A wife deceives her husband so that her favorite son can get the most respected blessing. A son blatantly lies to his father while pretending to be his brother and takes what is rightfully not his. Another brother vows to kill his sibling as soon as his dad is gone. A mom blames the women of her town so that she can cover up her lie and protect her son.
Maybe I'm not such a bad husband, and maybe our family is not so screwed up.
This is the story of Isaac - Abraham's kid! He's come a long way from the youngster who was almost sacrificed on an altar. You would think of all people, him and his family would be grateful, would be indebted to God, would seek to honor Him.
But, one generation removed from Abraham, it's a soap opera - but with real life actors. Even reality T.V. wouldn't show this stuff!
At church on Sunday, I was a little down on myself. Not a great husband, not a great member of the community, not even a great neighbor in the last couple years. But, boy oh boy, my family wouldn't dress up in goat skin and then lie right to my face (at least I don't think they would....and really, where would they find goat skin even if they wanted to.)
Is it possible that we are too hard on ourselves? I mean God was able to work through this screwed up family. Is it possible that He could work through ours too?
I think so, and I think He can work through yours too!
But, just in case I'm wrong, hide the goats!
Monday, May 19, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
GOT A BAD STORY IN MY HEAD!
God said, "Abraham!"
Notice there is an exclamation point after it. Kind of like when your wife says your name or your kid when they need something. It wasn't like, "What's up Abraham?" It was "Abraham!"
So, I'm trying to take the fact that the Creator of the Universe said it, and think about how I react in those situations.
When someone yells my name, do I...
a) Respond with "Here I am!"
b) Say negative things in my head, but then say "Here I am!"
c) Respond in a way that may sound nice on some planets, but everyone pretty much knows I'm just being a jerk.
I pretty much waver between "b" and "c". Heck, it doesn't even take someone yelling my name these days. More and more, I see myself getting angry at the stupidest things. Someone can ask me to do something nicely and I get all %^^&*&^^&*&^! Last night, I got all frustrated because balloons and streamers weren't sticking to the walls. It was my stupid idea to put up the streamers and balloons. I didn't have to do it, and I got angry because of the extra effort I'd have to put in.
When I read about Abraham responding, "Here I am!" it made me think. Am I a "Here I am!" type person. I think you can tell by the last 150 words - right now, NO! But, I want to be.
I want to be at work (easier). I want to be when I tutor (easier). I want to be at the homeless shelter (getting easier). And I want to be at home (that's the kicker).
But to get there I've got to start changing the stories I put into my head. Everyone is not a selfish, lazy jerk just trying to make life easier for themselves. When things don't go exactly as planned my only response does not have to be anger. My life may actually be better if I just "lose myself" and put others in front of my "needs."
A couple of weeks ago, a guy talked about this stuff at church. I never thought about it, but that's one of the hugest things God can do - allow you to change the stories you are putting in your head. He can show you the truth. Once I start seeing that, maybe I'll be able to circle "a".
Notice there is an exclamation point after it. Kind of like when your wife says your name or your kid when they need something. It wasn't like, "What's up Abraham?" It was "Abraham!"
So, I'm trying to take the fact that the Creator of the Universe said it, and think about how I react in those situations.
When someone yells my name, do I...
a) Respond with "Here I am!"
b) Say negative things in my head, but then say "Here I am!"
c) Respond in a way that may sound nice on some planets, but everyone pretty much knows I'm just being a jerk.
I pretty much waver between "b" and "c". Heck, it doesn't even take someone yelling my name these days. More and more, I see myself getting angry at the stupidest things. Someone can ask me to do something nicely and I get all %^^&*&^^&*&^! Last night, I got all frustrated because balloons and streamers weren't sticking to the walls. It was my stupid idea to put up the streamers and balloons. I didn't have to do it, and I got angry because of the extra effort I'd have to put in.
When I read about Abraham responding, "Here I am!" it made me think. Am I a "Here I am!" type person. I think you can tell by the last 150 words - right now, NO! But, I want to be.
I want to be at work (easier). I want to be when I tutor (easier). I want to be at the homeless shelter (getting easier). And I want to be at home (that's the kicker).
But to get there I've got to start changing the stories I put into my head. Everyone is not a selfish, lazy jerk just trying to make life easier for themselves. When things don't go exactly as planned my only response does not have to be anger. My life may actually be better if I just "lose myself" and put others in front of my "needs."
A couple of weeks ago, a guy talked about this stuff at church. I never thought about it, but that's one of the hugest things God can do - allow you to change the stories you are putting in your head. He can show you the truth. Once I start seeing that, maybe I'll be able to circle "a".
Thursday, May 1, 2014
A FOX WAS ON MY BLOCK THIS MORNING!
For the first time since we've lived in Lombard (ok, really the first time in my life), I was driving to the gym this morning and a fox was walking down the 300 block of Lombard! Then, as I'm driving to work, a skunk appears before ducking back under a car.
A fox, a skunk - big deal, right? Animals are everywhere.
What's crazy though is I'm reading this fiction piece called, Chasing Francis. It's about this guy who has pretty much lost his faith and his Franciscan cousin calls him to Italy to study St. Francis. Basically, the story takes you through this guys journey while teaching what St. Francis has to say about life.
Last night, it talked all about Francis' love of animals. He would preach to them, sing with them, pray with them. See Francis believed that all of earth - nature, animals, humans worked together to praise God and we could praise God through all of them. To him, a chance meeting with a fox on Lombard Ave was just as sacred as reading the Bible. A skunk crossing your path was just as big a miracle as someone finding faith.
I worry, in this busy world of ours, that I'm missing some of God's greatest gifts. Maybe my lack of motivation or energy is tied more into those sacred moments than not having a 44 ouncer every morning.
This is where I think we could learn a little bit from those kids living on a dollar a day. When we were in Ethiopia, those folks noticed. Plants, animals, people - they were sacred for many reasons. But, they wouldn't miss God in those things. We shouldn't either.
A fox, a skunk - big deal, right? Animals are everywhere.
What's crazy though is I'm reading this fiction piece called, Chasing Francis. It's about this guy who has pretty much lost his faith and his Franciscan cousin calls him to Italy to study St. Francis. Basically, the story takes you through this guys journey while teaching what St. Francis has to say about life.
Last night, it talked all about Francis' love of animals. He would preach to them, sing with them, pray with them. See Francis believed that all of earth - nature, animals, humans worked together to praise God and we could praise God through all of them. To him, a chance meeting with a fox on Lombard Ave was just as sacred as reading the Bible. A skunk crossing your path was just as big a miracle as someone finding faith.
I worry, in this busy world of ours, that I'm missing some of God's greatest gifts. Maybe my lack of motivation or energy is tied more into those sacred moments than not having a 44 ouncer every morning.
This is where I think we could learn a little bit from those kids living on a dollar a day. When we were in Ethiopia, those folks noticed. Plants, animals, people - they were sacred for many reasons. But, they wouldn't miss God in those things. We shouldn't either.
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