Tag Archives: pain

When Christmas Hurts

26 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by in Christian Living, Faith

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I remember Christmas being a wonderful experience for many years.  The joy of getting out of school, family and friends, presents under the tree and food, oh the wonderful food.  In my college years it was a time of seeing old friends and telling and re-telling stories of days gone by followed by a changing of times as work and holidays collided.  Then came the glory years with kids of my own.  The start of the great years, of the exuberance of children and the joy in their eyes and actions.  Those were the best days of my life.  Then came the divorce and Christmas Day changed forever.

Forever changed and forever aware of new realities.  Aware of how many people hurt more than usual at Christmas.  Aware of how many people are suffering and how the Christmas season intensifies the suffering.  Aware how words of joy for some are words that hurt for others.  Aware that while some rejoice in gathering with family and friends, others hurt more being in that environment than being alone and quiet.

I still enjoy the idea of Christmas but the 25th of December is a day I know comes with pain and I hurt for those who are hurting.  This season will be over soon and a new year begins and I pray that those who hurt during this time will find healing and peace in the year to come.

Grace and peace.

Newtown and Gun Control

17 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by in Faith, Prayer

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I’m a firm believer that guns are not responsible for the death of people.  Knives are not responsible for the death of people.  Cyanide is not responsible for the death of people.  Fertilizer is not responsible for the death of people.

What do we say to the parents who lost children in China?  What do we say to the Jews?  What do we say to Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims?  What do we say to the families who lost family in Oklahoma City?  What do we say to the victims of drunk drivers?  There are plenty of statistics floating around about the number of drunk driving deaths being higher than random gun violence.

We have to solve the problem, not the symptom or the result.  People are responsible for the death of people.  Hearts that are not right are responsible for the death of people.  Minds that need attention are responsible for the death of people.  When will this country decide to face the problem instead of the result?

To that end, I issue this simple prayer.

Lord, prepare me for battle.  Arm me with every piece of weaponry you armed your son, Jesus, with as he walked the earth.  Give me strength, wisdom, courage and desire to face evil in this world the way Jesus faced evil.  Amen.

Grace and peace.

Out of Control

23 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by in Christian Living, Faith, Prayer

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I know people who want total control over their lives (and over the lives of people around them in some cases) and when they don’t have it, become combative, defensive, offensive, mean.  Others become depressed and withdrawn.  Others just keep going faster and faster on a journey to complete flame-out.

I can control one thing and that is how much trust I will put in God.

I’m in a position where the world says I need to be worried, frenetic, and busy.  The world has had some influence because I have given in to all of these things.  At the same time, God tells me he has plans for me (Ephesians 2:10) and if I am to believe that, I should have peace and optimism about what the future holds.

I find it interesting to watch the reaction of Christians when I tell them that I am trusting God, that I am using this time to rest and recover from the busy-oholic life I have been living.  It does not mean I am not working to change my position.  After all, faith without works is dead, right?  However, while I work I am putting more faith in God to open the right doors and I am praying that God does more than I can imagine in this time.

I’m getting some rest (I still haven’t learned to slow down enough to appreciate Sabbath), my health is getting better and my mind is starting to work like it used to again.  I credit this to faith.  To letting controlling what I can and giving control of what I cannot do to God.  I want to be out of control and for Him to be in control.

Grace and peace.