At The End

 

A true test of character is not how you respond when things go your way, but when they don’t.

We all like it when things work out the way we planned for them to go. Especially during the holidays many of us get frustrated with what we can’t control. For me, there are several traditions that help Christmas feel like Christmas.  Right or wrong, over the years I have acquired preferences for certain foods, certain movies and other traditions that help set the mood for the season. And sadly this can influence my attitude during the holidays.

For instance, years ago on Christmas Eve my wife and I were watching the movie, A Christmas Carol, on public television when something memorable happened.  The movie had five minutes left to go in it when Bob Cratchit, who was about to enter Scrooge’s counting house, suddenly disappeared into oblivion.  After a painful pause a documentary about a homeless person came on in the movie’s stead.  Flabbergasted we both sat there in shock waiting for the station to correct its error.  It never did come back on and we both went to bed with an empty feeling in the pit of our stomachs. 

Hard lesson to learn, but even at Christmas time things don’t always work out the way we would like. However, if we are looking for the right things we should be less likely to be disappointed.

So, here are 5 important things I suggest we should try to look for this year during Christmas:

1- At the end of the Christmas meal I should be glad for the dirty dishes because that means I did not spend the day alone

2- At the end of the gift opening may I be glad for each smile a gift brought.

3- At the end of the family gatherings may I remember the air of happiness hidden by the hustle and bustle of the busy day.

4- At the end of the day, or well before then, try to reflect on the real reason for the day, being Jesus’ birthday.

5- At the end of the night as we turn off the Christmas lights try to enjoy the silence of a full and complete day.

Funny thing I discovered about A Christmas Carol being cut short was that now my favorite part of the movie is those last five minutes.  In those waning moments every year I am reminded that right now is the best time to make rather merry, despite whether things are going my way or not.

At the end of Christmas and at the end of .our lives may we be defined by the love we gave?  

Swavel

Mild Mannered

 

Mild is a positive description of one’s character, not just how we like our coffee brewed.

When you hear: mild he lay His glory by, born that man no more may die… what thoughts come to mind?  

A little background first, this phrase comes from the popular Christmas song, Hark the Herald Angels Sing.  The pervading thought that comes to my mind is what in the world was Jesus thinking to come down from Heaven and set aside all He was and had, just to be with us.  Looks like a matter of high risk / no reward or someone who embodies love.

 

Think about it for a moment: God became a baby.

 

Have you ever stopped to think about the great significance of The High King of Heaven coming down to save those who could not save themselves?  Sadly, I believe we fall in love with the thought of Christmas and not its true meaning.  We love to sing songs and buy gifts and feel jolly, but we forget to remember the sacrifice. 

Here is a brief summary of Jesus’ short life on this planet. He was born in a wooden stable. History tells us he worked with wood as a carpenter in anonymity. He then led a group of renegade followers telling people the simple message that God His Father loved them.  On Good Friday because he claimed to be the Son of God He died on a wooden cross. 

 All these circumstances dictate that Jesus was mild mannered, not looking for attention or fanfare, even though at times He got it anyway.  Jesus was the epitome of mild mannered, which often is characterized by someone with strong charisma.  By definition the word charisma means a rare quality or power attributed to those who have demonstrated an exceptional ability for leadership. This word helps us see mild for what it really is: powerful.

 

Mild he lay His glory by, born that man no more may die was quite the inauspicious method for Jesus to enter this world.  The Savior of the world was born in a stable in front of a lot of stinky animals since there was no room at the inn. He was then held by a teenage mother who rode for miles on a donkey before giving birth to him.  Not to mention his step-dad stood nearby taking in the enormity of the moment, who had risked his entire reputation to insure this little boy would be raised right.

Sometimes, I don’t get God, because by all human sensibilities this sounds like a really strange way to save the world.  However, when you love you don’t need attention; rather He was paying attention to us.  Jesus had a job to do and we were the job, his mission, so to speak and He would not fail us or it. Christmas reminds me that Jesus gave all.  It took great strength to do what Jesus did when he came to give not to get.

Those caught up with life’s concerns are inclined to be hasty, while those with great purpose tend to be mild mannered.

Swavel

 

Flirting With Wisdom

 

The wise man benefits by learning from his mistakes, while a fool only gains heartache from his. 

Just the other day I celebrated my forty-seventh birthday and it got me to thinking about the phrase, “with age comes wisdom”.  Somehow as I grow older, I don’t feel overly discerning, however, I believe wisdom can be achieved if we pursue it.  As far as I’m concerned, life experience is always the best teacher.

 

If the truth be told, most of us have been flirting with wisdom most of our lives.  This kind of flirting is very much like the type most of us did growing up.  You know the kind, when you would see a cute guy or girl during your high school days and you would smile or wave at them.  However, out of nervousness, you never pursued a relationship with them. 

Consequently, I thought it might prove helpful to find words that define the fool and the wise.  This way it helps us avoid playing the fool and at the same time encourages us to pursue what is right. 

The fool is often characterized by two words: careless and wasteful

Fools tend to be careless with their words, actions and often how they live.  They could care less and this attitude directly corresponds with their actions leading them to be self-absorbed.  Fools also tend to be wasteful when it comes to relationships and how they treat and also hurt others.  Laying waste to many relationships in their wake.  The fool is shortsighted and pays for it with a life that is not eternally significant.

The wise man is often characterized by two words: faithful and useful

A truly wise person is someone who is characterized as being someone who is faithful. This is a dangerous person because he or she is taking their directions from God.  He could care less what the world thinks of him or how he is perceived. He trusts God day-by-day to lead him by His Spirit.  A wise person is also someone who strives to be useful to God and to others, so he doesn’t waste a lot of time thinking about himself.  Strange to me that as I get older, I learn there is something useful I can take out of every day if I look deep enough.

The following is a paraphrased response a professional basketball coach recently spoke to the media regarding what his 0-10 team had to do to get better.  If we don’t waste days and we put in the work, we can turn this thing around.   How true.  If we don’t waste days as we desperately pursue wisdom, there is always hope. 

Better to be partnered with wisdom and have a significant life, than to be flirting with wisdom all your life and have nothing to show for it.

 

Swavel

 

Everyone Thankful

Complaining is easy, being thankful on the other hand is hard work.

The other night I was reminded of a cool phrase.  Just as I was about to give grace at a family gathering my wife reminded me of a prayer my brother-in -law gave once before a picnic.  All he said as he looked around was this, “EVERYONE THANKFUL?”  Everybody bobbed their head yes and with that he said, “AMEN.”

Three words, five seconds. Done.

 

As we approach the Thanksgiving season that question, “EVERYONE THANKFUL?”,  reminds me that my life should be answering  it.  Truly thankful should be defined by significant things that we cherish in our lives along with everyday niceties that make life more bearable.

So, here is my list of things/ people I am truly thankful for:

-          Those brave enough to pave the way for us, like the Pilgrims

-          Family: great wife, wonderful kids, loving parents and in-laws, and everyone else related to me that puts up with me.

-          More than enough food to eat

-          A house which is heated and shelters me from the cruel weather

-          A job that pays the bills

-          Lungs that fill up with air and a heart that beats

-          Vehicles that allow me travel near and far at my bidding

-          New slippers that keep my feet warm

-          Coffee with friends who speak truth into me

-          Others, who in their brokenness just like mine, force me out of my comfort zone.

-          A God who loves me despite how often I fail Him

-          A Savior who died for my sins

The list goes on and on, but the pervading thought is that of being thankful.  It is the best way to live.  Less people will avoid you and you will have more significant friends.  Your smile will mean something and people won’t refer to you as fake or someone who is half hearted.  

So, as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving,  I believe the best way is to practice the art of appreciation.  In layman’s terms that means I should make an attempt to remember the good and focus less on the bad.  It also means I should live in such a way that my life honors those who have gone before and above all Almighty God.

Everyone thankful should be a way we all live every day, not just a short prayer we utter before we chow down.

Swavel