The Last Snow Day

The snow was the icy kind that made a soft tinkling sound as it landed. I was let go early from work and stopped at the store even though the roads were getting bad very quickly. I put a few necessaries in the cart; milk, bread, eggs, but I had come for a few special items; marshmallows, hot dogs, buns. The weather was promising for a snow day tomorrow and I wanted to be ready.

When my kids were just in elementary school experiencing their first snow days, I'd build a fire and we'd roast hot dogs and marshmallows and drink cocoa. Today is a snow day and my kids are now young men, but I got hot dogs and marshmallows, maybe Simon will make cocoa and Zach will build the fire and one more time we will celebrate a snow day together.

How quickly the years have flown by and cliché becomes reality. Down my cheeks stream tears of melancholy and joy for my sons are of good character and humor, compassion and courage, I could want for nothing more.

As the flakes fall today I will warm by the fire, sip cocoa, roast marshmallows and eat a hot dog with my guys; savoring every moment before it melts away like much snow come spring.

Ponderings...

A man who spends his life searching for truth comes to his end realizing it had never been lost. -M.Murphy 1/10/11

Jesus…My Totem; My Muse

Jesus as man you are my totem, the reminder of reality.

You walked like all men walk, up the path that leads to death.

A struggle up Calvary’s hill… a dead man walking.

Before, Behind, Beside, hang the guilty and the repentant

Reality is…You came to die.

It was Your goal, Your destiny, Your prize

Your reason to be…How human of you.

Yet you modeled the climb.

That it can be done blamelessly.

By extending love to the undeserving

And accepting punishment undeserved.

Fully human, you had only the Word of Your Father,

a promise that there was something beyond life’s end…

and You believed Him.

Jesus, as God you are my Muse, the reminder of possibility

You walk the length and breadth of eternity.

Before, Behind, Beside, are the forgiven.

Faith is…You lived again.

It was Your goal, Your destiny, Your prize

Your reason to be…How immortal of you.

You model forever

That it can be…

By extending Love to the undeserving

And accepting the punishment of Another

Fully God, Jesus, I have only Your Word, your Promise

Your Example, that there is something beyond this life’s end…

And I believe You.

Do Nothing Under Compulsion!

Equippping we the saints for better, healthier service to HIM! For service that benefits the giver and the receiver that we may be refreshed by our efforts and not burned out by them!

2 Corinthians 9:7 (New International Version)

⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Utilizing what I have learned through this last event I am now implementing the following boundary exercise which protects me from my compulsive urge to accept a commitment without having applied the Word of Wisdom first.


Before I say "yes" I must ask/state the following:

1. I need more information before I can commit. (See questions I need to ask the person who is requesting my assistance)
2. I cannot give you a "yes" or "no" until this time tomorrow. Is that ok? If not I am sorry I will have to decline.(If yes see questions I need to ask myself before I can say yes to this commitment)


Questions I need to ask of those requesting my assistance:

1. When is it?
2. Where is it?
3. Under whose leadership?
4. Has this event and some structure for detail been approved by Leadership?
5. What is the specific goal/focus/objective of this event?
6. Is there an anticipted budget set for the time and financial commitment expected from me for this event?
7. What role are you asking me to take on here?
a. Lead--entire event is at my discretion
b. co-lead--entire event is planned under the discretion of several
c. lead a specific portion of the task--event is lead under the discretion of another but this portion is managed by me)
d. helping hands- -I am a set of hands that facilitate effort...I show up for the event with a specific task assigned to me.



Questions I need to ask myself before I say "yes"

1. Does the time frame allowed for the task work for my lifestyle?
2. Does the place of the event require additional time/difficulty to get to and from the event and it's planning/participation?
3. Can I submit fully to the discretion of those leading this event, knowing my ideas and preferences though considered may not be used for this task/event?
4. Has the person asking me to assist secured specific parameters such as times, places, and budget from the church Leadership?
5. Does the person asking me to assist have some definitive structure in place for the event/task? Can they share with me a specific goal/focus/objective for this event?
6. Is there a pretty clear understanding as to how much time and/or finances I am being asked to contribute?
7. Do I understand clearly the role I am being asked to play for this event/task?



I know this will feel funny at first as I begin to implement it but it will become "wax on" wax-off" with practice! This is meant to slow down my compulsion to say yes. This is a character flaw in me and becomes a working out of my salvation with fear and trembling. I understand that not everyone will be pleased with this approach and may use it as a reason to avoid asking anything of me but that is not within my control. I understand fully that all i have control over is myself. If I identify my shortcomings I have done only half of what is necessary. The other half is to apply the word of God to those shortcomings and walk it out, strengthened by it!

I am a strong and mature Christian. I do not sit on my laurels and do nothing. I am generous to my own hurt and do so willingly but no longer compulsively,praise God,for where there is compulsion or duress from my inability to say "no" there I will find resentment spring up like a weed, choking the efforts of generosity.

Blessings on you faithful Servants of Jesus Christ!

My Mantra

God is omnipotent, I am not. I am faithful to fill the holes He assigns me. I am not responsible for the holes He has assigned to others and I acknowledge that there are some holes He wants to leave as they are, open and waiting to be filled by Him, personally.