This has been a question that has come up on several of our porch night discussions. Welcome your comments on this thought.
Apparently, according to Mr. Google, the author of this is unknown.
Excuse Me, Are You Jesus?
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago . They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.
In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. ALL BUT ONE !!!
He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight.
Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?" She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"
Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.
If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Pace
Four times I have tried to sit down and write this thought the past two days
I am laughing at myself as I start again
You'll see why in a moment
I am 21 days through an acknowledged 35 day period of life where I am so overbooked and living with a heartbeat that is not normal. Sleep is periodic and restless.
Maybe you've had one of these seasons in your life?
You see it coming, you brace, you grind it out...you want to quit, but...
In the midst of this, I found myself in one of those "moments" a couple days ago.
It was like I woke up for a second and...
In this moment, I saw where I was, and it was a place I am not sure I have been.
Most of my life I have been a person who set boundaries, limits, guidelines to keep the pace of life at a regular beat.
Friends have told me that by the way I live I have helped them slow down to a healthier pace of life and to prioritize their faith, family, work and community.
My wife and I have worked hard on this-what to say Yes and No to in our lives
I imagine you know what I am talking about is not easy
Back to "the moment"
I saw myself walking beside a fast moving river at a leisurely pace. The flowers were sweet and occasionally I stopped to look closely at them. The air was clean and there was a soft calming breeze blowing.
I could feel the power in the river and people would come by would come by on rafts, loving the white water and the adventure.
They didn't seem to notice me.
All of the sudden, I realized I was no longer on the riverbank, but I was in the current-and I could not get back to shore. I was floating along and looking for the edge-but it was far away and I could not get out. The river was too powerful for me. My body was being beaten by the rocks in the river and I was gasping for breath.
This picture is true about my life this day.
Ever felt that way?
The past few weeks I have met a new friend who has taught me something important
He was in a terrible accident a few years ago that left him in a coma. He is strong and courageous but still has a difficult time speaking. When he speaks to me, his tone is very low. He takes minutes to put together sentences.
His pace is different from mine
I am laughing at myself as I start again
You'll see why in a moment
I am 21 days through an acknowledged 35 day period of life where I am so overbooked and living with a heartbeat that is not normal. Sleep is periodic and restless.
Maybe you've had one of these seasons in your life?
You see it coming, you brace, you grind it out...you want to quit, but...
In the midst of this, I found myself in one of those "moments" a couple days ago.
It was like I woke up for a second and...
In this moment, I saw where I was, and it was a place I am not sure I have been.
Most of my life I have been a person who set boundaries, limits, guidelines to keep the pace of life at a regular beat.
Friends have told me that by the way I live I have helped them slow down to a healthier pace of life and to prioritize their faith, family, work and community.
My wife and I have worked hard on this-what to say Yes and No to in our lives
I imagine you know what I am talking about is not easy
Back to "the moment"
I saw myself walking beside a fast moving river at a leisurely pace. The flowers were sweet and occasionally I stopped to look closely at them. The air was clean and there was a soft calming breeze blowing.
I could feel the power in the river and people would come by would come by on rafts, loving the white water and the adventure.
They didn't seem to notice me.
All of the sudden, I realized I was no longer on the riverbank, but I was in the current-and I could not get back to shore. I was floating along and looking for the edge-but it was far away and I could not get out. The river was too powerful for me. My body was being beaten by the rocks in the river and I was gasping for breath.
This picture is true about my life this day.
Ever felt that way?
The past few weeks I have met a new friend who has taught me something important
He was in a terrible accident a few years ago that left him in a coma. He is strong and courageous but still has a difficult time speaking. When he speaks to me, his tone is very low. He takes minutes to put together sentences.
His pace is different from mine
To be in relationship to him, I have to slow down.
When I do, it is beautiful. He is a wonderful young man.
If I am in the river, I can't hear him-and for that matter, I can't hear anybody. It's too loud out there.
I am swimming for the bank.
It might take me a few days to get there, but that's where I am headed.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Captain
A friend told me last year that one of the greatest things i am giving my time to is coaching this high school golf team in my city.
A couple weeks ago I am sure I did not believe this and was on the cusp of bagging the whole thing due to a litany of circumstances and obligations. I told myself to hang on one more day which turned in two and here I am.
On my way home from our match on Thursday night I think maybe what my friend said last year may just be true. I found myself in a very unique place. Very unique.
One of my players went through maybe the hardest experience that can happen as a competitor. He played the best round of his high school career and as my new captain was leading his team to an important victory.
In his elation and joy, he became distracted and forgot to check his scorecard thoroughly. He was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.
In five minutes he went from the top of the world to total despair.
His world went upside down. His smile was replaced with a feeling that only a few know.
The thing is, I know that feeling.
Twenty seven years ago I lived in that moment as a college golfer.
Just appointed as captain. Team was winning. I played my best round in college. I forgot to sign my card. I was disqualified. Our team went from first to eighth place at the most important tournament of the year.
I went back to my hotel room and cried for 30 minutes. I actually cannot remember crying before this time in my life. Once I started, I could not stop. I soaked my pillow. No one could console me. No one really understood what happened and no words would comfort me. There was just hurt and embarrassment and pain. It took me weeks to move on.
When I saw my captain, I knew exactly what he was thinking and feeling. Exactly.
I knew because I had walked in his shoes.
Still, I asked God for the perfect words he needed to hear in this moment.
I shared this story with him. I told him this will hurt-a lot. Pain is there for a reason and do not deny it. Learn from it and you will be a better man for life.
More importantly, I told him that no matter what he did I would never love him any more than right now. I told him that no matter what he did I would never love him any less either. My love is not conditioned on his performance or mistakes.
This truth took me years to learn about God. His love is not conditional. He sees the best in me and thinks the best of me. He knows I will make mistakes and feel pain and consequences from them.
I wanted my captain to hear these words and to know where they come from. Not from me, but from Jesus. The Jesus that lives in me and is teaching me daily.
Now I know why I went through this pain 27 years ago now.
God had been prepping me to be the exact person who could speak to my captain.
His eyes said that he trusted me. He received these words of truth from me.
I think God is doing things like this all the time. Divine meetings.
There is someone who needs to hear my (our) story of hurt and pain and joy to help bring healing and restoration in their life.
God desires availability, not ability.
Today, I commit myself to being available again. Amen.
A couple weeks ago I am sure I did not believe this and was on the cusp of bagging the whole thing due to a litany of circumstances and obligations. I told myself to hang on one more day which turned in two and here I am.
On my way home from our match on Thursday night I think maybe what my friend said last year may just be true. I found myself in a very unique place. Very unique.
One of my players went through maybe the hardest experience that can happen as a competitor. He played the best round of his high school career and as my new captain was leading his team to an important victory.
In his elation and joy, he became distracted and forgot to check his scorecard thoroughly. He was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.
In five minutes he went from the top of the world to total despair.
His world went upside down. His smile was replaced with a feeling that only a few know.
The thing is, I know that feeling.
Twenty seven years ago I lived in that moment as a college golfer.
Just appointed as captain. Team was winning. I played my best round in college. I forgot to sign my card. I was disqualified. Our team went from first to eighth place at the most important tournament of the year.
I went back to my hotel room and cried for 30 minutes. I actually cannot remember crying before this time in my life. Once I started, I could not stop. I soaked my pillow. No one could console me. No one really understood what happened and no words would comfort me. There was just hurt and embarrassment and pain. It took me weeks to move on.
When I saw my captain, I knew exactly what he was thinking and feeling. Exactly.
I knew because I had walked in his shoes.
Still, I asked God for the perfect words he needed to hear in this moment.
I shared this story with him. I told him this will hurt-a lot. Pain is there for a reason and do not deny it. Learn from it and you will be a better man for life.
More importantly, I told him that no matter what he did I would never love him any more than right now. I told him that no matter what he did I would never love him any less either. My love is not conditioned on his performance or mistakes.
This truth took me years to learn about God. His love is not conditional. He sees the best in me and thinks the best of me. He knows I will make mistakes and feel pain and consequences from them.
I wanted my captain to hear these words and to know where they come from. Not from me, but from Jesus. The Jesus that lives in me and is teaching me daily.
Now I know why I went through this pain 27 years ago now.
God had been prepping me to be the exact person who could speak to my captain.
His eyes said that he trusted me. He received these words of truth from me.
I think God is doing things like this all the time. Divine meetings.
There is someone who needs to hear my (our) story of hurt and pain and joy to help bring healing and restoration in their life.
God desires availability, not ability.
Today, I commit myself to being available again. Amen.
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