I am but dust and ashes.
I am created in the image of God.
My life is but a breath.
I am in this moment for a Divine purpose.
The universe was created for my sake.
I was created to serve my creator.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Monday, November 28, 2005
Thanks & giving
Thanksgiving
I worked Thanksgiving day. A homeless man came in and asked for a manager. When a manager came over, the man loudly proclaimed, "I'm homeless, and I want you to give me something for free."
Now let me put this in perspective for you. First, this was Thanksgiving day. If there is ever a day on which a homeless man can find a free meal, it's Thanksgiving. School's, churches, companies, and individuals have been collecting and donating food and money all month long so that poor and homeless people can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner. Second, I work at Central Market. A great company to work for, very generous and community oriented. But it's a place of business, not a charity. Again, Central Market, not your average grocery store. We sell organic, imported, and specialty foods. You can't even buy a plain old can of coke, but we have bottled Coke's from Mexico for $1.50 each. In all of Dallas, this man could not find a charity giving out free thanksgiving meals, so he resorts to coming to the fancy part of town, the regular grocery store accross the street is not good enough so he goes to the fancy grocery store. Third, this guy demanded something free. He wasn't asking. It was as if he felt that Central Market owed him some food.
A customer overheard the demand. She gathered a bag of her very own groceries and handed them to the man. "Here you go," She proclaimed, "Happy Thanksgiving and GOD... BLESS... YOU."
Hey, Left Hand, look at Right Hand.
Giving
And we're on the downhill race to the next big day. (fyi: I don't celebrate Christmas.) I think generosity is what is meant by "the spirit of christmas." Why do people have to give people presents that they don't even want just because it's the time that they're supposed to give presents? Sometimes in December there aren't a bunch of things I want. Sometimes in May there is something I want. Why don't you give me a present in May? I would rather give someone something they want to get than give something I want to give. I've gotten so many presents that the giver wanted to give and I have to say thanks for something I would actually rather not have. And I realize that it truly is better to give than to recieve. Do I give God what He wants to recieve or what I want to give?
Thanks
You might pray before you eat. Jews generally say a blessing before and after they eat. It says in Deuteronomy 8:10, When you have eaten and are satisfied you shall bless the Lord. Food is not blessed. They don't pray that they survive the meal, or that the food would do it's job and nourish their bodies (sometimes that dang food doesn't realize it needs to do some nourishing). They bless the Lord for having created and provided the food.
This rich guy threw a big party. He invited a bunch of people to his mansion. There was all kinds of food and entertainment. The guests arrived and couldn't stop thanking their host for inviting them to such an amazing party. As it got late into the night, the host announced that each guest had a room prepared and the party would continue the next day. This went on for weeks and months. The guests ate and played and just partied. Then one day the rich host announced that they all had to leave. The party was over. As the guests left they all complained about the host. Who does he think he is kicking us all out? I was just starting to have fun. He could have let us stay one more day.
Thank God for what he gave back then. Thank God for what he's been doing.
I worked Thanksgiving day. A homeless man came in and asked for a manager. When a manager came over, the man loudly proclaimed, "I'm homeless, and I want you to give me something for free."
Now let me put this in perspective for you. First, this was Thanksgiving day. If there is ever a day on which a homeless man can find a free meal, it's Thanksgiving. School's, churches, companies, and individuals have been collecting and donating food and money all month long so that poor and homeless people can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner. Second, I work at Central Market. A great company to work for, very generous and community oriented. But it's a place of business, not a charity. Again, Central Market, not your average grocery store. We sell organic, imported, and specialty foods. You can't even buy a plain old can of coke, but we have bottled Coke's from Mexico for $1.50 each. In all of Dallas, this man could not find a charity giving out free thanksgiving meals, so he resorts to coming to the fancy part of town, the regular grocery store accross the street is not good enough so he goes to the fancy grocery store. Third, this guy demanded something free. He wasn't asking. It was as if he felt that Central Market owed him some food.
A customer overheard the demand. She gathered a bag of her very own groceries and handed them to the man. "Here you go," She proclaimed, "Happy Thanksgiving and GOD... BLESS... YOU."
Hey, Left Hand, look at Right Hand.
Giving
And we're on the downhill race to the next big day. (fyi: I don't celebrate Christmas.) I think generosity is what is meant by "the spirit of christmas." Why do people have to give people presents that they don't even want just because it's the time that they're supposed to give presents? Sometimes in December there aren't a bunch of things I want. Sometimes in May there is something I want. Why don't you give me a present in May? I would rather give someone something they want to get than give something I want to give. I've gotten so many presents that the giver wanted to give and I have to say thanks for something I would actually rather not have. And I realize that it truly is better to give than to recieve. Do I give God what He wants to recieve or what I want to give?
Thanks
You might pray before you eat. Jews generally say a blessing before and after they eat. It says in Deuteronomy 8:10, When you have eaten and are satisfied you shall bless the Lord. Food is not blessed. They don't pray that they survive the meal, or that the food would do it's job and nourish their bodies (sometimes that dang food doesn't realize it needs to do some nourishing). They bless the Lord for having created and provided the food.
This rich guy threw a big party. He invited a bunch of people to his mansion. There was all kinds of food and entertainment. The guests arrived and couldn't stop thanking their host for inviting them to such an amazing party. As it got late into the night, the host announced that each guest had a room prepared and the party would continue the next day. This went on for weeks and months. The guests ate and played and just partied. Then one day the rich host announced that they all had to leave. The party was over. As the guests left they all complained about the host. Who does he think he is kicking us all out? I was just starting to have fun. He could have let us stay one more day.
Thank God for what he gave back then. Thank God for what he's been doing.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Action Pictures
A mom leaves the register to run to the cold drinks section and get an Arizona tea. The baby girl in the shopping cart (they call 'em "buggies" down here - shopping carts, not babies) starts crying. Her crying is a sort of tear filled series of alternating screams and gasps for air.
This girl was terrified. Her Source of security, comfort, sustainance, her Everything, Mom, had disappeared. Where did She go? When will She come back? Will She ever come back? How long will I be alone surrounded by all these strange people? How will I eat? Where will I sleep? Will my diaper ever be changed again?
As I studied grief in some of my counseling classes, I had this idea that maybe babies, children, and adults all mourn the same things, though not the same things. A child cries when he loses a toy. An adult cries when he loses a job. Equally tragic from different perspectives.
What about grief from the Divine perspective? Why did Jesus weep?
The next day. A pedestrian reaches on top of an SUV that is backing out of a parking space and grabs a cup of coffee. He reaches in through the window and hands it to the driver. The SUV drives away and the man walks into the store.
I see acts of kindness, rudeness and neglect every day. What leads us to choose one over the other?
On another day the man might have walked on by pretending that he didn't even see the cup on the roof. Or on anoter day he might have found someone and pointed out the driver's dumb mistake.
Hang up the phone, be patient, open your eyes. No man is an island.
This girl was terrified. Her Source of security, comfort, sustainance, her Everything, Mom, had disappeared. Where did She go? When will She come back? Will She ever come back? How long will I be alone surrounded by all these strange people? How will I eat? Where will I sleep? Will my diaper ever be changed again?
As I studied grief in some of my counseling classes, I had this idea that maybe babies, children, and adults all mourn the same things, though not the same things. A child cries when he loses a toy. An adult cries when he loses a job. Equally tragic from different perspectives.
What about grief from the Divine perspective? Why did Jesus weep?
The next day. A pedestrian reaches on top of an SUV that is backing out of a parking space and grabs a cup of coffee. He reaches in through the window and hands it to the driver. The SUV drives away and the man walks into the store.
I see acts of kindness, rudeness and neglect every day. What leads us to choose one over the other?
On another day the man might have walked on by pretending that he didn't even see the cup on the roof. Or on anoter day he might have found someone and pointed out the driver's dumb mistake.
Hang up the phone, be patient, open your eyes. No man is an island.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
rize
19:32
"You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old. Fear your God; I am the Lord.
Did you know that verse was in the Bible? When was the last time you heard somebody preach about rising in the presence of the elderly? Does this commandment not apply to you because it's in the middle of a bunch of dumb Old Testament laws that don't matter anymore, even though in the same chapter verse 18 contains the command "Love your neighbor as yourself"? Did Paul or Jesus ever say, "it's okay to stay seated in the presence of the elderly and to tell jokes about them and make fun of their infirmities."? Is this one of those "ceremonial laws" that Calvin said we don't have to obey? Maybe it's just a cultural commandment and standing up had some special significance for Jews.
Maybe it does in our culture too. Watch one of those court tv shows. When the judge enters you hear "all rise". When the honored bride walks down the aisle everyone stands. Standing is an act of respect even in our culture. Sitting all relaxed and comfortable sends another message.
Old people may be hard of hearing. They may walk bent over. They may be hard to understand. They may tell strange long stories. But why do we really mock old people in our society? We love youth. If only we could gain wisdom from the elderly. They may not be fast and quick and strong. But maybe we can learn something.
And notice the last part of the verse. Respect for senior citizens is tied to and parallels respect for God.
What if honoring the aged is not ceremonial or cultural? What if it really is a moral issue?
"You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old. Fear your God; I am the Lord.
Did you know that verse was in the Bible? When was the last time you heard somebody preach about rising in the presence of the elderly? Does this commandment not apply to you because it's in the middle of a bunch of dumb Old Testament laws that don't matter anymore, even though in the same chapter verse 18 contains the command "Love your neighbor as yourself"? Did Paul or Jesus ever say, "it's okay to stay seated in the presence of the elderly and to tell jokes about them and make fun of their infirmities."? Is this one of those "ceremonial laws" that Calvin said we don't have to obey? Maybe it's just a cultural commandment and standing up had some special significance for Jews.
Maybe it does in our culture too. Watch one of those court tv shows. When the judge enters you hear "all rise". When the honored bride walks down the aisle everyone stands. Standing is an act of respect even in our culture. Sitting all relaxed and comfortable sends another message.
Old people may be hard of hearing. They may walk bent over. They may be hard to understand. They may tell strange long stories. But why do we really mock old people in our society? We love youth. If only we could gain wisdom from the elderly. They may not be fast and quick and strong. But maybe we can learn something.
And notice the last part of the verse. Respect for senior citizens is tied to and parallels respect for God.
What if honoring the aged is not ceremonial or cultural? What if it really is a moral issue?
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