Living Life to the Full

Some folks may think I'm a bit disconnected... but I enjoy getting older. You see, getting older takes the stress out of life.
I realize that I will never "get done". I will always have lists and projects. In fact, I hope I never run out of the desire to accomplish. But, I have also learned that with the impossibility of getting everything done, I can relax and enjoy the accomplishments, anticipate the opportunities, and rejoice that God has a new day waiting for me... either on this earth where I may be an encouragement to someone else... or in Heaven where I will enjoy His accomplishments forever.
It is so freeing to not have to worry about what I didn't get done when I realize I'm here to do God's bidding and if I've done that... that's enough.
Now, this doesn't mean I'm condoning inaction. In fact, God expects us to be busy accomplishing the things He has laid out for us.
Ecclesiastes records a man’s search for significance, his hunt for happiness, his race for reality. Solomon asked, What is the point of life “under the sun”?—a phrase he used twenty-nine times. He had everything—fame, family, and fortune, wisdom, women, and wealth, song, slaves, and silver—and yet he was despondent. He wrote, “I hated life” (2:17), and he said he felt despair (2:20). Many people today, like Solomon, experience pessimism and frustration, a sense of gloom and doom. For the rest of the story, see here:
http://www.dts.edu/read/fear-god-enjoy-life-the-message-of-ecclesiastes-zuck-roy-b/

In everything give thanks... how often we voice this well-known passage of Scripture, but fail to apply it when the going gets tough... Yesterday I was reminded of the gracious gifts of God and my own need to be more thankful...

I was waiting in the old tire shop to get my truck inspected when an old black man coasted in on his bike... He came for air in his tires. As he rolled to a stop, I suddenly realized he had only one leg... the other being amputated at the hip. I began to wonder how in the world he was going to get out of there as the drive ascends a steep slop right out of the shop with no room to get a run for it.

With the tires aired up, he turned around, and nonchalantly continued his journey through a series of pedal maneuvers: peddle down, then lift with the toe and peddle down again... He continued his cruise.

As I hopped into my comfy vehicle and thought about some of my aches and pains... I had to think of maybe how ungrateful I am for the blessings I enjoy - sometimes with even a thought for thankfulness.

Fellowship: Honesty and Humility

As believers, we are challenged to impact the world around us not only in words and actions, but also in character. The world certainly needs some impacting! When we focus on trying to meet those expectations, we fail miserably and even in success, we fret that maybe we weren't successful enough. There never is enough "doing" to satisfy our self-imposed expectations.

However, when we seek "to be" we will discover that the grace of God will begin to flow through us to the people around us and far more will be accomplished with far less angst. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

WOW... I will have all my desires fulfilled! Of course, that means there is a priority here... (1) as we delight in the Lord...He becomes the thrill and total focus of our lives, our thoughts will become more and more conformed to His and as our thoughts are conformed to His, then (2) He will obviously allow us to enjoy the fulfillment of our desires... His desires. There is no need to focus on "doing" because "being" like Christ will have a natural outflow of His character to those around us.

Where does this humility and honesty thing come into play? Let me share a definition found in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: " ... the habitual frame of mind of a child of God is that of one who feels not only that he owes all his natural gifts, etc., to God, but that he has been the object of undeserved redeeming love, and who regards himself as being not his own, but God’s in Christ. He cannot exalt himself, for he knows that he has nothing of himself. The humble mind is thus at the root of all other graces and virtues.

What counts?

As I sit here in a comfortable chair waiting for my kids and grandkids to get out of youth group... news of the terrible earthquake in Haiti is swirling around.

I spent a few minutes looking at Facebook and see all the entries about games, sports, food, who did what to whom, movies being reviewed... and I'm thinking what, in the few years we get to spend on this earth is really of value?

When my life on earth is over, will people remember the movies I watched, the teams i cheered for, the food I ate, the books I read, the places I went... or might they remember the character I demonstrated whether good or bad....

I think that only what's done for Christ will last... that's what counts. I want to spend my time and my mind investing in things that will last. How can I know Him better, I can I better reflect the character of Christ in my life?

Want to join me?

Back to School

Last Friday Caleb tried a jog around the block. Went pretty well for the first block, but his stomach hurt some before making it back on the second try. A little rest and things settled down.

Monday saw him returning to school. I think he found it good to get back, but he's still weak. Can't handle a full day of grueling classes and demanding teachers! Kids have been pretty receptive.

Today (Tuesday) he came home quite weak, couldn't stay awake, had a fever of nearly 100. A little to eat, a couple of hours nap, and the fever came down and he was back up.

The problem comes, at least in part, from the fact that he is an "elderly" patient. This procedure is normally performed on kids under one year of age. At the advanced age of 12, his body structure is pretty rigid and the manipulation to get the shunt routed through his body is pretty traumatic. It will take some time for everything to get back in place.

Sometimes it's a little difficult to get a true reading on how well he's doing. Witness the following enlightening conversation...

"How do you feel?"
"Fine."
"What do you mean, 'fine'?," "Do you still have a headache?"
"Yeah"
"Is it as bad as it used to be?"
"No."
"Does it throb?"
"Not as much."
"Does it hurt all over or at your incisions?"
"Both"
"But you're better?"
"Yeah"
"So you still hurt, but not like it used to?"
"Yeah"

Sunday - Going Home

Caleb was watched over faithfully by his Texas Longhorns buddies. It was a good weekend. The Longhorns won their annual archrivalry against OU at the Cotton Bowl and Caleb regained some strength. He didn't really feel that great, but some measure of normalcy began to return.

Later Saturday afternoon, his Melissa Cardinals coaches and football team came to pay a visit and brought with them a signed football which we will put on display in a prominent place .

With medication and a hotpack on his head he has relief from most of his pain.

Sunday showed additional improvement and doctor said it was time to go.

He seemed to be in better spirits today and he has come home. He will be out of school for another week and will resume physical activity as he feels like it - his discretion. But probably no more football. There are football players with shunts in their heads, but it does carry an increased measure of risk.

He is not eating well yet, but I don't think I would be either at this point. Temperature seems to be stable and all other signs are OK as well.

Saturday Update

The doctor just left the room with his entourage of eight residents/students/assistants/fellows. He said things looked like they were going well, but since Caleb is an elderly patient - well, 12 is a lot older than 1 year or less - that his recovery time will be a little slower than if he was younger. It will take more time for his brain to readjust to his cranium. He will be in the hospital for at least another day at Children's Medical Center Dallas.  

He is on morphine and Tylenol and ice packs to control the pain. He wants the room kept dark and it hurts to talk. He wants to "rewind" and not have the surgery!

Guess that won't happen!