David’s Blog

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…what do we really have committed to memory from Scripture?

I’m sure we’ve memorized a lot of stuff before: song lyrics, telephone numbers (before cell phones and their address books); directions, formulas, etc. What about scripture?

Make it a goal to start today, one verse at a time.

With all of the signage in Houston it is not hard to be entertained as you drive down the road. Many offices and stores are vying for your business and some are doing it with catchy phrases or slick looking photography to give their niche market a little more business. So, I read a marquis that told me it is ”National Pet Dental month…”

What? I didn’t know there was such a thing. Can you just declare a month to be what you want it to be? That could be quite interesting. How about Pop a Pimple month or Save endangered Uni-brows…

Doesn’t the need for emphasis say it is a pretty trivial thing anyway? And, if as a consumer you understand they are trying to make a buck by raising your awareness what if you wait until next month? What if you are behind because of last month’s change your compost pile emphasis?

Months are crowded these days. Just look at February: Valentine’s, Presidents Day, Black History month, Groundhog day, Super Bowl, Daytona 500, Mardi Gras, Academy Awards, The Grammys…and it is the shortest month we have!

Now for a not so serious moment.

A few weeks back at a group prayer meeting we were gathered together about to pray. In the silence and solemn moment my stomach let out a “prayer” of its own, grumbling loudly for food. I tried to clear my throat and shifted my weight in an attempt to make it stop. For a brief interval it worked but then my stomach found its voice again. The strangest thing happened, within the next few moments it seemed like there were other similar sounds from people around me. They were sure clearing their throats or “coughing” about that time…

Do you think our stomachs communicate? It that the groaning “too deep for words” written about in Corinthians? Just kidding, but be sure to eat something before a public prayer meeting…

I drove by the neighborhood bus stop this morning and there was a little  middle school boy standing there is short sleeves and shorts. How does he get out of the house wearing only that? (it was 35 degrees according to my trusty digital readout in my car) I know, I have a middle schooler, too, they do have a particular idea about fashion. However, shouldn't we have a particular idea about what is wise? I'm dressed in layers sweatshirt on top trying to keep both hands warm cradling my cup of coffee while I try to steer.

You are lucky you are sitting down as you read this. I was driving when I heard it!

Evidently McDonald's is putting coffee bars under the Golden Arches of many of their restaurants and they will begin to make custom coffee drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. I'm not sure if Starbucks is "worried" because McDonald's is the restaurant that introduced us to Chicken McNuggets "formed" with chicken parts and McRib sandwiches that contains a rib meat shaped patty without any bones. Who knows, McDonald's does do things with excellence and they research and usually make good decisions. However, Starbucks has the brand name and people's expectation as well as the total experience that will trump any fast food environment. Moreover there's the aroma…that might be a draw back to McDonald's experience, fries frying up in the deep fryer and mingled with fresh espresso…um, I don't know about that.

I'll try anything once so I'll probably experience the McDonald's version someday soon. Let me know where the nearest coffee serving McDonald's is!

I know it has been a while since a post; "they" told me it would happen when I wanted to start a blog, too, I thought "Not me…" Sorry, but here is something…

Christmas is great as an adult, isn't it! All of these games we never had as kids are given to our kids and we get to play them. There was a time when they were babies that they would play with the box or wrapping paper more than the actual toy but now that they are a little older there are so many pieces and things that require thought.

Just last week I was asked, "can you play my game with me?" One of the big gifts was a Wii and it is pretty cool. They definitely have put in more hours than I have but not by much. I couldn't help but to say "sure."

As I thought about the request I couldn't help but think about my relationship with my heavenly Father. What an invitation to Him! I should ask that question a lot.  Can you play, Can you listen, Can you talk Can you…