bed vs. blog

I worked from 8 am to 11pm yesterday - and I didn't write a blog.  As I was getting cleaned up last night I thought I would write a quick something before sleeping.  But my laptop and my bed reside in the same room, and once I saw the larger more comforting object, I forgot about the smaller one...

My intention has been to write a blog a day for every day of Lent.  So from Ash Wednesday (mid-Feb) to April 7 there should be 40 entries.  One for everyday except Sundays because Sundays are not technically part of Lent.  I'm pretty close, but with my more intense work schedule as we try and get our house ready before I'm unavailable it feels much more like a discipline.


However, isn't that the point of disciplines.  They are patterns which help us become who we want to become, but  wouldn't end up there naturally.  The performer (theater, music, sports) does not become all they can be through natural talent alone.  They practice, they study, they push - they are disciplined.  In life, it is popular to think that we are our best self - naturally.  Could it be that just like a runner will not realize their potential without being pushed by regimented practice and coaching - each of us will not be all that we can without being pushed by defined disciplines and guides?  Most everyone figures out how to run on their own, but that alone does not make them a runner.  Most all of us figure out how to live this life, but that doesn't make us fully alive and wholistically successful.

Those disciplines might be making the bed, eating meals with your family, reading the Bible, taking daily walks, worshiping on Sunday, or giving lots of hugs - but without some conscious decisions, we will miss out. The first challenge is to realize we need this.  It is the loud message of reality, but there is a erosive counter message of "be happy with who you are."  The next challenge is pushing through the times when what we most deeply want, is pushed out by the activities of life.  I think there is ground for some flexibility; I'm okay with not blogging yesterday - but if I skipped again today, it is heading toward a pattern.


What disciplines (things in my life which I put in there to help be become whom God intends) have been pushed out by the "stuff" of life?

I like working

The other side of Sabbath is work, and I really like work.  I especially like physical labor.  Monday I pounded nails at the cabin, and yesterday I tore out carpet, sanded floors, put at 4'x7' hole in a wall (future closet door), etc... and I enjoy it.  Overall my body feels better when it is working.  I like the hands on nature of this type of work - but I don't do it for a living.

Should I be following my passion for building? Should I be following my call to the pastorate?  Do I like building because my livelihood does not depend on it?  Questions in my mind, but I'm not going to take the time to write answers now because I need to go build a wall.  But while I build I will mull these questions and more.  (another reason I like physical labor - I think well while doing it)

Off to get some sore muscles, and a clear mind.

The work has begun

Blog stands for web log.
Log Entry 86 - Yesterday we bought a house.  It took what seemed like forever to get from shopping to owning, but now that process is done.  The closing was a fun event.  The lawyers and closing agent at one end of the table, crunching numbers, sorting papers, muttering under their breath, and the buyers and sellers at the other end, chatting, sharing, and signing papers as they passed in front of us.

I just about got philosophical about how what should be relational can easily become adversarial - but not today, I used the backspace key, and it is gone (but I still figured out how to mention it in a back handed way).

Jashton wanted to see the house in one piece, so we didn't start any work of a destructive nature until he was home from school.  Before then we could take inventory, and wander our new house.  One benefit of it ending up a relational transaction is that the previous owners left many things of value.  They didn't need them for their condo in North Carolina, and they wanted someone who would use them to have them - and we fit the bill.  Very nice curtains, rugs, shelves, gardening supplies, and the list could go on.  Thank you Mary & Lynn.  Oh, did I mention they left everything amazingly clean!

By the end of the day, we knew more of what we are working with, and the carpet was pulled up on the lower level.  Lots of work lays ahead - on our new home!

All in good time...

Yesterday I made it to The Woods - and yesterday was the right day.
Today we might just close on the house - and if we do, today is the right day.

My mind is going in so many different directions in relation to what should be coming out of my fingers that nothing is....

• The life we are living is the best life possible if we are seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
• There is an interesting (tricky) balance between pushing hard for what we want, and taking things as they come.  There is a time for both - how to know?  Proverbs 3:4-5
• Yesterday was great, Tobiah came along.  It wasn't just my get away, nor just getting work done, but it was a get away, while working, with a wonderful connecting time with our middlest son.  
• I went to The Woods to get work done - and now there is a tire swing at The Woods.  That wasn't the planned work - but my work yesterday became more about being a father than building walls.
• It makes no sense to me that our closing is today, not three weeks ago.  Why is this timing better?  It could be that it is not better - but I trust that it is?  Is this back to rationalization, and a means of coping where we take what is and adapt our minds to it?  Is that bad?  It seems like there are some very good benefits to it - or maybe I'm thinking too much again.
• When I think of the title of this entry "All in good time" the "All" really stands out to me.  I fully believe that Jesus came to give abundant life, life where we can have it all.  But for this to happen we have to both give all we have, and give up all we have.  It is all in God's hands - but we are very active agents.

Time to go be an active agent - God please guide!

Sabbath

We don't work hard.  Not really, not most of us, not like back in the day.  I'm treading into some easily misinterpreted waters, because most of us would say that we work hard - but it is so different from the pre-industrial days, very different from the industrial revolution, not even close to many people in the world who work to survive.  Even the people I know who don't work at all, live far better than some very industrious people I have met in developing countries.  But I digress from where I was going.  We don't work to survive, we work for "the good life."  We put in many hours, think hard, interact with many people and machines, and some of you work physically in your jobs - but it isn't physically building your house, growing you food, protecting your family... so what does a day of rest, a Sabbath, look like?

For one thing it should look different from the other days of the week.  We should not be in our work place, or doing our job seven days a week.  We aren't made for it, and it isn't good, no matter what our work looks like.  I don't think however, that a Sabbath day, a day of rest, isn't necessarily about ceasing - but rather a restorative time.  If you are interacting with people in sales all week - have a day without any interpersonal relations of that ilk.... I could go on, but this is my day of rest, and making that list seems like work right now...

Today is my day of rest.
And tomorrow is my day of worship.  I think it is an amazing blessing we so take for granted in America - in modern society.   We have a day of rest, Saturday, and a day of worship, Sunday.  Wow!  What a blessing unheard of in days of old.  I hope you use them well.  And if your schedule is a bit different from a 5 day workweek, I hope you find a day of rest and a time of worship in your rhythm of life!

Praying for a Miracle

I have prayed for many miracles - I have seen some miracles come about.  I know God is listening, God cares and God acts - so why is it hard to pray for miracles for myself sometimes?  Like now.

I found myself wanting to pray for a miracle this morning.  Praying that God acts, all the pieces come together, and a literal miracle happens and we close on the house today.  If it were to happen it would be an actual act of God.  The closing is scheduled for Monday, the seller's attorney is busy today, there is more title related paperwork to track down, it is possible that even Monday is optimistic - while everyone is open to the idea of closing this week, it doesn't look like there is any way it could happen.  But isn't that when you pray for a miracle?  Miracles are about when there is no earthly way for it to happen.  So why not?

I found myself praying for a miraculous closing, with a "but it is okay if it doesn't happen" disclaimer at the end of my paper.  And it wasn't even a fervent prayer, with much conviction, my heart wasn't in it... why not?  It is what I really want.  It would make my life better (or I think so).  It isn't too hard for God.

Some of my answers:

1. I trust that God's timing is in all that is happening.  God is working it out for the best. (but then why pray about anything?)
2. It feels selfish to pray for this.  To me it seems like a prayer from selfish motives, and that doesn't sit right in my spirit.  (but I've prayed for myself before, and when I stop and think about it - this impacts many others as well)
3. Maybe I think this is too tough and I don't want to set God up for failure.  I laugh to myself as I write, but sometimes I feel God has more control over biology than bureaucracy - a lie in my spirit, but it is there. (God can handle paperwork)
4. Deep down I know it isn't really important.  In a year, in six months, a few weeks difference in timing regarding the closing probably won't actually matter.  Why bother God for something which is just a annoyance at the moment? 

Well, it is number four that I don't have a good counter argument for - probably the closest answer so far.


Lord, I would like to close on the house today, but it would take your direct involvement - it would take a miracle.  I know it really isn't that important, but it would sure make my day, and you would be the only one who would get credit.  It would be clearly your hand at work.  I don't want to list out why this would be good - you know.  You know so much more than I.  I trust you Lord.

Smile & Wave

I live in the Northeast - people here are nicer than they appear on the surface.
But I'd like to change that.

This morning I was encouraged in my reading to share the light of Jesus with those around me.  What if that started with smiling, waving, and saying high to everyone I pass?  I would do it if it was my sister passing by.  I would do it if it was one of my neighbors who I know well.  I would do exchange greetings if it were someone I work with.  So - as a Christian, I should do it to everyone I pass.  Sharing a bit of light.

Who is my brother or sister?  Jesus says anyone who does the will of His Father.
        I'm passing a good number of my siblings every day - I should at least acknowledge them.
Who is my neighbor?  Jesus says, even the one who is considered the shunned foreigner.
        I'm passing a never ending streams of neighbors daily.
Who is my co-worker?  Jesus says we are sent out as harvesters into the ripe field.

        I'm passing co-workers who might need a little encouragement.

As I'm walking the dog, I'm trying to be a little less New Yorker, and a little more Christian.  And if all the Christians in the Northeast started acknowledging our siblings and neighbors on the street - this part of the country would seem a bit warmer.  It can start with me.

If you are not from the Northeast, people up here are actually just as friendly as the rest of the country (maybe even nicer) it is just below the surface, covered by a thin veneer of protection.  A smile and a wave would wipe away that veneer...