Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Posted on March 20, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

mount-cammerer-tower

It’s amazing the things we don’t even realize we have until they are gone.

As vital and important as air is to my very existence, I don’t really “notice” it.  Even being winded from a faster than average running pace, or a 90 second arm wrestling match (I believe it is actually 4 of 5, not 3 of 4, Dave), I don’t really think of my dependence on the air.  When it is foul, I don’t tend to reminisce about time I enjoyed fresh air on the heights of Mt. Cammerer, deep in the Smokey Mountain National Forrest.  To the very best of my recollection, the only time I really appreciated air was immediately following a near drowning experience.  With head aching and lungs burning I gulped in a breath and it was the sweetest, most perfect moment I had ever experienced.  In that moment, I truly “noticed” air.  I really, really appreciated it for everything it means. For all of about 45 seconds . . .

How quickly we take so many things for granted.

Today is my wife’s birthday (I won’t mention age, since she is hypersensitive about being older than me).  She’s out of town with my sister, and I miss her – for so many reasons that I usually don’t even think about.  I’ve spent more than half my life with her.

Man, I really miss her.

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The LORD’s Anointed

Posted on March 15, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD ‘s anointed.” (1Sa 24:6 NAS77)

David has been anointed king.  He has led Israel in battle.  The people love him.  Saul tried to kill him.  Jonathan (the crown prince) is sure he will be king.  Saul is hunting him.  But, . . . .

He still won’t take it by force.

Even though David knows he will be king, he trusts God to bring it about.  No demands.  No subtle politics.  No campaigns.  No coups attempt.  No taking matters into his own hands.  He leaves them in God’s.

What a great place to leave things.  Can’t think of more capable hands.

God’s plan.  God’s provision.  God’s timing.

Yep . . .

It’s all good!

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Undiscovered Country

Posted on March 14, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy
But that the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country . . . makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of?
Read more at the monologue archive.
It’s been a long week.
In the parish, we have cancer and chemo times two, one house fire with arson and theft, one gravely ill and hospitalized, 5 in jail and 2 newly arrived for a total of 7, two homeless (four with children included, but two households), a tense custody battle, alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, infirmity, broken appliances, broken cars (or even totaled cars), home repairs, financial issues, marital issues, child rearing issues (a.k.a. financial and marital issues) and a few more I failed to mention because I am too tired to type them at the moment . . .
Fortunately, we have no need to dread the “undiscovered country”.  We know the Sovereign of that fair land and have been adopted as His children.  We don’t fly from ills we know to those we do not.  We fly from a well understood world of brokenness to a place of beautiful perfection.
Now, off to sleep, and perchance to dream . . .
Ay, there’s the rub . . .
Please, don’t take this too seriously – I’m just tired.
Besides…
After all . . . tomorrow is another day.

 

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Sabbath for Man. Not Man for Sabbath.

Posted on March 14, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

2nd week into the 2014 Lenten journey and I already blew my Sabbath commitment!  There are just too many crises – even with other folks helping out.  Jail, hospital, Greyhound busses, shut-ins, house guests, broken cars, etc.

And He said to them, “What man shall there be among you, who shall have one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it, and lift it out? “Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Mat 12:11-12 NAS77)

My sheep are stuck in the house, homeless, in jail or the hospital, but I think those qualify as a pit, too.

And He was saying to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
(Mar 2:27 NAS77)

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