Life is a Journey, Not a Destination!

How Could I Ask for More?
(by singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan)

There's nothing like the warmth of a summer afternoon
Walking to the sunlight, and being cradled my the moon
Catching fireflies at night
Building castles in the sand
Kissing Mama's face goodnight
And holding Daddy's hand
Thank you Lord; how could I ask for more?

Running barefoot in the grass
A little hide and go seek
Being so in love, that you can hardly eat
Dancing in the dark, when there's no one else around
Being bundled 'neath the covers
Watching snow fall to the ground
Thank you Lord; how could I ask for more?

So many things I thought would bring me happiness
Some dreams that are realities today
Such an irony the things that mean the most to me
Are the memories that I've made along the way . . .

So if there's anything I've learned
From this journey I am on
Simple truths will keep you going,
Simple love will keep you strong
Cause there are questions without answers
Flames that never die
And heartaches we go through are often blessings in disguise
So thank you Lord, oh thank you Lord
How could I ask for more?

I really like this song by singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan. Every time I hear it, I am reminded of a snowy winter day in Austin, Texas. When Abby was about three, we were living in Austin, and had some good friends named Ken & Lori. Their youngest, Chloe, hit it off very well with Abby. We spent quite a bit of time together. Texas, of course, is predominately hot and dry. It doesn't rain as much as it does in Florida, and snow? Extremely rare. But that winter was unseasonably cold and wet, and one day, the forecast called for snow. We happened to be over at Ken & Lori's that evening, and Ken said, "Hey. I have a great idea. Why don't you guys spend the night with us. We can just all bunk out here in the family room, on the couches and the floor, and if it starts snowing, we can watch it come down together."

Scott & I looked at each other, wondering if he'd lost his mind! I was in the early stages of my pregnancy with Caleb, had a preschooler at home who was not a champion sleeper, and a husband with a very busy, thriving ministry. I thought to myself, "I am pregnant, too old, and way too tired for a slumber party. I want to sleep in my own bed!" But Ken was so enthusiastic, and his girls were insistent in their prodding, so we finally said, "Oh, okay." We went home, got our things, returned to their house, stayed up way too late watching movies and eating junk food, and finally drifted off to sleep . . . all 8 1/2 of us, in their family room.

I don't remember who woke up first, but sure enough, it started snowing around 3:00 in the morning. Huge snowflakes fell to the ground, while the kids jumped up and down, squealing, and we adults looked on from underneath our blankets, eyes half-closed, exhausted smiles on our faces. It was the first time Abby & Chloe had ever seen snow, and a long time since the rest of us had seen it. The snow fell for what seemed like forever, completely covering everything in site by the time we fell back to sleep. First thing in the morning, we bundled up and trudged outside to enjoy it, firsthand.

That memory is one of MANY wonderful ones I have "made along the way". I wouldn't trade it for anything... and yet, we almost missed it! Indeed, we would have missed it, if not for our crazy friend, Ken. We get so busy in life... sometimes just in the living, but often in focusing on the next thing. We strive so hard to reach our goals, attain our desires, realize our dreams... it can become the focal point of our lives, and we forget to live here and now. If we are not careful, we can miss out on opportunities to enjoy simple, meaningful moments along the way. Those "destination" moments in life are certainly gratifying . . . and yet, looking back, we often realize real life is not in the arrival at the destination, but in the "journey" we traveled to get there!

As a young woman, I can remember being consumed with the my future plans. I remember thinking things like, "When I finally graduate, then I'll be happy... When I get a good job, then, life will be great ... When I finally get married... When I finally have baby... When, when, when..." Even now, I can fail to appreciate the here and now, with thoughts like, "When we move... When Scott finished his education... When I lose 20 more pounds... When both my kids are finally in school..." (Does anybody relate?)

The older I get, the more I mellow I become. (This is a good thing; ask my husband!) I used to think only the "big" things, the really exciting things in life were worth noting. But now, I realize there is joy in the simple things... my little boy's hugs & kisses... my daughter's thoughtful reflections... my husband's sense of humor... a nature walk on a beautiful day... a conversation with a good friend... splashing at the ocean's edge at dusk... curling up with a cup of tea and a good book...

Don't get me wrong: I still overlook a lot of life. My hindsight may be 20/20, but I am still learning to bring my foresight into focus! I'm getting there. I hope you are too . . . because the majority of life isn't lived in the mountain-top moments; it's lived in our everyday experiences... Experiences that are awfully sweet in the end. Don't miss out on them :)!

Dr. Caleb

I went to the doctor the other day, and Caleb was with me. There wasn't much to do while we were waiting, so I started pointed to the chart on the wall, showing the inside organs. He says, "Mom, what's wrong with that guy? What is he sick with?" I said, "He is not sick." He said, "Well, then why is he all blue?" So I said, "Because they are just showing you what he looks like without skin on. Those are the organs that are inside our bodies." So he started asking all these (highly intelligent) questions, like: What's the blue tube going to the heart; what's the red tube going to the heart, and how are they different? What's this bean-shaped thing do (kidney)?; how does pee travel from the kidney out the body? Well, what about poop?"!

Well, anyone who knows anything about preschoolers knows that they are all about bodily functions, so I decided a lesson in poop might be just the thing to tie him over until the doctor comes in! Besides, I know ALL about the digestive system, given our family's history. I could talk semi-intelligently about it all day. So we picked up an anatomy book, and I started explaining how saliva starts the process of breaking down food, yadda, yadda . . . By the time I am getting to the large intestine, he stops me and says, "Mom, what is that brown stuff." I said, "What do you think it is?" He said, "I think that's poop!" I said, "That's right." He looks up at me, eyes wide, and says, "That's FASCINATING!"

Real Christianity

Okay, I know this comment is a little out of step for a pastor's wife... but honestly, sometimes Christians get on my nerves. More specifically, sometimes traditional Baptist Christians get on my nerves. Don't get me wrong: I'm thankful for my heritage. I love being a part of the family of God. And I could no more separate myself from my faith than I could cut off my right leg! But it concerns me when people refuse to see anything from outside their "Baptist bubble". They are just so immersed in a culture of talking, walking, thinking, dressing, living, breathing... in a certain way. They are so busy speaking Christianese, they have totally lost touch with the rest of the world.

Equally disconcerting to me are Christians who have cast off traditional religion in favor of a faith marked by "social activism". They rightly insist that if God is love, then Christians should care about the social ills of the world. Absolutely true. But while embracing God's love, it is still necessary to address His holiness. I see a disturbing pattern among certain groups of Christians who have begun to see biblical standards as relative, and sinful patterns as tolerable --after all, does it really matter how they conduct their personal lives, as long as they are "good" people trying to make the world a better place?

Both of these positions are flawed, and quite frankly, both reflect a degree of spiritual immaturity. The Bible says we are to be in the world, but not of the world. So what exactly does that mean?

If we are to be obedient Christians, we have to be in the the world! Some Christians are so afraid of becoming "of the world", they avoid it altogether. But authentic faith is not a series of platitudes and religious works. Authentic faith shows itself best when we become the eyes, hands, feet and heart of Jesus. I find it offensive when "mature" Christians refer to unbelievers as though they are lepers to be avoided at all costs (unless you are rubbing shoulders with them only to offer the "prescriptive cure" for what ails them!)

Jesus didn't shy away from those who did not know Him. He was not afraid of "getting his hands dirty". He did not hold them at arm's length while He shouted "repent" from a nearby mountain-top! Christ spent time with people of all persuasions. He ate with tax collectors and sinners. He was criticized by the 'religious people' of the day, but He didn't care because He loved them. And in his genuine love for them, He sought to show them the truth they desperately needed. Jesus always knew where they were at, and what their struggles were. He knew what made them tick. He was highly sensitive, always approaching the person with a fitting message at the opportune time.

Do you have genuine love for people who may not know Christ? Do you see each person as a unique individual made in the image of God, and deeply loved by Him? Do you think it's possible that someone who may not believe like you do might even have something to offer you ~ as a result of the common grace God so richly bestows on all of mankind??? HOW can you hope to interest someone in sincere faith in Christ, if you merely see that person as a means to an end? Or if you feel (and most likely communicate) that you are somehow superior to him or her? Make no mistake about it, the only difference between you and the person furthest from God is the cross. Don't ever forget it, and let it humble you.

If, on the other hand, you are patting yourself on the back because you are not afraid to immerse yourself in the culture, guard yourself, lest you become of the world. I am not suggesting that you bind yourself up in long list of man-made "religious rules". But you do answer to the Lord if you have committed your life to Him. Don't think for a minute that you truly impact others for Christ by living a compromising brand of Christianity. Sure, your "faith" may be attractive to the masses, but faith devoid of personal responsibility is deceptive. And there's nothing loving about that. Romans 12:2 says: "Do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God..." Christianity is not a cult, but neither is it a country club! Never forget you were bought with a price.

Biblical Christians are balanced Christians. God is both completely loving and completely holy, and we are to strive to be like Him. We are surrounded by people on a daily basis who desperately need a glimpse of real Christianity. Obviously, none of us are perfect, or we wouldn't need a Savior! But by the grace of God, we can learn to be in the world without being of it. We can choose to truly care for people - whoever or wherever they are... We can invest enough time in those around us to earn their trust and a listening ear... We can be strong and unwavering in our convictions... And, in doing so, we can impact our world.

Sibling Rivalry...Sorta

So I came out into the kitchen yesterday morning, and little Caleb was pouting. "What's wrong?" I ask.

"I don't like my sister!" he frowns.

"Why?", I ask, expecting to hear the typical stuff, like, "she snatched my favorite toy, hit me, poked me, changed the channel when I was watching Spongebob", you know, all those things siblings do to show their great affection for one another.

So he says, "She made her bed faster than I did!"

"Yeah, so..."

"Well, she ALWAYS beats me in making her bed."

I am smiling to myself now, thinking, "oh-my-goodness, only a Melancholy child could actually have a problem with this!"

So I say, "Well, I'll tell ya what. Monday, while Abby is at school, you can spend the whole day practicing making your bed up, so you can get so FAST at it, you will beat her from now on! And then she'll be upset that you are better at it than her!"

...to which my Sanguine daughter promptly responded, "HA. Fat chance!" (She can care less, of course, if her bed is made at all, never mind the fastest. She could probably care less if she can find her bed.)

Darn. So much for a little 'healthy competition' as a motivating factor for neat bedrooms!

Today is April Fool's Day . . .

. . . far be it from me to miss out on an opportunity to play a practical joke!

My daughter woke up this morning, very enthusiastic about playing a practical joke on her dad. I laughed as she got the cereal boxes down from the closet, switching the bags around in hopes that her dad would get the "wrong cereal". Scott eats cereal almost every day, but today ~ much to his credit and Abby's disappointment ~ he skipped breakfast.

I told her not to worry; I would help her construct a plan to trick him later. So while she was at school, I thought of another simplistic yet potentially funny plan: Due to our feverish pace (and long evening) at church on Wed. nights, I usually pick up McDonald's along the way. Our family shovels it in before the kids get hauled off to their classes, and Scott & I have Bible study with the college group.

So tonight, instead of his usual order, I thought I would "accidentally" see to it that Scott's bag has a fish sandwich in it. (He hates fish.) He'll likely pull it out, too busy talking to someone to pay attention to it until he unwraps it, and takes a good look. Then I can exclaim, "Ohmigosh! The lady at McD's gave you the wrong sandwich! Oh, man. I know you really hate fish. I would've traded with you, but I ate mine on the way here . . ." April fools! Ha, ha, ha! (See what one resorts to for entertainment when she is a stay-at-home mom?)