Unforced Rhythms of Grace

I have been in a hurry most of my life; even when I didn’t need to rush, even when I was not aware that I was in a hurry.  I never learned to crawl as a baby.  I started walking at 6 months.  I never knew how to stroll.  I would try but a brisk walk rapidly evolved.  It has been my unconscious pace for most of my days.  I have been called ‘driven’, whatever that means, even though I always thought of myself as a person who sought to be void of personal ambition according to the teachings of Jesus.  However, my DNA seems to make it hard for me to sit and relax (more on that in a moment).  I tried meditation, which was a joke.  As I began trying to focus on emptying my mind I nearly passed out from trying to decide what the best mantra was.  I have all the initials; OCD, ADDHD, ETC.  My brain is obsessively and hyperactively churning.  It may not always be productive thought but there are usually so many thoughts and opinions bouncing around in my fat head that I am shocked that I have not invented something wonderful to change the world.  Hmm, let me think about that a little longer. 

I also tried golf as an activity to relax.  They say that golf reveals the soul.  I enjoyed the outdoor activity but I found myself growing impatient as playing partners too so long to contemplate hitting the next shot.  When I said, “Guys, I think you can miss them a lot quicker.” it did not make me a popular playing partner.  My wakeup call came when one of my best friends said, “OK, what other fun do you want to hurry up and get finished with today?” I realized that I was rushing through the round to see what score I would get rather than taking time to enjoy the game.  That translated into a revelation that I was rushing through life rather than enjoying the journey. 

As I pondered this condition and his statement I recall memories of my mother never sitting long.  She would always find something to clean, arrange or check on whether it needed it or not.  I once tried to talk to her about slowing down and relaxing to which she tearfully replied, “I don’t know how!”  My golf buddy’s quote reminded me of one Thanksgiving when we were still sitting around the living room trying to digest the feast mother worked so hard to prepare when she asked, “What do you want for supper?” I grew up in Mississippi; we ate breakfast, dinner and supper.  I said, “Mother sit down we are still stuffed from lunch!” She replied, “Well, I want to go ahead and get supper over with!” And there it was, the same behavior my golfing buddy hit me with right between the eyes!  I needed an attitude adjustment or I was going to rush through life and miss the joy of the journey. 

Every action of Jesus had intention and purpose; therefore it is not coincidence that Jesus was born in a time and culture that still goes at a pace that drives Americans crazy.  They say, “You have a watch but I have time!” Jesus speaks to the results of a breakneck philosophy of life that wears us out rather than initiates joy in Matthew 11:28-30.  This was a passage I had memorized early in my life but the reading from the Message opened a new insight as it said; “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

The unforced rhythms of grace seemed to leap off the page at me.  I have been living my life much like my golf game, hurrying to see what score I could achieve, when I needed to enjoy the round and let the score take care of itself.  The unforced rhythms of grace was the central teaching of Jesus letting me (us) know that our faith (a life of keeping company with Him) is the way to live freely and lightly.  The walk with Jesus is not one where we need to ‘achieve to receive’ or earn His joy and love.  Read the passage again, slowly letting each word and teaching soak deeply into your soul and see what He says to you as you slow down, walk with Him, watch then learn as you enjoy the journey:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Look for the Pony

I have always tried to have a philosophy of life that seeks to look for the positive side of any event.  I probably inherited some of that from my parents.  One cannot choose one’s parents but I was blessed to have a mom & dad who grew up in difficult times and learned to make the best of things.  Life can be difficult in this sin-scarred world.  Mankind ushered sin, disease, evil, destruction & decay into this world with our decision to disobey God and try our own ideas.  That is a sermon on original sin that will be for another day.  Today I want to focus on turning things around in a world that can throw us a curve ball or a punch in the gut without any warning, rhyme or reason. 

Years ago I ran across a story that gave me my catch phrase to help me make the most of the moment, no matter what came my way.  The phrase that reminds me to make the best of a difficult situation is, “Look for the pony!”  Now I know there are great Bible verses to give the same result.  I have preached, taught and memorized them for regular use.  However, this one has become a favorite; perhaps because the story that leads to “Look for the pony!” usually brings a smile to my face because it is slightly humorous and a little irreverent.  For that reason I never shared it in a Bible study or sermon.  However, I am not preaching or teaching even though I do think there is sound theology behind the phrase.

The story goes like this; Once upon a time (that is not really how it starts but you have to admit it is a good beginning for stories).  Behavior scientists have always been fascinated with twins as study object for human behavior.  A set of identical twins was selected for a particular study because in spite of being identical twins their behavior and attitude could not be more different.  One was always smiling and having fun.  The other was always sad, cross and grumpy.  The study consisted of taking the twin with the bad attitude and placing him in an environment that should bring joy to any child.  He was placed in a toy store and told he could play with and have any and all the toys he wanted.  The happy twin was placed in a dirty old empty smelly barn in the middle of a pasture.  They would be observed and see how they responded to the environments that differed from their normal personality.

Virtually any child placed in a toy store with permission to play and keep any and all toys they desired would have a field day playing with and enjoying the toys.   However, the twin was observed simply sitting with a dejected look in the midst of toy heaven.  After much time passed with no change or observed desire to move out of the dejected negative attitude and behavior the child was asked, “Why didn’t you try to have fun and play with the toys?”  He gloomily responded, “If I had played with any of the toys they would probably have broken or something would have gone wrong so what’s the point?” The behavior scientists concluded the results of the study on this child showed that environment is not the key in changing a philosophy of life. 

The observation on the happy child placed in the old empty smelly barn in the middle of a pasture was quite different.  This boy detected immediately that much of the smell was from horse manure, a common odor in a barn.  Instead of moving away from the unpleasant element causing the foul smell he progressed toward the manure getting close enough to slip causing his clothes to become stained with manure.  This brought a bigger smile and a more rapid advance toward larger piles.  It seemed the more manure he encountered the wider the smile became.  Finally the experiment was halted as there was concern that he had become emotionally unbalanced.  What normal child finds increasing joy in larger exposure to horse manure?  When asked if about his strange behavior he responded, “With this much manure there has got to be a pony close by.  I am looking for the pony!”

The difference does not depend on the environment but on the way you set your attitude.  Life will have its ups and downs.  The difference is the attitude we choose no matter the circumstance.  So, no matter what you think of the story, as the difficulties of life seem to pile up on you remember to; LOOK FOR THE PONY! 

I Won 63 Games in a Row!

My mother’s sudden unexpected death in 1997 sent me into a time of depression.  She was the hub of our family wheel.  She was the one who brought smiles and laughter to every situation.  The impact and circumstances of her passing on my life and the lives of all our family caused a crisis of faith leading me to question life’s purpose, God’s plan and wondering about the point of doing anything constructive.  I still functioned and went through my paces in life and fulfilled responsibilities and duties but there was an emptiness that led to a time of deep depression. 

After my family would go to bed I had trouble sleeping and would go to the computer and seek to fill the empty time.  I played FreeCell.  For hours I would play this computer card game that is a variation on the old game of solitaire.  I spent so much time that I became quite good.  Leaning toward my OCD nature I began keeping score.  I won 63 games in a row!  This was quite exciting until I looked around and realized I was sitting in a dark room at 4 am all alone.  I had accomplished something that was absolutely worthless.  It had no significance for this life or the next.  In fact, I was embarrassed and reluctant to share my glorious achievement. Why would anyone want to brag about the many hours thrown away on something totally useless?  I only share it now, after all these years to try to make a meaningful point.  

Life is a precious gift.  It is fragile and fleeting.    James 4:14 describes our life on earth as “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”.  My mother only lived 68 years, which seems younger as I approach that age myself, but she lived life fully.  She left us with a legacy of laughter, love and joy for life and I realized how much I was wasting that legacy while honing my skill as a FreeCell player. 

The first real sermon I preached in a church used the text from John 10:10 where Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”  Sitting alone in a dark room staring at computer screen until the wee hours of the morning does not constitute an abundant life.  This was my wake-up call.  I want my days on this planet to be meaningful.   I don’t need to waste time perusing or worrying about things that have no eternal significance.  I am 63 years old.  My grandmother had 98 years of life while my mother had 68.  I do not know that I have tomorrow but I have today!  I have right now!

What can I do today, this moment that will have real and lasting meaning?  How can I make the most of this moment?  My father had a plaque on his desk that said, ‘For every moment you are angry you lose 60 seconds of happiness’.  It was his reminder that it was important to do all one can to fill each moment with happiness.  Let the angry, disappointing, discouraging moments go as quickly as possible and focus on happiness.  Forgive and forget as soon as you can.  Jesus tells to go to the person who has something against us as quickly as possible to make things right (Matthew 5:23-24).  True worship (communion with God) cannot occur when we are at odds with our fellowman. 

Life is too short to waste on things that do not have real or eternal value.  

Come to think of it the only thing in this life that has real or eternal value is relationships.  Your relationship with Jesus allows you to have eternal life.  Those who have a relationship with Him have the promise of eternal relationships as we are united in Heaven after we leave this life.  So stop spending (wasting) time being consumed with something that will not last.  Invest your time, thoughts and energy building growing loving relationships that will last forever.