Spraying the Apple Trees

Last year, I wrote the following post about my apple trees. http://susannapeters.blogspot.com/2012/05/flowering-stage.html
It’s that time of year again, and I can’t help but be inspired by the beauty and potential of these fruit trees. Last year, we didn’t get much fruit from the trees due to a late frost. The year before last, we had lots of fruit, but it was wormy on the inside. The worm larvae get into the fruit during the flowering stage and eat through the fruit as it matures.

This year, a friend told me how to protect my apples organically. Before the flowers bloom, you spray the tree with vegetable oil. She used an industrial size sprayer on her trees. I couldn’t lift a big sprayer like that by myself, so I mixed up some canola oil in an old used spray bottle. I went out while it was still cold and sprayed down all the trees before the flower buds came out. I could only reach the lower branches. I sprayed up as high as I could. A lot of the oil ended up falling back down onto me. I read somewhere online that if you spray the oil on too late, after the budding stage, it could end up killing the tree. I was a bit worried, as I could see some signs of leaf buds as I sprayed. Was I already too late? Did I miss my window of opportunity? I guess I’ll know soon! Well, the trees are in full bloom now, so I don’t think I’ve killed them. As for the fruit, we won’t know of their quality till the end of summer. 

As I was spraying these apple trees and being anointed by the oil that fell back on my head, I remembered the following verse:

“You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.” (Psalm 23:5 NLT)

Lord, I pray that you anoint us with oil—at just the right season—protecting us from enemy infestation. Seal us with your Holy Spirit, so no evil infiltrates us while we are vulnerable.

Laws of Nature

Why should God follow the laws of nature? Shouldn’t He be able to circumvent the natural order of things, since He is the one who created these laws in the first place?

For example, even if we continuously do stupid things, shouldn’t God save us from the natural consequences of our actions?

If I decide to drop a coin from the top of a tall building, it could hit someone walking down the street. Why can’t God just defy the law of gravity and make my coin float in the air? Why not suspend the concept of free will and stop the person from walking under my coin at that precise moment? For that matter, why allow me to drop the coin in the first place? He has the power to do anything, and He loves us, right?

Many of our prayers are centered on asking God to save us from the results of our own or others’ choices. We get frustrated when God delays in implementing solutions that we’ve come up with to fix the problems that we created.

Disorder and chaos are associated with evil, not good. If God routinely circumvented the natural order that He put in place, that wouldn’t be good. And God’s essence, His nature, has to be pure goodness.

“Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” (Genesis 1:31 NLT)

The Parable of the Stupid Rabbit

We live on an acre of land. We have about a tenth of our yard fenced off for our dog, when she wants to go outside. The white picket fence has a small gap on the bottom—not big enough for our big dog to get out, yet enough space for rabbits to squeeze in. Now, why any rabbit would choose to squeeze into a dog’s turf is beyond me. Why wouldn’t they use their instincts and stay outside the fence where they are safer? As if this weren’t dumb enough, one of the rabbits decided to have her babies inside the dog’s territory! We noticed the dog digging and then running around with something in her mouth. We made her drop it and brought her back in the house. Then my husband dug up the nest and all the baby rabbits and moved the nest to the back of the acre as far away from the dog as possible. We aren’t sure if they will survive or if their mom will ever find them.  Yet, my husband did what he could to save them and now we have to let nature take its course.

Why wouldn’t this mother rabbit use the sense the good Lord gave her?! Surely, her instincts picked up the scent of dog all over the fenced yard. She ignored the warning signs and put her babies in danger. Even though others tried to save her litter, her stupidity might have cost them their lives.

How often do we act like this stupid rabbit by ignoring our instincts and putting our families in danger? Even though God may save us from some of the consequences of our choices, occasionally he allows nature to take its course.

God has given us an internal conscience that alerts us to sin. Our gut instincts tell us when something is off--when we are being pulled into evil. When we choose to ignore the warning signs—hoping things will just work out somehow,—we put ourselves and our families in peril.

Follow your instincts. Don’t get comfortable in a predator’s territory. Use the sense the good Lord gave you!

Diverting Water

How do we know where and when to expend our time and energy? Yesterday I wrote about how even menial tasks can be worthwhile, if we are fulfilling God’s purpose. I referred to 1^st Corinthians 3:5-9, where Paul talks about planting and watering, each person doing his/her assigned tasks in service to God. Well, I feel like I need to qualify this a bit more.

Sometimes we take on responsibilities in the name of God. Church projects like mission trips, church ministries, building collections, and service projects are good examples of this. I have fallen prey to individuals and groups who use God’s name to further their own vision. It usually starts with good intentions of serving God but ends up as a promotional marketing tactic that advances the group’s agenda.

Let’s say that God plants a garden and assigns us the task of watering it. What if we start planting seeds of our own in the adjoining plot and divert the water that is meant for God’s garden into our own? What if we convince others to come work in our plot pretending that it’s all part of God’s garden?

We must be able to differentiate between God’s purposes and counterfeits that may have similar labels. We have to be careful not to divert the resources that are meant for God’s sphere of influence.

“Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted.” (1 Tim. 4:15-16 MSG)

Charlie's Angels

When I was a little girl, I loved to watch Charlie’s Angels on TV. Three beautiful young ladies showed up to work in glamorous clothes, heels, and fabulous hair. They got their daily assignments from an unseen boss who spoke to them through a speakerphone. Each of these ladies knew her strengths and tackled the day’s tasks according to her own skill sets. This is what I wanted to be when I grew up. Specifically, I wanted to be Sabrina Duncan—the ‘smart one’ of the bunch.

Well…things worked out a bit differently than I imagined. I became a wife and full-time mom. Most days I wear tennis shoes and running clothes and pull my hair back in a ponytail so it is out of my way. I do get my orders from an unseen boss, but sometimes I ignore these instructions and pursue my own interests. I’m still unsure of my strengths and skills. This leads to all sorts of complications. I take on things I have no business doing, while leaving other responsibilities undone.

 “We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working.” (1 Cor. 3:5-9 MSG)

We are each allotted different roles according to God’s purpose. Every day we face a mountain of responsibilities. We are accountable for only some of these tasks while the rest is divided among others. When we take on duties that are assigned to others, we end up neglecting our own designated calling. We also shortchange others from deriving satisfaction from fulfilling their own potential.

Sometimes I feel like my role is trivial and insignificant. This causes me to take on projects that are not assigned to me. When faced with menial chores, I ask myself: Is this worth my time and energy? Shouldn’t I be doing something more with my life? Well, what makes anything worth doing? As long as we are truly serving God and working according to God’s purposes, then what we do is worthwhile.

Repurpose

My son graduated from high school recently. Since he was homeschooled, we have used one of our bedrooms as a classroom until now. Over the years, it has morphed into a chaotic, catch-all space for my son’s projects and hobbies. Like a liquid which flows and takes on the form of its container, my son has a tendency to spread out into as much space and time that is available. This habit, combined with a typical teenager’s indifference to tidiness, has now become a problem for the rest of the family.

A good friend, who has adult children of her own, suggested the following idea. She said that I should repurpose the classroom now that homeschooling is over. ‘Paint it a feminine color’—she suggested. (As the only female in my household, this is a surefire way to define the space as my own.) With my husband’s support, I have decided it’s time to make a change. If the room remains as is, without any specific purpose, it will eventually get filled in with junk. So we are going to repurpose this room—convert it into ‘mom’s office.’ First we have to purge--this will involve sorting through 12 years’ worth of school papers. We will also have to move a lot of furniture and electronic gadgets. Some of it will have to be thrown away, and we will have to find space in some other part of the house for the stuff he wants to keep. Everything will have to be cleaned and organized. Then we get to redecorate, finding new furnishings and fixtures that will fit the new purpose of this room.

I think it’s a good idea to do some repurposing during transitional phases. Vacant spaces, without a specific purpose, are likely to get filled with undesirable odds and ends. There are several areas of my life that need purging, cleaning, and reordering. However, I shall leave this repurposing to the Greatest Interior Designer.

Holy Spirit,--clean, sort, change, and renew me, according to Your Purposes.

Narcissism

“Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism.” (www.mayoclinic.com)

I admit that I have some narcissistic tendencies, although I try my best to hide it under self-deprecating humor. I’ve been reading up on narcissism lately. I’ve been researching the causes, symptoms and treatments for this disorder. I do think that some of it must be genetic and cultural since I have several family members who exhibit similar symptoms. I think certain cultures and families encourage humility, empathy, and selflessness more than others.

The following messages have been imprinted into me: ‘Take care of yourself, your family, your home. Take pride in your accomplishments, your looks--the way you present yourself to the world. You are blessed with success because of your hard work and your talents. You are the master of your own destiny.’

Notice how these messages are reinforcing my own sense of self importance.

Fortunately, I became aware of my illness a while back and have been in recovery since then. I have made an attempt to surround myself with humble, selfless people—hoping they will have an influence on me. I have learned that I’m not better than anyone else, perhaps better off than a few. Every difficult experience has medicinal value as well, depending on how I react to these crises. Sometimes I react with anger, frustration, and self-pity—which causes a relapse into self-absorption. Other times I am made aware of how blessed I am despite my circumstances, how my suffering is minuscule compared to others, and how I will grow in strength and spirit because of these challenges.

The best treatment for narcissism is awareness—the realization that God is the center of the universe—not you. Everything and everyone revolves around Him and His purposes. He is in control. He is the Master of our destinies.

“For in him we live and move and exist.” (Acts 17:28 NLT)

A Mouse in the House

The other day, my son thought he saw a mouse in our basement. He came up and notified us immediately. My husband and son went down with flashlights, brooms, and the dog. This hunting expedition was not fruitful. All they were able to find were a few mice droppings near the water heater. They put out several mouse traps. I hope they catch it soon, because everyone is a bit freaked out knowing that a rodent might be scampering through our house!

Mice are more likely to enter a house during transitional seasons like spring and fall. These opportunistic varmints can sneak in through the tiniest cracks and gaps. If not caught early, they can multiply quickly. The mouse in our house may have sneaked in last fall and lay dormant through the winter. Or it might have snuck in yesterday when I left the sliding door open for 10 minutes.

There are many such invisible vermin that sneak into our lives during transitional seasons. We ignore signs of their presence, the excrement that they leave behind. If not exterminated early, they can gnaw through our insides, causing severe damage to our character. I wish my family could be as vigilant and concerned about these unseen pestilences as we are of this mouse. I hope we keep our lives clean and free of corruption and avoid any kind of infestation.

Acid Test

While reading up on testing the purity of gold for yesterday’s post, I ran into the following interesting information:

Testing for gold with acid focuses around the fact that gold is a noble metal which is resistant to change by corrosion, oxidation or acid. The acid test for gold is to rub the gold-colored item on black stone (or touchstone), which will leave an easily visible mark. The mark is tested by applying nitric acid, which dissolves the mark of any item that is not gold. If the mark remains, it is tested by applying a combination of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid (aqua regia—or ‘royal water’). If the mark is removed, then this test dissolved the gold, proving the item to be genuine gold. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_test_(gold))

I found this fascinating. I’ve often wondered why suffering affects people differently. Some people dissolve into bitterness early, with the first acid test. Their mark on this world disappears, their life and accomplishments of little value to others.

In contrast, those who are golden--noble and pure to the elemental level—are resistant to change by corruption. Their hearts are not darkened even with prolonged exposure to pollutants. They only dissolve or surrender to the King. And when they finally change, they take on the Christ-like qualities that leave a lasting mark.

Good to the Bone

I know a lot of nice, well-behaved, kind, considerate people. But after I get to know them deeply, I realize that they are flawed, just like I am. Most of us have several layers of admirable qualities. Our friends, family members, coworkers, etc. rarely dig past these first few layers and find out what lies below. Since I like to dissect everybody and everything, I want to share my observations about one extraordinary individual that I know.

I have a friend who is good to the core. On the outside she looks like most others. Yet after getting to know her, you realize she is different. The adjective I would use to describe her is ‘goodest’. Yes, I know this is not a real word, but ‘best’ doesn’t do her justice. The more I dig the more good I find. I’m shocked and alarmed at her purity, because it is so unusual. It’s like digging through a box of costume jewelry from your attic and finding a piece made of pure gold! You scratch this piece on a touchstone, expecting to find that it is, at most, just gold-plated. Yet the more you rub, the more gold is revealed!

How do you make sense of such a weird find? How did this piece get in with the rest?

I’m not sure what to make of this ‘goodest’ friend. I can see that suffering has purified her. I sense that God is within her and working through her. I know I have a lot to learn from her. When she is near, I’m reminded of the following song lyrics:

Jesus in disguise
Jehovah passing by
The burden of a tear
Hanging in your eye (lyrics from Jesus in Disguise by Brandon Heath)

Barriers

I’ve been thinking about barriers that separate me from living according to God’s expectations—like the Jordan River separated the Israelites from the Promised Land. I’ve already come so far—crossed through deserts of hopelessness, battled foes, and experienced God’s providence. However, I’m hesitant to cross these last few barriers that are in my way.

Over the years, I’ve gotten into the habit of relating to God as a business partner. Every morning and through the day, I remind God of His responsibilities, commitments, and contractual obligations. I also point out how I’m doing my part. As in any business arrangement, I feel like I need to represent my own interests. Complete obedience and subservience seem counterproductive. The relationship is strained by negotiations and compromises. The problem with this approach is it diminishes intimacy. Like in a marriage where each spouse treats the other like a business partner rather than the beloved, my focus shifts. I get fixated on what God can do for me rather than enjoying our loving relationship. I’ve attempted to cross this barrier, but I’ve never made it past the first few steps. I get about waist deep in the water, lose my footing, and panic. I immediately come back to the familiar shore and resolve to settle back into my old routine.

So how do I cross this river? I can’t walk across—I have to swim. This involves letting go, adjusting to the current, while at the same time intentionally moving toward the opposite shore. Scary stuff!

Finding Our Place

Is it God’s job to help us find our place in life, to show us our niche?

Here is what C.S. Lewis had to say about this: “We then picture God as a kind of employment committee whose business it is to find suitable careers for souls, square holes for square pegs. In fact, however, the value of the individual does not lie in him. He is capable of receiving value. He receives it by union with Christ. There is no question of finding for him a place in the living temple which will do justice to his inherent value and give scope to his natural idiosyncrasy. The place was there first. The man was created for it. He will not be himself till he is there.” (--from ‘Membership’ -The Weight of Glory)

God is not a career counselor who finds us a spot based on our values, skills, and interests. There are positions that need to be filled, structures that need to be built.

We are like pieces of wood. We don’t present ourselves to God and say: “Here I am, a piece of quality hardwood; I think I’d make a great mantle above the fireplace.”

No, we wait patiently for God to pick us up, cut us to size, and join us with other pieces that he has selected. God molds us into shapes that are part of his design. He fills us with whatever is needed to fit into his plan. So it isn’t about finding our place after all. Instead, it is about allowing God to place us wherever He chooses.

Settling Prematurely

In the Book of Numbers, Chapter 32, there is an interesting story of a few tribes who wanted to settle down before they crossed the river into the Promised Land. They decided that the land east of the Jordan River was suitable for their purposes of raising livestock.

This story made me think of how often we settle short of God’s expectations. I imagine that, like any parent, God has high hopes for us.

“For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

God has a plan and we have a role to play. He is the director who has picked out a place for each of us on his stage. Some of us never show up for the production because of stage fright or possibly laziness. We decide that it’s too much trouble and end up settling.

When my son was around 9 years old, he was in a play about early American settlers. The drama teacher made sure that everyone who wanted a role on stage got one. She actually asked the kids for their input on how they would like to contribute to the production. I think she was hoping that most of them would choose a speaking role. Instead, my son asked to be part of the backstage lighting crew. When I asked him why he asked for that role, he said: “I figured it won’t be too much trouble since I just have to turn the light switch on and off.” He didn’t realize that there was more to stage lighting than that! There were about five kids who were part of the lighting crew that year. One was an older kid who knew how to operate the lights. The rest of the little kids just followed him around.

Sometimes this happens to us grownups too. We ask for lesser roles in God’s production. We are afraid of messing up on stage, forgetting our lines, and embarrassing ourselves. Yet, we aren’t really useful backstage either. We end up settling prematurely into superfluous roles of our own design.

Give and Take

“You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35 NLT)

Really? Better for whom?

In any relationship, there will be an imbalance in the giving and receiving. During different phases, we give more…other times we take more than our share. It’s easy to feel like a chump or a martyr when you are giving more than you are getting back. Unless you believe in a God who loves sacrificially, it’s difficult to give without expecting something in return. 

They say that marriage is all about give and take, but I think it’s more about giving than taking. When your generosity is not reciprocated, it’s natural to feel used, duped, and foolish. Others may view you as stupid and naïve. However, those of us who pattern our life in the image of Christ find it a little easier to give of ourselves, to surrender our rights, to yield to our partners.

Our friends and family may encourage us to look out for our own interest. They may point out that we are being taken advantage of or being victimized. I’ve done this…I’ve confronted friends who, in my opinion, are too compliant. I personally believe that you can never give too much to your spouse or young children. Yet, I’ve called out friends who yield to pressure from their relatives, adult children, boyfriends, girlfriends, coworkers, church members, etc.

Why do I insist on boundaries to giving sacrificially? My personal experience has been that thoughtless, indiscriminate, promiscuous generosity can do more harm than good. I could be wrong about this.

Savior Complex

You might have met someone who suffers from a God complex. According to the medical dictionary, the term is used to describe “a personality flaw commonly seen in physicians, especially surgeons, who perceive themselves as omniscient—i.e., God-like—and thus treat others as mere mortals.”

Although I don’t know anyone with a God complex, I might know a few who display a Savior Complex. This is the term I use to describe those of us who feel compelled to fix every situation, even when it is beyond our control.

I have a tendency to approach every crisis as if I were a Baywatch lifeguard. I like to pretend up I’m going to ride up glamorously in a jet ski and save anyone in distress. Unfortunately, I’m more like a person in an unstable canoe who can barely stay afloat. I can’t even direct my own canoe where it needs to go. I’m more likely to tip over and end up underwater dragging the other person down along with me. Yet my savior complex kicks in, and I run in without being asked, without considering if I’m adding to the problem. Instead of acting like a delusional superhero, I could acknowledge that there is a real Life Guard on duty.

 “If you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.” (1 Peter 4:17-19 MSG)

We have a Savior who knows what He’s doing. All we need to do is call out to Him and be ready to assist, if He asks.

“Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation.” (2 Corinthians. 1:8-11 MSG)

Speaking of Pushing Carts...

Yesterday, after I had written the previous post on pushing carts, I went to the grocery store. While in the produce section, I witnessed the following scene: A young mother was pushing a full grocery cart. Her infant was in a carrier placed on the cart. While she was struggling to push everything, I noticed that there was a man with her--walking about two steps behind her, with his arms in his pockets, staring up at the ceiling. She asked him: “Could you pick out some bananas?”

This little tableau bothered me SO MUCH! I immediately prayed that my son wouldn’t grow up to be like this young man. I guess I should give this man props for coming to the store with his woman. I’m sure there are plenty of men who are staying home playing Xbox or something equally useless while their women are bearing most of the burdens of taking care of their families.

How does this happen? How do young men turn out to be like this?

Ron Lint, in his book, True North: A Father’s Compass, discusses the vicious cycle of this epidemic. He says that irresponsibility stems from immaturity. When an immature mind shirks his responsibilities, a vacuum is created. Some other responsible person may step in to the void and take care of the situation. “There are consequences, however. When you allow some other person to carry out your responsibilities, that person and all who are watching lose respect for you. When you are not respected, you cannot establish a vision or provide leadership—nobody will listen or follow. You look silly and insignificant—unmanly. Respect is of paramount importance to a man…men cannot operate effectively without the internal empowerment of respect.” (from True North: A Father’s Compass, by Ron Lint)

This cycle of immaturity, irresponsibility, loss of self-respect, and dependency—has led to a serious breakdown of society. Those who are responsible pick up the slack for those who are not. While this makes the responsible individuals feel empowered and capable, it shrinks and debilitates the other.

Each of us has to do his/her own physical exercises in order to develop strength. Similarly, maturity exercises have to be done by each individual. I can’t do extra push-ups for others. As a parent of a young man, I realize that I need to step back from filling the natural vacuum space that is part of adolescence. Right now, before he has children of his own, the consequences of his choices only affect him. This is a perfect time for him to develop and strengthen into a mature, responsible, self-respecting young man.

Who's Pushing Your Cart?

These days, when we talk about offerings, we mean donations to a church. If we give money or time to a charity or cause, we just call it a donation. The word has been reduced to a euphemism. The Old Testament has a lot to say about what, where, how and why we need to make offerings to God. The New Testament simplifies and clarifies it to a few verses.

“When Christ came into the world, he said to God, ‘You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.’” (Heb.10:5 NLT)
A body to offer…we are to give of ourselves; not ten percent of ourselves, but complete, unconditional surrender.

Yet, we are reluctant to surrender completely because we want to retain some control over our life. There is a misperception that when we hold back a little part of ourselves from God, we still retain a handle on things.  In truth, we are never in control. Either we hand our lives completely to God, or we hand over the reins to other forces. 
 
“Everybody eventually surrenders to something or someone. If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts, or ego.” (from--The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren)
When my son was a toddler, he used to like to ride in these car-shaped grocery carts.

 

Kids could get in the car and pretend to drive, while the parent pushed the whole thing around while grocery shopping. I’m pretty sure my son thought that the whole purpose of our shopping trip was for him to amuse himself on these contraptions, while, in reality, it was to gather provisions for our family. 

 

Our bodies, our lives, are similar to these plastic cars attached to a shopping cart. We think the main purpose of this journey is to enjoy ourselves. But God’s agenda is to provide and care for His whole family. Just like the kid in the cart, we think we are controlling where we are going. But someone is always pushing us. If it isn’t our parent, then it’s probably a stranger with malicious intent. If God, our Father, isn’t the driving force behind us, then we are in trouble.

 

Look back and see who is pushing your cart. Trust me, you aren’t driving this contraption.

Somewhere in the Middle

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, you'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender
without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence
Reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end
and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences
the God we want and the God who is
but will we trade our dreams for His
or are we caught in the middle (Song lyrics by Casting Crowns)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DveYBno-pmQ

I am stuck in the middle. I’m encouraged to stay here, in the land of moderation. Radical extremism is frowned upon by society. Everything in moderation, we whisper to each other. The problem with this concept is that moderation is subjective. We use it as an excuse for lukewarm behavior or lack of discipline. It justifies our status quo, our failure to pursue Truth with passion.

We want to get close to God, but not so close that we lose control. We want to serve God, but stay safe and comfortable at the same time. We want God, but on our own terms—A God of moderation. A moderate God wouldn’t ask us to give up too much, to get our life messy or bloody. We want a God who makes our dreams come true, not one who asks us to give up our dreams for His. We would like Jesus to keep us company while we sit on the fence—preferably a white picket fence—while giving us common sense advice on how to make our life better. We want a God who will join us in the middle. 

Vision Correction

One of my cousins recently asked me: “How come you see things differently than other people?”

I vaguely murmured something about having different life experiences than others. I’ve been thinking more about his question since then…

I don’t think that any of us has perfect vision. Some can see close up; others can see better at a distance; some have good peripheral vision; others have cataracts; and a few are blind.

I’m reminded of the story about Saul’s blindness:

“So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight.” (Acts 9:17-18 NLT)

 

We all have varying degrees of visual impairment. The Holy Spirit can use our experiences as corrective lenses to help us to see more clearly. Yet, like eyeglasses, we can choose to wear them or not. Even with corrected vision, we can only see things from an earthly perspective. This realization, that we can never see things from a divine viewpoint, compels us to never rely completely on our own understanding.

False Advertising

The TV News was recounting one horrific tragedy after another—bombs, explosions, floods, deaths, fear, loss, and suffering. In the middle of all this, they break for a commercial. A local tanning salon ad comes up with the following slogan: “Get what you want out of life.” This falsehood, that a tan will get you what you want out of life, was easily evident against the backdrop of the harsh reality being shown on the News. For one thing, many of the people who live in some of the poorest nations are ‘tanned’, and they aren’t all getting what they want out of life!

Misrepresentations often go unnoticed, especially when presented against pleasant backdrops. Take, for example, the commercial for Cuties—which are marketed as an easy-to-peel, small, seedless orange. Their TV ads portray cute toddlers eating little oranges with the following slogan: “Kids love cuties, because Cuties are made for kids.”  Many varieties of seedless fruit are derived from mutations caused by irradiation. According to a New York Times article, “Many researchers around the world are irradiating citrus. Scientists also are breeding new seedless varieties, mainly by hybridizing trees with three sets of chromosomes rather than the normal two. That genetic imbalance causes the fruits to be seedless.”  (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/dining/14seed.html?pagewanted=print )

Why do we fall for these false advertisements? The above two commercials are just minor examples of the misconceptions we buy into. We are presented with hundreds of fallacies daily. At first, most of us tolerate these misrepresentations and view them as harmless. Then we accept them as the new normal. Then, like Eve in the Garden of Eden, we decide that the fruit looks good, consume these products ourselves, and pass it on to our families. We propagate these lies, spreading them by word of mouth and by example, thus inadvertently becoming proponents of these deceptions.

We need to examine every idea and belief carefully before we give it any room in our lives. What starts off as tolerance may eventually turn us into practitioners. So, we need to be able to differentiate between what is true and false. We have access to this gift of discernment through the Holy Spirit.  

“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.  Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.  Stay away from every kind of evil.” (1 Thess. 19-22 MSG)

Dosimeter

Dosimeters measure an individual's exposure to hazardous materials in the environment. Employees who work near radiation are required to wear these small clip-on detectors that keep track of their cumulative exposure to toxins over long periods of time.  

I wish there were a similar device that measured our cumulative exposure to toxic people. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a little clip-on tracker that alerted us when we’ve reached unhealthy levels of negativity? 

I think most of us have an internal monitor that lets us know when we have reached dangerous limits. We feel mentally imbalanced, exhausted, and incapacitated. When we sense these symptoms coming on, it’s time to remove ourselves from the source of toxicity, if at all possible. Sometimes the toxin is within ourselves or a close loved one. In these instances, we might only be able to get away for a few breaths of fresh air.

There are a few temporary methods that may counteract the effects of these hazardous individuals. Find a few people that can help you detoxify. I have a few friends that play the role of a ‘Biohazard Response Team’. When I call on them, they immediately respond with prayer and cleansing advice. They have to protect themselves or they could also get contaminated while ministering to me.

Ultimately, only God can completely restore and purify us.

“For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed.” (Heb. 12:28-29 MSG)

“It’s the same with Jesus. He was crucified outside the city gates—that is where he poured out the sacrificial blood that was brought to God’s altar to cleanse his people.” (Heb. 13:10-12 MSG)

So we call on Jesus, who is aware of the cumulative impact of every hazard and is responsible for our purification. 

Hurting

Our dog’s nails needed to be trimmed. This is one of the few grooming tasks that I don’t attempt by myself. My husband volunteers to do this intricate procedure, while I feed the dog treats to keep her distracted and calm, and my son holds her in his lap. It’s difficult to know where the claw ends and the blood vessels start inside the nail bed. Last time we trimmed her nails, we clipped it too close to the quick, and it started bleeding. Our dog remained stoic, eating her treats--not even a whimper. We, on the other hand, were close to tears! We cleaned up the blood, put pressure on the nail, and put medicine on it. My husband was upset and frustrated with himself. We were hurting for our dog. After a few minutes, the bleeding stopped and the dog seemed fine.

I wonder how much it hurts God when we are in pain.

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary.” (John 10:14-18 MSG)

“Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, hugging them as he carries them, leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.” (Isaiah 40:9-11 MSG)

God must love us more than we love our pets. I can imagine the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit trying to minister to each of us—trimming away parts that are damaging to ourselves and others. When we bleed—when we are in pain—God must feel upset and frustrated too. 

Doubt

It’s been raining daily, and the earthworms come out in droves after each rain. Yesterday I found an earth worm inside my house. I’m sure one of us tracked in this worm on the bottom of our shoes. As I picked up this worm and threw it in the garbage, I was reminded of all the other creepy-crawlies that I have unintentionally brought into my home.

One such worm that has hitched a ride into my life lately is doubt. I am hesitant to believe the best in people. I frequently distrust their motives. When I meet new people, I wonder if they have an agenda for befriending me. Just like everyone else in the world, I’ve had a few bad experiences where people have used me or disappointed me. Instead of reminding myself of all the good people that I have encountered over the years, I base my attitude on these few negative individuals.

I also doubt myself—my motives, my capacity to handle difficult situations, my instincts. Why do I write? Is it a useful exercise or a waste of time? Am I being authentic? Maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about! What if something really bad happened; would I be able to remain sane? Would I be able to function? My gut says a certain choice is risky; am I right? Or maybe I’m just letting fear and anxiety control my decisions.

The worm of doubt keeps inching further into my soul. I start doubting God—His intentions, His care. Maybe He has plans to continue testing me indefinitely. Maybe His expectations are higher than I care to meet. Maybe He is holding out on me or has lost interest in me, or even worse, is disappointed in me.

Instead of removing the worm of doubt as soon as I noticed it, I kept it around as a pet. I fed it and played with it, not realizing that it was a pest. Now it has multiplied and squirmed its way deeper into my soul. 

Precancerous Cells

Every morning I pray for a group of people who are in need of healing. Some have cancer, some have addictions, some are depressed, and some are in pain. The other morning, I realized that there are probably so many other people around me who have precancerous cells growing inside them right now. It might take years for these damaged cells to proliferate and become a detectable mass. Similarly, there are people who are in pre-addictive phases. Right now, they are just using alcohol, medications, food, pornography, gambling, etc. to fill a void, to temporarily numb themselves.

I wondered what microscopic pre-malignancies are growing within me right now. I have certain habits that need careful monitoring. I have a tendency toward despondency and anxiety. I can also be obsessive-compulsive about many things. These predispositions are still contained, manageable…in situ. As of now, they are imperceptible irregularities, hardly noticeable compared to the bigger tumors that are visible in others. If left unchecked, these predilections can become toxic malignancies that take over my life.

Like radon—which is an invisible poisonous carcinogen that is present in many homes—evil works surreptitiously. This gradual sliding into decay is something I notice within me and around me. I write about it frequently in an attempt to remind myself and others of the danger. I know I’ve used several metaphors and several blog posts to try to research and study this serious affliction. Yet, I feel like I still haven’t figured out how to prevent it.

Spreading Manure

I enjoy the scents of spring—freshly cut grass, blooming flowers, plowed soil, manure… Ok, maybe not the last one. I live near cornfields that are annually fertilized with manure. For weeks, the odor permeates the whole neighborhood. Over the years, I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve just learned to accept it as part of farming. At least the manure is being used productively, to grow crops. Otherwise, it would just sit in a pile and still stink up the environment. 

“Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly.” (from Crazy Love, by Francis Chan)

This statement can be applied to a variety of congregations. Whether you are part of a religious, ethnic, or political group, when members flock together, things get funky. It’s like their worst characteristics are distilled and concentrated under the pressure to conform. Mob mentality overtakes individual thought. Judgmentalism and legalism drown out compassion and tolerance. Groupthink squashes authenticity, creativity, and responsibility.

So then, is there no value in living as a community, in fellowship, with like-minded people? Yes and no. I think small groups of individuals, supporting and encouraging each other toward good, can be beneficial. On the other hand, even a small gang of thugs can cause a lot of trouble if they are bent on doing evil. In larger organizations, there is very little opportunity to nourish each other. The identity and promotion of the group agenda stifle the dignity and uniqueness of the individual members.

Even though it’s tempting to cluster together with like-minded people, in the long run, it just leads to stagnation and suffocation. Instead, congregate with those who have divergent religious and political viewpoints. Hang out with people that don’t belong to your ethnic or racial group. Live near individuals who are of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Spread out, fertilize, and grow.

Dishonoring God

Recently I watched The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It’s a movie about a group of British retirees who move to India and live in a dilapidated hotel. One of the characters, Jean, is a social-climber who constantly criticizes everything around her. Her negativity, which is mostly directed at her loyal husband, makes him appear weak and emasculated.

Over and over, God has promised that He will be by our side:
“I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (Matt.28:20 MSG)
 “I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! --Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.” (Joshua 1:1-9 MSG)

Just like a loyal spouse, God is always by our side taking care of us. When we succumb to worry, fear, negativity, resentment, or bitterness—we are, in essence, presuming that the one who is taking care of us is incapable, feeble, and wimpy. This attitude is incredibly dishonoring to God.

We can honor God by placing our full confidence in Him. When we believe that He is all-powerful, assert that He is all-knowing, and admit that He loves us passionately—then nothing fazes us.

I’m reminded again of the song lyrics I heard a few days ago:
I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of Angel Armies
Is always by my side (by Chris Tomlin)

Active Clothes

(parts of this post were written for Romans Study)

“We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!” (Romans 13:11-14 MSG)

When watching red carpet events on TV, I have overheard the announcers say about some actress, “She is wearing Armani.”  I thought Armani was a designer. Wouldn’t it make more sense to say, “She is wearing a dress designed by Armani”? Well, I guess if you are a famous enough designer, such things don’t have to be clarified!  I’m sure famous designers also get to dictate their model’s hair, makeup, and accessories as well as whether or not these stars are allowed to eat or dance in these exquisite gowns. I’m sure none of these ladies decides to just sleep in these dresses either.

Imagine if we were wearing Christ! What would that look like? Well, for one thing we couldn’t just go about our daily activities as usual. We would have to be careful how we conduct ourselves, since we have been chosen as models for the greatest Designer. As Christians, we are wearing lives designed by Christ. We can’t squander this honor by engaging in frivolous indulgences. We can’t just kick back on the couch and take a nap either.

Every morning, I lounge around in my pajamas and robe till my husband wakes up. Then I go put on my running clothes. The idea is that if I have clothes that I can run in, I’m more likely to find time for it during the day. Most days, this works. By intentionally putting on active clothes, I'm actually psyching myself up for movement.

Similarly, if I intentionally 'wear Christ' every morning, I feel mentally prepared to serve Him. I'm more likely to look for opportunities to move in Him, to look at things from His perspective. It might just be sending out an encouraging email, or calling a friend, or writing for the blog, or praying for someone, or making some food for someone. Yet, if I just 'wear me', my own design, I just go about my business all day, filling every minute with self-absorbed activities. 

I don't find 'wearing Christ' constricting or limiting at all. It feels more like lightweight, active performance wear that wicks away moisture and allows you to run in all sorts of weather. Unfortunately, just like it’s hard to conceal excess fat underneath snug-fitting clothes, it’s difficult to hide your self-indulgences when you are dressed in Christ. But that’s ok, because the more you move in Christ, the fitter and leaner you become.