Maybe it's because I'm in the car a lot, but I tend to see a lot of things that turn into blogs while I'm driving. Case in point, the vulture.
As we were leaving town the other day, there was a vulture feasting on some form of hill country road kill. This road kill, however, was halfway in the road, halfway in the shoulder. And the vulture was most interested in the in-the-road part. As we drove closer and closer, the vulture refused to give up his morning meal. Because of the road, I wasn't left with many options. It was move or be hit for Mr. Vulture. And given my strong dislike of birds, I probably wouldn't have shed a tear over having one less bird in this world. Seconds before my car reached his dining spot, he jumped out of the way. I glanced in my rear view mirror to see him right back in that spot in the middle of the road feasting again. As I stopped at a red light I looked up again just in time to see that vulture become road kill himself as the truck behind me could not avoid a collision.
As I passed that spot again coming home, I realized something. At one time or another, we've all been that vulture. Of course, not literally feasting on road kill and hit by a truck. But engaged in a self-destructive behavior or lifestyle that is leading us down a path where pain, heartache or maybe even death are the certain outcome. We've all had something in our life...a relationship, a substance, a habit, an insecurity, an attitude, the list could go on...that so consumes us that we are completely unaware of the danger we're in. We see the first collision or two coming and dash out of the way just in time. But as we become more consumed by that "something" we eventually grow blind to looming consequences around us.
And then...BANG...what seems like out of no where, that truck hits us. That seemingly unexpected event that suddenly jolts us back into reality. That (hopefully) allows us to see the danger that we've placed ourselves in, the destructiveness of our path. For some of us, it takes a few of those "BANGs" to really get our attention.
We've feasted on something that can't be good for us and now the broken pieces are all we have to show for it. But, unlike Mr. Vulture, there's good news for us. Most of the time that first "BANG" isn't the end of the road for us. If we'll let God use it, it can be a beginning.
We serve a God who, because He loves us, allows us to suffer the consequences of our poor choices. He'll send warnings along the way to try to help us off the path, but won't pick us up and move us if we're unwilling to listen. BUT, He's right there when we're ready. He's right there when all we have are the broken pieces and He can put them back together in the most beautiful way. He wants to take our vulture syndrome and road kill experience and turn it into a beautiful masterpiece.
"That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Romans 8:28
Welcome to my blog, My Sacred Hideaway. The words you'll read here come from sacred times with my Father. I pray you're blessed.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
No Filter
We have this fabulous new coffee maker. I love it. It makes great coffee...when it has a filter. I discovered first hand yesterday morning what happens when there is no filter. The grounds clog the filter basket and the ensuing flood of coffee, water and grounds is enough to put even the perkiest morning person in a foul mood. I, by the way, am not a perky morning person...especially when my morning coffee is spread all over my kitchen counter and floor!
After cleaning the mess, finishing the tasks of the morning (and my husband bringing me Starbucks coffee to make up for the last of our coffee that I covered the kitchen with), we headed out the door. As I was driving to work, God did what he so often does for me. He took an everyday thing, a frustrating thing and decided to teach me a little something.
You know those people that have no filter? You know the filter I'm talking about. The one between the brain and the mouth? We all know at least one of them, probably more. People who say anything with out thought. People who speak without thinking and without regard for the consequence of their words. If we're being honest, at times we all lack a filter. At times our emotions or circumstances completely bypass our filter.
As I replayed the image of the overflowing mess of coffee, water and grounds spreading across my kitchen, I couldn't help be "see" the effects of no-filter-words. When someone speaks without a filter, the words overflow. The mess covers everything. But, like the mess in my kitchen, the "clean up" isn't easy or quick. Coffee, like the words, gets on, under, around and through everything (or everyone) in its path. Just when you think the clean up is done, you find some place else that needs some scrubbing. Even on the inside of the coffee maker. Even on the inside of the person.
Our words have long lasting effects. Our filter-free speaking doesn't "clean up" with a few paper towels and some 409. Even after the apology (if there is one) that cleans up the outside, the words often sink into the inside, where the "clean up" takes longer. Where the hurt can linger.
This morning when I made our coffee, I made sure there was a filter. Today as I speak, I pray that my filter stays in place. That my words don't damage. That my words taste as sweet leaving my mouth as my perfectly prepared cup of coffee.
After cleaning the mess, finishing the tasks of the morning (and my husband bringing me Starbucks coffee to make up for the last of our coffee that I covered the kitchen with), we headed out the door. As I was driving to work, God did what he so often does for me. He took an everyday thing, a frustrating thing and decided to teach me a little something.
You know those people that have no filter? You know the filter I'm talking about. The one between the brain and the mouth? We all know at least one of them, probably more. People who say anything with out thought. People who speak without thinking and without regard for the consequence of their words. If we're being honest, at times we all lack a filter. At times our emotions or circumstances completely bypass our filter.
As I replayed the image of the overflowing mess of coffee, water and grounds spreading across my kitchen, I couldn't help be "see" the effects of no-filter-words. When someone speaks without a filter, the words overflow. The mess covers everything. But, like the mess in my kitchen, the "clean up" isn't easy or quick. Coffee, like the words, gets on, under, around and through everything (or everyone) in its path. Just when you think the clean up is done, you find some place else that needs some scrubbing. Even on the inside of the coffee maker. Even on the inside of the person.
Our words have long lasting effects. Our filter-free speaking doesn't "clean up" with a few paper towels and some 409. Even after the apology (if there is one) that cleans up the outside, the words often sink into the inside, where the "clean up" takes longer. Where the hurt can linger.
This morning when I made our coffee, I made sure there was a filter. Today as I speak, I pray that my filter stays in place. That my words don't damage. That my words taste as sweet leaving my mouth as my perfectly prepared cup of coffee.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Quacking Sheep
As we were driving to school the other day, my 4 year old was playing with a stuffed sheep in the back seat. The quiet that her preoccupation brought to the car had me off in another world somewhere until I heard it. The quacking. Her sheep was quacking. Well, not so much her sheep, but her quacking for the sheep.
I almost corrected her. I almost told her that sheep don't quack. I almost told her that only ducks quack...or that sheep only "baa". But I didn't.
I actually silently asked myself why a sheep can't quack. Now, before you think I've completely lost it, I don't really think a sheep can quack. But I do think that you and I can be different, more, that what we've always been told or more than what we've always thought we could be.
Maybe you've spent your life hearing that you're worthless. That you'll never amount to anything. That you're not good enough. You're undeserving. That's the "sheep" you've been your whole life. You've accepted it, believed it. Started to say those things about yourself. Guess what? You can quack! You are not who people have told you that you are. You don't have to be that sheep anymore.
Maybe you've spent your life surrounded by people who love you and believe in you and had a great plan for who they wanted you to be and what they wanted you to accomplish. But as you live that life you realize that this isn't the "sheep" that you want to be. The "sheep" you were meant to be. Guess what? You can quack! You don't have to be who everyone else planned for you to be. You don't have to be that sheep anymore.
Maybe you've gone through life happy, but not passionate about where you are. Nothing is "wrong" but something is missing. Maybe you've felt a pull away from the life that you've known, taking steps into the unknown, but you've always been a play it safe person. Guess what? You can quack! You can can step out of that comfort zone, you can make the changes. You don't have to be that sheep anymore.
We hear all the time that we are made new in Christ. Not repaired, not fixed, not a really good restoration. NEW! That means that you don't have to be who you were. You don't have to be what others have said you are. You can be a quacking sheep.
I almost corrected her. I almost told her that sheep don't quack. I almost told her that only ducks quack...or that sheep only "baa". But I didn't.
I actually silently asked myself why a sheep can't quack. Now, before you think I've completely lost it, I don't really think a sheep can quack. But I do think that you and I can be different, more, that what we've always been told or more than what we've always thought we could be.
Maybe you've spent your life hearing that you're worthless. That you'll never amount to anything. That you're not good enough. You're undeserving. That's the "sheep" you've been your whole life. You've accepted it, believed it. Started to say those things about yourself. Guess what? You can quack! You are not who people have told you that you are. You don't have to be that sheep anymore.
Maybe you've spent your life surrounded by people who love you and believe in you and had a great plan for who they wanted you to be and what they wanted you to accomplish. But as you live that life you realize that this isn't the "sheep" that you want to be. The "sheep" you were meant to be. Guess what? You can quack! You don't have to be who everyone else planned for you to be. You don't have to be that sheep anymore.
Maybe you've gone through life happy, but not passionate about where you are. Nothing is "wrong" but something is missing. Maybe you've felt a pull away from the life that you've known, taking steps into the unknown, but you've always been a play it safe person. Guess what? You can quack! You can can step out of that comfort zone, you can make the changes. You don't have to be that sheep anymore.
We hear all the time that we are made new in Christ. Not repaired, not fixed, not a really good restoration. NEW! That means that you don't have to be who you were. You don't have to be what others have said you are. You can be a quacking sheep.
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