July 12, 2017
The Exquisite Mosaic of Affliction
We experience the assault of tragedy, agony or surgery, which we swear will destroy us. Yet somehow it doesn’t. Our spirit grows stronger, wiser, and we move on. It's actually a miracle of the highest order; the pain adds layers to our spirit, strengthening us bit by bit, piece by piece. Until one day we finally see what God was up to when he allowed all the pain and misery and heartache and depression and anxiety to be heaped upon us like burning coals…
July 11, 2017
Laugh It Up, Fuzzball
The tattoo on my right upper bicep (and on my daughter’s calf) says, “No fear of the future, no regrets of the past.” Granted, this is a mindset which is hard to attain, and even harder to maintain. It's a goal both she and I strive for every day. I'm closer to it than I was a year ago, but not as adept as I will be in a year. It’s totally doable, though. I know this because I've witnessed the joyful faces of those who have gone through terrible agony. There is a terrible sadness, hidden away, which has forever altered their lives. But not destroyed them. So follow the advice of that great theologian, Han Solo, who said, “Laugh it up, fuzzball.”
July 7, 2017
“God Rescued Me From The Grave”
We’ve all experienced that fear of worrying if the Lord has left us alone to die in our anxiety and pain. But at the right time, HIS time, He will tear open the sky, thunder out of the heavens, fly across the sky, riding on an angel, racing on the wings of the wind, and scatter His enemies. OUR enemies. The fact you are alive, and reading this, is proof He has fought Hell to hold you.
July 5, 2017
“I’m Just So Tired…”
I’m tired. So very tired. Although I have yet to discover the secret to boundless energy, I've decided to surround myself with those who do. You may not remember it, but long ago, before life beat you into submission, you used to run and play. You laughed and drank water from the garden hose and tied a towel around your neck as a cape to help you fly. Yes, you did, you just don't remember it.
July 3, 2017
Hats Off to the Veterans of Pain & Life
Sometimes I literally have to speak to the old dude staring back at me in the mirror. "Make peace with him," I say. "You're older, you're not as thin. Look at him. Make peace with him. His wife loves him. His children love him. His grandson and his parents love him. You must love him, too." We can allow the aging process to blanket our entire soul, or we can acquiesce to the inescapable, and cultivate an appetite for the artistry and charm of life.
June 29, 2017
That “Kill Me Now, Lord” Prayer
Man, life is a fantastic journey, to be certain, but sometimes the darkness seems too heavy a burden to bear. You feel you can't make it through another day, and yet you do. How many times have you prayed the same prayer, but to no avail? You are stronger than you think, and God has placed within you the strength and resolve to make it through anything this life can throw at you.
June 29, 2017
How Would Your Gravestone Read?
Keep in mind: when the curtain is drawn on this life, the measure of our wealth will be fully inconsequential. The only tasks withstanding the fires of judgment are those carried out in the Name of God. The pursuit of riches is a futile quest. Just sayin’…
June 21, 2017
Broken People 