I Like To Color

Nothing fancy. A kindergarten-level coloring book and a box of crayons can make me perfectly happy. But I do sometimes have theological troubles with the pictures I color.

For instance, today’s stress-reliever was a mitten-handed Noah working on an ark, an elephant and a lion looking on, and all of them beneath a nice fluffy cloud. I understand the reasoning — “See, kids, Noah’s building a boat so when that cloud starts raining, they’ll have someplace to go, ” but I hate the logical application — “God told Noah to build a boat far from land then started bringing in the clouds to reinforce His point.”

According to Scripture, Noah endured decades of ridicule — “Hey,smart one, what’s that yacht going to float on, your sweat?”

God’s timing rarely matches up with humanity’s, but I daresay we’ve always had a tough time matching wits with Him.

Complaint Department

My recently retired boss just stopped by to complain. He explained, “Yesterday I picked up what you wrote for the [February magazine] and could not put it down. Excellent job.”

Some days I cannot help but feel blessed in this job.

Life Is Slower At Grandma’s

I am spending the week at my grandma’s city apartment. Grandpa is out of the country on a mission visit, so I am rooming with his lovely bride of sixty years.

After a somewhat hectic day at work, tonight was beautifully slow. A simple dinner, a few dishes to wash, and more than an hour of photos and fond memories.

I cannot believe the evening is already passed. I do not want it to end, yet I look forward to another.

(Note: the slowness is accented perhaps most perfectly by the fact that she has no internet service. This is posted in the day’s tomorrow.)

Gotta Love That New Job

Last January, I moved into one of my dream jobs. Being as I am twenty-one years old, it is still one of quite a few. This one job though, has been seeming more and more perfect as the year progresses.

When the small Christian publishing company asked me to become their Editorial Assistant, I was not the least bit interested. I was unqualified and intimidated.

It is now twelve months later, and I just finished a Saturday of interviews for some upcoming articles. I love this job.

I had never realized what such a small community of believers might accomplish. The more I learn of this Way, the less I have to fear of this world.

I Just Don’t Understand

Lord, sometimes I just don’t understand
This grace that shows throughout every land.
But, Jesus, well, to tell you the truth,
I don’t see how You could use me, a youth.

I do just fine at work, though sometimes I make it my life,
And I do not struggle with creating great strife,
But, Father, sometimes I just can’t see why You
Love and care for me so — but You do.

I was tired and confused the day you sent the snows,
I didn’t see the beauty ’til you placed it on my nose.
You paint the sky with my favorite colors each night,
And send me flowers each spring on a breeze so light.

Your masterpieces are in every land: walking, swimming, flying.
Every child reminds me of your love though they may be trying.
I thank you, Father, for the ways You’ve loved me.
Please let me pass that on to these.

The Queen of the One-Liner

These days her mind and mouth are not quite so sharp. She struggles with the simple points of drinking her tea and moving around. She does not always understand why staying at the nursing home is keeping her husband healthy.

Yet her children still love to share their favorite tales of their mom’s zaniness. They laugh about the times their banter was topped only by her perfectly timed dry humor.

Anymore, those quips are too rare. The disease of age has slowed her mind and sometimes they hear something that is not their mother.

She’s still the queen of the one-liner to all of us though. The lines may have to live on through our memories and tellings, but that is still who she is.

The New Year

Here’s to an overworked topic: When does the first decade of this century end? I wish to contend that it is this year. If it were next year (at the end of 2010), then there would have been no year zero. This would not be half so much fun. Instead, I shall put myself on the 2009-is-the-last-year-of-the-decade side of the argument.

Imagine what the first decade would have been if it ended with a nine. In order to have ten years, it would have started with the zero. That seems alright now (start with the year 2000, right?), but who wants to say, “I was born in the year zero”?

However, think of all the things you could say you never did because they happened in the nothing year. Some years that might just be a good thing.

I’ll Not Wish You Happy Birthday

Oh, dear Father,

I’m sorry. Through all this ridiculous busyness I’ve forgotten to thank You. (It really seems inappropriate to wish You a happy birthday. Of all beings on this Earth, You have most right not to wish to celebrate Your coming here.) But I thank You just the same, Sir.

For this time of year, for the prospect of a white Christmas, for the family that is still here, for the way that You actively love me, thank You.

Please help me love You that way too.

Christians Are Ridiculous

Besides the fact that Christians worship a resurrected Carpenter — resurrected only because He died as a criminal — Christians are ridiculous in their general life outlook.

Illustration: Three days before Christmas 2009, a friend of mine took a truck into town to get a load of water for her home. She and her granddaughter made it into town, filled the tank, and headed back home. They pulled into the driveway, hopped out, and smelled smoke. A bit later the cab was an inferno.

They took pictures and praised the Lord for protection while the fire department doused the flames. Wait. What? Praised the Lord for protection? They are now sans an entire truck!

That is just the way Christians are. So caught up in everything God has done for them, so convinced the spiritual life is greater than the physical life, that they look for ways to worship God even when things are not going at all well.

Ridiculous.

I Invited Myself

“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”  ~ Mark Twain

I have invited myself into the world of blogging. Not because I believe I am good enough to be heard, but because I know the God of the Universe loves me enough to speak through me.

He owes me nothing. I owe Him everything.