RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A COMMON MAN
By
Gerald K Johnson
RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A COMMON MAN
Gerald Johnson
Copyright 2009 by Gerald Johnson
Smashwords Edition
PREFACE
I believe it was Abraham Lincoln that said, “God must love the common man, because He made so many of them.” If that is true, God seems to be in the minority, because not too many other folks are all that excited about the “common man”. How many books have you read, that were written by a common man? How often do you buy a ticket to go hear a common man speak? We want to read and listen to those with uncommon ability and talent. We are interested in what the powerful, rich and successful people have to say. Does that mean the common man has nothing to offer? Are his thoughts and opinions without value? I think not. There are many people who say they speak for the common man. The problem with that is, if anyone is listening to them; they are probably not a common man. They have some drive, or position or enough wealth to get access to mass media. How often have you heard some politician say “The American people demand, or think, or want….” and you say to yourself I am an American and that is not what I demand, think or want. The American form of government allows us to pick people to represent what the majority of us want and to protect the rights of the minority. However our choice is limited to those who, in one way or another, have been able to distinguish themselves from the common man. They may have come from humble beginnings, but in some way they have risen to a position that puts them above the common man. In my opinion the problem that has developed over the years is those who are picked become isolated from the people who picked them. They may have good intentions, but they begin to believe, because of their position or inside information, they know what is best for the people whether the people want it or not.
I am writing this book, because I am a common man. I am not rich, or powerful, nor do I have any great talent. I am like millions of other people who live and die and go unnoticed by the majority of people. Yet I do have thoughts and opinions, and occasionally a worth while idea. Not just on politics, but on all aspects of life. I must clarify my status a little bit more. I am a common man in America, which in many ways is different from the rest of the world. I can not speak for the average person in China, or India, or Afghanistan. My thoughts and opinions have been in a large measure formed by the culture and experiences that are common here in America. I would not even claim that I speak for the majority of Americans, because of the wide range of cultures within the United States. I speak as a common man who gets frustrated with those who have the power and authority to control many areas of my life and tell me it is for my own good. The more I think about it the more I realize that in one sense the “common man” does not exist. At least it is hard to define the common man, because even if our experiences are relatively the same, the way we think and react to those experiences vary greatly from individual to individual. So I guess I can only speak for me. That being said, I think that is true of anyone. When it comes right down to where the rubber meets the road, the only person you can really speak for is yourself. All the various leaders of the world say they are speaking for the people that they represent, that they just want the best for those people. Yet what they want is based on their ideas of right and wrong. Their interpretation of whatever moral code it is that they have chosen to be their guide. That is how leaders throughout history have justified war, murder, greed and a host of other atrocities.
The purpose of this book is to express the thoughts and feelings of the common, average or perhaps more accurately, the unheard man. One of the millions that have lived and died and gone unnoticed by the majority of the world. I trust you will relate to some of them, I know that you will disagree with some of them. There will not be a lot of footnotes with references that you can check to make sure the facts are correct. This is after all just an opinion paper, my opinion, based on the way I perceive the world. I hope you will go away with the feeling that in many areas, your opinions are as valuable as the next persons. When, I say everyone has a right to have an opinion, does not mean that there are not any absolutes in the world. It might be your opinion that you can jump out of a ten-story window land on concrete and not be hurt. Your opinion won’t change the fact that if you jump out of a ten-story window and land on concrete you will most likely wind up dead. Just as there are physical laws that are not effected by our opinions, there are moral absolutes that can not be changed by our opinion. However, there are many areas outside of absolute right and wrong. It is when we talk about those things, we need to stop and really listen, sense and feel the world as those around us see it. Perhaps then, we would make changes that would go a long way in making this world a better place for all of us.
With the invention of the internet the average man can now reach out and touch the whole world. The recent fad of “Blogs, U-Tube, Twitter, Face book, Instant messaging” has made it possible for anyone to express his or her opinion and have it read by millions instantly. So why write a book? As great as the internet is for disseminating information, and letting people express themselves, for me it does have some drawbacks. A person can get on the internet and claim to be anyone they want to be and most of us have no way knowing who they really are. They can make statements that are suppose to be factual without presenting any kind of tangible proof. They can spread these “facts” to millions of people all over the world, faster than the facts can be checked. If they are false, many, who accepted them as truth, will never see the corrections. A book may be slower, and probably won’t reach as many people, but it is much more stable. The author is much easier to find, and if it contains factual material, the editors check those facts before it is printed. When I first thought of writing a book I thought I would fill it with comments on all areas of life, sports, politics, religion etc. However, when I got started I realized that if I was going to put something in print that could be around for a long time, it should be something that could have lasting value. So the following thoughts are religious in nature, because how we function in our spiritual life will have an eternal effect.
My desire is to take advantage of the Internet and the printed word. The world of the Internet with its instant communication and the world of books which is a quieter more stable world. That is why there is room after each comment for you to make some notes to yourself about the article. If you would like to express your opinion to the author send it to gkj101@gmail.com. I trust you will use both options and in that way help us all to grow.
© RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A COMMON MAN
Gerald Johnson
Copyright 2009 by Gerald Johnson
Smashwords Edition
Author’s note: You will find some Biblical references in many of the thoughts expressed here. Have a King James Version or a NIV bible handy so you can look up the reference and make sure I am not taking something out of context. I could include the quotes in the article, but this is my way of encouraging you to see the larger context.
CONTENTS
LIFE, THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING
YESTERDAY AND TODAY
SIGNIFICANCE
RECKON/REIGN/YIELD
SOMETHING TO HANG ON TO
ALONE
CHANGE IS INEVITABLE
A REASONABLE EXPECTATION
SUNRISE SUNSET
WANTS AND WISHES
LOVE AND WISDOM, TEACHABLE??
CHANGE
LESSONS FROM THE FARM
A TALE OF TWO PROPHETS
STILL STANDING --- STILL SITTING
TRUTH
ALOHA
WOULD IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE
THE SIXTH SENSE
PRAYER
FAITH
PRAYER II
HOPE
FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE
LOVE
LOVE IN ACTION
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
END OF LIFE
RESPONSIBILITIES
FAMILY
LARGE OR SMALL
AMAZING GRACE
NONE SO BLIND AS THOSE WHO WILL NOT SEE
HURRY
WHICH QUESTION IS THE RIGHT QUESTION
THE ANATOMY OF A DREAM
A ONE TRACK MIND
A MIND DIVIDED
SOMETHING SPECIAL
JUSTICE
ENJOYING THE BOAT RIDE? HOW ABOUT A NICE WALK?
REALITY
BLESSINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED
TUNNEL VISION
BETTER TO RECEIVE THAN TO GIVE
DISCOURAGED???
OUTWARD APPEARANCES
RUB A DUB, DUB SCRUB, SCRUB, SCRUB
CHANGE
BACK TO THE BASICS
TIME
BONDING
ALMOST
ONE BODY, MANY PARTS
INTERRUPTION
SEPERATION
SCI-FI
TO DO OR NOT TO DO
OOPS
IT IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT
BOUNDARIES—CONFINING OR FREEING
GOOD AND BAD
SPLIT PERSONALITIES
UPS AND DOWNS
ANCHOR
GROWING UP
BULLDOZER--PINBALL
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
SHOCKING
YES-NO-ER MAYBE
CHOICES- CONSEQUENCES
NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO THERE YOU ARE
DO YOU HAVE ANY ENEMIES
WHAT’S UP WITH SICK PEOPLE??
WHAT IF?
MEANINGS
I HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL
MOUNTAINS OR MOLE HILLS
JUST ANOTHER DAY
JUST ANOTHER LIFE
WHATEVER
EXPECTATIONS
STRAIGHT AND NARROW
DUTY
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR
FORGIVENESS
THE REAL WORLD
THANKSGIVING
SOLUTION TOO CLOSE
WHAT IS THE ROOT PROBLEM?
BIGGER ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER
EASTER THOUGHTS
PROMISES, PROMISES
WHEN TIME AND SPACE HAVE NO MEANING
DISSECTING OR DIGESTING
ANOTHER LOOK AT FORGIVENESS
ANOTHER THOUGHT ABOUT FORGIVENESS
THAT AIN’T NATURAL
BUSY BUSY BUSY
THE END IS NEAR
WHAT’S THE POINT
SURPRISE
TOLERANCE
WHAT IF IT WERE TODAY?
TOO LATE
HAVING A BAD DAY?
RESPONSIBILITY
VACATION
QUESTIONS
GOD LOVES YOU
GIVEN MUCH, MUCH WILL BE DEMANDED
UNCERTAIN
WHY?
SEEING JESUS
DRIFT DRIFT DRIFT DRIFTING AWAY
EARTHEN VESSELS
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
BLACK AND WHITE, OR GRAY
RAIN OR SHINE
WORLD’S GONE CRAZY
FAITHFUL
PERSEVERANCE
ANYONE PRAYING FOR U.S.
TEST TIME
IT’S NOT OVER TILL IT’S OVER
HIS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS
LADY JANE
1.LIFE THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING
So how does life look to the common man? That is a question that has as many answers as there are people. Even if you got the answers from all the people they would change the next time you ask because the circumstances change. To those at the top of the ladder life must look wonderful and exciting. Yet, you hear that many at the top are desperate and unfulfilled and some even commit suicide. To those at the bottom of the ladder life must be dark, dull and frustrating. Yet, there are those at the bottom who appear to be content and doing well in their surroundings. So what about the man in the middle of the ladder, the one, I am calling the common man? How does that man look at life, the universe, and everything? With a myopic set of eyes. He is more concerned with what effects him directly, than he is with the great scheme of the universe. Are there ever times when he thinks of the greater universe that is outside of his own realm? Sure, but those are rare moments. To those who are desperately poor life centers around surviving from one day to the next. To the common man as I am defining him, life does not have that narrow a focus, but it is not too far removed. His concerns are for him and his family and their immediate needs. Next he looks for how he can improve things for him and his family in the near future. Dwelling upon long range plans and the greater meaning of life are not beyond his grasp; they are just beyond his day to day interest. Political systems and world events are only of real interest to him if they have some kind of impact on him or his family. He may get into some heated discussions about politics and world affairs, but it is in the same way he would discuss some sporting event. He has an opinion and if he were in charge things would be different, but it is just talk. He will never coach a professional sports team, and he will never be a political power. It is not that he does not care, it is just that he does not have the time or energy to spend on things that do not directly impact his life.
The range is the same up and down the ladder. Some are happy and fulfilled some are angry and desperate. The one thing that all of us have in common is fulfillment and happiness does not come from what surrounds us, but from what is inside of us. If you are healthy, wealthy, good looking, and wise is it easier to be happy and fulfilled? Of course it is. If you are ugly, sickly, poor and stupid is it easier to be angry and sad? It certainly is, however, neither set of circumstances, guarantees you will feel one way or the other. Those that are happy and content are people who have learned to control their circumstances. That does not mean they are always able to change their circumstances, but they are not controlled by their circumstances. What role do circumstances play in making a man common or great? There was a rumor that a former President of the USA lamented that nothing as tragic as the events of 9/11 happened while he was president, so he could not demonstrate what a great leader he was. It is true that circumstances have caused some common men to behave in an uncommon manner. There have been many uncommon acts of bravery and self-sacrifice through out history by ordinary people faced with extra ordinary circumstances. However, few are given the opportunity to face those kinds of circumstances and for that we should be grateful, because normally great pain and loss is attached to those kinds of circumstances. .
So as the common man goes through his common every day life, what is the meaning of life the universe and everything? One author wrote that the answer to the meaning life the universe and everything was 42. Off course that is a nonsensical answer. However, if you look at the meaning of life that most people seem to have, from a cosmic viewpoint, their answers are just as nonsensical. To the common man it means providing for himself and those he loves. The meaning of life is defined by what they have personally accomplished in their personal or work lives. When things are going bad life has no meaning, when things are going well, life makes sense. In other words they have a very narrow or shortsighted view of life. For we find it hard to look at life from a reference point that is outside of our own experience. Most people exclude God from their everyday thinking. God is someone that you bring out to cover the unexplainable. As a last resort we say “ God only knows why this or that happens.” In that way we can absolve ourselves or others who were involved in the situation from any responsibility for what happened. If we were to make God a part of our every day life and try to find His direction for our lives, we would have to take more responsibility for our choices. We would also have to look at the bigger picture when it comes to life. For God is not at work in just our life. He is at work in the whole world and each of us has a part in that world. We would need to understand that our actions effect us as individuals and they also have an effect on the community as a whole. We would need to understand that no matter how small a pebble we may be, when we are thrown into a pond the ripples spread through out the whole pond.
It is not that the average man cannot comprehend the idea expressed above, the problem is he is just to busy living life to give it much thought. Some are very busy seeking power or money or fame or all three. Others are just trying to survive from day to day. The first group over estimates the value of their thoughts and ideas to change the world. Their plans to make the world a better placed are very self-centered and compared to the universe and eternity very short sighted. Those in the second group are much to busy just trying to survive, to spend any time or energy on the over all meaning of life. Why do we pay move stars and athletes way more than they are worth? Because for a short time they take us away from our ordinary lives. By watching them we become part of something that is larger and more exciting than our daily life. Just as the politician represents us in the political world and does things we can not do, the athletes and actors do things that we would like to do in the real world if we could.
When we look at the lives of those who have the money, power and fame that we think we want, what do we see? Many times we see disappointed and disillusioned people. They fail in the same basic ways we all fail, and many times on a grander scale. Even their failures become a distraction for the rest of us. We are amazed how someone can have so many advantages and still make a mess of their life. If we had that talent, or money or power we wouldn’t make those kind of stupid mistakes. Yes, we would. The seed of our destruction is buried deep inside all of us. There is a natural law that states things go from order to chaos. The same law works in mankind. Man left to himself will always go down hill. Those that live for themselves or focus just on what can be done in this lifetime leave little behind of lasting value. History has proved that over and over. Change for the better must come from outside of mankind. That is why societies that try and deny the existence of God are doom to fail. What is true of societies is also true of individuals.
The people who are remembered the longest are not those who have earned the most money or held some kind of power for a period of time. The people who have had the greatest effect on history are those who have lived for a cause that was greater than any one individual. The person who has had the greatest effect on human history, was not rich and never held a political office. He spent most of his time with a small group of men in a small backward country. Yet what he said, taught and did, has effected the lives of millions for thousands of years. Of course, that man’s name was Jesus Christ and even though He had the right, even He did not live for His own desires. He came to do the will of His Heavenly Father. The answer to Life, the Universe and Everything is God. He always has been and always will be.
2. YESTERDAY AND TODAY
We can learn much from the study of the past, but we can not accomplish much if we live in the past. It is very counter productive to try and re-invent the wheel every day. We need to look at our past mistakes and success’s to eliminate one and build on the other. However, there is the danger that we might hang on to the memory of past mistakes and not be able to move on to new victories. The same danger is present if we dwell on past success and assume we are not capable of failure. There is a story in the Bible of a prophet that confronted a King concerning one of the King’s past failures.
The parable that Nathan told made David stop and look at the sin he had committed in the past. David faced it and truly repented. David was told that his baby son would die because of David’s sin, and when the baby became sick, David put on sack cloth and began fasting, pleading with God to save the baby. He was so sad and desperate that the servants were afraid to tell him that the baby had died, because they did not know what he would do. They did not think David could get past his mistake. When David found out the baby was dead, he got dressed and started eating and acting like a king should act. While there was a chance that God might spare the baby, David wanted to show that he knew he had been wrong and was very sorry for what he had done. When the baby died, he accepted God’s will and went back to ruling his kingdom, as he should.
There is the possibility that when we look back at the mistakes we have made in the previous year or years, we will be sad and long for the consequences to go away. We may plead with God to remove them and in a sense put on sack cloth and ashes and act in such a way that people around us are concerned for our health. We can spend so much time and energy dwelling on past mistakes that we are not able to function properly in the present. That kind of remorse and regret serves no useful purpose. If there is something that can be done to repair the mistake we should do it, wishing something never happened will not do us or anyone else any good. Like David, we need to accept the consequences of our actions that can not be changed and move on to the work that can be done in the present
Our God is the God of the second chance, or third or fourth or fifth etc. chance. We may face some serious consequences of past mistakes that will not just go away, but as long as God has left us here, He has work for us to do. We need to take each New Year, new month, new week, or new day to do that work. We should learn from the past, but we can not afford to live in the past.
Unfortunately the majority of the people do not have a sense that there is a God who has called them to anything. They plow through life doing the best they can and most of the time thinking life does not make much sense. If your perceptions are not filtered through some spiritual or eternal filter, most of life will not make sense. If you can not see some over all plan that is being worked out in past events, and is heading toward completion in the future, the present tends to be pointless. It is not surprising that so many people drink or use drugs or indulge in some other things to excess, it is surprising that so many live relatively normal lives.
Watch a new baby or young child experience life. Everything is new and exciting. There is so much to explore and things to learn about and experience. As we grow older the world tends to become much less interesting. All the things that look new and interesting cost money. The average person spends so much time trying to earn the money, if he ever gets enough he is in no shape to enjoy what looked so good a few years back. With age also comes the gnawing thought that this life just can’t be all there is. It is too short and there is way too much universe to experience in just one lifetime. It is sad that so many are so focused on getting something or getting somewhere that they never learn to enjoy the trip.
To experience peace and contentment we need to learn to appreciate each new day. As routine as your day may seem, there will never be another 24 hours quite like today. You can concentrate on all the things that are the same each day, or you can look for those things that are different each day. You can spend your time regretting all the missed opportunities in the past, or find ways to seize the opportunities in the present. Everyone has probably watched a little child get more pleasure out of the wrapping paper and box that the toy comes in, than they do out of he toy. If we are truly going to enjoy our life we need to learn to enjoy all the things that are going on during the routine days not just the things that are so called special events. Many times we work franticly trying to achieve some goal and when we do achieve it we are terribly disappointed. It is like all the hype that goes on before the Super Bowl in football. Everyone’s expectations are raised to extreme heights. When the game is played it turns out to be a one-sided blowout and everyone loses interest long before it is over. The average man is average because his life is not made up of spectacular events. However, every average man has the ability to make his or her life special if they are willing to look around and see what is going on all around them. You can only do that if your eyes are fixed on the present not the past. You can dream about tomorrow, but you can only make your dreams come true by working today. There may be some special times in your life that you will always remember, but you must always remember that each day is special. There will never be another sunrise or sunset quite like todays. There may never be another chance to help some stranger in trouble. Your smile or kind word may make a difference in someone’s life today that you may not see tomorrow.
How many people spend their life waiting for something special to happen? They keep looking for some special event that will make their life worthwhile. They are not sure what the event should be, they just know it hasn’t happened yet. The sad thing is that while they are gazing into the future looking for that :”special” event, they are stumbling over or ignoring the very things and people that truly make life worthwhile. A life that is worthwhile is not made up of dramatic special events. It consists of a lot of little ordinary everyday events. Investing your time in your children or grandchildren. Doing something for a friend or neighbor, or even better for a complete stranger. Doing your job well, even if nobody notices. Knowing that you have done the best you could with what you have been given, even if that is not very much as far as the world is concerned. Taking time to observe the creation that God has made, by listening to the birds sing, watching the sunset, or learning about all the marvels that abound in nature. If you take the time to enjoy each day as a special gift, when you are reaching the end of your days here on earth you will be able to look back and see that your life was worthwhile. Of course if we have failed to receive the gift of eternal life that God has for us, it won't make any difference how we feel about life.
3.SIGNIFICANCE
I heard a talk show host say that everyone is seeking significance. Everyone wants to know that their life has been meaningful. Some have gone to great lengths to make sure their name would be remembered for generations. For the most part they have done this by doing worthwhile things. Donating money to get their name on a plaque, or a building or setting up a foundation with their name on it to help people in one way or another. A few have done some very evil things that carved their name into the history books, all in an effort to say “Look at me I am important, I did make a difference.”
How about you? Are you driven by the need to prove you have some significance? Who are you trying to prove it to, and how are you trying to prove it? Personally I don’t consciously spend much time thinking about it. That is probably why no one will ever name a building after me. I am satisfied with an occasional well done or glad you are here remark. I don’t feel the need to set the world on fire or have my name in lights on some billboard.
Yet in one way, we should all be seeking significance. When you became a Christian God planned on your life having meaning. It was to make a significant difference in the lives of those He was going to send your way. In word or deed you were going to have a chance to influence those lives for all eternity. I would say that was pretty significant. It might not make much of a splash in the world’s way of looking at things, but this world is going to pass away. If just one person can say to you that what you did or what you said pointed them to Christ, then your life had great significance. Unfortunately our life can also have a negative significance. We might be a stumbling block instead of a stepping stone to someone who is seeking God.
We don’t have to wait for or seek some opportunity to do some great thing so that our life will have significance. The way we raise our family, treat our friends, or do our job can have great significance for all eternity if we focus on the right things. Doing the best we can with what we have, wherever we may be, can be very significant if we are trying to honor and serve God in all that we do.
When we are feeling insignificant or like our life really hasn’t had much meaning, perhaps we are using the world’s way of measuring things instead of God’s way of measuring things. There is rejoicing in Heaven when one lost sinner is found, so if you have influence on only one person in your family, or in some other relationship, that causes them, to turn to God you have had great significance and your life has had real meaning. In God’s eyes there are no insignificant children. We are all significant to Him and we all have a purpose in His plan. We will have that assurance when we get our eyes off the world around us and focus on Him and what He would have us do.
Philippians 3:13-14
4. RECKON/REIGN/YIELD
Reckon is an accounting term. Before you can make a financial move you need to accumulate information and make your decision based on your assets. As long as the numbers do not change and you add correctly you will get the same result each time. When you are sure you have added the numbers correctly the reckoning is done, you do not have to do it again. The total that you reach now governs what you can do. Your choices are limited by whatever that total will allow. It sets the limits to your actions.
Paul says that we should reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to Jesus Christ. We have looked into Christ’s claims, we have looked at our assets and we have come to the conclusion that Jesus Christ is the only way, and we accept that conclusion. Our reckoning is done. We are now under a new set of restraints. We are obligated to work under new parameters. This is a one time decision once we have accepted His claims and placed our lives in His hands we do not have to go back and do it over and over. His promises do not change and the results do not change. That covers RECKON AND REIGN.
When I first saw these three words I thought they were out of order. I thought yield should come before reign, but now I see it differently. Using the example of a checkbook it works like this. You total the pluses and the minuses and the result is what you have to spend. This total now controls or reigns over what you can do. However, you have a choice of whether to yield to that control. You can write checks for more than what the total says is in the bank and suffer the consequences. Whether we chose to be limited by the total in the book or ignore the total in the book does not change that total, it only changes the consequences that we must face.
Once we have reckoned Christ to be our savior, He does reign over our life. The extent of our yielding to that reign determines how we experience that reign here on earth. The Bible puts it more on a servitude basis. Suppose you have a choice of two different employers. The first employer you know to be shady. He cheats his customers, is demeaning and ruthless to his employees but he pays a higher wage than others. The second is an honest merchant who wants loyalty and hard work from his employees. The catch is this, you may work fully for either or you have the option to work part time, whenever you wish for either one. The work is always there, just punch in. If wages is the only issue, your life will be servitude to an evil master who will reign over you. You choose your boss. Paul is saying you choose your king.
Our society is finding it harder and harder to know what is right and what is wrong, because they have thrown out the rulebook. In an effort not to offend anyone, it has become acceptable to let each man decide what is right and wrong. Everyone's belief system is good as long as they are sincere. Anyone who says there are absolutes is narrow-minded and probably a bigot. Sin is an old fashioned word that has no meaning for most people. So those who would be our moral leaders are forging ahead without a map or guidebook with no clear idea of where they are going or how to get there. We wouldn’t follow someone across town it we thought they didn’t know where they were going. Yet, we put the future of our country in the hands of people who are great at making promises, but have a poor record of keeping them. When will we learn that no matter what political party a person belongs to, if they haven’t demonstrated that they have a solid grasp of what is right and wrong and are willing to stand for what is right no matter what the political consequences may be, we will continue to follow leaders who are on a path to the ultimate destruction of all that we hold dear. God has given us something that we can hang onto and use as a reliable map to guide us through life. It is called the Bible, too bad so many of us have grown so smart in our own eyes that we no longer trust what it says
5. SOMETHING TO HANG ON TO
Before the man turned in for the night he watched the evening news. The big story is about a coming storm that is supposed to hit during the night. He isn't too worried because they have warned about storms before and nothing major has ever happened. He turns out the lights and tries to get some sleep, because he has a big meeting at work in the morning and a lot of other things need to get done storm or no storm. Sometime later he is awakened by waves of water rocking his bed. This is somewhat alarming, because he is a mile from the beach and his bedroom is on the second floor. In less than eight hours he has lost everything he owned. All his material possessions wiped away while he slept. Won't be any big meeting at work today. All those other “important” things won't happen either. What does he do now. What's left to hang on to? All he has worked for is gone. If his house is destroyed, his work is also gone, because it was right on the beach. Insurance and savings can't begin to replace all that has been lost. The things that he prizes the most were one of a kind, because he created them. He feels he is too old and it is too much work to start all over again. How could God let this happen? Where was He, what did the man ever do to deserve this?
Put yourself in this man's place. Many of us have lost a job sometime in our life, some have lost a major possession, others have lost loved ones, but it is not a common experience to lose your entire community over night. Through out history this kind of thing has happened to some people in one form or another. One day secure in the material possessions they have, and the next day some catastrophe wipes everything out. We live in an uncertain world. Is there anything or anyone that we can always rely on? How does one find solid ground to stand on, in this world of shifting sands? May I suggest one starts looking for solid ground before the storm hits. Noah didn't wait for the rain to start falling before he began building the ark. It is too late to add lifeboats to the ship after it hits the iceberg. We often question God when something bad happens, how much time do we spend looking for Him when things are going good? Have we spent time diligently searching for what He would have us do and where He would have us invest our time and money? Do we know or care about what He thinks is important? If you don't believe in God then don't blame Him when things go wrong. If you do believe in God and suddenly things seem to go all wrong, don't blame Him if you have lived your life without spending any time consulting Him on how you should live. If you have done your best to seek God and follow His leading and things still seem to go wrong, that is your opportunity hang on to Him even tighter and watch Him work. We live in a fallen world, and bad things do happen to good people, in war that is called collateral damage. One of the reasons God hates sin is because it effects not just the sinner, but can even reach those who are around him but not involved in the sin. God created a perfect place for man to live, but man's fall has even effected the environment. There were no storms, earthquakes, or tidal waves in God's original creation. Murder, stealing, rape, are not part of the social order that God established. God has given man plenty of time to correct the problems that man has created, and man is not making much progress. One day God is going to bring it all to an end, and restore things as He originally created them. He gave us the key to that world in Jesus Christ. It is up to us to reach out and take that key. Once we have accepted His gift there is nothing that can ever take it away from us. If we want something to hang on to, we need to build a relationship with someone who will not change. We need to invest in something that will be around for eternity, so that eliminates material things. Fortunately we have contact every day with eternal creations, commonly known as people. When we invest ourselves in God and people we are making an eternal investment. God will always be with us, and even though we may lose contact with people for a short time here on earth eventually we will be reunited with them if they have accepted the gift that God offers. So when everything crumbles around us and we even lose sight of the people that mean the most to us, we will always have God with us. Not as a straw of last resort, but a solid rock we can stand on and weather any storm. So if you want that kind of relationship, and are wondering when you should start working on it, stop wondering and start working. Start praying, start reading His word, start associating with people who want the same relationship with God that you want, and don't stop.
6.ALONE
Bill Smith had been a Conservation Officer for longer than he cared to remember. He spent most of his time alone. He liked it that way. He had a small cabin n the North woods that he came to in the middle of the winter and spent several weeks patrolling the area for poachers. This time he had company. Tom Ryan was just starting his sixth month as a Conservation Officer. His time spent with Bill was to be the final step in his training before he was assign to a more permanent post. Bill knew it was important that Tom get some practical experience in the field, but part of him resented the intrusion into his space. He would train him the best he could, but he would be glad when Tom's training was over.
It was shortly after the sun had set when Bill and Tom set out on a night patrol. They were going to drive the jeep over to an isolated area that poachers thought was too out of the way for anyone to be watching. The two track they were on passed by the edge of Angry man's woods. Of course that wasn't the official name, but that was what the locals called it. It was about thirty acres of woods that was populated by an angry old man, and two large dogs that shared his attitude. Neither man nor dogs welcomed uninvited visitors, and any visitor was uninvited, because the old man did not entertain. Even the wild animals that you might expect to inhabit the woods avoided the area. It was said that the dogs made short work of any who crossed the invisible boundary. That was why Bill was surprised when his headlights reflected off two beady eyes at the edge of the two track.
Bill brought the jeep to a halt. Reaching back he got a large flashlight out of the back seat and got out of the jeep to see what animal had dared venture into the forbidding wood. When he turned the light on, it lit up a furry face with a large set of sharp teeth. It was perhaps the biggest wolf-dog he had ever seen. Even though the snarl revealed the set of deadly teeth, the animal did not appear ready to attack. The man and dog stared at each other for a while and then the dog turned and took a couple of steps into the woods, pausing to look back at the man. Tom, who had remained in the jeep, yelled, “Bill let's go it's getting late.” Even though the dog had obviously heard Tom yell he never took his eyes off Bill. Bill had a notion that the dog wanted him to follow him into the woods. Not an idea that set well with Bill, so he started to return to the jeep. The dog turned and came back towards Bill. The snarl was still firmly in place, and he made a noise that was somewhere between a growl and a moan.
In his years of enforcing the laws that tried to protect the animals, the environment, and man from each other, Bill had learned to be alert to things that were out of place, or unusual. The dog's behavior certainly fell into that category. Motioning to Tom to get out of the jeep and follow him he started after the dog. The dog trotted on ahead of them, always making sure they were following. His body seem to tremble with impatience, because they were not moving fast enough. Bill and Tom were a little unnerved by the dog's actions and by the eerie silence of the woods. Normally the night would be full of little sounds that make up nightlife in the forest. However, these woods seem to be devoid of any other life, perhaps the wild animals really did give this woods a wide berth. All they heard was the crunch of snow beneath their boots.
After what seemed like a long time, made even longer by the constant mumbling complaint of Tom, they saw the outlines of two small cabins in the clearing ahead of them. There was a faint light coming from one of the small windows in the smallest cabin. The large wolf like dog stood by the door gently scratching on it. As the men approached, he slowly backed away. His teeth bared and menacing, and a low sound coming from deep within him. Was it a growl or a moan, Bill just couldn't decide. When they opened the door they saw that the light came from an oil lamp that was almost out of fuel, setting on the edge of a workbench. Lying on the floor not too far from the bench was the form of an old man. Quickly crossing the room they examined the man. He was breathing, but just barely. It looked like he had lain there for quite some time. He had soiled himself and the smell was quite intolerable. Suddenly his eyes popped open and he mumbled something that they couldn't quite make out. Bill leaned down and ask him to repeat what he had said. The old man said, some what louder “Close the *#~^# door stupid, its cold in here.” He then passed out again. Bill and Tom realized they needed to move the man to the other cabin, which must be where he lived. They decided it would be best to clean him up some first, so they removed the soiled pants. Since Tom was wearing nice warm wool pants and long insulated underwear, Bill told him to put his pants on the old man. Under strong protest he complied. Once they had the old man cleaned up a little and wearing Tom's pants they carried him over to the other cabin and laid him on the small cot near the fireplace.
Bill started a fire, and Tom found an old plaid quilt that he wrapped around himself to stay warm while they looked for some clothes to put on the old man. Once again the old man woke up and started yelling at them. Telling them to get the ***##!!~* out of his house and off his land. He was in the middle of this tirade when the disease that had laid claim to his body long ago requested its final payment. With a choking gasp, he breathed his last. The wolf-dog, who had remained out side the cabin let out a long mournful howl, that sent a chill through their bones. It was at this moment that the other dog returned from wherever it had been. Now Bill and Tom had never even heard of a Neapolitan Mastiff, let alone seen one, and this was not an auspicious time to be introduced to the breed. What they saw when they glanced out the window, was some primeval beast unleashed from the pit of hell. It had a head the size of a basketball with two beady eyes and mouth full of huge teeth. Foaming white saliva was flying in all directions as it flung its head from side to side growling and gnashing its teeth. Weighing almost two hundred pounds it attacked the door with a fury that not only shook the door, but cause d the whole cabin to tremble. It was a sturdy looking oak door, but Bill and Tom realized it wasn't going to hold up under that pounding for very long. With their hands on their guns they quickly moved to the back door and sought the relative safety of the other cabin.
They had just gotten to the workshop and barred the door when they heard the tremendous crash from the other cabin as the door gave way to the brute force of the living battering ram. The silence that followed was almost deafening. All they could hear was their own breathing and perhaps Tom's knees knocking together under his quilt skirt. They couldn't allow themselves to remain captive in the workshop forever, so when things remained quite for a long time they once again ventured out. This time with their guns drawn and moving very cautiously. Peering into the main cabin they saw the large black animal lying next to the cot. His massive body, almost as long and wide as the cot, between his old master and the doorway. Nothing or no one was going to get to his master as long as he was alive. Bill realized that to remove the body, and retrieve Tom's pants, they would have to tranquilize the dog. He motioned for Tom to follow him and they started back to the jeep. The wolf dog, which had seemed so menacing, until the other dog showed up, escorted them back to their car. It was like he had done what he could and now his job was over, and it was time for them to leave. When they reached the car the dog turned and slowly disappeared back into the woods.
That was a life changing experience for Bill. He couldn't get the picture of the old man out of his mind. Someone who had lived alone and died cursing those who had come to help. It turned out that he had no living relatives and no friends to mourn his passing, except, a large gray wolf-like dog, and a black brute of a beast, who also lost the will to live after his master died. As the years have gone by, the only time anyone thinks of the old man is when they hear the mournful howl that comes from the woods where he used to live. They are no longer sure if it is that old wolf dog or its ghost.
Bill doesn't spend as much time alone as he used to. He works hard at making new friends and looking up old relatives. He has developed a real need to be around people and be involved in their lives.
I woke up early Saturday morning. As I lay there in the dark, half asleep the above story came to my mind. I kept writing and re-writing it in my mind, until I finally had to get up and put it down on paper. I am not sure why I felt such an urgent need to write it down, but perhaps it has a message for me or someone else who will read it. Will this year be just like the last one, or will we do something to make it different. People can be tiring, irritating, and sometimes drive you crazy. There are times when it is nice just to be alone and enjoy the animals and nature that God created. God does want us to enjoy and be good stewards of all that He has created. However, He sent His son to die for mankind. So perhaps, we should understand where our priorities should be placed. As difficult and tiring as it may be to build good relationships with people, in the end the benefit far exceeds the cost.
7.CHANGE IS INEVITABLE
When there is a baby around, you know there are going to be some changes. How many things have you seen change in the last fifty years? Cars, trains, and planes have all become bigger, faster and safer. Making travel much easier than it was fifty years ago. Communication has seen some tremendous changes. Telephone, radio, television, and computers have made it possible to see and communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world, at any time. Society has seen some major changes. Dictators have come and gone. New countries have been created. The Berlin wall has toppled and the USSR has fallen apart. America has moved from what was called the Christian era to the post Christian era.
What about in your personal life? How many things have you seen change? Remember when you were young and life looked fairly simple? Perhaps you knew who you were going to marry, what kind of work you were going to do, where you were gong to live and how many kids you would have. If you did get married and have children, you made great plans for them. You just knew you could teach them how to avoid all the mistakes you made as you were growing up. They were all going to be healthy, wealthy and happy, and a joy in your old age. Did any of those plans change?
As long as you are alive there will be change. Some good changes and some bad changes. Unfortunately we do not always have a lot of control over the type or the quantity of the changes that come into our life. Is there anything we can control?
GROWTH IS OPTIONAL
Just because we have a long life there is no guarantee that we will be come gentle, kind, wealthy and wise, sometimes we just become old. As mentioned above we can not control all the changes that come into our life, but we can with God’s help control the way we respond to those changes. We can hang on to the past and refuse to change and become stunted, twisted old thorn bush growing in a dry country, or we can choose to grow and change and develop into a beautiful rose bush.
We are sometimes surprised by the changes that come into our life, but God isn’t. In some way He has been preparing us to handle those changes. There are many examples of people in the Bible, and we all know of some in our own life experience, who have faced terrible circumstances and turned them in to terrific opportunities to glorify God and to help other people. We also know of people who have made the opposite choices in the same circumstances and brought shame on themselves and others. It is not the circumstances but our willingness to let God work in those circumstances that will determine the outcome.
Am I saying that we can always make things come out so they are pleasant for us? No I am not. Some changes are just plain uncomfortable. Fortunately, seldom do things stay the same, and we can always hope the next change will be for the better, but there is no guarantee that it will. In the Bible Paul lists all the changes he went through. From a prosperous young man to blindness, beatings, shipwrecks, jail and eventually being put to death. Toward the end of his life when Paul looked back on what had happened to him look at what he wrote.
Phil. 4[11] I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. [12] I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. [13] I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Paul realized he could not face all of life's challenges in his own strength. He needed help from God, and he got it. The same God that helped Paul is helping people today. Few of us can face all that life throws at us in our own strength. Many try and wind up all worn out and used up. Only when we learn to draw on the strength that God has for us will we be able to stand up victorious at the end of our life.
8.A REASONABLE EXPECTATION
Just for today pretend you are a great architect. You put together the blueprints for a marvelous building. You have raised all the money needed to purchase the materials, and construct the building. You have put together a team of people and given them the materials, training and plans to construct the building. You have to leave for an extended trip, but you make sure they have the means to contact you if they need any more information or help. What would you expect to find when you returned? Depending on the amount of time you were gone you might expect to see a firm foundation or a completed building when you returned. In any case it would be reasonable to expect to find the people hard at work on the project you had given them and following the blueprints you had left. How would you react if you found them building a boat instead of the building you had told them to build?
In the Bible there is a story in the Old Testament book of Isaiah about a man preparing a vineyard. He did everything that could be done to insure it would produce a good crop of grapes. It was on fertile ground, it was protected and had all that was needed for the grapes to grow. Yet when he returned all he found was some poor wild grapes. How do you think he reacted?