I opened my fortune cookie tonight. It said something about a talent that is not shared is not really a talent. Kim opened her fortune cookie. It said the same thing. I don't believe in fortune cookies.
I do believe in talent, and the call, the mandate, the requirement that we share whatever God has given us as a gift or an ability.
While I consider the cookies and their messages, I listen to the works of Cash, Chapiin, Croce, Haggard, Jennings, Bare and more. I consider Weston, Whitman and others.
Sharing ain't easy. But it is not an option.
Showing posts with label choices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choices. Show all posts
Monday, May 17, 2010
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The Journey....of journeys
I'm at the confluence of three streams: reading "Blue Highways" and the lessons therein about the wisdom gained on journeys (of all kinds); attending the class at church about using one's gifts in service to God in service to His creation; and, collapsing under the weight of the burden of trying to keep everything under control (life as project management, as it were). The streams confluence has created a non-trivial disturbance that I hope will become an energy that will become a rapids of excitement and propulsion. But, for now...well, I have a crazy combination of influences coming together creating something new, and bringing me insights.
The overwhelming lesson on this part of the journey is simple: "Being confident is okay, but you gotta be humble." Yes, I believe that I'm called to do great things (greater things than simply success in the day job, or touching a few people with my presentations and imagery, etc.) and I'm committed to doing them, whatever they end up being. But....I have to continue to remind myself that no matter how powerful the call and how great the purpose, on a worldly, universal or eternal perspective....well, my work is nothing much. So much for "being all that and a bag of chips."
The streams are also carrying messages and insights that reveal and remind that most everyone wants to be recognized, affirmed and assured that what they are doing is important. Most everyone, I believe, wants to know that in at least some way, they are "all that."
So, where is the only place where everyone can (or should) be accepted as "all that" on at least one thing? The place where they are recognized as important because they are God's creation. That should be sufficient, but it requires faith, and active work and prayer to accept that the only "person" who matters---God---DOES belief you are "all that and a bag of chips." We all have a hard time believing that. We need our faith, particularly in these times, to find a place that says "you're special, you're loved and you ain't perfect...but that's okay."
The overwhelming lesson on this part of the journey is simple: "Being confident is okay, but you gotta be humble." Yes, I believe that I'm called to do great things (greater things than simply success in the day job, or touching a few people with my presentations and imagery, etc.) and I'm committed to doing them, whatever they end up being. But....I have to continue to remind myself that no matter how powerful the call and how great the purpose, on a worldly, universal or eternal perspective....well, my work is nothing much. So much for "being all that and a bag of chips."
The streams are also carrying messages and insights that reveal and remind that most everyone wants to be recognized, affirmed and assured that what they are doing is important. Most everyone, I believe, wants to know that in at least some way, they are "all that."
So, where is the only place where everyone can (or should) be accepted as "all that" on at least one thing? The place where they are recognized as important because they are God's creation. That should be sufficient, but it requires faith, and active work and prayer to accept that the only "person" who matters---God---DOES belief you are "all that and a bag of chips." We all have a hard time believing that. We need our faith, particularly in these times, to find a place that says "you're special, you're loved and you ain't perfect...but that's okay."
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Rewards
REWARDS
No matter what type of drought one experiences, there will be the rewards of a harvest and plenty for those who persist.
It has been an embarrassingly long run of fishing since I have caught a reasonable number or a reasonable sized fish on excursions alone or with one of my sons. Except for a guided trip last year in which all four of us caught a number of sharks, it has been slim pickings for the past six to seven years for me. Even my youngest son said a few months ago, in a gesture of support, "Dad, I don't know if I could continue fishing as persistently as you do if I had gone so long without a good outing." He catches large bass regularly from creeks in the Friendswood area where he lives. His statement was a left-handed compliment, and he meant well by it. Of course, he is one of the reasons I persist. Our fishing time together yields stories and memories we'll pass along for decades.
About two months ago, we bought a small inflatable boat and six horsepower motor for getting out quickly, easily and quietly. This sturdy little combination has already given us the chance to tool around area waters in search of alligator gar, alligators, fish and discovery. This weekend we decided to try launching from the shore in Freeport and then motor out far enough to possibly encounter shark, trout, redfish or other interesting fish. A month ago, my youngest and one of his brothers talked about me breaking my fishing doldrums with an "old man and the sea" sort of experience. Clearly their message had a dual meaning.
We headed into the short waves about 9:30 Saturday morning and by 9:45 we were watching dolphins surface nearby, birds feeding, baitfish darting and swirls enticing us. From our position, essentially at the water's surface, we experienced fish feeding frenzies in which shark and other aggressive feeders tear into schools of baitfish while birds dive in from above to join the feast. It was quite an experience to be so close to such activity.
One such frenzy occurred quite close to us, boiling up as my bait was landing into the water. Moments later a fish and I were connected, and it peeled line off my heavy surfcasting reel as I watched. My son pulled in our makeshift anchor and, while the fish pulled us around, he started the motor and soon we were in pursuit of the fish. It zigged and zagged, catching up in the line of a woman fishing in a boat nearby and cutting her line. Soon, her leader was knotted on the end of my rod. My "guide" loosened it enough for the fight to continue. I called out to our neighbor, "We'll bring your leader back when we're done!" We also joked about being pulled to Cuba. "Old man and the sea" thoughts crossed my mind often.
Not wanting a large shark near our inflatable boat with sharp fins (or teeth!), I asked him several times, "you have your knife ready to cut the line?" This tug of war went on for quite a while until we had a jack crevalle inside the boat. About three and one-half feet long, guesstimating a weight of 15-20 pounds, this fish represented the first fish caught from our little boat, the largest fish I have ever caught, the most interesting fish adventure with any of my sons, and an outing never to be forgotten. The photo my son took with his cell phone is now the wallpaper for his phone and mine.
Neither of us are ready to turn professional now, but the weekend's adventure was beyond our wildest imagination. It was the product of never giving up. And while the fish is something to be quite proud of, the best thing it gave us was yet another story to carry for decades. Rewards come to those who persist, and usually it comes as something other than was hoped for in the first place.
No matter what type of drought one experiences, there will be the rewards of a harvest and plenty for those who persist.
It has been an embarrassingly long run of fishing since I have caught a reasonable number or a reasonable sized fish on excursions alone or with one of my sons. Except for a guided trip last year in which all four of us caught a number of sharks, it has been slim pickings for the past six to seven years for me. Even my youngest son said a few months ago, in a gesture of support, "Dad, I don't know if I could continue fishing as persistently as you do if I had gone so long without a good outing." He catches large bass regularly from creeks in the Friendswood area where he lives. His statement was a left-handed compliment, and he meant well by it. Of course, he is one of the reasons I persist. Our fishing time together yields stories and memories we'll pass along for decades.
About two months ago, we bought a small inflatable boat and six horsepower motor for getting out quickly, easily and quietly. This sturdy little combination has already given us the chance to tool around area waters in search of alligator gar, alligators, fish and discovery. This weekend we decided to try launching from the shore in Freeport and then motor out far enough to possibly encounter shark, trout, redfish or other interesting fish. A month ago, my youngest and one of his brothers talked about me breaking my fishing doldrums with an "old man and the sea" sort of experience. Clearly their message had a dual meaning.
We headed into the short waves about 9:30 Saturday morning and by 9:45 we were watching dolphins surface nearby, birds feeding, baitfish darting and swirls enticing us. From our position, essentially at the water's surface, we experienced fish feeding frenzies in which shark and other aggressive feeders tear into schools of baitfish while birds dive in from above to join the feast. It was quite an experience to be so close to such activity.
One such frenzy occurred quite close to us, boiling up as my bait was landing into the water. Moments later a fish and I were connected, and it peeled line off my heavy surfcasting reel as I watched. My son pulled in our makeshift anchor and, while the fish pulled us around, he started the motor and soon we were in pursuit of the fish. It zigged and zagged, catching up in the line of a woman fishing in a boat nearby and cutting her line. Soon, her leader was knotted on the end of my rod. My "guide" loosened it enough for the fight to continue. I called out to our neighbor, "We'll bring your leader back when we're done!" We also joked about being pulled to Cuba. "Old man and the sea" thoughts crossed my mind often.
Not wanting a large shark near our inflatable boat with sharp fins (or teeth!), I asked him several times, "you have your knife ready to cut the line?" This tug of war went on for quite a while until we had a jack crevalle inside the boat. About three and one-half feet long, guesstimating a weight of 15-20 pounds, this fish represented the first fish caught from our little boat, the largest fish I have ever caught, the most interesting fish adventure with any of my sons, and an outing never to be forgotten. The photo my son took with his cell phone is now the wallpaper for his phone and mine.
Neither of us are ready to turn professional now, but the weekend's adventure was beyond our wildest imagination. It was the product of never giving up. And while the fish is something to be quite proud of, the best thing it gave us was yet another story to carry for decades. Rewards come to those who persist, and usually it comes as something other than was hoped for in the first place.
Friday, July 6, 2007
The Journey continues
The old joke comes to mind...the one about the man who says God will take care of him as the huge hurricane is coming. At different stages of the flood, up until the time when the man is on his roof, various people come by to help him evacuate from the dangerous situation. Each time, he replies, "God will take care of me." When he drowns and goes to heaven, he says to God, "I thought you were going to take care of me." "I tried," God replied, "with the neighbor, the fireman and then the Coast Guard guy."
The dual messages come to mind next: do we really know when and how God is influencing us and/or our lives? and God's work is done through God's people.
I struggle with both issues on a daily basis. Are the multitude of frustrations in one realm of my life actually "signals" to leave that situation for something different, or are they shaping and forging me to do God's work there? I prefer to think it is the latter, but I wonder if it is the first. Perhaps circumstances are God's way of saying, "time to move on to your calling. See? There is nothing for you where you are." Or is it that? Only prayer and discernment provides some clues, but never the clear answers.
No matter what the message is, it is undoubtable that people are the hands and feet of God, i.e., the physical presence. Each opportunity to meet someone new, or to interact genuinely, is the chance to access just a bit more of His power, grace and flame.
The dual messages come to mind next: do we really know when and how God is influencing us and/or our lives? and God's work is done through God's people.
I struggle with both issues on a daily basis. Are the multitude of frustrations in one realm of my life actually "signals" to leave that situation for something different, or are they shaping and forging me to do God's work there? I prefer to think it is the latter, but I wonder if it is the first. Perhaps circumstances are God's way of saying, "time to move on to your calling. See? There is nothing for you where you are." Or is it that? Only prayer and discernment provides some clues, but never the clear answers.
No matter what the message is, it is undoubtable that people are the hands and feet of God, i.e., the physical presence. Each opportunity to meet someone new, or to interact genuinely, is the chance to access just a bit more of His power, grace and flame.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Six Weeks
My fiance shared a story about a friend of the family who died. It was a short story: he was diagnosed with cancer six weeks ago, and now he is dead. Six weeks. It will be seven months before she becomes my wife. Time is fleeting, I consider as these two timeframes cross my mind..well, they collide in my mind. Then more timeframes: five years before my youngest son graduates from high school, 20 years since I left my beloved photography to pursue a more stable career, two months before I hear back on a proposal I sent out. Six weeks, six weeks, six weeks....
It reminds me of the woman scoutmaster in New Mexico. She explained to me years ago that she was diagnosed with cancer and figured "I will not die living the life I am," and she divorced her husband and began living as she truly wanted. She was a cancer survivor, married to a different man, working mightily with the Boy Scouts, and a hero/ine to many young men. "I will not die living the life I am"...
Would you want to die living the life you are living now? Not me. I may be taking a slow turn to the changes I want, but I figure there are quicker ways to make the bend around. So, changes that are already afoot will come faster now. They have to. My dad used to tell me, "You ain't gonna learn any younger" whenever I wanted to try something new or different. It could be said that "you're not gonna begin living any sooner" either.
It reminds me of the woman scoutmaster in New Mexico. She explained to me years ago that she was diagnosed with cancer and figured "I will not die living the life I am," and she divorced her husband and began living as she truly wanted. She was a cancer survivor, married to a different man, working mightily with the Boy Scouts, and a hero/ine to many young men. "I will not die living the life I am"...
Would you want to die living the life you are living now? Not me. I may be taking a slow turn to the changes I want, but I figure there are quicker ways to make the bend around. So, changes that are already afoot will come faster now. They have to. My dad used to tell me, "You ain't gonna learn any younger" whenever I wanted to try something new or different. It could be said that "you're not gonna begin living any sooner" either.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
