What great lengths are you willing to take to live the life for which you were created?
Cut a hole in the wall, frame openings and put windows in your life. Get a big window, not a peep hole. Know what’s happening outside your space.Next: open the window and throw any insulting parrot voices out and close the window.
Build a deck to sit on and watch the world in it’s context, go by. Meditate on the words of Jesus because they have the substance of life. The words of God give us the context to live the life we were created to live. Wherever we happen to reside, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves, we have a purpose filled life to live.
Take walks in nature. It’s as close to God’s garden as we can get. Nature is not God but it’s a great place to meet and talk with him. There are overt hints of God’s character, creativity and lessonsof life and insight to gain from God’s creation. Personally, I carry a cameraas it helps me see more
All nature is in context with God’s word
These were my thoughts as I spotted a deer peeking at me through a hole in the woods (header picture). All of nature is in the moment. No matter the season or food source or conditions, life is moment by moment. As the leaves fall outside, I am reminded that my life is like a vapor that appears and then disappears (the big context James 4:14). In the moment I want to be in context of God’s words to me through Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
I want to live in God’s context.On the deck, at home, driving down the road, in the grocery store, talking with the neighbors and in anything I may post or read online.The life and words of Christ in me is the context which begs me to cut a hole in the wall.His love within me compels me to view the world as needing his love.
Gary
ps: I posted some pictures for free download on my unsplash site here
Sometimes, like this morning, I sit on the back deck with tweety bird song, bee hum, early mornings stillness, lake birds in the distance and a big animal making noise as they walk by in the woods. I read (now in psalms), journal, sip a Gary coffee (strong and black) and ponder the ways of God and the questions of mankind. I’m quite sure they are not very original questions.
This mornings question “why am I here?” I asked of God. “Did I retire to live in the woods, take care of our crippled daughter, enjoy nature and accomplish nothing else?” These questions are not new but the vail of God’s silence seemed to leak out a couple of questions back. “So like the Lord to turn questions back on me” I thought.
“If you could cut down the forests around you, mill out all the lumber and build many buildings would you feel like you accomplished something? (we have a sawmill on the place). Or, would you be content living in wonder of all that surrounds and learn to hear my voice when I want you to join my accomplishments?”
“Do you want Staturebefore me or gain a Statue before the world?”
God is in the business of helping us gain His perspective. Take a walk, Have a Talk, Get right, Stay tight. Psalm 119:2 “Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek Him with all their heart”
I got run over by a 1600 pound steer. It’s true. Not as glamorous a story as Grandma and the reindeer but this steer was 5 times as big as any reindeer. I’m quite sure no song like “Grandma got run over by a reindeer” will come of it either. I’m OK, thanks for asking. The hooves missed me after a good head butt to send me flying and then run over the top of me.
I had agreed to drive two hours to bring a steer to market for a brother. It was an easy job. Just drive the rig, back up the trailer and let the steer out into the chute. Easy. Two experienced professionals took it from there after backing the trailer tight with the open chute door. They opened the trailer door. The steer ran out of the trailer and up the chute a few feet while the professionals closed the trailer door and shut the chute gate.
All of this looked easy. I was ready to walk away, get in the truck and drive away. As I innocently stood at the mouth of the closed gate, the big angry steer charged at one of the attendants. The steer hit the side of the chute and made an opening at the end of the gate. One moment I was standing in front of where the gate closes and the next moment, I was in front of the opening. The massive animal saw the small opening and charged right through. His big head caught me in the chest and tossed me into a perfect back flip. I landed a skidding bellyflop onto the gravel driveway. I imagined my guardian angel and a couple other angels just watching and holding up signs…they were giving me a straight 10! Then the massive steer ran over the top of me, hooves pounding on each side of my face. Thankfully no hooves mashed me. Physically speaking, I felt f.f.f.fine.
My body was sore in places where I didn’t even know I had places. Some odd memories were coming to me. I now believe those who tell about their whole life flashing before them in less than a second during a near death experience. As I was flying through the air, I remember pieces of my disjointed thoughts, “I’m never traveling to Pamplona to run with the bulls”. Something did not feel right thinking of communion in church…”this is my body broken for you…” my mind fragmented more than my body. I vividly remember dads voice saying, “this is a teachable character moment son”. Mom’s voice said “oh my!” I thought…nothing, just flashes of life and lots of accidents and “oh, this is going to hurt!”
At days end. Evaluating life might be a good thing.
Some changes have taken place. mostly in my heart and mind. living, dying, accidents or just an odd happening does so instantly. I mean, what unforeseeable accident happens slowly? I’ve been shying away from parts of my morning prayer, mostly where I pray “well Lord, what do you have for me today?” this is my version of “thy will be done” when quoting the Lord’s Prayer. I am very open to praying differently if you have other ideas. I find myself talking to God like Moses at the burning bush; “here I am Lord, please send Aaron.” I’m quite sure my default prayers should include needing more wisdom. Maybe I should think carefully about standing in front of doors that life can smash through and affect not only me but future generations. I also realized I wanted to be the kind of person the world would truly miss and God would want me to be, should the next accident that comes my way send me into eternity.
Both Dad and mom used to talk about the unseen character of one’s life. They were firm believers in using almost anything for teachable character moments in developing seven children’s worth of character growth. They used those times that came upon us suddenly to show us the kind of person we really were. When someone hits their thumb with a hammer while pounding in a nail, true character seems to show itself. When we were wrongly accused, our character was on display. When we were given too much change back after a purchase, we were sent back into the store. All of us siblings have plenty of teachable character moment stories.
With this steer incident, God got my attention. Some old song lyrics came to mind. “Nothing can happen to me today. Nothing good, nothing bad. Nothing can happen to me today without passing through the fathers hand.” So, what does it take for God to get your attention? Trust me, in life, at any time, God allows some extreme attention getters. Actually…don’t trust me. I have my own trust issues which at least partial explains God’s attempt at a teachable character moment for me. Yes, God can make something good come from a rogue steer and me standing where I shouldn’t.
