I do know now, after these past 7 years. Some of it was for others, based on feedback I’ve received. Some of it was certainly for me. The cost has been high. And yet, looking at the image at the top, I realize that when we’re talking about this particular cost, it’s really not necessary to blow up the budget – because the budget is way bigger than we can even begin to realize.
Still want to be your own pilot? If not – like the earlier quote said – switch seats!
That’s not to say I didn’t have second thoughts – didn’t wonder if the cost was getting too high. I did have them. I even ran away a few times. Fortunately, I always returned.
If you’ve read anything I’ve written about my past, you would know that answer is shocking. There are times I wanted so badly to reach the end of this life and go to live in God’s Kingdom. To be saying I have more to offer here in this life instead of “going home” is beyond belief. And yet – I said it. It is something I’ve spoken to the senior pastor at church about – that I really should find ways to use the gifts God has given me. But here, when it comes right down to it, I was still surprised to “hear” me saying this.
Before I leave you though, as promised earlier – when I say “best” answer – it’s maybe not the best answer ever. It’s what went through my mind this morning. It’s appropriate to where I am in my walk of faith at this time of my life. It may not be the “best” answer for you – at least not today. Maybe it will be on another day. Maybe there’s an even better answer for you today. After all, what’s “best” for you – that’s between you and God. My goal here is to get you beyond thinking the answer would be a simple “yes”.
Should God choose to present Himself to me as one of the many judgmental Christians (which lets me our of looking in the mirror to have God represent Himself to me as me – got it?) I would be shocked. No less shocking would be if He presented Himself to me as either a father or mother figure. One thing I’m sure of though – whatever way He chooses – it will be the way I need it.
So with this third surgery – I learned from Dewey. In spite of my previous experiences, I decided I was going to “enjoy” this one the way Dewey did.
Relatively speaking, compared to eternity – our lives on this earth are really, really short.
One last note – to myself – and to you – yes, we all need encouragement. One other thing we all need is to remember that we need encouragement. Then, after remembering, we need to actually go and get that encouragement.
I feel like the quote above is a bit “dangerous”.
There’s a condition built into the quote. But the conditional word is absent. It’s implied. And it’s too easy to think that it’s not even there.
Often, people think the Bible tells us that God will never give us more than we can bear.
Context – that’s not really what it says. Jesus’ own disciples, except one, died horrible deaths. …
No – what the Bible really teaches us is that with God, all things are possible.
What is it with Jesus and water? Getting involved with Jesus and water seems like a non-trivial experience. For instance, we read about another storm …
I often write something along the lines of trying to listen to God. And things about trying to follow the path God has set for us.
But why?
And how?
Sometimes we can know for sure that followers of God don’t all hear from Him – like when two sets of people who know for sure they “know God’s voice” are saying two very different things. Both insist they are right about whose voice they hear – and what that voice is saying. Neither will say the other is wrong. Both just insist they are “right”.
As I said, the original impetus for this article was another 9/11 anniversary.
However, as I’m moving it from an old site to the new one, it seems much more personal.
When we have one thing after another after another …
… when you’re the batting practice ball. At least if you’re a ball in the big game – tied at the bottom of the ninth with two outs – you’ve got a chance for glory. But when you’re the batting practice ball – you just get hit over and over – with no chance for glory.
Confused? Me too – for a while. Maybe for too long.
And now, here I am a year and a half later thinking – I really need to remember this.
So Dewey dying wasn’t a surprise. It wasn’t anything to be angry about – or to question God about. No. It was the way it happened.
So there it is. Know your rights … Skip the lawyer – none is needed. Know the result – life or death.
But he’s still happy. He doesn’t have the energy he once did. He conserves it for what’s important – barking at the mailman, at other dogs, at birds, helicopters that he can see from the back windows.