I have always been mesmerized by stained glass. Its intricate beauty and the workmanship required to create it take my breath away. And as anyone who has ever really looked at stained glass knows, it only achieves is true potential – its utmost beauty – when light shines through it.
It reminds me of the power of grace in our lives.
Some people LOVE doing laundry. I’m not one of them. It’s a task that must be done, but I find little joy in it.
Just this week though, my laundry taught me a lesson.
Most of the time doing laundry is pretty routine. Separate the lights from the darks. Separate the delicates from the not-delicates. Wash, dry, fold, put away.
As I start to craft this post there are less than 12 hours left in this year. I debated whether or not to add to the blogosphere’s bloated offerings of end-of-year reflections. But when my friend referenced this site in HER wonderful end-of-year post, I thought I’d better at least have a little fresh content here.
There’s an old saying that says something like, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him what your plans are.”
There’s been a bit of that going on around here lately and it has provided me a tremendous opportunity to literally practice what I preach.
Four weeks ago my fiance, who was then living and working in another state, lost his job. He was the #2 guy in a non-profit organization that brought in a new #1 – and a month later – Poof! #2 job is eliminated.
THAT was not the plan.
The PLAN – my plan- was that we’d manage a bi-state marriage, (not ideal but it was norm for us). His more than adequate income would help him save for his retirement, pay down debt, and help two of his three adult daughters with the expenses for their upcoming weddings. We’d see each other on weekends as we have been and talk 5 times a day on the phone.
Within a week’s time everything changed. And while the stress of the change has been quite profound, I’ve been challenging myself to see God’s provision at every turn.
When news came of the layoff, I told him: we are going to get an awesome opportunity to put our faith where our mouths are. He and I are often play the roles of “spiritual encouragers” for our friends and family members who are going through difficult circumstances. My job as a pastoral coach puts me in the center of a lot of unhappy or challenging times for people. I like to think that the perspective I bring to those circumstances provides hope and healing for the people with whom I’m journeying.
Can I do that for someone whose pain, difficulty, and trials very closely impact me? Can we both see God’s provision in even these trying times? I hope so.
Can I – can we – quite literally practice what we preach?
Here’s what I’ve seen so far:
1. This layoff provides him an opportunity to move back to where his daughters and me and my kids live.
2. The job market here is pretty strong, even for those at an “executive” level of experience.
3. He was supposed to have to pay 2 months rent on his 60-day notice of lease termination of his home. In less than a week his landlord called and asked him if he could vacate within 2 days – and get back the paid rent. A savings of a couple thousand dollars.
4. The truck rental company that he used to move his stuff only charged him for one day instead of the three days he had the truck.
5. Car insurance where I live is half of what it was where he used to live.
6. My basement functions quite well as a modest apartment.
7. The interest rate on my mortgage resets on July 1 and will cut my house payments in half. At least for the next year.
Some people might look at this modest list and say, “Harrumph! Just coincidence.” But you see, I don’t believe in coincidence. I believe that when you look at things with the eyes of faith, your perspective changes. Your vision expands to include the horizon of hope. You are encouraged — even in the midst of trials and challenges.
And I am giddy with excitment. God is moving. I don’t know in what way yet, and that is ok. I don’t need to know. What I do need to do is trust. Trust in a God who loves His creation – who promises that He knows the plans He has for us – plans to prosper and not to harm (Jeremiah 29:11). I don’t need to understand it. I do need to have faith and believe. (Hebrews 11:1).
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I was at the gym the the other day, sweating up a storm on the stairmaster, when my attention was caught by the “hill climber” profile I’d chosen for that workout.
It was like a LiteBrite display of triangles. The left upward slope representing the hard climb to the top, and the right dowward slope indicating an ease of tension and effort on the “downhill” slope.
As I struggled against the resistance of the “up hill” climbs and breathed easier on the “down hill side” I realized the experience of my workout was a terrific metphor for life.
Think about it, if every day was a “mountain top experience” we’d have no appreciation for how amazing it is to be on top of a mountain looking out on the wonders above and below. It is the striving and the effort that make attaining that mountain top experience so special. And the down hill slopes — sometimes those are the good times laced with lovely reflective thoughts of the mountaintop. And sometimes the downhills are harder on us than the climb to the top.
All of this is to say – we can’t live our lives on top of the mountain peak. I see mountaintop experiences as the reward for the hard work – the goal in the race – the “atta boy” for a job well done.
Life is lived on the ascents to and the descents from the mountaintop.
Our choice is to make each leg of the journey as purposeful and joyful as the attainment of the mountaintop.
When we are willing to let the valleys teach us as much as the peaks – then we know we are living fully – and with intention.Â
The richness of THAT kind of existence is beyond measure.
I received this beautiful piece via email from a friend. I don’t know who the original author is. I have often spoken about life as a tapestry. When you look at it from the back, it’s a mess, but only when seen complete and from the front do you see how all the individual threads run together. I was reminded of this when I read the below story — how oftentimes we get so caught up in the struggles and trials that we forget God is the Master weaver who takes it all and can make it beautiful if we let him. (Romans 8:28)
~~The Quilt Holes~~~
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn’t had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, ‘Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.
Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.’
~~~~~~May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!
Sometimes life throws the most intense curve balls. Children are afflicted with incurable diseases. Parents traveling home from a party are killed in a car crash leaving their 3 young children orphans. An earthquake kills hundreds of thousands of people in what feels like the blink of an eye. Terrorists drive planes into buildings that buckle and crumble. An unexpected lay off. A spouse walks out.
Some people are completely undone by events like these. And others seem to have a resilience that is almost inexplicable.
Having endured a fair number of Life’s Curve Balls myself I have often wondered what sets apart the people who soldier on from those that crumble under the weight of trials and tragedies. In story after story that has been shared with me the common denominator seems to be faith in God – and an understanding that there must be a purpose to it all. Viktor Frankl, the concentration camp survivor and psychiatrist, wrote about this in his book Man’s Search for Meaning.
This faith, this purpose-focused understanding, is what has been my anchor in times of trial. I don’t have to KNOW what God’s plan or purpose is – but I can believe that He has one. And that belief can make all the difference in the desire to keep on keeping on.
When my marriage fell apart and I was trying to reconcile all of the whys and whats about it, I came across a book called The Blessings of Brokenness by Charles Stanley. That book challenged me to change my focus from “why me God?” to “what do you want me to do with this, God?” That shift in thinking helped me see a future that had been hidden from my depressed view.
If you are in the fire of trials or tragedy. I highly recommend this book.
I have always thought that Palm Sunday was one of those days that captures almost every twist and turn, every high and low of the human experience. In the Catholic tradition of worship we hear in the scriptures of Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when throngs of people hailed Him as King. By the end of the Gospel reading we have crucified Him with the congregation playing the part of those century-old crowds demanding Pontius Pilate release a murderer instead of the innocent carpenter from Galilee.