What could have been

 I have been pondering the exodus story.  Actually, I was thinking about the food.  When the Israelites left Egypt they were rushed out the door,  they had just cleansed their houses of all yeast so all they could make on the road was flat bread.  They didn't have much, but they had some.  

The journey they took could have been a two week journey, even with the many excursions that God had planned it might have been a month or more.  But it is less than 400 miles from Egypt to Israel.  A trip that would take us less than a day by car.  They wandered the wilderness because they lacked the courage to go home.

Back to the food.  I have no clue what manna tasted like but imagine the idea of not having to plant, gather, grind or maybe even bake?  I'm wondering what it tasted like.  Was it boring?  Or full of flavor?  They missed leeks and onions so I'm guessing it was mild in flavor.  But what if there was more to it than just taste?  What if the point was to cleanse and strengthen their bodies.  They had been slaves, undernourished and overworked.  Perhaps there was more to this manna than we think.  Perhaps it was a superfood!

I'm thinking of herbs.  Having struggled with autoimmune disease for many years, I use herbal remedies more because there were no medical solutions.  Often it is recommended to take a "course" of some herb.  That would be 30 days and then rest from that particular herb rather than to take something continually.  What if manna was intended for healing?  And what if adding meat (the quail) might have slowed or even stopped the healing?  I wonder...

God's Art

 Romans 1:20 says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse"  

Wow, God's invisible attributes are clearly seen.  Is that saying that the core of who God is can be clearly seen?  Isn't this saying we have the opportunity to know God? Even His eternal power and Godhead.  Wow, what an amazing opportunity... and we are missing it!

Can we really know Him at the core of who He is?  I'm thinking of a song we used to sing, "I want to know You, I want to hear Your voice, I want to Know you Lord."  I'm thinking of the many times I have put myself out there with the hope that someone will take the time to understand.  Has God done that for us?  Have we been given the poetry that pours forth from the very depths of God's being and not read it?

So where are His attributes clearly seen? Romans says, The things that God created give us opportunity to understand Him.  His art reveals His heart.  His art is everywhere!  His mediums are diverse.  He uses wind, and birdsong, and texture and power.  

Go outside!  Turn off your computer and go!!!  Find a space where what He has made is visible and seek to understand it's maker.   In our world packed with our own creations, look for what we can not duplicate and have not ruined.  Look at the one little flower that braves it's way through a crack in the pavement.  We made the pavement.... He made the flower.  Are we covering up more than just the ground?  Are we smudging a master piece?  

Perhaps if we understood the earth as God's amazing masterpiece, we would tread more lightly on the things that He has made.  Certainly we are without excuse.

Humanness

 What is it to be really human?  Luke 10:25-37 says this, 

"And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.  So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’  So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Perhaps the question is... how do we go and do likewise?  How would the world change if we all went and did likewise?  How can we become merciful?  How do we show this level of compassion, concern and dedication?  Can we all agree on this... that this Samaritan man was human in a way we all want to be?  Can we start with kindness even on social media?  Can we see... really see the pain of others and choose to offer compassion instead of condemnation?  I'm thinking of a song by Brandon Heath "Give me Your Eyes" God, open our eyes and teach us to show mercy!

Cancel or Kindness?

I watched a movie last night called "Not Cinderella's type".  Check it out here.  I'm a sucker for a good chick flick... but it has to be a good chick flick.  That means it doesn't twist my truth.  There aren't these instant bed scenes that make sex the object.  They have to have some depth of meaning.  I know,  that is a  high standard these days.  But I found this movie to touch something deeply inside.  Not because there was a little romance running through it, and the the happy-ever-after ending was unrealistic, but it was pretty ideal.

I was struck by the contrast and the kindness.  "Not Cinderella's type"  The contrast was between two boys who wanted the attentions of "Indy"(the Cinderella character in the story) One was a very good friend who loved Indy in her circumstance.  He loved being with her, but never really defended her. The other saw her circumstance and was moved to offer kindness and rescue.  Ultimately the story was of a girl learning to have her own voice.

I found myself playing back the part where she was treated with kindness.  She is overwhelmed by the littlest acts of kindness.  It touched my soul just to see such goodness.  Funny, we see many things in movies but goodness is rare.  

I wasn't raised with much kindness so I can, in some ways, relate to Indy.  As our society turns more from kindness to hostility, I have felt the same dread as when I was younger.  My question is why?  Or maybe why not?  Why do we choose a mean spirit instead of a kind one?  And why not choose to go against the flow and pick one good thing about the people you encounter to dwell on today?  Perhaps, if we focus on the good, kindness will come of it.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." 

Daring to draw Near

 I read a book many years ago called "Daring to Draw Near" by John White.  In it was a challenge to truly get close and personal with God and to lay before Him your needs.  My family and I were in pretty dire straights.  We were without work and facing bills we could not pay.  Still, it felt petty to me to ask the God of the universe for a job.  It also felt like He already knows my dilemma so what's the point of asking?  I'm not sure where all that came from.  Perhaps I felt small in insignificant?  Or maybe like a black sheep, an annoyance perhaps?  I know that we tend to attach to God the attributes or our fathers good or bad.  I was certainly an annoyance to my earthly father, what was I to God?  How do you draw near when at your core, your riddled with fear and insecurities?

It was a struggle, but I laid all my misgivings aside and simply opened my heart and presented my concerns.  Though hesitant, I asked specifically, it was the middle of August, and I told God we needed to be employed by the first of September.  It felt a bit ridiculous I think.  Maybe I felt demanding and self absorbed, but at the same time, I took a step closer to the God of the universe.  I came to Him in need of what I could not do myself.  I was asking for a miracle.  Not demanding one, but asking like a child asks her Father.  It was the first time I had ever approached God as His child... It's hard to explain.  Just in the drawing near, I was changed... He was closer.  Like the James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you"  It's really true...  I dare you to do you same!

The end of the story started with a phone call.  We didn't call them, never sent in an application.  They called us!  There was an immediate need and our name came up, could we start right away?  We started our job on August 29th.  And I could almost see the twinkle in the eyes of God. 

Draw near, I dare ya!

Integrity, the hard right thing

What does it mean to have integrity? I wonder when we stopped teaching responsibility to our children.  Like when your child hits a baseball though a neighbor's window, isn't it time for your child to do the hard right thing and work off the cost of a replacement window?   How does that translate for us?  What is integrity?  

I wonder what the difference is between integrity and faithfulness?  I'm thinking of Luke 16:10 where it says,  "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much."  Is it integrity to be consistent?  Meaning, that you do and act the same when you are being watched as you do when no one is looking?  Are you faithful in the little things?

I'm thinking of the times when I get to my car and realize that I have something in my grocery cart I neglected to pay for.  When my kids were little this was a BIG deal.  I wanted to live a life of integrity but I didn't want to drag my cranky, weary kids back into the store just to get back in line or explain to someone I was returning something I didn't pay for.  Integrity, isn't integrity I guess, unless is doing the HARD right thing.

I know a man who has to decide tonight whether he continues to walk on the path that he's on, or admit he isn't able to fake it anymore.  Life is tough!  And fewer people understand integrity both on the giving and receiving side.  But, isn't it refreshing when someone taps you on the shoulder and says, "Excuse me but you just dropped this hundred dollar bill on the floor."  (I know, who has a hundred dollar bill these days eh? but you get my point!)

Integrity, the hard right thing... Isn't it time we lived it? 

I Stand to Wonder...

I stand... on what?  What is important to me?  What is expendable?  I don't think we really know the answer to that until we are tested... really tested.  I had a friend once.  She was very dear to me and I to her.  I'm sure we both thought that we would watch our grandchildren grow up together.  But then a day came when she had a choice.  Stick up for me and pay a huge personal price, or throw me under the bus.  I'm not sure how easy a choice it was for her but she made it without hesitation.  I was crushed under the weight of the bus.

I wonder if we do the same with Jesus.  We are dedicated, live our lives out fully for Him.  But like those disciples that left him when his teaching got hard John 6:51-58.  We dump Him at the first sign of trouble.  Isn't that why Jesus said  it?  To weed out those that would surely throw Him under the bus before they would wrestle with a hard saying?

Where are we?  Do we stand to wonder?  Or stand to judge?