Blinded and squinting people
why me LORD? i walk into any room and immediately see things that need done, usually with people who need help, and i take charge, and talk to everyone.... no wonder i embarrass my kids, BUT i guess an explanation might help them to see that i am not just an attention hog, but really am sensitive to people so that i can serve them for you, whether it is a small issue or a large one. if i don’t pay attention to these small moments, i don’t deserve to receive your consideration to be a useful tool in larger ones. i remember Paul Butler at OCC preaching about this from 2 Timothy 2:20-21, and deciding then to be a “vessel prepared for noble use”, especially when he explained that vessels that are not for noble use, are pots for human waste ... you know what! anyway, LORD, i am willing to say, "the sign is not working, the bridge is out, that is the problem!"
so, i was at the car place to get the oil changed, tires rotated, and ready for misty to drive to Florida for the wedding she is attending next week. i have an hour to wait, so i have reading with me, coffee with me, and three books, just in case. i sit down, and am blinded by the sunlight from the south windows, which have poorly adjusted blinds doing nothing to make half of the room comfortable. as i entered, i notice that half of the room is trying to read or watch tv with eyes squinted, blinded by the bright light, but passive and not involved in finding a solution. i immediately stand up and said, “ is it ok if i adjust the blinds” to no one in particular, and was answered in the affirmative by several people, either by words or nods.
after my mission was accomplished, everyone was able to lower books from shielding eyes and open their eyes more widely. i seemed to see a hint of a smile on many eyes. one girl named Jill even said, “it is about time somebody did something, thanks for helping.” since i was the last to leave, each person gave me a glance or a smile to let me know that my intervention was appreciated. i wish all of the situations of my life were so easily dealt with, and that they might result in such good reactions. Lord, why do i see those situations and get involved? why don’t others? i only know that because i am YOURS, i care about those who are YOURS or who could be YOURS, and i try to make eye contact, to smile, and to serve them for you if i can.
as i was leaving the place, i finally realized that i was feeling better, although my ribs hurt from coughing. i wanted to write a few observations and prayers for the day. God, i ask you to bless your family, my wife, marge, my daughters jojo and misty and my favorite son matt. in the last 24 hours, i have had positive interaction with each of them, which is amazing to me that they are so appreciative. jodi is anticipating our visit in March to japan, and has ideas about our time together. you know the plans for me to preach and her to translate. LORD, i pray for the details to workout with your will in mind. please help us to make this a joy for her. misty is feeling better, going to three different places even while feeling bad. she is so ministry minded, and such a delight. matt is working hard, and is growing in trying to keep control of his life, and keeping his humor during this time. thank you LORD for his ability to see things.
Lord, they are your family, but i am so amazed that you allow me to call them mine for a while. i take this responsibility very seriously. i want to pray for the girl i was following on my way to pick up marge. this girl had something like EZE 3000 on her plates, a bumper sticker on her trunk lid with the words “LEGALIZE FREEDOM” on one side and another one on the other side which said “Doing my part to piss off the religious right.” i couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to her to make her this vocal, and maybe i even wondered if i might agree with her sometimes.
some of those who are on the religious right do seem to be anti-freedom, and maybe even anti-humor. anyway, LORD, i pray for that girl, and for those of us who have made her angry. could we learn to be right with out being so smug? i wonder. all i know, LORD, is you deserve more than to be served by another generation of “elder-brother pharisees”. not whether we are right or wrong, but do we have the right spirit, i guess that is the real key. anyway, I love you LORD, and thank you for your grace and your humor with me.
why me LORD? i walk into any room and immediately see things that need done, usually with people who need help, and i take charge, and talk to everyone.... no wonder i embarrass my kids, BUT i guess an explanation might help them to see that i am not just an attention hog, but really am sensitive to people so that i can serve them for you, whether it is a small issue or a large one. if i don’t pay attention to these small moments, i don’t deserve to receive your consideration to be a useful tool in larger ones. i remember Paul Butler at OCC preaching about this from 2 Timothy 2:20-21, and deciding then to be a “vessel prepared for noble use”, especially when he explained that vessels that are not for noble use, are pots for human waste ... you know what! anyway, LORD, i am willing to say, "the sign is not working, the bridge is out, that is the problem!" so, i was at the car place to get the oil changed, tires rotated, and ready for misty to drive to Florida for the wedding she is attending next week. i have an hour to wait, so i have reading with me, coffee with me, and three books, just in case. i sit down, and am blinded by the sunlight from the south windows, which have poorly adjusted blinds doing nothing to make half of the room comfortable. as i entered, i notice that half of the room is trying to read or watch tv with eyes squinted, blinded by the bright light, but passive and not involved in finding a solution. i immediately stand up and said, “ is it ok if i adjust the blinds” to no one in particular, and was answered in the affirmative by several people, either by words or nods.
after my mission was accomplished, everyone was able to lower books from shielding eyes and open their eyes more widely. i seemed to see a hint of a smile on many eyes. one girl named Jill even said, “it is about time somebody did something, thanks for helping.” since i was the last to leave, each person gave me a glance or a smile to let me know that my intervention was appreciated. i wish all of the situations of my life were so easily dealt with, and that they might result in such good reactions. Lord, why do i see those situations and get involved? why don’t others? i only know that because i am YOURS, i care about those who are YOURS or who could be YOURS, and i try to make eye contact, to smile, and to serve them for you if i can.
as i was leaving the place, i finally realized that i was feeling better, although my ribs hurt from coughing. i wanted to write a few observations and prayers for the day. God, i ask you to bless your family, my wife, marge, my daughters jojo and misty and my favorite son matt. in the last 24 hours, i have had positive interaction with each of them, which is amazing to me that they are so appreciative. jodi is anticipating our visit in March to japan, and has ideas about our time together. you know the plans for me to preach and her to translate. LORD, i pray for the details to workout with your will in mind. please help us to make this a joy for her. misty is feeling better, going to three different places even while feeling bad. she is so ministry minded, and such a delight. matt is working hard, and is growing in trying to keep control of his life, and keeping his humor during this time. thank you LORD for his ability to see things.
Lord, they are your family, but i am so amazed that you allow me to call them mine for a while. i take this responsibility very seriously. i want to pray for the girl i was following on my way to pick up marge. this girl had something like EZE 3000 on her plates, a bumper sticker on her trunk lid with the words “LEGALIZE FREEDOM” on one side and another one on the other side which said “Doing my part to piss off the religious right.” i couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to her to make her this vocal, and maybe i even wondered if i might agree with her sometimes.
some of those who are on the religious right do seem to be anti-freedom, and maybe even anti-humor. anyway, LORD, i pray for that girl, and for those of us who have made her angry. could we learn to be right with out being so smug? i wonder. all i know, LORD, is you deserve more than to be served by another generation of “elder-brother pharisees”. not whether we are right or wrong, but do we have the right spirit, i guess that is the real key. anyway, I love you LORD, and thank you for your grace and your humor with me.
posted by Unknown @ 2:40 AM
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