I remember the day Billy Graham passed away. I had heard the news around 10am—I reflected on how he had impacted my life and only scratched the surface on the depth of the legacy he left behind. Surely the full impact of his servants heart cannot be measured until God gives the final number. Billy lead with a humble posture, one that gave me my first glimpse into what it meant to speak the truth in love.
What story would your body tell if it could talk? What are the battle wounds? What scars tell of your triumph? What did your broken bones teach you? What about that limp or the loss of your hearing or one of your other four senses?
I live in a rural area of Virginia. I love to watch the tractors in the field and smell the freshly tilled earth. Seeing them in the fields this time of year lends itself to thinking about how much we have in common with those who plant and sow. Like farmers and gardeners we plant and reap everyday.
Life is full of transitions, each one shaping us in new ways and preparing us for the next one to come. Remember your first double-digit birthday? From that day on and with each passing year, you have been given new responsibilities. What was the first day of school like? Then middle school, high school, and maybe college? Your first job? First serious relationship, marriage, and then children?
When I got married I had no clue what the marital vows meant. I knew this pivotal moment was going to change my life but I did not put much value on the oath that secured it. I only knew that I needed to say those words in order to be officially married.
One aspect of being a mom is keeping an active eye on your children, not only for their safety but for their future. We constantly evaluate habits that are being formed, material and images that are imprinting their brains, and the friends they choose to hang around.
I don’t think people are all that complex. I actually think we boil down to one simple core fear. Rejection. It’s a powerful motivator propelling us to quiet desperation with countless acts of escapism…drugs, alcohol, sex, self mutilation, pornography, food etc. Over indulgence allows us to feel something, anything except alone.
I do this every year. I can’t believe the leaves are starting to change. Where did summer go?
Seems I’m always finding fault with the weather. I was so frustrated with all the cold weather we had this past winter. Relentless, it encroached into our normal start of spring. I couldn’t stop complaining. It was so nice when spring finally decided to stay.
