Finish Well

Those born in America from 1946 through 1964 are known as Baby Boomers. I was born in 1948 so I'm one of the older of the Boomer generation, and we Boomers are all getting old. There are about 75 million of us left. We are no longer in the majority, but there are still enough of us that we can make a difference. There is a problem with our way of thinking as we plan for whatever days we have left.

Naturally we have worked, and have planned for retirement. There's nothing wrong with that if we can afford to retire. There is problem, however, when we just quit doing anything productive. If all we do is live for our own enjoyment and pleasure we are missing out on opportunities to be a positive force in the lives of others. If traveling, fishing, hobbies, watching TV, and other self centered activities is all we do with our time we have missed the whole point of aging gracefully. Baby Boomers should want to finish well. There are enough of us that we can make a big difference in the communities where we live.

We Baby Boomers have been given very much. We lived through the beginning of the modern era,  and witnessed the biggest changes in the history of the world. We went from outhouses to indoor toilets, to bathrooms with running water, fancy appliances, TV’s, private phone lines, nice automobiles, airplanes that fly us anywhere we want to go; you name it we have had it served to us. The Bible says that for those who have been given much, much will be expected. Boomers, we ain't done yet! There are people who need us. There are things we must get done before we leave this world. What will future generations say about us? I hope they say, “Those Boomers finished well!”

The Gentle Heart

“Let your gentleness be evident to all…” Philippians 4: 5

No matter where you live or where you are from you know him. He may be seen today in the big city, in a small town, or on a farm far from any urban area. He may be on a mission field, in a mosque, a church, a temple or in thousands of different places. He may be anywhere in the world. He speaks many languages. He is a huge man, strong with a rough appearance. He is small in stature, meek, and unassuming. He speaks with a booming voice. He is quiet, and doesn't have much to say. He has many names, and he is making a positive difference in our world.

This man is found in every occupation, and in every culture. He is rich, and he is poor. He is educated, and uneducated, but most importantly he is a gentle man with a tender heart. The same things can be said of the gentle women of the world. A gentle person brings calm to almost any explosive relationship, to any person that is hurting, or being ripped to pieces within the depths of their being. These gentle souls can lighten the heavy load. They can bring a hush over the most volatile situation.  The influence of a gentle presence is very much needed in our world today.

What is this humanity which wars on every front--within the heart and soul, toward its fellow man, and at the tremendous price of violating the right of nations to live in peace? What is this humanity that is on the verge of destroying itself? No matter who you are, or what you believe--Christian, Jew, Muslim, atheist or agnostic you have to agree our world needs more men and women who bring a gentle influence to the hearts of people in every religion, culture, and nation. May that need be met in each of us. Let your gentle, loving, spirit touch the world wherever you go.

                            

In the Father's Lap

I was a first child and received a lot of attention. I loved it when my mother held me in her lap, and read stories to me. I remember sitting in her lap listening to the radio. She would rock me in an old rocking chair which my brother has now. There were many long nights when my mom cuddled me in her lap when I was sick or had an earache. Looking back I understand that the special place in her lap those first five years of my life was a place of bonding that assured me of my mother's love.

Not long before I turned five years old my little brother was born. I didn't know anything about getting a brother until he had already arrived. I wasn't very excited at first, but when my parents brought him home I decided having a little brother might not be too bad. They let me hold him. In fact the first time I held him was in the rocking chair where my mother held me. What I didn't know was that my little brother, Michael Lee, would also be getting lap time. This meant my lap minutes would be cut way back. A fellow can't be too happy when his lap time is reduced. I became very jealous.  I’m sure I was not able to express vebally what I was feeling, but I imagine I concluded that the new kid was honing in on my mother's love for me.

Of course my mother loved me as much as she ever had, but this new arrangement was something that was difficult for a little kid four and a half years old to understand. I eventually worked through the trauma of getting a little brother, and accepted Mike about 10 years ago. Just kidding!

My mother's lap was not big enough to hold both Mike and me at the same time, but her heart was. A mother's lap represents her love for all of her children. As wonderful as the lap of a mother is, there is One whose lap is much greater.  Our Heavenly Father’s lap is indescribably large. He is able to hold us in his lap, and love us unconditionally--all of us at the same time.  Oh if we could only understand the enormity of God’s love for us.

How do I know that he loves me? Because he created me. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He gave me Jesus so that I would not perish, but have eternal life. His Holy Spirit reminds me of my Father's love every day. I talk to him any time I want. Some day he will send Jesus to get me, and take me to heaven where I'll be with him forever.

There wasn't enough room in my little mother's lap for both my brother and me at the same time, but because she spent her life in the Father's lap there was plenty of room in her heart to love us and to love others. That's another reason I know God loves me. He loves you too. Crawl up in the Heavenly Father's lap, and allow him to fill your heart with his wonderful love.

Days of Innocents

Come back with me to September 1953, a month before I turned 6 years old. Let's go to a place where a small building stood not far from a much larger building. To a kid still five years old who had spent most of his life on a farm with his mom and dad this new journey I was about to begin was overwhelming. The small building had no signage with the name of some person to whom it was dedicated. I was soon to learn that they simply called it The Little Building, I guess not to be confused with the larger building which sat across the gravel parking lot. Wasn't that clever? The Little Building, my school home for the next three years.

They called it a little building, but to a 5 year old it looked pretty big. Several concrete steps with no railings led up to the front door, and into a large open area which separated four rooms, two for the first graders and two for the second graders. The boy’s  and girl’s restrooms were located at the opposite end with a flight of steps descending on the right side to access the two third grade rooms below.

The Little Building was plain and simple, but to me it will always be a symbol of innocence even though it was destroyed many years ago. The building is gone, but not the lessons I learned there. I learned my one, two, three’s, and my A, B, C’s. I was taught to read, and was led through the threshold of academia. I had a good start, but I think I learned many more important lessons.

My fellow students and I learned why pledging allegiance to our country’s flag was important. Some of our dads were not many years removed from fighting in a horrible war across the seas. I learned about fair play, waiting my turn, and that hard work has its rewards. I learned that I must earn what I receive. I learned that not everyone deserves a trophy. I learned to respect authority. I learned that school, God and prayer go hand in hand in a nation built on and sustained by biblical principles. My friends and I soon found comfort and solace, I think in part, because our teachers weren't ashamed to read us a Bible story every morning. They loved us and cared for us in a way that made us feel safe. How blessed I was to begin my formal education in an environment like that!

If I could go back to the first days of The Little Building I think I would make a big sign and hang it above the front doors. The sign would read, The Little Building: Home of Innocence. I think our nation needs more Little Buildings because innocence is a rare commodity today.

The Contortion of Love

Richard Selzer, surgeon and author, wrote  this touching story about how true love works. He stood in the post op room where a young man waited beside the bed of his wife. The doctor had removed a cancerous tumor from her face. In doing this he had to cut a crucial nerve that had left her face distorted. One side of her face drooped, and her mouth was twisted. She asked her surgeon, “Will my face always be like this?” He replied, “I’m afraid so.” She nodded and turned her face slightly away from her husband. In the dim lamp light of the room her dear husband leaned down, took his hand, and turned her face toward his. “I kind of like it. I think it's cute.” Then he leans forward a little more to kiss her twisted lips. He twists his own mouth to accommodate hers showing her that their kiss still works.

1 John 4:10-11 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Some people are very hard to love, impossible to love, yet, God loves them still. God's love is a mystery that the multitudes can't seem to understand. All we need to know is that Jesus gave his all, loving us all no mater who we are or what we've done. His love was demonstrated  on the cross. We see Him there twisting his mouth to accommodate man's real need so that His kiss works perfectly. Unlike the surgeon Jesus takes away the cancer of sin that has distorted our souls. No one understands that, but by faith God's love accomplishes its purpose. God's kiss always works.

God Got It Right

God Got It Right

There had to be a plan, a plan orchestrated and carried out to perfection. Otherwise what exists today could not possibly be as it is. There could only be disorder and chaos if not for God’s perfect plan. Before there was time there was God who decided to bring about order by bringing into existence all that is or has ever been.

God said, “Let there be light and there was light.” He separated light from darkness. He made the heavens, the stars, the sun, the moon and all the planets. He made the sky and everything in the sky, the beautiful sunrises and sunsets and all the glorious sights beyond. God said, “It is good!"

God made the seas and the dry land which he called earth. The earth brought forth all kinds of vegetation. There were beautiful trees with delicious fruit. Every kind of tree was created. God said, “It is Good!"

God made the great whales, fish and all kinds of sea creatures to live and swim to the depths of the mighty seas. He created winged fowls of every kind to soar through the sky above the earth. God made living creatures, cattle, the beasts of the fields, both small and large, and all the wonderful animals that creep upon the earth. And God said, “It is good!"

God said, “Let us make man in our image.” So out of the dust of the earth God made man and breathed into him the breath of life. God made a beautiful garden just for the man he had made, and it was there in Eden that he placed him. God looked at all he had created and he said, “This is very good!"

God watched man for a while and then he said, “It is not good.” Something was wrong. He said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” Adam, this man, needed someone to complete him. He needed someone like him, yet a bit different to love. He needed a helper, a companion. He needed a woman. Together they would have children. A man with a woman. A woman with a man. The first family model. God’s perfect plan, a plan he ordained from the beginning of time.

So God put Adam to sleep and removed one of his ribs. From that rib woman was created. When Adam awoke he had the surprise of his life.  Adam was standing on the threshold of the model representing God's plan to bring sinful man into a right relationship with Him, a beautiful bride for His Son, Jesus Christ. For Adam it was love at first sight? Before they spoke a word  Adam loved Eve. It must have been like  a magnetic attraction when his eyes first met hers, the first touch, a warm embrace and holding her hand, a nervous smile,  the first kiss, a whisper mouthed in silence, “I love you.” Adam was excited.

And Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh!”

Allow me the liberty to express what I think Adam was really saying. “WOW! Look at this babe! She is fantastic! Thank you God for my woman."

Think about it men. God has given you a babe. She is fantastic. She is in the WOW zone. She is your helper, your companion, the one who loves you and the one you love. Thank God for her every day. And let your precious wife know how much you love her and appreciate her. God definitely got it right when he gave me my babe. And I didn't even lose a rib to get her! Wow!