Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Mystery of Water


Hannah has never been a big fan of water. Sure the idea of joining the other kids in the pool sounds great, but she has always been a little skeptical. In fact taking a bath is nearly past her threshold for water tolerance. Washing her hair is a battle. But at the community pool last night she "had what alcoholics refer to as a moment of clarity!" She started holding my hands and swimming by herself and finished with multiple jumps into the pool from the edge while I caught her. In fact before her last jump attempt she said to me, "Daddy? Can I get those glasses so I can jump in by my self?" I was shocked! the same girl who screams bloody murder in 4 inches of water in the bath tub when it's time to rinse her hair is swallowing gulps of pool water!

And I realized at that moment that we are not far from walking her down the isle, or attending her graduation, or the birth of our grandchildren.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Say what you need to say

I learn some of the most profound things about my faith from non-Christian elements. John Mayer has a new song out for the soundtrack of "The Bucket List"

Take all of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all your so called problems
Better put 'em in quotations

Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say

Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you'd be better off instead

If you could only
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say

Have no fear
For giving in
Have no fear
For giving over
You better know that in the end
It's better to say too much
Then never to say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open

Say what you need to say
Say what you need to
Say what you need to
Say what you need to say

And now I am asking: "what is your purpose?" I don't want to hear any answers like "to carry forward the work of Jesus..." I want your REAL answer. Search your heart and the REAL answer will be something you don't want to think about or consider. I realize that one of the reasons I am called to be the hands and feet of Jesus is because that is the most dirty part of the body. They are not glamorous, they are abused and weary.

What is your purpose for living? Are you living that way? How do you need to change to live for your purpose?

Please spend sometime in silence thinking and praying.