These warm early fall days have really brought out the squirrels in our neighborhood. They seem to be quite busy getting ready for winter. Eating berries from our thorn-bush, digging up nuts stored in the yard, reinforcing their tree top nests.
As the go about their business they dart and dash throughout the neighborhood. They run carelessly amid what most would consider extreme danger – dancing across the narrow slats of our wooden fence, scampering through the treetops on thin branches that sag with their weight, even dashing along a high wire running through a neighboring yard.
All this they do without concern, or at least visible concern, when a single slip could mean death or injury. I would be paralyzed with fright. I get sweaty palms just thinking about it.
But the squirrels – they dance!
Even when the going is tough ...
Even when it seems the only line of support is thin and tenuous ...
Even when bad things could happen when one fails ...
Even when the wind is blowing ...
Even when things don’t go smoothly ...
Even when the work is hard ...
Even when things are slippery ...
Squirrels dance.
They dance!
Do you see what I see?
There are a lot more opportunities to dance!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
”We Don’t Have Cell Phone Service”
During some of our recent time away we had the wonderful opportunity and enjoyment of spending some extended family time near Trukee, CA and nearer to Donner Lake. Yes, this is the lake near the site of the place where the Donner Party (or Donner—Reed Party) was stranded during the winter of 1846-1847, snowbound on the east side of the rugged passes over the Sierra Nevada Range and just 100 or so miles from the Pacific Ocean. A monument at the site says that when the party arrived on October 29, 1846 there was 22 feet of snow on the ground – only the tree tops would have been visible. You probably know that tsotry that only 48 of the original 87 members of the party survived and the survivors resorted to cannibalism in order to live until a relief party arrived in the middle of February, 1847, almost four months after the wagon train became trapped.
During our evening meal, around great food with wonderful fellowship, we found ourselves “complaining’ that we didn’t have very good cell phone service. Some of us couldn’t send messages, others couldn’t receive messages and our data links were less than spotty.
Then a comment was made about the Donner party and the story of almost 160 years ago. Our eyes grew big and one of us noted, “So why are we complaining about not having cell phone service?”
It was a good question, a dose of reality and an opportunity for thanks – for all the blessings of God and for the sacrifice of those immigrant pioneers who carved out the beginnings of civilization in these beautiful parts of the United States.
I’m trying to be sure that I don’t take for granted the wonderful blessings of God’s grace that allow me to live a blessed and secure life.
During our evening meal, around great food with wonderful fellowship, we found ourselves “complaining’ that we didn’t have very good cell phone service. Some of us couldn’t send messages, others couldn’t receive messages and our data links were less than spotty.
Then a comment was made about the Donner party and the story of almost 160 years ago. Our eyes grew big and one of us noted, “So why are we complaining about not having cell phone service?”
It was a good question, a dose of reality and an opportunity for thanks – for all the blessings of God and for the sacrifice of those immigrant pioneers who carved out the beginnings of civilization in these beautiful parts of the United States.
I’m trying to be sure that I don’t take for granted the wonderful blessings of God’s grace that allow me to live a blessed and secure life.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Moving Away from the "Silo" View
As one looks out an airplane window over Central and Western Nebraska, assuming it is a clear day, one can see the lush green "circles" of the fields that are being watered by "center pivot" irrigation systems. What is clear is the contrast between the circle that has been watered and the areas in the corners of the square field that have not been watered. Lush greens contrast against the more arid browns and tans. These sprinkler systems are set up with some concern about territory, property boundaries and water rights. The result is incomplete watering.
In contrast, I think of my lawn irrigation system. While those sprinklers work in circles too, they are arranged to "overlap" in ways that allow the whole lawn to receive life giving water. When we set up lawn sprinklers we aren't so concerned about territory. We are more concerned about getting water across the whole lawn and for most of us it doesn't matter much if we get some water on a neighbor's lawn or theirs on our lawn. The result is usually a nice green lawn for all involved. No dry lifeless corners.
I have a colleague who speaks of the "silo" view. The view is like what is seen from the airplane over central and western Nebraska. Areas are covered with life but other areas are left dry and more lifeless. My colleague applies the "silo view" to ministry. That is, sometimes we get so concerned about our "territory", our "property rights" or the area of our responsibility that we only act for and in a particular "circle". When groups, committees, ministries, work with a "silo" view, there are spots of life, but there are also areas where ministry isn't being provided, or if it is, the ministry is only "run off" from the areas inside the "silo" circle.
To move away from the "silo" view, ministries need to overlap, link hands together for a common goal, be aware of the places where teaming up could be more life-giving to the whole community, the whole of God's people. Moving away from a "silo" view benefits all with better use of resources, opportunities to "team up" (see previous post) and places to break down the barriers growing out of differing personal preferences and experiences.
The ultimate result is that a larger area of life, community, city, state and world is well watered -- watered with the life giving water of Jesus the Christ, who is living water for our lives, our faith and out spirit.
One of my goals for ministry is movement away from the "silo" view. I'm looking for others who will walk with me to link hands to life giving to all.
In contrast, I think of my lawn irrigation system. While those sprinklers work in circles too, they are arranged to "overlap" in ways that allow the whole lawn to receive life giving water. When we set up lawn sprinklers we aren't so concerned about territory. We are more concerned about getting water across the whole lawn and for most of us it doesn't matter much if we get some water on a neighbor's lawn or theirs on our lawn. The result is usually a nice green lawn for all involved. No dry lifeless corners.
I have a colleague who speaks of the "silo" view. The view is like what is seen from the airplane over central and western Nebraska. Areas are covered with life but other areas are left dry and more lifeless. My colleague applies the "silo view" to ministry. That is, sometimes we get so concerned about our "territory", our "property rights" or the area of our responsibility that we only act for and in a particular "circle". When groups, committees, ministries, work with a "silo" view, there are spots of life, but there are also areas where ministry isn't being provided, or if it is, the ministry is only "run off" from the areas inside the "silo" circle.
To move away from the "silo" view, ministries need to overlap, link hands together for a common goal, be aware of the places where teaming up could be more life-giving to the whole community, the whole of God's people. Moving away from a "silo" view benefits all with better use of resources, opportunities to "team up" (see previous post) and places to break down the barriers growing out of differing personal preferences and experiences.
The ultimate result is that a larger area of life, community, city, state and world is well watered -- watered with the life giving water of Jesus the Christ, who is living water for our lives, our faith and out spirit.
One of my goals for ministry is movement away from the "silo" view. I'm looking for others who will walk with me to link hands to life giving to all.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Overcoming Differences with Team Work
The last couple of days I've been giving considerable thought as to how it is that working side by side on a project (the more sweat involved the better) will break down barriers and build relationship even between people with dramatically different personal preferences.
While in the middle of these ponderings I received the devotional called "Team Up" by Max Lucado. He says it much better than I, even though I'm likely to weigh in on this theme again soon.
Check out what Max Lucado has to say at: http://www.maxlucado.com/static/email_archive/2010/09.13.html
Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Tom
While in the middle of these ponderings I received the devotional called "Team Up" by Max Lucado. He says it much better than I, even though I'm likely to weigh in on this theme again soon.
Check out what Max Lucado has to say at: http://www.maxlucado.com/static/email_archive/2010/09.13.html
Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
October, 2010 Sketchings
“THE A-B-CS OF HANDLING MISTAKES”
A grizzled old sea captain was often spotted by his crew opening a small, locked box on the bridge, peeking inside at its contents, and shutting the lid before anyone might glimpse inside. The crew's curiosity grew and, on the day he retired, they rushed to the bridge, cut the lock and looked inside the box. There they found a sheet of paper that read, "Left -- port. Right -- starboard."
If you’ve ever sailed or been on a boat you’ll understand this even more acutely. Probably no one who has sailed can keep port and starboard right every time. Probably every one who has sailed has yelled out “obstacle to port” when they meant the opposite. I’ve done it several times my self, and even more often in some other life calls I’ve made.
One such mess us up, gives us nightmares about making a mistake. Some people won’t act because they are afraid to err. Others feel as if no one is listening until a mistake has been made!
For we humans, who make mistakes and err – we simply can’t help it, here’s the story of Roy Riegels.
The story is told about Roy and the 1929 Rose Bowl championship football game between Georgia Tech and the University of California. Shortly before half-time, a man named Roy Riegels made a huge mistake. He got the ball for California and somehow became confused and started running in the wrong direction! One of his team mates outdistanced him and tackled him after he had run 65 yards just before he would have scored for the opposing team. Of course, Georgia Tech gained a distinct advantage through the error.
The men filed off the field and went into the dressing room. All but Riegels sat down on the benches and on the floor. He wrapped his blanket around his shoulders, sat in a corner, put his face in his hands and wept.
Coach Nibbs Price struggled with what to do with Roy. He finally looked at the team and said simply, "Men, the same team that played the first half, will start the second." All the players except Roy trotted out to the field. He didn't budge. Though the coach looked back and called to him again, he remained huddled in the corner. Coach Price went to him and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me?"
"Coach," he said, "I can't do it. I've ruined you; I've ruined UCLA; I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life."
But Coach Price put his hand on Riegels' shoulder and said, "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." Roy Riegels went back and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.
From this story I’ve learned to apply this A – B – C process to the mistakes I make:
A - Acknowledge the error and accept responsibility for it. Don't try to fix the blame on other people or circumstances. Fixing the blame never fixes the problem.
B - Be gentle. The game is only half over. This is not the first ever made, nor will it be the last. I am still a good and caring person. Besides, later I’m likely to tell wonderful stories about this blunder, so I try and lighten up a bit for now.
C - Correct it and move on. "Those who are wise don't consider it a blessing to make no mistakes," says Wang Yang-Ming. "They believe instead that the great virtue is the ability to correct mistakes and to continually reinvent oneself."
So, we make mistakes. Go ahead and make some mistakes – it means one is not sitting still. And though some may be no less than spectacular, if practicing the A – B - C method, we’ll live to tell about all of them and laugh about most of them.
A grizzled old sea captain was often spotted by his crew opening a small, locked box on the bridge, peeking inside at its contents, and shutting the lid before anyone might glimpse inside. The crew's curiosity grew and, on the day he retired, they rushed to the bridge, cut the lock and looked inside the box. There they found a sheet of paper that read, "Left -- port. Right -- starboard."
If you’ve ever sailed or been on a boat you’ll understand this even more acutely. Probably no one who has sailed can keep port and starboard right every time. Probably every one who has sailed has yelled out “obstacle to port” when they meant the opposite. I’ve done it several times my self, and even more often in some other life calls I’ve made.
One such mess us up, gives us nightmares about making a mistake. Some people won’t act because they are afraid to err. Others feel as if no one is listening until a mistake has been made!
For we humans, who make mistakes and err – we simply can’t help it, here’s the story of Roy Riegels.
The story is told about Roy and the 1929 Rose Bowl championship football game between Georgia Tech and the University of California. Shortly before half-time, a man named Roy Riegels made a huge mistake. He got the ball for California and somehow became confused and started running in the wrong direction! One of his team mates outdistanced him and tackled him after he had run 65 yards just before he would have scored for the opposing team. Of course, Georgia Tech gained a distinct advantage through the error.
The men filed off the field and went into the dressing room. All but Riegels sat down on the benches and on the floor. He wrapped his blanket around his shoulders, sat in a corner, put his face in his hands and wept.
Coach Nibbs Price struggled with what to do with Roy. He finally looked at the team and said simply, "Men, the same team that played the first half, will start the second." All the players except Roy trotted out to the field. He didn't budge. Though the coach looked back and called to him again, he remained huddled in the corner. Coach Price went to him and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me?"
"Coach," he said, "I can't do it. I've ruined you; I've ruined UCLA; I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life."
But Coach Price put his hand on Riegels' shoulder and said, "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." Roy Riegels went back and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.
From this story I’ve learned to apply this A – B – C process to the mistakes I make:
A - Acknowledge the error and accept responsibility for it. Don't try to fix the blame on other people or circumstances. Fixing the blame never fixes the problem.
B - Be gentle. The game is only half over. This is not the first ever made, nor will it be the last. I am still a good and caring person. Besides, later I’m likely to tell wonderful stories about this blunder, so I try and lighten up a bit for now.
C - Correct it and move on. "Those who are wise don't consider it a blessing to make no mistakes," says Wang Yang-Ming. "They believe instead that the great virtue is the ability to correct mistakes and to continually reinvent oneself."
So, we make mistakes. Go ahead and make some mistakes – it means one is not sitting still. And though some may be no less than spectacular, if practicing the A – B - C method, we’ll live to tell about all of them and laugh about most of them.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Crosses in the Tree
I found myself standing in the chapel of Morning Star looking out at one of the large pine trees. I wasn't looking for or at anything in particular. But suddenly it struck me. The ends of several of the branches had a cross on them. I looked more closely. Many branches had a cross at the end of the branch. The cross. Our salvation. The cross once made of a tree. A tree full of crosses.
I know that upon closer examination I really wouldn't find crosses at the end of the branches. I'd find an arrangement of new growth, probably 5 or 6 new "spears". But from the vantage point I had, the branches were aligned so that I saw crosses.
Now, I don't want to put any particular significance to what I saw. It was just a sense of my salvation and the presence of God in a simple place and in a simple way. For the moment in which I stood there, it was a miracle.
You see, God doesn't always become evident in the dramatic, the over whelming or the newsworthy. God more often becomes evident in the simple things. God often is revealed in the unexpectedly mundane things of life. And that's a miracle too.
I know that upon closer examination I really wouldn't find crosses at the end of the branches. I'd find an arrangement of new growth, probably 5 or 6 new "spears". But from the vantage point I had, the branches were aligned so that I saw crosses.
Now, I don't want to put any particular significance to what I saw. It was just a sense of my salvation and the presence of God in a simple place and in a simple way. For the moment in which I stood there, it was a miracle.
You see, God doesn't always become evident in the dramatic, the over whelming or the newsworthy. God more often becomes evident in the simple things. God often is revealed in the unexpectedly mundane things of life. And that's a miracle too.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Power of a Smile
Teresa and I went to visit our Dads yesterday. During our time with my Dad, he was talking about how few people say good morning at his assisted living residence. Even though he is legally blind, he is aware of some of the "sour" attitude among the 25 or so people that he lives with.
My Dad's attitude is far from sour. Every morning on his walk, he smiles and says "Good Morning" to everyone he meets. Same is true the rest of the day too -- though the greeting changes depending on the time of day.
As I was driving home I got to reflecting on this thing of smiling and saying "Good Morning." Specifically, I got to thinking about my morning bike rides of late when I greet those I meet along the trail/sidewalk. Many are sour and glum and give nary a glance my way. Others are bright and bubbly with with a hearty greeting or perhaps even a wave of the hand. Never-the-less, I greet each one with some sort of a verbal greeting.
My reflection lead me to an interesting insight. That is that my greetings and smile are at least as important for me as for the other. My smiles and my greetings have a tendency to change my perspective and attitude. They release warm feelings. They hook up great chemistry. They plant in me a wonderful outlook for the day. Even when I'm not feeling so positive (remember I'm not really a morning person) in the morning, my smile and greetings perk me up and give me positive feelings. I suspect some good things happen for the other too, I know they do for me when the other gives a hearty good morning greeting.
So, I think, it is no coincidence that my Dad's attitude is what it is. He starts his day with smiles and "Good Mornings" to all around. Maybe it is no coincidence that his home mates are more dour and glum -- they don't seem to warm up to those smiles and "Good Mornings." Maybe it is no coincidence that my feelings and attitudes change when I offer those warm greetings with a smile.
So, I'm thinking, more smiles. More "Good Mornings". Not so much because the other person needs them, but because I need them.
Blessings along your journey.
My Dad's attitude is far from sour. Every morning on his walk, he smiles and says "Good Morning" to everyone he meets. Same is true the rest of the day too -- though the greeting changes depending on the time of day.
As I was driving home I got to reflecting on this thing of smiling and saying "Good Morning." Specifically, I got to thinking about my morning bike rides of late when I greet those I meet along the trail/sidewalk. Many are sour and glum and give nary a glance my way. Others are bright and bubbly with with a hearty greeting or perhaps even a wave of the hand. Never-the-less, I greet each one with some sort of a verbal greeting.
My reflection lead me to an interesting insight. That is that my greetings and smile are at least as important for me as for the other. My smiles and my greetings have a tendency to change my perspective and attitude. They release warm feelings. They hook up great chemistry. They plant in me a wonderful outlook for the day. Even when I'm not feeling so positive (remember I'm not really a morning person) in the morning, my smile and greetings perk me up and give me positive feelings. I suspect some good things happen for the other too, I know they do for me when the other gives a hearty good morning greeting.
So, I think, it is no coincidence that my Dad's attitude is what it is. He starts his day with smiles and "Good Mornings" to all around. Maybe it is no coincidence that his home mates are more dour and glum -- they don't seem to warm up to those smiles and "Good Mornings." Maybe it is no coincidence that my feelings and attitudes change when I offer those warm greetings with a smile.
So, I'm thinking, more smiles. More "Good Mornings". Not so much because the other person needs them, but because I need them.
Blessings along your journey.
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