Most recently I traveled to Washington
DC to visit my brother who is gravely ill at the Veteran's Memorial Hospital. This visit was not one that I anticipated. It had only been a few short weeks ago that I had spoken to my brother, at that time he continued to struggle with many health ailments,
but his spirits were high and he was
thankful for how the Lord had kept him.
But today as I sat outside of the MICU
now looking at my brother who is no longer breathing on his own or talking, but who now depends upon a ventilator and a dialysis machine to keep him alive,as I sat in the waiting room God brought many thoughts crashing through my mind.
I first thought about the many years
of military training that my brother had after serving in the army for twenty two years. He had retired as a Lieutenant Cornel and served his country well in Vietnam and Korea.
God had kept him, and brought him home safely, allowing him to continue to have a flourishing career in the field of communications while being a faithful father to three sons and a husband to a wife who loved him dearly.
While I thought about the life that my brother had led I also began to think about the other men that I saw enter the hospital for treatment; they were of various ages, there were many who were missing limbs, blind and suffering from the ravages of old age.
The thought continued to linger with me for two days; I realized that not only was I there to bring comfort to my my family, but to also silently, prayerfully give thanks to my Lord and Savior for all that these men had done for me and many others.
I can rest in peace knowing that my brother knows Jesus as his Lord and Savior, I am not anxious or fearful for God's plans for this time in his life. All is well with my spirit when it comes to our relationship, however I began to think about the other men that I saw come and go during this time.
I don't know them by name, nor do I know their stories, I am sure they have many they could share. After spending those two days at the Veteran's hospital there is now one story that I can share. These men are our heroes they are still walking talk and now fighting the battles of everyday life.
They may no longer have their weapons or their uniforms, but there is still one thing that they carry that nothing can take away, honor. Today I honor you, our "unfallen" heroes.
Today I say thank you!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Unusual Enterprise
For several weeks I have been taking my son and and his friend, who lives down the street from us to school. Each morning my young carpooler arrives at our door wearing a pair of athletic slides. He takes them off as he enters the house and leaves them
by the patio door.
I had come pretty accustom to his
little morning routine. This morning was quite different, as he entered the house he took off his slides, sat down on the sofa and put on his sneakers, however
I noticed that he now carried a third pair if shoes with him.
This pair was carried in a shoe box. When I asked the question, simply
out of curiosity and in attempt to make interesting conversation with a teenager, "What's up with all the shoes?" He replied by saying that he was planning on putting the shoes that he had recently purchased up for sale.
This of course had me quite interested
In learning more about the impending
business venture that my young friend
had in store. He went on to share with me that he has many pairs of sneakers and he had recently purchased a pair that he had only worn once or twice and he was now in the market to sell them and to make a new purchase.
This information really began to peak my interest, as I too am the owner of many pairs of shoes. After having known this young man for many years I have come to realize that we had something in common, we both have a love of shoes! Unlike my young friend I would never be in the market to sell any of my coveted possessions, there's not a pair that I could imagine parting with.
On the second day I asked my carpooler about how he made out with his shoe sale, he replied that he had not yet had a taker for his shoes. He indicated that he would continue to try again on another day.
On the third day, he finally had a taker for his shoes. He was quite happy with the results of his business venture. After giving it some thought I begin to think about how God continues to seek us out until we decide to "purchase" the priceless product of salvation. The only difference is that he already paid the price. There were no bargains to be made, no discounts to be found, the purchase price was life itself that was given freely.
We are God's coveted possessions that he keeps safe in the "shoe box" of his heart. My carpooler carried his shoes in a box and offered them up to the one who gave the best price.
Christ also gave us his best when he carried his cross to Calvary. My friend sold his best, Christ gave us his best, his one and only begotten son.
On the third day carpooler received his reward, On the third day Christ rose, now we have a reward that is priceless.
by the patio door.
I had come pretty accustom to his
little morning routine. This morning was quite different, as he entered the house he took off his slides, sat down on the sofa and put on his sneakers, however
I noticed that he now carried a third pair if shoes with him.
This pair was carried in a shoe box. When I asked the question, simply
out of curiosity and in attempt to make interesting conversation with a teenager, "What's up with all the shoes?" He replied by saying that he was planning on putting the shoes that he had recently purchased up for sale.
This of course had me quite interested
In learning more about the impending
business venture that my young friend
had in store. He went on to share with me that he has many pairs of sneakers and he had recently purchased a pair that he had only worn once or twice and he was now in the market to sell them and to make a new purchase.
This information really began to peak my interest, as I too am the owner of many pairs of shoes. After having known this young man for many years I have come to realize that we had something in common, we both have a love of shoes! Unlike my young friend I would never be in the market to sell any of my coveted possessions, there's not a pair that I could imagine parting with.
On the second day I asked my carpooler about how he made out with his shoe sale, he replied that he had not yet had a taker for his shoes. He indicated that he would continue to try again on another day.
On the third day, he finally had a taker for his shoes. He was quite happy with the results of his business venture. After giving it some thought I begin to think about how God continues to seek us out until we decide to "purchase" the priceless product of salvation. The only difference is that he already paid the price. There were no bargains to be made, no discounts to be found, the purchase price was life itself that was given freely.
We are God's coveted possessions that he keeps safe in the "shoe box" of his heart. My carpooler carried his shoes in a box and offered them up to the one who gave the best price.
Christ also gave us his best when he carried his cross to Calvary. My friend sold his best, Christ gave us his best, his one and only begotten son.
On the third day carpooler received his reward, On the third day Christ rose, now we have a reward that is priceless.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Sometimes the Backseat is the Best Seat in the Car
Recently I sat outside my son's school waiting for him to finish basketball practice. As I sat and waited I had a few minutes to watch the kids depart from the fair grounds of academia. There were kids who carpooled with each other, and there were kids who had not yet arrived at the threshold of
Independence that driving brings. This group of kids still depended upon either their parents or as the kids call it
"The Cheese Wagon" for their ride home.
As I sat and watched the interactions between kids and adults occur there was one that really caught my eye.
A car pulls up, a few seconds later a young girl quickly flees from the door of the school and runs toward the front
seat of the car.
Just when I think all the action has
dissipated a boy comes running after
her. On my first observation I thought they were hurrying off to an appointment. After a few minutes
I realized what all the scurrying was for.
It was a race for the front seat, the
prized position of riding "shotgun."
You see, the young man had lost the race, his sister had beat him to the prized position that he coveted.
At this point I had rolled down my window so that I could give witness to the discussion that occurred between
the battling siblings. I could hear the young girl saying, " I got here first,
losers take the back seat." His response was muffled, I'm sure he was feeling slightly defeated as he trudged toward the back seat of the car and took a seat besides the family dog.
As I watched their departure another
intriging thought came to mind. How
often do we find ourselves in what we
believe is the spiritual "backseat"feeling defeated and
wholeheartedly believing that some
how we have lost the race to those opposing opponents of life. Our faith may be a little shaken and our spirits are down a pint or two.
These are the times that our Lord and Savior has positioned us in a quiet place and tells us to reflect on his word and his magnificent ability to comfort and support us in our times of riding in the backseat.
Those "backseat" periods in our lives are God's way of encouraging us and allowing us to know that in our distress we can call upon Him for help and from His temple he will hear our voice
and our cries will come before him into
His ears. (Paraphrased from Psalm
18:6).
So remember, the next time that you are riding in the back seat that God is sitting right besides you, so relax and focus on the destination, and then rejoice in your arrival!
Independence that driving brings. This group of kids still depended upon either their parents or as the kids call it
"The Cheese Wagon" for their ride home.
As I sat and watched the interactions between kids and adults occur there was one that really caught my eye.
A car pulls up, a few seconds later a young girl quickly flees from the door of the school and runs toward the front
seat of the car.
Just when I think all the action has
dissipated a boy comes running after
her. On my first observation I thought they were hurrying off to an appointment. After a few minutes
I realized what all the scurrying was for.
It was a race for the front seat, the
prized position of riding "shotgun."
You see, the young man had lost the race, his sister had beat him to the prized position that he coveted.
At this point I had rolled down my window so that I could give witness to the discussion that occurred between
the battling siblings. I could hear the young girl saying, " I got here first,
losers take the back seat." His response was muffled, I'm sure he was feeling slightly defeated as he trudged toward the back seat of the car and took a seat besides the family dog.
As I watched their departure another
intriging thought came to mind. How
often do we find ourselves in what we
believe is the spiritual "backseat"feeling defeated and
wholeheartedly believing that some
how we have lost the race to those opposing opponents of life. Our faith may be a little shaken and our spirits are down a pint or two.
These are the times that our Lord and Savior has positioned us in a quiet place and tells us to reflect on his word and his magnificent ability to comfort and support us in our times of riding in the backseat.
Those "backseat" periods in our lives are God's way of encouraging us and allowing us to know that in our distress we can call upon Him for help and from His temple he will hear our voice
and our cries will come before him into
His ears. (Paraphrased from Psalm
18:6).
So remember, the next time that you are riding in the back seat that God is sitting right besides you, so relax and focus on the destination, and then rejoice in your arrival!
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