July 2009
31 July 2009
My wife and I had dinner along the
After a while I noticed the duck began swimming downstream. He/She was swimming faster than I have ever seen a duck swim. I couldn’t figure out why he didn’t spread his wings and fly if he wanted to get somewhere that fast. Then it dawned on me. I’ll bet this duck can’t fly. This duck was very white. I’ll be it was a domesticated duck whose wings were clipped. It grew too large to be a pet, so it was released. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
This duck seemed to be doing quite well though. It was certainly not starving and it was swimming mighty fast. It seems to have adapted to its’ limitations quite well.
Makes me think . . . you know we all have limitations. I enjoy playing sports, but I’m not very athletic. So I just play for fun. I love to read, but I’m not a speed reader. So I read when most folks are in bed or watching TV, so I enjoy dozens of books every year. I was never very studious, but I chipped away at schooling for many years and completed a doctorate one day.
I meet people on occasion who feel like they’ve gotten their wings clipped in one way or another. Some of them embitter themselves and live the unhappy martyrs’ life. They make themselves and everyone around them miserable. But others are like that little white duck on the river. They just learn to swim faster to get where they want to go.
Helen Keller became blind and deaf at nineteen months of age. Nevertheless she lived an amazing life. Here are some of her views on limitations. “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” “No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.”
The Apostle Paul spoke of his life in this manner. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Maybe you need to learn to swim faster.
Sharing the Journey,
Pastor Don
PS - Learn the enjoyment of having Jesus as your Great Shepherd and how you can be a good shepherd to the folks in your life, this Sunday at Capital Area Christian Church.
July 1, 2009
So, it’s been several months since I’ve written a Jump Start. The reason for this lack of writing is a testimony to how change affects our lives.
Several months ago we made sweeping changes to our computer systems. It took about a month or so to get all the glitches and changes worked through. During that time it became nearly impossible to send mass emails for a while, then we changed over to a service called Constant Contact and the process for developing this weekly message became more complicated.
I don’t like complicated, and I often don’t like change. Funny, I think change is great until it affects me! At that point my “progressive” genes hide somewhere in the recesses of my mind. Then, I dig in my heels wanting to keep things as I know them. Finally, I come around and know that change is better and it’s time to catch up.
Well, here’s to catching up! Catching up – that is the beauty of life. It doesn’t matter how long you have resisted change, or what water has gone over the dam. You can always change. Each day really is a new day. Each hour . . . each minute is waiting to see what you will do with it. It’s new. It’s fresh. You can make of it whatever you want.
How do you effect change in your life? Here are some thoughts.
- Recognize the need. Frequently do self-evaluation. The unexamined life is not worth living. I frequently hear from people who are in a mess because they were not self-aware. They were simply living business as usual. Finally, some trauma caused them to awaken and they usually wish they had seen themselves more accurately long ago.
- Make some plans. These don’t have to be complicated or extensive. One step in the right direction is one step further than you were. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by feeling the need to have every detail of change worked out. Next steps will become clear as you move forward.
- Expect setbacks. I’ve been losing weight for over a year. I weigh twenty pounds less than a year ago. However, yesterday, like too many days, I ate way too much. Today, I could either sit around whining about it, or get on with it. I had a great workout and ate a salad with chicken for lunch. Nearly every endeavor will be three steps forward and two steps back. Sometimes it will be three steps forward and four steps back. No matter. Just keep at it.
- Get help. No great accomplishments or changes come in a relational vacuum. You (we all) need the help of others. Don’t be so foolish as to think you can make lasting changes without help.
Jesus came to the earth because He knew that we have the God-given ability to change and grow all the way through life. He believed in us enough to give up heaven for a while in order to show us how to live, both now and forever. If God believes you can change, so should you. So get with it!
Sharing the Journey,
Pastor Don