(a 5 minute read) Lindsay and Trevor went to a movie and dinner for their date night. As they were picking at their appetizers, it is their tradition to talk about the movie they just saw. In a certain part of the movie the wife discovers that her husband had cheated on her and she felt that the only way to get back at him is to cheat on him.

As Lindsay dipped a tortilla chip in the guacamole smirked so much so that she had to wait to finish her smirking before she can chow down on this fabulous piece of dip. Trevor of course noticed her and smilingly said, “Come on now, share what’s running through your mind.”

Lindsay actually laughed out loud and said, “You won’t laugh, it’s weird.” Trevor almost begged her to tell him, as he wanted to laugh as well, whether that is with Lindsay or at her, it did not matter at this point, he just wanted to laugh.

Lindsay explained that with the movie about faithfulness of one spouse to another, she imagined a scenario between her and two of her girlfriends on a girl’s night out, and the context of what they talked about was a bit absurd and that’s what made her laugh. Here’s the scenario;

• Are you faithful to your husband?
  – Well, Yeah
• Are you faithful to him just because he’s faithful to you?
  – I guess, but wait, no, no, that’s not how it works. It is not a tit for tat kind of thing….
• What do you mean? How do you know he’s faithful? Do you ask him every so often?
  – I’ve never once asked him and he’s never once asked me in 19 years of marriage

Lindsay looked intently into Trevor’s eyes, “Do you see what I mean by an absurd scenario?” Trevor indicated that it is indeed an absurd scenario and added, “I am not laughing though.” Lindsay threw her head backwards and once again laughed out loud as she said, “no, no I am not asking you.” Although Trevor found the whole bit weird, it evoked a thought, and he shared it with Lindsay.

You know, in most intimate relationships, whether as a couple or in friendships, there is never questioning of faithfulness from one to another unless there is reason to believe there is ‘unfaithfulness’ going on! Besides, in solid relationships there is never a measure of what one does for the other in order to reciprocate in the same measure, simply NEVER.

Yet people of faith frequently, repeatedly and often say things like;

• God is faithful!
• If you are faithful to God, He will be faithful to you.
• You think what you have and how your life is, is because you are faithful to God?
• God is faithful to you because you are faithful to him
  ……. and many more like them.

Why do we consider this kind of talk as ‘GOOD’ talk, yet we would almost never have this kind of conversation between us, as good friends or as couples? The answer is; it would simply offend my wife (as it would me if it were the opposite) if I, from time to time, ask “Are you faithful to me?” Or say something like, “Are you doing ‘this’ for me because I had done ‘that’ for you?”

It would be simply ludicrous! Correct?

Then maybe it is time to change this mind set about ‘if you are faithful to God, then He is faithful to you’. Better yet, we should erase this concept that life is good to me is evidence of God’s faithfulness. It is simply not biblical. You know it and I know it, so let’s work ever so hard to use tools to remind ourselves that God’s faithfulness is REAL and is EVIDENT as His promise is to be WITH YOU ALWAYS. This is indeed the only promise. His Faithfulness = He is with you, through good, bad or indifferent. Just like a faithful couple, they are together through thick and thin, and what makes it bearable is that they are through it together. That’s how God is. Is God faithful? Of Course He Is………… but that’s a given not a ‘test’ not ‘evidence’ not ‘a sign’ and not ‘proof’, rather simply IS.

So let’s never bring His faithfulness into a conversation, unless it is because we are questioning it. Not because we are pointing to at as a ‘wow God is faithful’. Questioning His Faithfulness is actually good, for it is through questioning, that we can come closer to Him and experience His presence which in turn comfort us and clears away the questioning. May God’s Peace, Joy and Presence be sensed by you ALWAYS 🙂

(a 4 minute read) Connor built this, this magnificent playground. You know how we are usually our own worst critic? This piece of work was so outstanding, Connor would stop as he was building it, step back and look at what he built so far, put his hand on his chin, look all around it, smile and say, “man this is good.” Then Connor would proceed to the next phase.

Whenever Tali would stop in with a cool drink, she’d lay her gentle hand on his shoulder, rub it gently and say, “Connor, you are working too hard. You gotta give yourself some rest.” And Connor would gaze at her face, sets down whatever he was holding at the time, place both his hands on her extended belly and say, “For the twins, I will do all I can whenever I can. I am so in love with them. Besides, I will rest when I am done. This playground will be finished before they are born.”

Tali often wondered why Connor was keen on finishing the playground before the twins were born, after all, they will not be really using it until they are quite older. The one time she asked Connor, his adamant response was, “This is totally completely and entirely for them. I want them to know that. The only way I know how to make sure they realize that, is to compete it before they arrive. So if they ever wonder as they grow up, they can look back and realize that I have completed this work before they arrived. And they will know that they know, it was not because they arrived that I built it, not because of something that they did or did not do that caused me to build it, but it is because I loved them so much, that I had it all ready for them before they even arrived. I just hope that they will look back and realize that and also realize my intent in making it the masterpiece that I hope for it to be, for them.”

With such words, such determination and purpose, Tali decided that her children will hear these words over and over, so that this realization Connor was keen on the twins learning will become a reality.

You know how on Father’s day most would give a ‘thank you’ card or call and wish their father a ‘happy father’s day’ or even give a gift? Isn’t it more appropriate to realize and remember the gift that as children we receive DALY from our Father?

my Father created not only this Earth but this Universe for me. Yes, for you and me. The whole universe was created before us and for us. This masterpiece was packaged and wrapped and hand delivered with a, “Here, I made this for YOU. This is your playground. Do with it as you please.”

So please, let’s not talk about this ‘is not my home’, let’s not look around and express how ‘I do not belong here’, let’s not sing about ‘I cannot wait until I leave this place’. For at the end of the day, and to the best of my knowledge, each one of us wants to live for as long as possible in this place we call Earth.

So let’s, as grown up and mature individuals, 1^st acknowledge how attached we are to living, because we are. We were created to ‘live’ life, people. Without the acknowledgement there is no 2^nd step. Then, and only then, we can look back and see how it was all created first and before anything, as sometimes we make it seem that this Earth and Universe were created as an after fact. You know it was not, so don’t fool yourself. Then, and only then, the admiration sets in. A realization may come and go, but when something sets in, it lasts, and only when it lasts that we behave accordingly. So let’s behave accordingly. Happy Father’s day 🙂

(a 3 minute read) I met Jason in a social gathering, a 22 year old charming young man. John and Sue, his parents, adopted him as a baby. Jason knew he was adopted at a very young age, as his parents decided early on that this was the best way to go. Jason expressed how great Sue and John have and continue to be the best parents ever. To elaborate on the ‘best ever’, he described his parents as loving not only by saying it to him, but by fully demonstrating their love to him in all sorts of action, continual and never ending.

I asked Jason if it was his parent’s dedication and love that never triggered him to look for his biological parents. The puzzled look on his face warned me that I made the wrong assumption, and his words, “Not sure why you assume that I did not look for them?” confirmed my blunder.

Jason carried on as if used to such an exchange. “Many assume that an adopted child should just be grateful that the universe dealt him/her a good living at a good home with good parents. There is something within an adopted child yearning to know the ‘how come’ the ‘why’ and the ‘why not’.” Jason proceeded to explain that of course the child/the man/the woman are indeed very grateful to the adoptive parents, thankful that they picked them, elated that they turned out to be such loving and giving parents. But and that’s a big but, the gratefulness does not annihilate the yearning.

Jason expounded, “So let me make it simple. If you ask me if I would rather have John and Sue as my adoptive parents OR have them as my biological parents who raised me? I would emphatically and undoubtedly answer you; ‘As my biological parents’.”

Jason looked piercingly straight into my eyes and asked, “Do you get what I am saying.”

So this is now me talking to you, the reader; for some reason many want you and me to believe that God has adopted us as his children, that God chose you and me……………. Why settle for adopted when you are the biological daughter and son!?!?!? Why bring in the yearning when you have the delight of the knowledge!?!?!?

The only thing the teaching of being adopted does, is that it separates you from YOUR Father. They claim that the sin is what separates you. Yet, the sin is forgiven every time, every freaking time it is forgiven…… Therefore and therefore, there is no separation………. God created you and me and continues to create every child that comes into this world. From the ‘I know the plans’ to ‘Woven in the womb’ to ‘Know every hair on your head’, you know where I am coming from.

I am, You are and We are his daughters and sons with no ifs ands or buts. End of story.

Thank you my Father, my Creator and my God for being the most awesome and loving Father ever, and maybe just maybe as I continue to accept the knowledge that You and Only You are my Father and my Parent, maybe I would start living my life in ways to honor and respect you. Amen.

(a 5 minute read) Jayden although impressed with Sharon’s delivery, was still not satisfied with the point she’s trying to make, so he contemplated, “You’ve switched on me to humility so abruptly, that I am not sure I follow!” To quickly fill the reader in, last time, Sharon presented to Jayden the importance of one knowing their strongest characteristics as they are, and at the same time, one’s weakest characteristics, and knowing those will bring in modesty and humility in one’s attitude and ultimately action.

Sharon smiled, straightened up her back in her seat, and her head perked up, “I know I know it is kind of puzzling, but let me try and make sense of it here.”

Sharon recalled their friend Misty when they were on their vacation. How as they walked the streets of San Francisco they encountered a few things. First, they passed by a Yoga studio and the conversation was about what’s so special with yoga? The conclusion was that people practicing yoga claim it gives them calmness amidst the constant hustle & bustle of this world. An inner peace if you may.

Second they passed a group of 5 smiling Tibetan monks. Jayden laughed and said, “Why are they always smiling even as they walk?” Misty was quick to point out that they live such a disciplined life full of practices that are designed to give them peace and tranquility, and that’s exhibited by their smiles.

Then as they passed a Hindu temple Sharon recounted the statistics of the number of people seeking solace in Hindu, Buddhist and other religions that are presented to bring peace into one’s life. Then she exclaimed, “Interestingly the Judeo-Christian and Muslim faiths preach; come to know God for that will give you ultimate utter and complete inner peace and joy!”

Sharon surmised, “So for thousands of years now, and probably for thousands to come, humanity is searching for the same thing. It actually yearns, covets and aches for the same thing. Simply put, each one of us wants to be jiggy on the inside.”

Sharon tilted her head unsure if she’s getting through, “Do you get me?”

Jayden ever so skeptical said, “So you’re telling me you have the answer to humanity’s ever pressing question!”

A waiter almost dropped a tray from how loud Sharon laughed and said, “So you do get me!” then she let a moment of silence linger in there a while before she continued, “What I am saying is that indeed the question has been and will continue to be the same, in my humble opinion of course.” Sharon winked at Jayden and she proceeded to elaborate about the bewilderment of the constancy of this search.

We use ‘emptiness’ or a ‘void’ as terms to describe the cause of the searching. And we believe that we need to fill this ‘nothingness’ with ‘something’. It makes sense, so we do it. We try this, whatever this is, with its new set of disciplines. It is these new disciplines that we need to learn is what keeps us busy, occupied better yet, fills the void with something. But soon we discover that after a while we need something else.

What if we throw out the precept of ‘emptiness’ and instead use ‘lack of contentment’.

How are you feeling? ‘I feel empty’ would never be used, and rather start saying, “I am not content with what I have.”

What’s the difference?                    Everything

The first realization is that I indeed have something. I am NOT void and I am NOT empty.

The second realization is that it is the ‘I’ that needs to do something about it and it is not ‘the’ thing or the lack there of the ‘thing’ that needs to change, for I do indeed have something already.

Many a time we search for the thing that will lead us to serenity, tranquility, peacefulness and JOY.

Be Still and know.            For it is within you and not out there somewhere.

(7 minute read) Before I begin, I want to wish my oldest granddaughter a most wonderful and happy birthday as she turns 11 today 🙂 Wishing you a joyful life filled with peace, tranquility and harmony my dearest. And as she says in a game we play when we’re driving; “Now Back to Business.” 🙂

Sharon and Jayden were having one of their dialogues. As they’ve grown to expect in these deliberations, they started on a topic only to find themselves grow, progress and evolve into another topic.  Otherwise, what’s the purpose, right?

Jayden remarked, “Listing my strongest suits about myself would be a prideful act, and a cocky and arrogant attitude?”

Sharon, like a thunder bolt, leaned closer to Jayden, “Not if the purpose is to show your vulnerabilities or susceptibilities!”

Jayden was perplexed, and he shook his head and exclaimed, “This does not make sense Sharon. How can my strongest characteristics express my vulnerabilities? It is those exact characteristics that make me like ‘look at him, what a guy’.”

Sharon excited to share her thoughts started saying, “Look at me, you know I have a strong observation ability, and I constantly share my observations with those I observe stuff about, and it happens automatically without any effort or intention. Many around me agree that this is a great characteristic. So that’s two; observant & highly communicative”. Jayden almost cut Sharon off saying, “Yes indeed you do”, as he nodded his head smiling ear to ear. Sharon proceeded to explain that this feature makes most people around her feel extremely good about themselves. So when she sees a coworker one day with straight hair and the next day with curly hair, or someone that has a new pair of glasses, the comment of “you looked great yesterday in straight hair and you look just as beautiful with curly hair today”, or “Love your new glasses”, immediately brings a smile on that person’s face and makes them feel so good about themselves. Therefore, unintentionally, this feature makes people drawn to me. It makes people ‘like’ me. This in turn of course makes me feel good about myself. Therefore, this feature is greatly beneficial to others as well as to me.

“I do not see a bad component of this characteristic!” Jayden exclaimed with a loud voice, “You’d better elaborate before I discount the point you are trying to make.”

Sharon, feeling good, rested backwards in her seat and said, “Actually I will list for you the components that makes me vulnerable and susceptible with this characteristic”;

• I am vulnerable to feel ‘I am all that’ and think too highly of myself and in how people regard me
• I am susceptible to become arrogant and cocky as well as susceptible to try and commandeer this ability to gain further recognition
• I am exposed to coming across as flirty and even maybe ‘coming on’ at someone that does not know me quite well yet
• Because it is an automatic response within me, it is a weakness as it may point out to someone that they are an open book, and make them feel bad about themselves, meanwhile they are not at all an open book to most that they encounter
• At its worst level, it will make someone think or say; “Who the hell do you think you are?”
• And this here right now, communicating this, is opening myself up and being vulnerable

Jayden stunned, dumbfounded and almost speechless commented, “Wow. I never knew.”

There was a moment of silence there, and Jayden recognized how deep Sharon dug in, as there was a tear that welled in her eyes, but never trickled down. So he proceeded, “I hear you, I feel you my dear.”

“I am not done yet”, was Sharon’s response as she leaned back out of her seat with a smile, and back into this dialogue.

So my point is, for every strong characteristic a person possesses, it is at the same time one of their weak characteristics, for every single one of them.

We, as people, generally know our ‘good’ characteristics. Even if we may not want to admit them in public, we do know them. You know why? It is because others that we interact with, at some point or another will point them out to us, or at least mention them to us. So if you, yes you the reader, still claim you do not know what they are? Just start paying attention to what others say your strong characteristics are.

The utmost act of humility is to know ones weaknesses. Who asks themselves, “What are my weaknesses?” And who freely tells another, “Your weaknesses are…?”  Neither happens and if it is does, it is very infrequent or better yet, simply rare.

So in knowing, listing and examining our strongest characteristics, and viewing them as our weakest links, that will lead us to automatically self-examine, automatically increase our humility and most importantly more and more each day exhibit, demonstrate, establish and flaunt humility in our actions. Not sure if flaunting and humility belong together in one sentence, but you know what I mean.

Go, therefore and act accordingly. Hmmmm, I’ve heard these words before 😉  and I am simply repeating them.

(4 minute read)   So here I was driving on the highway, where else but in the left lane, right! I was following a couple of cars, and it was that moment to decide whether to pass these cars through the middle lane, as it was available. It was then that the car in front of me switched to the middle lane and passed the car in front of it. As a dutiful driver, I figured I’d give the now leading car, in the left lane, the opportunity to switch to the middle lane, so I can pass them. So, I turned my left turn signal ON.

You may think to yourself, “Wait, why would you turn your left turn signal ON when you are already in the left lane of a highway!?” I’ll get back to answer this question.  There was no change of lanes from the car in front of me, so I switched from a left blinker to a right blinker, changed to the middle lane to pass this car that I am somewhat annoyed with at this moment.

As I passed that car, I looked at the driver. I know what you are thinking………… No, I did not make any nasty gesture at the driver. I am always curious as to the age of the driver, for if it is an older person, I try to remind myself not to be annoyed at them. As you know, I am getting up there in age myself and hope others would be patient with me as my driving skills deteriorate. If this was a conversation with my wife, she’d be tempted to say something like; “Deteriorate more than what it already is!?”

The driver was a man in his twenties I would say. He actually had his hand on the signal bar, but with no turn light blinking. He was leaning over his right shoulder checking traffic. Now, my interest peaked and I thought, “Why does this guy not have his turn signal ON? I would have given him the time and would not passed him from the middle lane”, then further thought, “Maybe he does have his signal ON but the bulb is out.” So I watched intently, while keeping my eyes on the road ahead of course. Another car did exactly what I did, then there……. I saw the right signal lights blink on his car, and he switched to the middle lane.

At this point I was no longer annoyed at him, I simply felt bad for him. In today’s culture, drivers are taught that a turn signal is to be used when you turn. Check this out as you drive. I’d say 80% of drivers press their brakes as they turn on their right/left blinker. In many cases the brake lights are ON before the signal. So what’s the big deal?? The big deal is; we are not using our communication skills/tools properly, while driving and otherwise.

So this poor young man is literally handcuffed from informing those around him that ‘He wants to get out of the left lane’. Only they are cultural handcuffs not real ones. ‘He does not know better’ is his handcuffs.

Communication is supreme, is vital and is crucial. Without it, oh so many bad things happen day in and day out. Wars have started and can start because of lack of communication. Our words, our tone, our body language, our conjecture and our silence are an unholstered  gun. If there’s a gun laying around, people approach it with intentionality, hold it with respect, and aim it with full awareness and purpose. Otherwise accidents happen. Approach your communication in this same manner and the chances of a misunderstanding, a miscommunication or a full out war, drop and drop drastically.

The turn signal’s main purpose is to inform those around you that you have the INTENTION to turn in the indicated direction a bit up the road, and not ‘I am turning now’. This gives those around you ample time to decide whether they need to slow down or maybe have a chance to change their lane, so as not to be affected by your slowing down as you prepare to turn a bit up the raod.

Oh, and about the left turn signal while in the left lane; it is intended to catch the attention of the driver ahead of you, in case they did not notice you behind them, and it communicates your desire to pass them. Hopefully that will initiate the; “Since you asked nicely, let me get out of your way so you can pass me.”

If I can only utilize the skills/tools of communication to effectively keep you informed of my intentions, and if you do the same, oh the world we live in would be more fantastic than what it already is. We can change our culture one act at a time. Start with the blinkers, but never stop there, just keeping looking for one more thing to improve communications with others.

(4 minute read) Many of you may know that my parents separated then divorced when I was maybe 11 years old and my brother 7 years old. Divorce is never easy on the parents and definitely not easy on the children.

I just did a bit of a lip frown in sympathy for that time in my life, and maybe you did the same. Thank you for your sympathy. The thing, for me, to recall here from these years is how people that you’ve always seen together, hanging out and enjoying life, sharing feasts and festivals, visiting at time of sickness and going way out of their ways to serve each other, all of a sudden and I mean on a flip of a coin, start bashing each other. Furthermore, your parents who’ve always cooperated to get ‘your’ interests taken care of, suddenly you feel caught in the middle about ‘going to practice’ or ‘having lunch on the weekend’. You know what I mean, right?

The culture I grew in was all about family. My wife always says if you’ve seen the movie “My Big fat Greek Wedding”, then you know that this large family thing is indeed a for real thing. I have to give credit to my mom and dad. Although of course there were moments of bashing, they were minimal and pretty civil. The larger circle though, was not so kind. Again, I must admit that although there was never any cussing or flat out slander, there was plenty of, how do I describe it? …………. Well, the best I can put in words is the “trying to gain you to one camp by putting the other camp down.” There is no ‘glorifying’ one parent that would gain a child to that parent, so the only available venue is to ‘degrade’ the other camp, so that the kid would come closer to your camp of the family. It is typically relentless, hurtful & cruel. But there are no other options, and therefore it continues.

So what is a kid to do?? The pressure continues to mount, and it becomes so obvious that you, a kid, are actually expected to choose one over the other………………….. What a predicament……………  Pretty sad, isn’t it!? You know what happens? The kids have to become adult about it. Not a cool thing for a kid.

I use this to point to our present predicament here in the USA. We, the people, are the kids. Our parents are the two major parties. The parents obviously have divorced and there is no more any sort of cooperation or working together. The people, the family, are bashing literally bashing each other, so as to gain me and you to either one camp or the other. For there is no middle, it is two against each other and you are expected to choose one over the other.

What kid you know through a divorce does not continue to attempt to bring the parents back together again? What kid does not? In spite of the odds, the kid, now acting as the adult, continues to try. Why? For the kid STILL LOVES both parents equally and through any continual cruel bashing. And that’s how it always should be, right?

Your role could be; they’re never coming back together again. No sense in trying, as it hurts. Therefore, I’ve picked a parent and basically lost the other parent………

I hope you’re the kid that will try anything and everything regardless of the odds. One that continues to work for getting them back together, for even if they stay divorced, there comes a time that the parents will work for the best interest of the kids. It happens in almost every divorce, but it just takes time. Work towards that end, and do ALL that is in your power to not only NOT-participate in the bashing but actually say; “Hey, that’s my mom/dad you’re talking about, so quit it.”  Kids have and continue to utter these words, and it is time that as adults we do the same.  #unitenotpolarize

(3 min read)  It is late April and it is in the 40s……. Crazy cold weather. This reminded me with a story that happened in the dead of this last winter. The house Tracy lived in used oil for heating. Tracy did not have enough money to pay for the oil. So they went without heat in the house. What else to do? The only thing Tracy knew is to pray and pray real hard that God would provide money so they can pay for an oil delivery so the kids are not so miserable. 10 days went by, and day after day Tracy prayed, and she also asked the two children to pray, asking for money so they can pay for the oil.

Wouldn’t you know it! It was late afternoon on Thursday, the 11^th day without heat that an oil truck appeared in front of the house. Tracy, after an initial, ‘Oh my God’ moment, figured the driver had the wrong address. Tracy actually met the driver halfway across the driveway, smiled and said, “Hi, you probably have the wrong address. Tracy was amazed, shocked, stunned and flabbergasted to realize that there is no mistake in the address. Tracy expressed, “But I have no money to pay for this oil”.

“I have it here that it has already been paid for”, the driver explained.

Tracy simply had no words to utter. Tear drops came, a smile flared, turned around rushed into the house and chanted, “Hey kids, prayer works, prayer works.” A loving person called into the oil company and prepaid for the oil. This is a fantastic end to a heart warming story, but there is something wrong here, at least in my humble opinion there is;

Do we not believe that God knows our needs?  Of course God does know
Do we believe that our Lord is distracted and is not aware of MY situation?  Of course the Lord is aware of my situation
Do we believe that our Creator only responds when we ask?  Of course not
Do we not believe that our Lord, God and Creator is present with each one at all times? Of course we do believe that

Then our behaviors; fervently asking for a specific thing, asking others to pray for a specific thing, speaking in prayer as if trying to get the Lord’s attention, even being surprised when it happens and teaching our children the same. All such behaviors contradict what we say we believe………….
So which is it? Is it what we do or is it what we profess, that is what we are??

So what is the behavior that may reflect our beliefs?

Tracy prays “thank you Lord for ….(endless options)…” with the children praying along, YES while in the cold shivering
Tracy prays “if it is your will that we stay without heat, I do know YOU are with us through it”
When asked should we pray for you, “please pray giving thanks that the Lord is strengthening us.”

Too idealistic you may think or say! But don’t you agree that it is indeed more reflective of our beliefs!?

Let us indeed reflect what we say we believe, and more importantly apply what Jesus our Lord has taught us, so that our children will grow closer and closer to our Lord, Creator and Father.

If you feel the need to ask for something, ask for “crushing my vanity, crushing my desires and crushing my pride, crushing my……..”

(4 minute read) Matt is on vacation in a beautiful island resort. Matt loves to take early walks in the morning when the beach is serene, quiet and peaceful. As he was walking, some movement drew his attention into the water. Excited to see some form of marine life, he peered intently to see what it is. Instead of marine life, Matt found himself staring at a person drowning. With no flotation devices in sight, Matt, trained as a lifeguard, jumped into the water to rescue this person.

Matt could tell this person is a young man that is combating the water with flailing arms. A life guard does not talk to the victim; “Calm down” or “turn around so I can….” as someone in distress is not apt for a conversation. The young man increases his combating the waters as he recognizes that someone is approaching. Because of the activity of the young man, Matt has to swim past the young man to approach him from behind.

OK, you’re the young man flailing. Watching the person you’ve just placed all your hopes on, swim past you. What is going through your mind? “What the heck………… I am right here dude!” “Yo yo, are you blind or something!” You do not realize that you are creating more work to the one coming to save you, and actually possibly hindering them from saving you by your combating action. Matt is finally successful in coming behind the young man, and has to be very careful in avoiding the flailing arms and the thrashing head of the victim, as Matt has to hold this person against his chest to pull him to the shore. Last thing you need is a strong bang from the victims back of the head on your nose, knocking you out, if you know what I mean.

The combating of the young man did not stop until he was safe on the shore. Please imagine the work that Matt had to do keep this young man afloat and at the same time avoid any and all inadvertent injury that may occur to him. Pretty harsh and tough conditions that Matt is choosing to put himself through to save this young man, right? But yet Matt continued diligently.

Once at the shore, the young man is all over Matt thanking him for this rescue. Never once apologies about his behavior during the rescue, as he is oblivious to the hardship he just put Matt through. In the same fashion Matt does not want to dwell on what happened during the rescue, as Matt is ecstatic about celebrating the rescued life and not what happened prior to that.

Let me and you remember that As Resurrection Sunday approaches, our Lord is more interested in celebrating the hope and the rescue rather than indulging in the details of the events during the rescue. The crucifixion was necessary, but the greater, grander and more powerful act is indeed the RESURRECTION. The crucifixion points to me and my gains, and the Resurrection points to the glory, magnificence and splendor of our Lord and Creator.

Let me and you not be oblivious to our actions during our life. Let us not wait to get to the shore before we experience life with the savior. We can indeed make it easier, much easier on the Lord as we are carried to the shore, and remember we can even enjoy a conversation along the way 🙂

(a 3 minute read) I was at a benefit a few weeks ago where two organizations were coming together to work alongside each other, a partnership if you may. To demonstrate their partnership they carried out a marriage ceremony, with a pastor and everything. I’ve never seen something like that myself, and I was paying special attention to it. You see, they signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MOU) and kudos to them as they used the wedding ceremony to symbolize what they are doing instead of explaining what an MOU is. I promise you, this is not me trying to explain what an MOU is 🙂

Think of a wedding that is between two individuals where one is clearly the financial mogul and the other is the aspiring individual building themselves. The pastor officiating the ceremony, uttered these two words ‘mutual submission’ as he referenced the same passage used by pastors everywhere. The difference is, it was the first time I hear this phrase ‘mutual submission’ rather than the, “wives should submit to their husbands in everything”. So no wonder that when I heard ‘mutual submission’ it made me chuckle on the inside, quite loudly actually, on the inside, as the words ‘mutual’ and ‘submission’ are indeed an oxymoron when put together. Correct? For the definition of ‘submit’ is; to yield to the authority of another person. Period.

You know what I did when I went home? I poured into these passages about marriage and submission. And ah ha. I saw the light. The intermingling of ‘Love’ & ‘submission’ of the two roles. The amalgamation between ‘Love’ & ‘submission’ is poetry I tell you. Do you sense the excitement I felt! The exuberance I experienced! Why, just why am I now, just now seeing this! But that’s just me.

Oh how wrong I was in this. So wrong, I was embarrassed of myself for chuckling on the inside at that benefit. I looked back at that moment and asked myself, “Did the chuckle come out? Did I publicly embarrass myself? Did anyone else chuckle on the inside at this oxymoron?” I surely hope others were much smarter than myself and understood that ‘LOVE’ is indeed a ‘mutual submission’ of one to another and the another to the one, all at the same time. For remember, the Creator submitted to the createee whilst allowing us humans to condemn the Creator on the cross, and at the same time the Creator requests the submission of us people. Requests, you wonder? Yes, requests, for ‘CHOICE’ is for humans to choose to submit. Hope you see the beauty, charm, loveliness & exquisiteness of the oxymoronity of MUTUAL SUBMISSION 🙂

My prayer is that the pastor that officiated this ceremony, as well as all pastors worldwide, would from this point forward, speak of the passage and explain the ‘mutual submission’ between the two parties, rather than emphasizing the  “wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” As I personally believe that Paul’s words are so much more about this mutual submission.