Only our spirit flies home. Our witness remains.
It’s easy to tear down a person, a thing, or an institution. It’s more challenging to tear down barriers to the spirit’s purpose.
Have you made peace with the peace you are seeking? Seeking peace in our own strength is not peaceful.
You know that person who shows up when you’re having surgery, a family member dies, a child is in trouble, a spouse has left, a diagnosis is bad, life has turned dark? Yeah – that person who drives 200 miles to funeral for a family member because he loves you? Returns from vacation because of tragedy? That person standing by your bed when you wake from surgery at 2:00 am because he wanted to see you’re OK? That person who walks in the Emergency Room sometimes before family and you didn’t even know he knew you’d had an accident? The person who hears the criticisms and cutting remarks and still embraces you? That person who helps you fight the battles that the police can’t see, the doctors can’t diagnose, and the firemen can’t put out? That person who prays for you sometimes before you knew you needed the prayer. Yeah – the pastor… the shepherd – ever consider that his life didn’t just disappear and that he puts you first because that’s what Jesus would do? Ever think he’d like a good news text instead of a bad news? A good news phone call instead of a bad news? No, most people don’t consider him at all… until he’s needed. When he’s needed, he can’t get there quick enough. May be a good thing to value him before he’s needed. He has battles, family, and a life too.
God moves in the turbulent times in our lives. We may not like this. It may not be comfortable. It’s true. When the sea is glassy calm, the winds breezy, and the sun is warm on our face. No, God troubles the sea, causes the winds to howl, and covers the sun with clouds. We draw closer when trouble is near. We depend when our own strength fails. We pray deeply when our understanding is obscured.
Our faith is revealed as we face the unknown. Our character is revealed as we face the unpleasant. Our integrity is revealed as we face the unwanted. Our love is revealed when we face hate. None of these come with calm and glassy seas.
Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the bottom of the boat when the disciples cried out in terror. He rebuked the storm and it abated. We can do the same in our lives. We can rebuke the waves of emotions, the downpours of fear, and the clouds of doubt. We do this with faith that God has us in the storm for a reason. If He has us in it for a reason, He will bring us through it to fulfill that reason.
The true state of our heart is revealed in times of stress, not in times of peace.
As you work to help another bail out his boat of pain and suffering, be sure your boat isn’t taking on water.
Being able to appreciate opposing views demonstrates a rare maturity in the world today.
Listen so respectfully that, when you speak, the respect is lovingly returned.
Wisdom is not measured by number of years, but with maturity of spirit.