the right things.
Friday, April 27, 2007
HOW WELL DO YOU LISTEN?
The moving van stopped at the one story ranch house. It had been a long drive to Arkansas and the reality of everything was just sinking in. Part of moving was fun and there was always an adventure along the way but the fact was that moving took a lot of work and involved plenty of changes. We had moved with our faithful companion Peanut, a mixed terrier. He was ten years when we moved so he had been a part of our family for quite some time.
Everyone had to make adjustments and we no longer had a fenced yard. Peanut was either on a leash or tied up in the front yard so that he could not wander away. It wasn’t long until I noticed a problem. More than one dog ran through the neighborhood and no one seemed to care. Leash laws were in effect but no one ever enforced them. On two different occasions our mutt was attacked by the German shepherd next door. The first incident found our dog at the mercy of the German shepherd and the teeth marks had torn into the skin and required stitches. The second time the same dog attacked our mutt and almost put puncture wounds through his abdomen. The problems with dogs had gotten out of hand and I was determined to watch the yard even more closely.
My next brush with dogs in the area happened when I observed one of our neighbors walking down our street. Her two dogs were running ahead of her and they roamed freely wherever they wanted to. My yard was no exception. It was just another area to them, and the owner did nothing to keep them walking with her. After I had observed this more than once, I decided to ask politely if she would keep her dogs on a leash. The last thing I wanted was another dog attacking my terrier.
Walking out to the street, I asked as politely as I could if she would please keep her dogs on a leash. I explained that my dog had already been attacked and I wanted to avoid any further problems. With all the frustration and anger that she could muster, she looked at me and boldly stated, “How dare you tell me that I can’t walk down this street! I’ll walk down any street that I please.” And with an uplifted chin and plenty of arrogance the neighbor walked away. She avoided our street for a while but her dogs were allowed to roam through the neighborhood.
What I noticed most was the fact that when she was asked to keep her dogs on a leash, the neighbor heard something entirely different. At no point did I ever tell her she couldn’t walk down the street. I wanted a little courtesy and consideration and yet I got much more than I bargained for. I had an angry neighbor who was upset for no obvious reason other than that she didn’t want to be held accountable for her actions.
Throughout life we meet all kinds of people. The thing I remember most about this experience was that this neighbor heard only what she wanted to hear. We all need to listen and hear what others are saying. “Listen carefully to me” are four words hidden within Isaiah 55:2. It is a skill that God wants us to develop. In John 8:43 we read “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word”.
God speaks to us and yet we fail to listen to His voice and avoid getting into His word where we get guidance. Hebrews 4:11 illustrates that we can “become dull of hearing”. And Isaiah 65:12 reminds us that “When I called you did not answer; when I spoke you did not hear”. In our own lives we are often too busy to connect with others. We tune out the real conversations we have with others because we are too preoccupied. Not only do we ignore others in the world around us; we neglect to listen to God’s call and become hard of hearing his advice. Evaluate your own life and see if you are truly hearing God. If not, make a choice to listen, really listen to His voice and His word.
Everyone had to make adjustments and we no longer had a fenced yard. Peanut was either on a leash or tied up in the front yard so that he could not wander away. It wasn’t long until I noticed a problem. More than one dog ran through the neighborhood and no one seemed to care. Leash laws were in effect but no one ever enforced them. On two different occasions our mutt was attacked by the German shepherd next door. The first incident found our dog at the mercy of the German shepherd and the teeth marks had torn into the skin and required stitches. The second time the same dog attacked our mutt and almost put puncture wounds through his abdomen. The problems with dogs had gotten out of hand and I was determined to watch the yard even more closely.
My next brush with dogs in the area happened when I observed one of our neighbors walking down our street. Her two dogs were running ahead of her and they roamed freely wherever they wanted to. My yard was no exception. It was just another area to them, and the owner did nothing to keep them walking with her. After I had observed this more than once, I decided to ask politely if she would keep her dogs on a leash. The last thing I wanted was another dog attacking my terrier.
Walking out to the street, I asked as politely as I could if she would please keep her dogs on a leash. I explained that my dog had already been attacked and I wanted to avoid any further problems. With all the frustration and anger that she could muster, she looked at me and boldly stated, “How dare you tell me that I can’t walk down this street! I’ll walk down any street that I please.” And with an uplifted chin and plenty of arrogance the neighbor walked away. She avoided our street for a while but her dogs were allowed to roam through the neighborhood.
What I noticed most was the fact that when she was asked to keep her dogs on a leash, the neighbor heard something entirely different. At no point did I ever tell her she couldn’t walk down the street. I wanted a little courtesy and consideration and yet I got much more than I bargained for. I had an angry neighbor who was upset for no obvious reason other than that she didn’t want to be held accountable for her actions.
Throughout life we meet all kinds of people. The thing I remember most about this experience was that this neighbor heard only what she wanted to hear. We all need to listen and hear what others are saying. “Listen carefully to me” are four words hidden within Isaiah 55:2. It is a skill that God wants us to develop. In John 8:43 we read “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word”.
God speaks to us and yet we fail to listen to His voice and avoid getting into His word where we get guidance. Hebrews 4:11 illustrates that we can “become dull of hearing”. And Isaiah 65:12 reminds us that “When I called you did not answer; when I spoke you did not hear”. In our own lives we are often too busy to connect with others. We tune out the real conversations we have with others because we are too preoccupied. Not only do we ignore others in the world around us; we neglect to listen to God’s call and become hard of hearing his advice. Evaluate your own life and see if you are truly hearing God. If not, make a choice to listen, really listen to His voice and His word.
ESCAPE FROM THE ROUTINE
My name is Kevin and what I am about to tell you is something that actually happened one night while I was working. I am a senior at Tyler High School and I have a part-time job to earn some extra cash for spending.
4:00 AM--- I was busy on the floor of the discount store working methodically to open the boxes of items on pallets that need to be put on the shelf. It wasn’t easy being on the late night shift and the work was tedious and monotonous. Music played through the store to help lift everyone’s attitude. The time between 3:00 and 4:00 was the hardest time of all. It simply was hard to stay awake.
I had worked hard to keep everything organized and with only a couple of hours to finish my shift I was looking forward to getting home. Most of the furniture boxes had been stocked and I was almost finished when I heard the sound. The clip, clop, clip, clop sound resonated on the linoleum floor and seemed out of place. I didn’t check to see what was going on for a while but after still hearing the noise, I became curious. Just as I walked into the center aisle I saw the most bizarre picture. I still can’t believe what I saw.
Two young men sat atop chestnut mares and were making their way down the aisle of the store. Both of the men looked to be about 21 and they were riding and laughing as if what they were doing was normal. Horses? In a discount store? You have got to be kidding? Yet, here it was right before my eyes. It took a moment for the shock to wear off.
I tried to figure exactly why the horses were in the store and I came up with four possibilities. Perhaps the young men had been challenged by their peers to pull this stunt just to prove that they could do it. Maybe it was part of a college fraternity initiation rite. There was the chance that they were on drugs and actually didn’t realize exactly what they were doing. The only other possibility was they both decided to do something “wild” just for fun and to see if they could get away with it. No matter what the reason, I stood there in astonishment as the team headed back towards the rear doors and then disappeared.
Everyone on the night staff began to talk about the incident. Most everyone had reacted with shock just like me. By now, everyone was laughing. It just didn’t seem plausible that something like this could happen. The manager had made his way to the back of the store where the loading docks were located. The floor manager had walked around the store trying to get everyone focused on their task. Boxes had to be opened and merchandise had to be shelved before the morning crew arrived.
The police had been notified of the prank and came into the store to ask questions. It was rather obvious that the officers on duty were not amused by the antics. The two pranksters had to be apprehended and held accountable for their actions. They questioned the manager and anyone else who may have seen the horses either come into the store or exit. This matter was no longer funny. It was serious and several items had to be taken into consideration so that the details of the story were accurate.
What could have been a peaceful night turned into a hectic scene that had consequences for many people. The risks that these two young men took put the safety of everyone in the store in jeopardy. Health concerns had to be dealt with and it was no small task cleaning up before more customers arrived. (Thankfully, I wasn’t part of the clean-up crew!) Adrenaline had taken over and I was fully awake. My intentions of leaving the store and going home to relax wouldn’t happen, at least for a while.
We all have times when we do things that are amusing. We say something in jest or fail to take things seriously. You tease someone without thinking how your words hurt the individual. You get mad while driving and dash out into traffic cutting off another driver ahead of you. You decide to drive through someone’s lawn because you’re angry. You ride with your friends in the country and go along the side of the road knocking down mailboxes. You take a chance at hiding items that you picked up in a store just to see if you can get away with it. No matter what the prank, it may seem insignificant at first but later on it becomes a problem. Dealing with the consequences may be harder than you thought
From a spiritual aspect, we may scoff at what Christians represent and reject the Bible as the Word of God. We may refuse to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. We may feel that there is plenty of time to make a decision to serve Christ and delay taking action to serve Him. We may even think that the principles in the Bible do not directly apply to us. In Luke 6:25b we are admonished “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.” In the context of the Scripture, Jesus is reminding the rich that pleasures and riches here on earth will not be enough to keep them in heaven. A Christian is certainly allowed to have fun but not at the expense of others. In the end, we will all have to stand before Him and give an accounting for the way we have lived our life. Look carefully at your life and be sure that part of your routine is spending quality time with the Lord. When you stay focused on Him, others will notice a difference. Your walk through life will guide you in the right direction where you can be a testimony to others who are seeking guidance. Can you commit to walking daily with Him?
4:00 AM--- I was busy on the floor of the discount store working methodically to open the boxes of items on pallets that need to be put on the shelf. It wasn’t easy being on the late night shift and the work was tedious and monotonous. Music played through the store to help lift everyone’s attitude. The time between 3:00 and 4:00 was the hardest time of all. It simply was hard to stay awake.
I had worked hard to keep everything organized and with only a couple of hours to finish my shift I was looking forward to getting home. Most of the furniture boxes had been stocked and I was almost finished when I heard the sound. The clip, clop, clip, clop sound resonated on the linoleum floor and seemed out of place. I didn’t check to see what was going on for a while but after still hearing the noise, I became curious. Just as I walked into the center aisle I saw the most bizarre picture. I still can’t believe what I saw.
Two young men sat atop chestnut mares and were making their way down the aisle of the store. Both of the men looked to be about 21 and they were riding and laughing as if what they were doing was normal. Horses? In a discount store? You have got to be kidding? Yet, here it was right before my eyes. It took a moment for the shock to wear off.
I tried to figure exactly why the horses were in the store and I came up with four possibilities. Perhaps the young men had been challenged by their peers to pull this stunt just to prove that they could do it. Maybe it was part of a college fraternity initiation rite. There was the chance that they were on drugs and actually didn’t realize exactly what they were doing. The only other possibility was they both decided to do something “wild” just for fun and to see if they could get away with it. No matter what the reason, I stood there in astonishment as the team headed back towards the rear doors and then disappeared.
Everyone on the night staff began to talk about the incident. Most everyone had reacted with shock just like me. By now, everyone was laughing. It just didn’t seem plausible that something like this could happen. The manager had made his way to the back of the store where the loading docks were located. The floor manager had walked around the store trying to get everyone focused on their task. Boxes had to be opened and merchandise had to be shelved before the morning crew arrived.
The police had been notified of the prank and came into the store to ask questions. It was rather obvious that the officers on duty were not amused by the antics. The two pranksters had to be apprehended and held accountable for their actions. They questioned the manager and anyone else who may have seen the horses either come into the store or exit. This matter was no longer funny. It was serious and several items had to be taken into consideration so that the details of the story were accurate.
What could have been a peaceful night turned into a hectic scene that had consequences for many people. The risks that these two young men took put the safety of everyone in the store in jeopardy. Health concerns had to be dealt with and it was no small task cleaning up before more customers arrived. (Thankfully, I wasn’t part of the clean-up crew!) Adrenaline had taken over and I was fully awake. My intentions of leaving the store and going home to relax wouldn’t happen, at least for a while.
We all have times when we do things that are amusing. We say something in jest or fail to take things seriously. You tease someone without thinking how your words hurt the individual. You get mad while driving and dash out into traffic cutting off another driver ahead of you. You decide to drive through someone’s lawn because you’re angry. You ride with your friends in the country and go along the side of the road knocking down mailboxes. You take a chance at hiding items that you picked up in a store just to see if you can get away with it. No matter what the prank, it may seem insignificant at first but later on it becomes a problem. Dealing with the consequences may be harder than you thought
From a spiritual aspect, we may scoff at what Christians represent and reject the Bible as the Word of God. We may refuse to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. We may feel that there is plenty of time to make a decision to serve Christ and delay taking action to serve Him. We may even think that the principles in the Bible do not directly apply to us. In Luke 6:25b we are admonished “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.” In the context of the Scripture, Jesus is reminding the rich that pleasures and riches here on earth will not be enough to keep them in heaven. A Christian is certainly allowed to have fun but not at the expense of others. In the end, we will all have to stand before Him and give an accounting for the way we have lived our life. Look carefully at your life and be sure that part of your routine is spending quality time with the Lord. When you stay focused on Him, others will notice a difference. Your walk through life will guide you in the right direction where you can be a testimony to others who are seeking guidance. Can you commit to walking daily with Him?
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