Chucking things...

Last night I watched the movie, The Weatherman, starring Nicholas Cage. Maybe you've seen it too. Basically its about this guy, Dave Spritz, who is a weatherman in Chicago who behind is "sunny" face, is an emotionally broken man. A pretty good movie I thought.
One line struck me when I heard it. Dave sits in a car with his elderly father talking about his life and the book he was trying to write. The book wasn't any good and Dave was pursuing a dream of writing like his father that would never be fulfilled. Finally his dad looks at him and says, "David, this s*** life...we must chuck some things. We must chuck some things in this s*** life. You got time."
We've all got time. Some of us more, and some of us less, but in reality we all have time to pursue the right dreams and the right goals for our lives. Dave's dad is right, in order to do so, we need to simplify our lives. As the writer of Hebrews wrote long ago, "Strip down, start running--and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed..."

What is it that you need to chuck?

between the times

This week my mom died. Her memorial service was Wednesday at Hope Lutheran in Fostoria. She died way too young at age 59. Too young. Two of her grandkids won't remember her because they are too young, one will have a small memory of her (she being 5), and the last grandchild who is 19 will remember everything about her life and unfortunately about her death too.
My mom died at 1:15pm. When I heard the time of death I thought about time of birth. Everyone at least in America has a specific time they were born. My son Ethan for example was born at 12:02pm on June 7. It's like a stamp on our lives...a born on date like on the side of a beer bottle. Not to be too morbid here, but we all have a died on date too. We all are living between the times, trying to make the most of the days, hours, minutes and seconds. We are trying to make our lives count as they move toward its inevitable end. The question is for every single one of us is this, "What will our life count for?"
The mayor of Fostoria showed up at the church for the memorial service Wednesday, as did lots of community people; lots of people I didn't even know. I am grateful that I can say that the last fifteen years of my mom's life counted for a lot in her service as a Red Cross director to her community. God allowed her to touch people and meet significant needs around her. I am blessed to have known her and have her as my mom.
What will our legacy be when we die? A selfless life of grace and humility, like the one Jesus led, or a self-indulgent life lived with countless burned bridges and relationships thrown away because they didn't fit?

good news

A bit about my life right now. My mom is dying. I found out late Monday evening that her health had deteriorated so much that she probably would not live through this week. On Tuesday I arrived her with my family and after much discussion, decided the best thing for my mom right now is to provide her comfort care before she dies. Today she was moved to hospice care. It has been a difficult week hours for us here, but we are not without hope. The chaplain from the hospital came in Tuesday night to remind us of the love and promise of God, that neither my mom nor any of us can be seperated from God's care and love (Romans 8). We prayed. Tears were shed. Hands were held. We said our good-byes to my mom. After laying mostly unconsious through the entire evening, she did open her eyes during our time with the chaplain and opened her eyes as we all said good-bye to her before we left for the evening. She couldn't communicate, nor can she today (her health is detriorating fast), but her eyes communicated words beyond understanding. It was a bit of grace in the midst of death.

I was praying last weekend for a bit of good news and grace about my mom. Since the end of December the news from my mom about her health and life situation was nothing but bad news. God answered my prayer by allowing her to respond to our prayers for her with open eyes. Thanks God.

Right side up, or upside down?

Over the past couple weeks I've been telling people about my trip to India. One of the ways I've described my experience has been to say that I was turned upside down, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally while there. But, was I turned right side up or turned upside down? In other words, were the lessons I learned there meant to bring a positive effect in my life here? I would say so. I think God used that experience to affect me in ways that I am uncovering.

For example, on Saturday, Ethan and I went to see my mom who is sick; nearly two hours north of here. What is traveling two hours to see someone who is sick? In India, without question we as a group went out of our way to see people who lived a few hours from where we were staying. One evening after we left a church dedication service, we stopped at a hospital to visit the father of one of the seminary students. It was 10:00pm at night when we arrived. What mattered wasn't the time. What mattered is that we came, visited, and prayed with he and his son Jonbabu. My question Saturday morning about my mom wasn't, "Do I have time," it was, "when shall I leave?" Since being in India, my priority to see people has changed and for that I think I am right-side up.