A Tale of Two Dorothy’s

Yesterday, I found myself talking with Dorothy. Dorothy is my brother's-in-law grandmother. A sweet woman of 80+ who lost her husband of 60+ years several months ago. I pray that the Lord would grant me life that long with Jill. We are almost at 20 years together and I cannot imagine life without her. And yet, as I listened to Dorothy share her pain of missing her beloved, she said something that struck a cord with me. She told me that she longer wanted to live since her partner was gone and yet the Lord wouldn't take her home yet. I think anything I would say to her would trivialize her pain, and yet there is something in her statement that I think most people struggle with. Why are we here?

I have lived long enough to witness hundreds, if not thousands, of people chase the answer to this question. In the old Billy Crystal movie, City Slickers, Billy’s character does this. He encounters an old cowboy who challenges him at the fiber of his being because he seems to have what he lacks- reason for living. Curly, the cowboy, tells him that he has to find his “ONE THING.” Some people try to find the one thing in people. They tie up their identity in their spouse, their kids or friends. For some, it’s stuff, they drive a new one, redecorate the old one and although it never satisfies, they continue to chase the lie. For others, it is their job or a cause. There is only one problem, what happens when, like Dorothy, it goes away? Well, for many they pine away the days wishing for what once was. Some, sadly enough, lose their will for living and go to unspeakable extremes to end the pain.

There is another woman I know named Dorothy. She too, only a year ago, lost her husband of almost 60 years. She misses him dearly. He was a pastor, and she was his partner in ministry. And yet, while she still feels the sting of his absence, she has made the decision to continue on in her life. She has a ministry to those who are shut in and cannot get out. She faithfully visits them and brings God’s love every week. She has figured out the ONE THING. She knows that one day she will stand again with her beloved never to be parted as they share eternity together.

So, what are we here for? Well, I believe the Apostle Paul speaks of this early in his letter to the Colossians. It is at the heart of his prayer for them. He prays that they, “may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” (Col. 1:9-12)

If we cling to that which is temporary, we lose our purpose for living when it goes away. Notice I didn't say "if" it goes away, but "when" it goes away. I have experienced loss, both great and small. I have known betrayal and deep pain. I have known want, and while none of it is enjoyable, God is teaching me the lesson of contentment. For me, reason for living is simple and it cannot be taken away by anyone or anything. It is first, to know Christ, and then to make Him known. 2 Corinthians 5 explains this. God has reconciled us to Himself, and thereby given us the ministry of reconciling others to Him.

I love both Dorothy's dearly. They have lived long and loved well. Pray that Dorothy #1 remembers her reason for living. Pray that we all do.

Slowing Down, Catching Up

Wow, it has been weeks since I have blogged. I feel like I haven't talked with an old friend. For some of you that read my blog, you are old friends. Blogging for me, in many ways, is spiritually therapeutic. I sit in a chair nursing a cup of java and pour out my thoughts on a keyboard to an unknown number of people in often times undisclosed places. However, it feels like I am sitting and talking with a long time friend (a friend with spell check mind you). So, in a wierd cyberway, I have missed you.

We are on vacation. A long awaited time of respite, and yet it hasn't been especially restful. We are visiting family. Enough said. This afternoon, however, Jill & I are going on a marriage retreat in Corpus Christi, and my sisters are going to watch the girls for a couple days. It will be the first chance we've had alone together for more than a few hours in years. I am looking forward to the uninterrupted time together.

The past few weeks, especially has been draining physically and emotionally. Nerves are frazzled and it is just time to break off and renew. You wouldn't think it was that big of a deal, I mean I spend most of my time talking to people or preparing worship services, but it really does empty me. If I did not have my morning times alone with the Lord, I would not be able to keep it up. I don't know how people do it without Him! This is getting long, so I need to shut up. I will start a new post that isn't so much rambling.

Keep Pushing

Recent weeks have brought some significant change in my life. Before we moved here, I had begun to workout; however, when we came here, I had to stop as there wasn't a facility to continue. Well, a few weeks ago, our town opened a new fitness center and I am back at it and working out again 5 days a week. It has been refreshing starting again, and I am starting to enjoy the benefits of the hard work. Pants are fitting looser, I rest well at night and I know that I am working toward an overall better physical condition. Perseverance, however, is the key. It will do me no good if I wane in my regiment. The Lord has brought one theme up over and over to me in recent days so, I thought I would write a few lines about what I am learning.

In my workouts, I have days that are harder than others. I may wake up feeling weary (like this morning) and it takes everything I have to get through. Sometimes, when I start a new level of weights or add reps I have to deal with pain and soreness. There are days that are just routine and boring and I just have to suck it up and move forward. And there are also days when all my ducks are in a row and I jam and feel great after.

Since the place opened, I have seen many different faces. Some I continue to see, some I do not. I am sure some will come and go, hit and miss, some will drop out altogether as the demands on body and time are more than they are willing to commit to. There is an incredible parallel to our spiritual walk.

A dear friend whose blog I frequent has for his blog title, "Finishing Well." I think that is because that is his heart's desire-- to finish well. Over my lifetime, I have failed to finish things I began. Some things it took me a while, but I kept at it and finished. It gives great personal satisfaction to finish what you have started. I am finishing my reading through Hosea, and I am reminded that once again, the life of Israel has some traits that mirror the Christian church in America. They started well, but they were not finishing well. They got sidetracked, by what John Ortberg calls "shadow missions." Shadow missions are things that distract us from what we are called to do. They can keep us from finishing the race.

Hebrews 11 gives a list of folks that finished well. I believe there is another list in heaven that Christ looks at when we enter his presence. It's a list for those who finish well and then He tells those that have loved Him, "'Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'" (Matt. 25:21) In order to win the race, we must finish well. The Christian life is filled with many who start well, but don't finish well. In case we become arrogant, we should also mind our own steps, as we are all just a stumble from finishing well. We must trust in God's ability to complete what He has started, not what we are capable of.

Proud Parents

Tonight, my big-girl honored her parents, and her God. In the Upwards awards banquet, she received a special award.

Just when you think they aren't listening...



Melody, you continue to be our song of God's grace. We are so proud of you and love you very much!

Check out the fine print!

Chasing Smoke

My oldest daughter has, for the last few weeks, been participating in a basketball league called Upwards Basketball. The whole Upwards program is geared for building kids up and teaching them to work together as a team, and to enjoy playing sports as a way to glorify God. One of the things they do for the kids is at the beginning, which is the highlight of most kids day, is they get to run through a tunnel filled with smoke as the announcer calls out their name. Within minutes though, the smoke has cleared and it's time to play the game. The kids are there to play the game, not to chase the smoke. God has been teaching me much of the same lesson. Once again, I am in a barrage of very specific messages that I am hearing from multiple places saying roughly the same thing-- stop chasing smoke.

The last couple weeks, I have been studying Ecclesiastes, and though I didn't do it intentionally, it is really complementing the book I am reading. I wonder if the author, John Ortberg, was reading Ecclesiastes while writing, When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box. The major premise of the book is our life is short, make it count for things which matter to God. Solomon says the same thing. He begins his book by saying, "'Vanity of vanities,' says the Preacher, 'Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.'" What I have learned in this reading of Ecclesiastes is that the word "vanity" is not just saying things are meaningless, but the word can be translated as "smoke" or "vapor." He is not necessarily saying that life is a waste, but rather, don't waste your life on things that blow away like smoke. Solomon goes on to explain that as he has tried everything the world has to offer, it all has one theme in common. He uses this phrase to describe life's pursuits over and over again, "striving after wind." It's all chasing smoke.

As a minister, I have participated in a large number of funerals over the last couple of decades. And after I am done, I always find myself in a state of healthy contemplation. One of our saints was promoted to the Lord's presence this week. So, once again I am thinking. Listen to how Peterson renders what Solomon says, "You learn more at a funeral than at a feast— After all, that's where we'll end up. We might discover something from it. Crying is better than laughing. It blotches the face, but it scours the heart. " (Ecc.7:2-3) Some funerals are filled with wailing and tears, especially when the young perish. Others, there is a spirit of celebration because a righteous life has finished well having invested in the lives of other people. They weren't chasing smoke. They left a spiritual legacy that will be carried on in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ortberg describes a familiar illustration in how to measure what is worth our lives with tennis balls and sand in a jar. The tennis balls are what counts: God, People, Calling, & Joy. The sand is just filler- all the other stuff we spend our time on. So, we must put the tennis balls in first, because once the jar is full of sand, the tennis balls won't fit. And once the jar is full, it's over.

That is how I want to finish. When I leave this earthen vessel, I want people to be able to say that "I am closer in my relationship to the Lord because of this man." I don't want to chase smoke. We all have the same number of hours in a day, if we spend them on things that will blow away in the wind (i.e. possessions, status, etc.), we will have wasted our lives, because it all stays here. I want to put the tennis balls in the jar first. I have to ask myself, when I give myself to something, does it REALLY matter in the grand scheme of things. There is a temptation to believe that we can always start tomorrow, but we are never promised tomorrow. So, let's do it today!