The Price of an Opinion

There is an influential man in my church who has done many good things in his life.  And I believe his work has been greatly used by God in bringing people to Him.

However, recently he took a strong stand on a controversial topic.  And as a result many people that hold the opposing view, can't bear to listen to him.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. Only God knows which time this was for him.

But let me offer one word of caution from this observation.

Before speaking strongly on a fiercely debated topic ask yourself the following questions:

• Will your voice on this subject silence it on all others?
• If so, is it worth it?

I'm not saying it is not.   Sometimes strong words need to be spoken.  Even if they are not popular.

But I believe there is value in considering the consequences of strong words and remembering the words of Psalms 4:4-5.

"Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

Love is Kind

Why is it so easy to lose kindness in disagreements?

I have been astounded at the unkind words thrown at each other by Christians over an extremely heated topic in my denomination. 

It's like passion for our position explodes into our conversations and for a moment the gloves come off, we forget who we are, and words far more hurtful than the original topic come pouring out.

Why does this happen?  How many topics really warrant this kind of passion?

Love is patient.  Love is kind.

I believe we need balance between courage and kindness.

Courage to believe truth even when it is unpopular.  Courage to fight for what is right. Coupled with kindness in our fingers, our speech, and most importantly our hearts.

Jesus said, "By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another. "*

May it be so.

*John 13:35

Spring Time Slow

I need for time to drip slow again.

Not painfully so

Not dragging its feet

Impatiently waiting for winter to end.

But Spring-time slow

Slow in the falling of green leaves

The nodding of sunlit trees.

Slow in purpose.

I’m tired of fast

Quickly typing, quickly walking

Too many tasks to accomplish

Too much energy at waste.

I need depth of time

Moments that energize

Sunlight on flowers

Melodies in air

Jasmine blooming

Breezes blowing

Poetry inspiring

Long talks entwining.

Time please drip slow again

Teach me how to linger

Shallow breathing is not living well

I want to breath life deep.

-Kristen Harmon

Fear and a Vacuum Cleaner

Jewel, our 4 year old Green Cheek Conure, hates the vacuum cleaner.    We aren't quite sure why, but it scares her.   She is not especially logical when frightened, often randomly flying around the room in response to a startling noise.

Today as I brought out the vacuum cleaner, she wasn't happy.  I turned it on and something interesting happened as I started on the living room floor.

She flew to my shoulder.

Which means she flew closer to the thing that frightened her.

Which to me means, even though she was scared of the vacuum cleaner, she was more scared to be alone and further away from the noise, then on my shoulder and near the noise.

She trusted me to keep her safe, even if that meant getting closer to her fear. 

I can't help but draw life parallels.

If God ever calls us to do something that scares us, it is wiser for us to approach the fear by his side then to stay on the sidelines.  We can trust Him to take care of us, even in rough or uncharted waters.

December Doldrums

Most people do not look forward to December 26.

It often comes too fast, carrying with it a feeling of post-holiday blues.

The presents are unwrapped.  The cranberry pie digested, and the remains of the Christmas feast sit in little Tupperware containers in the refrigerator.

The Christmas tree begins to fade and drop its leaves, and the task of taking down all the glorious lights and decorations lies ahead.

But yet, there is still time to linger in the Christmas light, and gather strength and hope for days ahead in its glow.

The end of 2014 looms, and the unknown of 2015 draws near.

In the twinkling lights all feels calm and bright.  But in the approaching year of decisions and alarm clocks, and searching for purpose, the world feels anxious and shadowed.

Ebenezer Scrooge famously says in Charles Dickens' play, The Christmas Carol, "I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year."

I wonder what he meant by this and if he ever struggled to keep hope burning bright as days passed.

When the last of the Christmas decorations is put away, gift of Christmas still continues.  The Christ child born all those years ago grew to be a man.  The bright star that led the wise men to Bethlehem pales in comparison with the Morning Star that now shines.

So even if the lights dim in our yards, may the light of our hearts never grow dim, but may it grow ever brighter as we live in the promise of Christmas and share that hope with others.

Let the Stable still Astonish

I often think of this poem at Christmas time.  Enjoy the reflections of Let the Stable still Astonish by Leslie Leyland Fields. 

Let the stable still astonish:
Straw-dirt floor, dull eyes,
Dusty flanks of donkeys, oxen;
Crumbling, crooked walls;
No bed to carry that pain,

And then, the child,
Rag-wrapped, laid to cry
In a trough.
Who would have chosen this?
Who would have said: “Yes,
Let the God of all the heavens and earth
Be born here, in this place”?

Who but the same God
Who stands in the darker, fouler rooms
of our hearts and says, “Yes,
let the God of Heaven and Earth
be born here–
in this place.”

-Leslie Leyland Fields

A Deeper Experience

Imagine with me this scenario for a moment:

**
You are alone in the car driving to work.   Your phone is taking a nap; peacefully silent in the seat beside you.

A new song comes on the radio.  The intro catches your attention and you turn it up.

The words speak to you.  The story flows slowly but meaningfully until the last chorus leaves you in tears.

The song is beautiful.  And you have experienced it.

You purchase the song that night and play it for your friend the next day as you are headed to lunch.  But another friend you are meeting at the restaurant is running late and she calls mid-verse to tell you this.  With all the distractions that ensue, your friend in the car does not feel the same way about the song as you did upon first hearing it.

**

There is a difference between experiencing a song and listening to a song.

Which makes me wonder, does this apply to life as well?

If I'm constantly multi-tasking, am I missing a chance to experience meaningful parts of life?

How many conversations do I have while doing something else, or maybe multiple things?

I know there are times when we need to be efficient, to accomplish, to multi-task.

But I believe there are also times when we need to focus.  To put down the iPhone, close Facebook, stop making lists in our mind, and truly experience the present.

If we don't, we run the risk of missing the heart of our daily interactions and the ability to experience life at a deeper level.