Comedy scene:  Laurel and Hardy are trying to break into a house by climbing through a window.  They fumble, stumble and tumble all over each other repeatedly.  Finally, fat man Oliver Hardy makes it into the house … only to find Stan Laurel waiting for him inside.  In response to the obvious question, Laurel grins his huge. hapless, big-U grin and says, “Well, the front door was open, so I just walked in.” 

 

Well, I have had a boatload of troubles over the last few weeks — some huge and mean like elephants with belly aches; others annoying like a swarm of gnats.  I fretted and fumbled, dug in my heels, worked harder, worked smarter, schemed, plotted, etc.  And I prayed to beat the band — talking to God, pleading with God, yelling at God, telling God to go away, offering deals to God.  (I even considered offering him my first-born, but Jonny’s wife might have had a few objections to that … at least most days.)

 

And then, these huge, insurmountable problems … well, they just dissolved.  No, they didn’t actually go away; my problems are still there.  But they’re not problems anymore.  They’re no big woof.  I think God kind of sat back, cleaning his nails, maybe whistling a happy tune, and when I finally shut up (yes, it happens, though not often), He nudged me around to the unlocked front door of his gentle power and quiet might and suggested, “Have you tried this?” 

 

My point:  I awoke this morning with a joyful laugh and concerns that had melted away.  What more can I say except, “Well, Lord, that’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me out of.” — jri

 

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble,

            –    Psalm 20:1-4

 

 

 

Alex is about nine feet tall.  Crammed in a dark corner and dying when I got him perhaps six or seven months ago, Alex (who, by the way, is a corn plant) looked pretty hopeless — a goner, for sure — when I put him in my sky-lighted, high-ceilinged sun room.   And for months, he showed little other than ebbing life.  Still, I watered him, fertilized him, transplanted him into a bigger pot and set him upright when, on occasion, he would keel over.  Finally, just weeks ago, Alex stirred to life — first an inkling that the death rate was slowing, then a possible, tentative sign of new growth. 

 

Then, the other day, I walked by and whoa!  Look up!  Look up!  At the top if his nine feet (now pushing ten), Alex was sprouting new, healthy, richly green and vibrant leaves like crazy.  Healthy as a horse!  And the thought flashed into my head, an imaginary dialogue with Christ: “If I can bring a dead person back to life, I can surely make a plant whole … and take care of any piddling problems you may have.”  For an instant, the world made sense. 

 

My point:  God’s promise is not about odds and scientific calculations.  It is about faith, about carrying on with what we know is right, even (and especially) when everything looks pretty hopeless.  When times look bad, muddle through, hang tough, never give up hope, and keep on praying.  It will all make sense eventually.  — jri

 

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

        –    Jesus Christ

              (addressing Jairus, the synagogue

               ruler, whose daughter had died)

 

When going to new destinations, I plug in my GPS navigator system.  It tells me (sometimes yells at me) where to go.  When I follow it faithfully, I usually get to my destination.  Were the road to heaven that easy — just plug in the destination and follow the route the device lays out for you. 

 

Yes, as quasi-believers and doubting followers, we have an instruction manual in the Bible.  But the specific road maps are nowhere to be found.  And that’s fine.  The fact is that no mortal knows the way, knows the future, has a step-by-step map that leads to the front door of the gates of heaven.  Oh, we study the statistics, map out a best-odds strategy … and then roll the dice.  Doesn’t matter. God takes us where He chooses … when He chooses. 

 

The point:  We’re not in charge.  Never were.  Never will be.  So, just settle back in your seats, keep your hands inside the vehicle, strap yourself in … and enjoy the trip.  From what I’ve seen of it so far, it’s exhilarating, scary, beautiful, demanding, sometimes joyful, sometimes disappointing, but worth the price of the ticket.  – jri

 

“By faith, Abraham, when called to

        –    St. Paul

               (Hebrews 11:8)

 

When I was 17, I set out from New York, spurred on by rumors that there was life west of the New Jersey Palisades.  Today, exactly 500 days from my 60th birthday (yes, I do find such weird things fascinating), I confess that I never looked back.  At about the same time, I began pondering a two-part question about God:  (A) Is there a God?  (B) If so, does he (or she or whatever) really give a rat’s backside about us?  

 

As for what I’ve found, well, I’m still looking for life in the Midwest (only kidding).  But as for God, not only have I found Him with both hands (and keep finding Him), but He’s soooooooo much more than I had imagined, let alone hoped.  Sure, there have been times when I’ve been torn between quitting altogether and picking up a two-by-four to share some let’s-see-if-you-like-how-it-feels payback with this sometimes vexing God I’ve found.  Still, what I’ve discovered is well worth the pain.  So, I keep seeking Him, finding Him, discovering Him, recognizing Him in what has been an honest, open, often skeptical, 40-year plus journey … and counting.

 

My point:  Faith is a lifelong journey of discovery, and I cannot think of one that’s more important.  Enjoy the trip, and celebrate the journey. — jri

 

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling

        –    C. S. Lewis

               ”The Weight of Glory”

 

 

God promises to “prosper” us.  Still, I confess that one of my less endearing character flaws is that money makes me happy.  I sleep better at night when I have five or six figures in the bank (before decimal points) than when I’m bumping up against zero.  Roll God into the mixture and it translates into something like this:  Okay, God, as long as you keep those paychecks coming, I’m your loyal employee.

 

Pretty shallow, eh?  Well, I’m trying, and though I still sleep like a baby with a solid hundred grand in the mattress, I confess that I feel prosperous in so many other — and much, much better — ways, such as when I recognize and acknowledge the amazing gift of faith (albeit wobbly and smaller than a mustard seed); forgiveness for the daily blowing of the covenant between God and me; the joy of the love of some pretty terrific people, including healthy kids and some giggly grandchildren.  And the list goes on.

 

My point:  Vaguely expressed, I’m afraid.  But I guess it’s that The Promise is real.  Whether we choose to believe it or not, God is watching over us, and this I do believe:  That it’s not a matter of a payoff, a paycheck or a bribe for services performed, but a gift to prosper us with more blessings than we can shake a stick at.  All we have to do is be open to it, recognize it, accept it. — jri

 

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’

you hope and a future.’“‘

    –    Jeremiah 29:11

 

 

I know a few people (and I tend to fall into that category more often than I should admit in public) who think they’re hot stuff because they are pretty darn good at one thing or another.  They horde their gifts and talents and guard them jealously, taking full credit for their accomplishments.  

 

Then there are those who never forget that all we have is ours at the whim of the Lord.  One of my favorite examples is Hannah of the Bible, who wanted only one thing, and that was to have a child.  She was desperate and miserable, but she kept praying  and praying for years for that one gift.  Finally, God answered her prayers, and she gave birth to a boy who would become the prophet Samuel.  And then what did she do?  (I love this part.)  In thanksgiving, she turned around and dedicated her son to the Lord, presenting Samuel to the prophet Eli at the temple, where Samuel lived and was raised.  Talk about selflessness, about giving all — everything — to God!  Hats off to Hannah!  

 

The point:  All that we have — every gift, every talent, every dollar, every word of comfort and love we receive, all our blessings — is a gift from God.  Without His grace and surprising generosity, we’d have nothing, zip, nada.  In turn, we just might want to consider sharing them  generously, without counting, without measuring.  So, rejoice in the many blessings God has shared with you.  Now, go share them with others. — jri

 

“I prayed to for this child, and the Lord

now I give him to the Lord.”

        –    Hannah

               (1 Samuel 1:21)