Disruptions

Last weeks tornadoes in Ohio were a reminder that at any given moment unexpected things can happen to upset our routine. We faced the possibility that we might have to adjust how we live our lives for a while.

What do we do when faced with trouble like a tornado or other sudden and unexpected disruption? The first response is often why us? But we are reminded by Jesus that it rains on the just and unjust alike.

A Christian’s response is not why me but Lord what do you want me to do in this situation? How can I be of service to Jesus under these conditions? Jesus calls us all to give our faithful witness and service under all conditions. 

Wisdom

Wisdom does not always come with age but it comes with a practice of knowledge gained through experience and careful watching and listening. God gave us two ears and one mouth which is a clue to listen twice as much as we speak. The wise person will think about all they are about to speak while the foolish will speak all that they think.

Pray for wisdom silently. 

There is a very old saying that states that there are only three kinds of people:

1.There are people who learn by reading.

2. There are people who learn by observation.

3. Then there are the saddest of all who are compelled to actually touch the fire to learn that it is HOT!

Sometimes I do all three 

A friend suggested a 4th  People who still don’t learn even after doing the first three. 

Valuable

What is valuable to us?

A tornado hit a small town and wiped out some homes. For some everything they had just disappeared.
Well not quite everything for they were still alive and retained something very valuable, their memory! Pictures were gone but the mental picture is there. Recordings were gone but the sound memory is there.  Property can be replaced and in some cases relatives may have copies of our pictures available for us.

I have worked with many people for whom memory is a problem so we do not know what the true value of our past events are until we test our memory about the.  It is important for us to exercise our brains and keep our most valued memories active. 

To Die Laughing

A Christian man was close to death with some of his good friends gathered around his bed. He was in and out of awareness through out the day. Three different times he awoke and laughed.

 

The third time one of his friends asked, "Why do you laugh when we are crying? "

He answered, “I laughed the first time because you are afraid of dying. The second time was because you are not prepared to die and this time because I am moving from my labors to rest and peace with my Lord and yet you weep. My friend’s can you not celebrate my victory and laugh with me?”

 

A moment later he left his body behind and claimed his victory laughing.