Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Erma Bombeck revisited ... facing her last battle.


I find it fascinating to see what people have to offer when they face their biggest, or last, battle. Honesty occurs when you no longer are bound by the trappings of success, pride or "what will people think about me." These words have been attributed to the "gospel of Erma" ... and this is a battle she became a fallen soldier. I feel she won the fight if whe could share this insight.


I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. There would have been more "I love you's." ...But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it .... live it...and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually. Life is too short to let it pass you by. We only have one shot at this and then it's gone. I hope you all have a blessed day.

- Erma Bombeck when she found out she had cancer

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Curves, Fastballs and Change-ups

Life has its curves and fastballs, but the change-ups are something that can surprise you to your core.

My wife and I thought she couldn't get pregnant again which was one of the sad thoughts that we shared, being unable to share the joy of raising a child together. We found out she was pregnant (fastball ... we didn't even see that one coming!) when she had a miscarriage. We had a miscarriage. That curve ball has forced a lot of change in our lives.

It's amazing how a tragedy - that curve ball that makes you buckle at the knees - can turn into a positive thing in your life when you have faith. Pain and tragedy can bring you closer to your Maker when you allow His truth to be foundational in your life. That's been the way it has been with my wife and myself. We looked at ourselves, and knew what our tragedy could do for us in the future. That change-up was what allowed growth that is immeasurable!

We mourned, but through our tears we realized how the pain could be so much more ... building our faith if we allowed it to. It's not about the world we live in as much as it is the way we walk in this world. What an epiphany we were given; even when we had hardship we could be growing in mercy and grace. We could mature if we didn't take our eyes off our walk.

We are going through tumultuous change in our country. There are curve balls that have people buckling at the knees, fastballs that people don't see coming ... we have the ability to grow with the change-ups if we keep our eyes on our walk as people of faith, people who know it's not about the world but about the way we treat the lame, the poor and the needy.

That's what this miscarriage taught me again, so poignantly and powerfully. It was a change-up that made me look not at the world, but at what I want my life to be. As people, can we see the the responsibilities we have to people, not parties and/or organizations? Time will tell.

BB, thank you for your gift to Diana and I. We miss you, but you have changed our lives. May we be worthy of this gift.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Love, greatness and change


To know love is to know greatness. To know love is to know beauty. To know love is to know pain. Unless we look at love with the eyes of YHWH (God), to know love is to know hardship because we can not share what needs to be offered at the right time, in the right balance.

Life takes us through a learning process that continues to refine us; how do we make choices that are so powerful unless we look through the eyes of our Savior?
Greatness is defined by many people in song, in poetry and with imagery, both still and moving. The greatness that is defined by Spirit, the Spirit, is the greatness that will stand the test of time. I look forward to learning more from the Spirit as time progresses.
As I learn this lesson, I pray that I don't whine too much, that I don't complain about the lessons learned, and don't make excuses that try to justify my position or situations.