About 50 yards out the door of the condo here is a nice little inlet where the local boats dock
It was ten pm
Lit up a stogie
Laid flat on my back
Looked up at the stars
Took in the slight breeze
Started Van Morrison on the Ipod
Some Peace of Mind was playing
Kept hitting replay
Found a place
Could have stayed for hours
Not sure how long I did
Time meant little
Peace reigned supreme
The downshift continues
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Downshift
Sometimes life just sort of goes forward without much notice
And then it just hits
I am in my car and just going down the highway like everyone else and my daughter mentions I am going 90MPH...and I didn't even notice my pace...it was the same as everyone else
I am looking closely at the gauge of my life these days
Wow. Ouch. Huh?
How long have I been going 100?
For a while. For years? Decades?
A couple of years ago I went to Germany with some bro's. We hopped on the autobahn and it was scary. A hundred-twenty just kept pace. After a couple days we were all used to crazy Bob's driving and going 120
The only time we really noticed how fast we were going was when we came to a curve or an exit ramp...and we woke up quick
This same feeling expresses where i am this day as I intentionally try to slow down l
It's been three weeks
I thought this would be easy
Truth is... it is downright difficult to downshift
Actually, really hard
I thought I could just hit the brakes...which I did...but the gears will only allow me to slow down so quickly
Others are honking at me as I try to get to the exit lane. They want me to keep pace
My body is freaking out as I drop caffeine from my lifestyle...i (think i) am missing my coffee and diet coke addictions from the past 20 years
My ears are hearing new things as some noise is being eliminated
I can hear myself breathe again
The heart beat is still too fast but a memory of quieter times is nearby
A sustainable rhythm for the next stage of life is my desire
I wonder where this downshift will lead?
To a new "normal" pace of life?
To a place where I can hear Jesus' voice clearer and with more regularity?
Today, I downs
hift one more time
And then it just hits
I am in my car and just going down the highway like everyone else and my daughter mentions I am going 90MPH...and I didn't even notice my pace...it was the same as everyone else
I am looking closely at the gauge of my life these days
Wow. Ouch. Huh?
How long have I been going 100?
For a while. For years? Decades?
A couple of years ago I went to Germany with some bro's. We hopped on the autobahn and it was scary. A hundred-twenty just kept pace. After a couple days we were all used to crazy Bob's driving and going 120
The only time we really noticed how fast we were going was when we came to a curve or an exit ramp...and we woke up quick
This same feeling expresses where i am this day as I intentionally try to slow down l
It's been three weeks
I thought this would be easy
Truth is... it is downright difficult to downshift
Actually, really hard
I thought I could just hit the brakes...which I did...but the gears will only allow me to slow down so quickly
Others are honking at me as I try to get to the exit lane. They want me to keep pace
My body is freaking out as I drop caffeine from my lifestyle...i (think i) am missing my coffee and diet coke addictions from the past 20 years
My ears are hearing new things as some noise is being eliminated
I can hear myself breathe again
The heart beat is still too fast but a memory of quieter times is nearby
A sustainable rhythm for the next stage of life is my desire
I wonder where this downshift will lead?
To a new "normal" pace of life?
To a place where I can hear Jesus' voice clearer and with more regularity?
Today, I downs
hift one more timeSaturday, November 15, 2008
Fences and Bridges
This past month I started building a fence
I knew I was building something, i just didn't realize it was a fence
back to the fence in a minute
Maybe you've heard the story of the two brothers who lived next to each other with a adjoining property line
A tift arose, name calling began followed by insults
The first brother said, I will put an end to this and diverted a creek to create a stream between the property lines that could not be crossed
Of course, it was as much symbolic as it was physical
The message was, "don't come over here"
Time passed
One day a carpenter came to town looking for work and the second brother got this idea about hiring him to build a fence, to sort of "one up" him
He explained the project the the newly hired man
The carpenter said he understood and went off to work on the project as the second man left for work
When he returned later, to his shock, he saw the carpenter had used the materials to build a bridge, not a fence
More amazingly, the other brother was crossing the bridge thanking him for his willingness to begin restoring the relationship
they embraced
They asked the carpenter to stay and talk
He said he had many more bridges to build as he left
Guess you know who the carpenter is
Guess you know he likes bridges more than fences
He builds them
we still have to cross them, right?
I am tearing down my fence and using the materials to build a bridge
It's hard work
When I am done I will need to cross this bridge
Looking forward to the embrace on the other side
I knew I was building something, i just didn't realize it was a fence
back to the fence in a minute
Maybe you've heard the story of the two brothers who lived next to each other with a adjoining property line
A tift arose, name calling began followed by insults
The first brother said, I will put an end to this and diverted a creek to create a stream between the property lines that could not be crossed
Of course, it was as much symbolic as it was physical
The message was, "don't come over here"
Time passed
One day a carpenter came to town looking for work and the second brother got this idea about hiring him to build a fence, to sort of "one up" him
He explained the project the the newly hired man
The carpenter said he understood and went off to work on the project as the second man left for work
When he returned later, to his shock, he saw the carpenter had used the materials to build a bridge, not a fence
More amazingly, the other brother was crossing the bridge thanking him for his willingness to begin restoring the relationship
they embraced
They asked the carpenter to stay and talk
He said he had many more bridges to build as he left
Guess you know who the carpenter is
Guess you know he likes bridges more than fences
He builds them
we still have to cross them, right?
I am tearing down my fence and using the materials to build a bridge
It's hard work
When I am done I will need to cross this bridge
Looking forward to the embrace on the other side
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Things comes in 3's?
My car had a tough week
In the past seven days this little camry has run over a squirrel, had a duck hit the windshield and just a couple nights ago a rather large deer ended the life of the left front light and blinker
I miss the lights for sure
They say things come in threes-right now that is fine.
Ever feel you are being bombarded from every direction?
Like no matter what direction you are headed you get hit?
Insecure about what might be around the next turn?
Going 65 miles an hour and having a deer run out in front of you...well, there is pretty much nothing you can do but buckle up
boom...and then silence
maybe 10 seconds...before I noticed my wife's "that could have been a whole lot worse look"
She was right
That deer could have come right through the windshield
Our whole lives could have changed
Still, this moment could have led to a lot of anger about inconvenience or money or time
Two weeks ago a friend challenged us to write down 10 things per day we were thankful for...every day 10 new things
It is not as hard as I would have thought
I have a lot to be thankful for...a lot....a real lot...a real real lot
Know what I mean?
This accident, this moment...it is somehow leading us even more toward a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving
In the past seven days this little camry has run over a squirrel, had a duck hit the windshield and just a couple nights ago a rather large deer ended the life of the left front light and blinker
I miss the lights for sure
They say things come in threes-right now that is fine.
Ever feel you are being bombarded from every direction?
Like no matter what direction you are headed you get hit?
Insecure about what might be around the next turn?
Going 65 miles an hour and having a deer run out in front of you...well, there is pretty much nothing you can do but buckle up
boom...and then silence
maybe 10 seconds...before I noticed my wife's "that could have been a whole lot worse look"
She was right
That deer could have come right through the windshield
Our whole lives could have changed
Still, this moment could have led to a lot of anger about inconvenience or money or time
Two weeks ago a friend challenged us to write down 10 things per day we were thankful for...every day 10 new things
It is not as hard as I would have thought
I have a lot to be thankful for...a lot....a real lot...a real real lot
Know what I mean?
This accident, this moment...it is somehow leading us even more toward a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Remembering daily
I would like to open a dialog box for anyone to post, even anonymously, practical ways you have found in your daily life to remember God
Some of the worst feelings in my life have been lying in bed at night and admitting to God that I had not thought about Him that day
I have a few ideas to share, but desire to be a learner with you
What are you learning?
Some of the worst feelings in my life have been lying in bed at night and admitting to God that I had not thought about Him that day
I have a few ideas to share, but desire to be a learner with you
What are you learning?
Monday, November 3, 2008
Remember
It started a couple months ago with a call from one of my best friends in life suggesting a visit to a special place God had met him 29 years ago
A couple days ago we both knelt down there and thanked God for the words he spoke that day... and requested that God continue to keep speaking into our lives for our remaining years
A special moment then
A special moment back then
Are you like me and ever sense a need to “mark the moment”
In Old testament times God would tell His people to set up stones to remember the great miracles He did for them-like crossing the Red Sea and delivering them in battle
Later on, we read these interesting statements from those who tell the story of Jesus that “after these things, His disciples remembered…”
I used to think, how could these people ever forget these things of God? How could they forget a miracle?
As I get older, I begin to understand a little clearer
As I get older, I forget more...and I can get pretty frustrated with my memory
I get mad that God made me this way sometimes
A friend shared a thought with me once that forgetting is a gift from God
Huh?
He suggested if we remembered all the things we had done wrong, all the evil thoughts we process, all the___________ (fill it in) we do, we might possibly go insane
Could being built with a “forgetter” in our brain be a measure of His love?
Could this be why He says, and even commands, to build an altar to remember?
Or to write His commandments on our doorposts?
Maybe that’s why my buddy and I sensed His closeness by that tree last week
We were remembering His touch in our lives 29 years ago
Maybe I need to do this more often-remember what He has done in my life
Mark the moments tangibly
A couple days ago we both knelt down there and thanked God for the words he spoke that day... and requested that God continue to keep speaking into our lives for our remaining years
A special moment then
A special moment back then
Are you like me and ever sense a need to “mark the moment”
In Old testament times God would tell His people to set up stones to remember the great miracles He did for them-like crossing the Red Sea and delivering them in battle
Later on, we read these interesting statements from those who tell the story of Jesus that “after these things, His disciples remembered…”
I used to think, how could these people ever forget these things of God? How could they forget a miracle?
As I get older, I begin to understand a little clearer
As I get older, I forget more...and I can get pretty frustrated with my memory
I get mad that God made me this way sometimes
A friend shared a thought with me once that forgetting is a gift from God
Huh?
He suggested if we remembered all the things we had done wrong, all the evil thoughts we process, all the___________ (fill it in) we do, we might possibly go insane
Could being built with a “forgetter” in our brain be a measure of His love?
Could this be why He says, and even commands, to build an altar to remember?
Or to write His commandments on our doorposts?
Maybe that’s why my buddy and I sensed His closeness by that tree last week
We were remembering His touch in our lives 29 years ago
Maybe I need to do this more often-remember what He has done in my life
Mark the moments tangibly
Friday, October 17, 2008
I-35
I remember watching TV last August 1st when the nation was captivated by the tragedy of the I-35 bridge collapse outside in Minneapolis. Several died and 145 were injured. Most experts thought it could have been worse
Only minutes later, the questions began, “How did this happen?” and within days began unsettling news reports that 30-50% of our nations bridges may be structurally unsafe
Fifty percent? Even a 10% estimate would make many of us nervous
Reasons such as cost cutting, cutting corners on inferior steel and concrete, time constraints, budget cuts, workmanship are all sited as to possible reasons for unsafe bridges in our country and the I-35 collapse
Somewhere along the way of each bridge built, decisions are made in regards to the design, cost, materials and workmanship that determine how long the bridge will last structurally
Once construction is done, a maintenance schedule is set and the bridge is opened for travel
On I-35 last August, travel stopped dead for 13 people
Something went very wrong
Makes me think
About my life and the bridges of my relationships
I see a relationship like a bridge-me on one side and someone on the other
Questions begin to emerge like:
*As I look around my life, how strong are my relationships?
*What is the foundation of my relationships?
*Do I take shortcuts with others or do I invest my best?
*Do I have strong foundations so they withstand the tough weather that often blows through my life?
*Am I surprised when a friendship goes south?
*Am I prepared to be the kind of friend others deserve?
I have been hanging with a group of guys the past 10+ years
We have been through a lot together
The best and worst of times
Together
I am learning a few things that have made these bridges what they are today:
*I need to decide daily to think the best of them
*I need to invest some of my best time and talents with these friends
*I need to be willing to let them know me and risk love once I am fully known
*when the issues come up, I decide to fully work through them
Some look at our friendship and think- easy
We know differently
Any good relationship takes (a lot) of work
In fact, I often tell others "I do not have a close friend I have not had a HUGE problem with" or, more likely, them with me
It’s like the person who needs to get their jaw broken and reset to be right. It’s really painful to go through, but once it’s healed and fits right, it’s stronger than before and finally works the way it was intended
I can’t say I have ever wanted to get my relational “Jaw broken”, but now I see why it has been good for me
Seems like it often comes down to making a choice-work through it or pretend it doesn’t exist
The latter almost inevitably leads to an I-35 incident
The former almost always makes the bridge stronger
Can’t say it’s my first choice of activities on a Friday night...sitting down and working through an issue...but later on...yup
A friend recently shared this quote from Nabeel Jabbour, "The stronger the bridge of relationship, the more truth you can take across it."
I have been thinking about it for days
In my closer, stronger relationships, I am willing to listen. In relationships where trust is not as good, I am almost deaf
When the bridge is stronger, I accept truth spoken in to my life. Listening and learning seems natural. Change happens
I hear because there is level of real trust. A trust based on the fact I am loved even though I do not have it all together. A genuine care for bringing out the best in me
I’d like to build good, strong bridges and as many as possible
I think I am learning the process and what it takes to build a decent bridge
Maybe you have thoughts about building relational bridges too...
Only minutes later, the questions began, “How did this happen?” and within days began unsettling news reports that 30-50% of our nations bridges may be structurally unsafe
Fifty percent? Even a 10% estimate would make many of us nervous
Reasons such as cost cutting, cutting corners on inferior steel and concrete, time constraints, budget cuts, workmanship are all sited as to possible reasons for unsafe bridges in our country and the I-35 collapse
Somewhere along the way of each bridge built, decisions are made in regards to the design, cost, materials and workmanship that determine how long the bridge will last structurally
Once construction is done, a maintenance schedule is set and the bridge is opened for travel
On I-35 last August, travel stopped dead for 13 people
Something went very wrong
Makes me think
About my life and the bridges of my relationships
I see a relationship like a bridge-me on one side and someone on the other
Questions begin to emerge like:
*As I look around my life, how strong are my relationships?
*What is the foundation of my relationships?
*Do I take shortcuts with others or do I invest my best?
*Do I have strong foundations so they withstand the tough weather that often blows through my life?
*Am I surprised when a friendship goes south?
*Am I prepared to be the kind of friend others deserve?
I have been hanging with a group of guys the past 10+ years
We have been through a lot together
The best and worst of times
Together
I am learning a few things that have made these bridges what they are today:
*I need to decide daily to think the best of them
*I need to invest some of my best time and talents with these friends
*I need to be willing to let them know me and risk love once I am fully known
*when the issues come up, I decide to fully work through them
Some look at our friendship and think- easy
We know differently
Any good relationship takes (a lot) of work
In fact, I often tell others "I do not have a close friend I have not had a HUGE problem with" or, more likely, them with me
It’s like the person who needs to get their jaw broken and reset to be right. It’s really painful to go through, but once it’s healed and fits right, it’s stronger than before and finally works the way it was intended
I can’t say I have ever wanted to get my relational “Jaw broken”, but now I see why it has been good for me
Seems like it often comes down to making a choice-work through it or pretend it doesn’t exist
The latter almost inevitably leads to an I-35 incident
The former almost always makes the bridge stronger
Can’t say it’s my first choice of activities on a Friday night...sitting down and working through an issue...but later on...yup
A friend recently shared this quote from Nabeel Jabbour, "The stronger the bridge of relationship, the more truth you can take across it."
I have been thinking about it for days
In my closer, stronger relationships, I am willing to listen. In relationships where trust is not as good, I am almost deaf
When the bridge is stronger, I accept truth spoken in to my life. Listening and learning seems natural. Change happens
I hear because there is level of real trust. A trust based on the fact I am loved even though I do not have it all together. A genuine care for bringing out the best in me
I’d like to build good, strong bridges and as many as possible
I think I am learning the process and what it takes to build a decent bridge
Maybe you have thoughts about building relational bridges too...
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