David’s Blog

I’ve had a couple of days this summer where I actually was a rescuer and it made me think about a couple of things. One day it was a hummingbird in our garage that couldn’t seem to get out even with the door up. We would try to “push” it out with our presence but it just kept bumping its head against the ceiling and flutter around. It wouldn’t rest either. The temps outside and humidity keep the heat index near triple digits so I knew it needed to get out. So, I grabbed a long landing net and finally it landed on the net long enough for me to walk out into the yard. The kids got to look at it up close for a couple of minutes as it rested and then it was off.

Next it was a toad. Somehow it had hopped into a backpack that was on the garage floor and was kind of freaking us out  with the rustling sound because we weren’t sure what it was until we could see it. A quick capture and release into the flowerbed and all is right in his world.

Lastly, was a anole or what we call a chameleon lizard. This one was in bad shape. Again he was in the garage (not sure I want to know what may be next) and the heat was incredible. I found him on a shelf and could not tell if he was alive. His skin was a sickly black and gray color instead of its usual vibrant green and its legs were sprawled out unnaturally. I touched him and he barely moved. When I picked him up he squirmed a short little protest. I took him outside and began to run some water from the hose. When it was cool to the touch I dripped a little on him and set him on a branch. He clung to it with all of its strength it seemed. I caught a little more water in my palm and gently poured it on him. He slightly opened his mouth and I guess his body temperature and health came back because he crawled up the crepe myrtle out of sight.

Then, I remember feeling a little hurt. Not one of those animals thanked me! Of course they couldn’t, they don’t talk (maybe the hummingbird winked but I couldn’t see its other eye). Obviously, I thought of our unique relationship with our Creator. We can talk and communicate on such a deep level. Beyond that, He is the ultimate Rescuer and what is my response? Do I just go on with life, whatever/wherever I want or do I respond in a daily, moment by moment life of gratitude? That’s where I want to be and if I’m ever stuck in a spot I can’t get out of, banging my head against the ceiling I want to know God is there and trust that He can rescue me.

The other day we were fishing in Galveston and hadn’t caught much of anything. We were using a variety of lures and live shrimp for bait and still zilch. Then, as if someone flipped a switch the fish began to bite around 9am. I caught one, my son caught one, then one of us got bit off. “Awesome,” you might say 4 fish in about 10 minutes but, instead of tying on the same lure we had just lost I put on a new, different lure other than what had just “worked.” With the new lure on we kept chunking and winding. “Hey,” Aiden and I doubled up but he snagged a rock and snapped the line. So, what did I do? I put on something different. A fish later and another cast and we got bit off again and I start digging through my tackle box for something else to throw. I’m ignoring the shrimp we just bought and hurriedly looking for a suspending this or that, soft plastics in a certain shade of green or maybe a topwater with a rattle…

Now looking back on the day, I’m wondering why didn’t I just keep tying the same lure on? If it’s not broke don’t fix it, right? Part of my methodology was to try some new lures I had never used before but had “heard” they were supposed to be good. Clearly there were fish that wanted to bite so why not. Looking at the water it was easy to see bait so I was also trying to “match the hatch.”

Yet subtlely, I realize I was looking for the “magic” bait that would catch a fish every cast. I know my expectations were a little high, okay, way too high. There is no magic bait but what drove me to look for that special lure corresponds a part of us that goes beyond fishing. There is a desire in me/us to want MORE of whatever and there are times when I seem unsatisfied with what I have. I want life to be better than normal, or at least in comparison to the guy down the way. Then, I remember what Paul writes in Philippians that he had found the secret to contentment; knowing and trusting that God provides for our needs. God is in control and He knows me better than me. God teaches that lesson in a variety of ways, the outdoors just happened to be my classroom that day.

Looking back I can see our need was to create memories and stories; now Bryson can talk about his mackerel and they both will look back on a great day with dad. I guess I do want more of that.

My family and I have spent several weeks this summer on vacation and semi-vacation. One was a vacation to Disney World and the other was the semi-vacation to a Little League World Series in Alexandria, Louisiana. Both of those places definitely qualify as hot, as in temperatures, and let me say, it is not a dry heat!  

In Florida as we entered the park du jour we would grab a map and then some shade to plot out our path to our favorite attraction. Along the way we would dart from shade and shadow to enjoy the subtle coolness of the temperature difference. If we ended up standing in line, shade was a premium commodity. Otherwise, out in the open staying in the sun we would wilt as the humidity and heat seemingly smothered us.

In Louisiana most of our games were played around 1pm, in the heat of the day (the weather forecast called for heat index of 107 degrees!). Thankfully the stands and dugouts were covered providing shade for the fans and players. Each day we would try to pick which side we sat on based on the movement of the shadow cast by the roof over those stands. I think I must have said, "Sit down and take a drink" a thousand times.  

As I thought about the shade and shadows I was reminded of a song lyric and some scripture. The song was by 80s artist Steve Camp, titled, Shade for the Children. In it he sings, "I want to be shade for the children…" Several verses mention shade and shadows as a refuge from the heat and protection from enemies. Psalm 36:7 reads, "…the children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings." In light of parenthood I was reminded of our responsibility to teach and protect our children. They don't know the life or death potential of playing in the hot sun. Their body heat rises, the sun and humidity adds to that plus they are having so much fun they don't stop to rest or take a drink which could be a bad combination.

Heat and its effects can be subtle just like evil. There are so many other environments where we must be wise and ready to act and speak for our children. Children need us to think ahead for them at this stage in their lives. We can be the shade they need to rest under and provide a reprieve from the "heat" of the day. And, if I'm in God's shade that is the safest place for my kids. So, I'll look for God's shade and shadow in those choices I make for me and for my children.

I just read this article and I think someone missed the point, http://www.slate.com/id/2192282/?GT1=38001. There is a fine line here. Closeness is key to a good relationship but I'm not sure forced closeness is the best way to grow closer. My first thought was "no way" but the more I think about it…no, I'm not going to try it, but the discipline of it makes me think it would be a great way to teach about marriage.

Sure physical, geographical closeness creates some "bonds" however we know that marriage is God-designed to be more than physical closeness. The discipline of being close is an environment that confronts our selfish nature. When I hear someone speak about their marriage in these terms, "I'm just not happy," or "My spouse doesn't make me happy." I wish they could hear how unrealistic that sounds, one person cannot make you happy.

You bet, waiting outside the door of the bathroom one can learn about forgiveness and patience, communication and understanding, compassion and selflessness among other things. Maybe that is the problem we don't want to learn those things, period. Or, if we want to learn them we want to do it our way (our selfishness is really exposed in a marriage).

When the writers try the experiment their comments describe a new found sense of closeness, eventually. Knowing what each spouse does in their day removes some of the artificial moments. There is a sense of truly knowing the other. Communication happens on a new level. I can't help but think that is what God intended from the beginning. But, we mess up paradise. Try your own experiment, call each other on the hour, share an emotional moment, talk before you sit in front of the TV for your show…

I pray closeness finds you before you need a 15 foot piece of string and that you will gradually yield your "stuff" for the bond of "one flesh."

We have them everywhere, lines in geometry are good; a straight line is a quick way to get some place; we park between them usually; fishing line is important if you want to catch a fish; we say to color in between the lines but when it comes to waiting in line, ugh.

Have you been in the express line at the grocery store and someone walks up with more than 20 items? I'm not sure what is worse that or having someone in a "regular" line question the amount they were charged for a roll of paper towels that might save them 10 cents. The post office can be a bad place to be when you've been in line for awhile and one of the two cashiers goes on break. How about a line at the courthouse for a car registration that snakes around the middle of the room? I was there not so long ago and decided to people watch for about 30 minutes. People talk about the weirdest things in line…

As usual someone eventually gets upset in these situations and then look around for someone to be on their side or try to verbally justify their emotion. Maybe I'm too laid back but I don't get it. Life is scheduled down to the second and we always have people to see and places to go. However, the object of our "wrath" often has little to do with the circumstance (unless you are waiting in a fast food drive through line and they get your order wrong, right?).  

Try to smile and leave those servants surprised. Make their day with a kind word and a smooth transaction. I don't foresee us ever getting rid of lines at least not the kind you wait in…

As I was completing my hospital visits the other day I found myself staring at the numbers in the elevator wondering what level of the parking garage I parked on. There were almost a dozen choices in as many colors and I couldn't remember a thing. Do I go with a color that looks good or a number that sounds good?

I used to think that forgetting where one parked was evidence of a senior moment but what now, I'm not 40 (at least not for a few more months)!

So, mentally I backtracked and came up with a color/number combination that seemed like a good starting place. As soon as I stepped off the elevator I recognized an out of state license plate of a nearby car that stood out like a landmark for some reason and there across the aisle was my vehicle.

I guess I'm still such a kid because I ask "why" a lot. So there in that moment I asked myself "why didn't I remember what level I parked on." I didn't like my answer because it meant that I had been too task focused, get out make the visit and get back to the office. It also made me wonder what else did I/do I miss when I get so focused on just getting done and through something that I forget the things of life.  Life is full of incidentals, spontaneous moments and interruptions that should remind us of the real Life. Often it is not the task but the journey that transforms us.

That answer also means I've got a little more life left in me yet, too! 

MSN had two articles posted as The Husband's Bill of Rights, http://men.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6742052&GT1=32001, and the Wife's Bill of Rights, http://men.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6750191. Interesting and humorous, they definitely could help with some expectations but what does it say about our concept of marriage?

Think about it, such a "bill" is written to preserve individuality. Can a marriage survive that way? If you have to write them out will they be truly respected? Aren't some of those rights given up to a degree when we choose marriage over being single? How about focusing on someone else besides yourself and your happiness? Maybe in marriage we end up running from what is revealed about us when we try to merge 2 lives together. As humans there is selfishness and sin and that gets messy which doesn't qualify as happily ever after.

Marriage opens up doors for personal growth that remain closed if we don't mature. For example, the areas of  communication and compromise. Some studies show that married couples spend less than 10 minutes in conversation a week. One must learn to appreciate their spouse for who they are. Secondly, we all need to be loved and we need to find ways to show love; marriage is the perfect environment.   Also, in a marriage we are often the beneficiaries of forgiveness and grace and we should show it even more often to our spouses, too.

I'm afraid any time we assert our rights, rebellion in some form is to follow. I believe we need to have a higher view of marriage. A view that leads us to consider a bigger purpose that maybe, just maybe, marriage is more than an experience you should try in your lifetime.  Marriage is about two becoming one, a mystery that is given life, hope and purpose in God's plan. It is that spiritual dynamic that gives traction to a relationship and as a result it nearly eliminates the need for "rights."

That has been happening every morning for over a month this spring. We were startled by those sounds coming from our living room finally we homed in on one of the windows looking out on the backyard. Peck, peck, thump. Peeking around the curtain we found the culprit, a bright red cardinal. I've read that often this time of the year brings out that "male spirit" to protect their turf. Evidently it saw its reflection and thought there was an interloper moving in…

It made me think about why this little bird is attacking its reflection. He is trying to protect his stuff yet his own image is the "enemy," unless I have to get the BB gun after him for waking us up too early on Saturdays…

How well do we know ourselves? Do we know that we are the "enemy" at times, too? Andy Stanley reminds us in The Best Question Ever that we are good at self deception, really good. Our heart is deceitful according to the book of Jeremiah. How serious do we  take that threat? It is important to take inventory of ourselves and find accountability to just in case there is a "blind" spot or mistaken reflection…

Hopefully this bird will realize he's the problem and a part of the solution before it gets out of hand.

A couple of months ago a family in our church experienced a death that could be described as before his time. The funeral was a celebration of life and hope like few that I've attended. I was recalling a conversation I had with them just prior to the death. In light of Easter it makes even more sense.

As we talked the couple was relating stories of happenings that they considered to be more that coincidence. If you didn't know all that was going on and heard their interpretation you would think these people were being "overly religious." One incident about a dog led them to believe God was up to something. Another circumstance at school pointed them again to bigger, spiritual plans. It seemed that with a sense of the nearness of death everything they encountered and considered had a new point of view, a spiritual one.

As Easter nears can you imagine Jesus' heightened sense of purpose! He always knew he would die but as he entered Jerusalem for the last time, ate the Passover, cleansed the temple…wow.

We are reminded over and over that we are "dead", "crucified with Christ," "consider yourself dead," to "lose your life" and experience "new life." If we were more aware of our death would we be more spiritual minded? Everything is spiritual we just miss it as we live a short-sighted life. Oh that I/we would embrace our death so that the spiritual would influence us every moment.

The other day I was talking with one of my children about praying a scripture and I asked what scriptures were memorized. Without hesitation, "For God so loved the world that he gave His only forgotten son…"

Probably has happened before but it really made me think…