I thought, how could I go through the motions with something so important? But I mindlessly go through some things in my day. I can remember getting a few blocks down the street and wondering, did I close the garage door, turn off the iron or coffee pot? (What else have you done?)

Those are little things that could have a big impact on your life. If you’ve been a Christ follower for very long then you may have had those moments, too. In the middle of the day you may find yourself wondering what scripture you read in your devotional or in a hurried moment of a busy day, you realize you haven’t talked with God in awhile. Don’t let the absence of those things lead to big problems elsewhere.

Add some meaning today to the motions of your disciplines. Really stop and gather your thoughts to focus on the scripture and what God is saying. Be still and listen. Engage your heart and mind. Look for opportunities to practice quick prayers of worship or intercession throughout the day. Plan on places to remember the scripture from your reading, i.e. when you get in your car, stopped at a red light or opening your office door. Make it personal, too. May those kind of “motions” become habits of the heart.

It seems like every caller who is granted access starts off with that query regardless of the previous answer to the caller before them and the caller before them and on and on. The hosts basically all say a brief equivalent of “fine” and then allow the caller to have their 30 seconds of fame.

That question has become just a salutatory phrase and used around the church it occurs a casual, obligatory greeting that unfortunately is meaningless. I’m not the first one to point this out nor am I innocent of asking without really caring. But what if we really listened or we were really honest?

The Joseph stories of Genesis remind me of his remarkable perception and caring. Joseph had been through a lot in his brief life and wound up in jail. But instead of focusing on his circumstances the Bible notes that he noticed the countenance of fellow prisoners, the baker and butler one day. Even as a prisoner himself, Joseph took time to notice and care for others. As a result, God’s plans unfolded in what possibly seemed like a dead end dungeon and Joseph’s life impacted thousands.

Don’t miss the the chance to show compassion or be honest with someone you trust today.

Would you believe that Saturday afternoon there were hummingbirds dropping by for a drink!?! Where do they go to wait out a hurricane? What is the safest place in their “house?”

It brought to mind the sovereignty of God and verses about His care of birds of the air and us, Matthew 6:25-27. What a truth to rest in and know that He find such value in you and me.

Then while driving down a different street I witnessed another with a pack on his back blowing grass from the curb into the street. It strikes me as particularly useless, most likely in a few hours those grass clippings will be “blown” right back to the curb or simply scattered by the wind or by the breeze from a passing vehicle. Or maybe a shower will wash them somewhere new…

I guess it is another convenience of our culture? Mow the grass, get it done, without stopping to empty a bag of clippings. Then blow them away from out of the yard and somewhere else, out of sight out of mind…

We do that a lot with our lives, throw a bunch of energy at something and hope it works out or blow a bunch of money on a project and hope that blinds observers to a flaw. Maybe worse, we stack our schedule full of activity so that we can ignore the “heart” stuff and hope it goes away. Grass clippings aren’t so destructive but sin can be, relational issues won’t be easily swept away and other nagging shortcomings are weightier than dried, withered debris.

We need to take the time to deal with our lives. Periods of quiet and confession are valuable commodities. Seek out and create accountability with someone you know and trust. Whatever the plan, it shouldn’t be random. Don’t blow it.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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…