I'll tell you where the action is. Right outside my office at North Campus are the Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten bathrooms and drinking fountain. The traffic is heavy, and it can get exciting; if you know what I'm talkin' about.
One time, recently, Olivia from Preschool was coming out of the girls bathroom, and I noticed she was limping down the hall. She didn't look hurt, but foot, ankle or knee were not working right. Woops - she saw me. Without hesitation she said something like, "Hey Pastor Wilson, you better fix my shoe." She stuck it out.
It wasn't any easy fix. She had a "tongue in shoe" problem. It wasn't just wiggle the heel around; it was goin' to require the surgery of a full shoe removal and a tongue relocation, followed by "puta-shoe-back-on-icus" and a full "velcro-on-again-icus." Yep, I had to get on the floor.
In the process I memorized Olivia's name, and we became friends.
Of course, something like this happening always gets me to thinkin'. Olivia had the courage to approach me boldly with her need. Do most of us do that with people we love or with God. Well, I have to admit...not usually.
The Bible says, "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16)." That's a pretty awesome verse; isn't it?!
Why don't we just ask for our needs like a preschooler? Too proud or don't understand God - one or the other.
Some of us think, "I know how to do this myself; I don't need God or anyone else!" And guess what? We miss getting to know God or someone else He has sent to help us.
Others of us think, "God doesn't have time, nor does anyone else have time, to help me; I'll just suffer through this alone." Now does that sound like God or His people? No, No, No! They always want to help. In fact, they want to "get on the floor", so that in the process we'll get to know one another better.
Olivia asked for help. How about you and me?
Let's pray over it! Dear Lord, teach us to talk to You about everything. Help us to learn to just come up and ask You about things we need. We know that You present us with situations; so that when we talk to You about them, we will get to know You better and better. Thank You that You are willing to involve Yourself, and Your people, in the things that are happening to us. We love You, Lord! In Jesus' name, Amen.
Proud of you,
Pastor Wilson
Ps Hey, another milestone! We made it to 2,500! Let's get back to bloggin'!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
My Running Buddy
One of my good friends got sick a few weeks ago.
His name is Don; some of you know him as Dr. Lichi. Many know him as counselor, teacher, author, preacher and friend. For me he's Running Buddy.
Running Buddy is the guy who gets up at 4:30 am, so he can meet me at the trail at 5:00 am. Running Buddy doesn't care how I smell. He doesn't brush his teeth before the run, and he doesn't care whether or not I brush mine. It doesn't bother him if I puke on the trail, cuz' he knows he just might puke on the trail.
Running Buddy shares. He brings an extra bottle of water just in case I forgot (I always forget). He'll give me his other dry T-shirt after the run on rainy or very hot days. When it's dark, running buddy shares his flashlight; so we don't go splash in the Cuyahoga River. Sometimes Running Buddy buys breakfast at Hamburger Station. Yes, he even shares his vaseline if necessary; that's true friendship! (you'll know why that's important once you are forty).
My Running Buddy gives sacrificially. If I can't make it all the way, he runs to the car and comes back to pick me up. He runs on days he doesn't really feel like it, because it'll make me and other friends run too. Running Buddy never quits. I told him it would be wise to do so a few times - not my Running Buddy - nope!
The fact that my Running Buddy got sick got me to thinkin'. My thoughts were not very helpful at first. I asked God just exactly what it was He thought He was doing to allow my Running Buddy to get sick.
God responded by talking to my spirit; sometimes He does that. He asked me if the Running Buddy was mine or His. I had to admit that I didn't own my Running Buddy and that God did.
Then He ask me who it was that could take better care of my Running Buddy, me or Him. "Well...You can, God, " I had to admit.
Finally, He asked me, "Would you trust Me with your Running Buddy, since I love him more than anyone else can?" "...OK," I said with some hesitation.
"After all," said God, "Wasn't I the One who gave you the Running Buddy as a gift in the first place?" I had forgotten that.
So I trusted the Running Buddy God gave me back to Him. That got me to thinkin' some better thoughts, like a Scripture verse we've talked about before. Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take."
God has really been helping the Running Buddy in recent days. And in the process, He is teaching me more about prayer, so we better have one!
Dear Lord, teach us all what it means to trust You. Help us know that You love most and best. Continue to be with my Running Buddy by "strengthening Him with power by Your Holy Spirit in his inner being." So be it, Lord! Amen.
Proud of you,
Pastor Wilson
Ps Sorry I haven't been writing here as much over the last month. I will get back at it!
His name is Don; some of you know him as Dr. Lichi. Many know him as counselor, teacher, author, preacher and friend. For me he's Running Buddy.
Running Buddy is the guy who gets up at 4:30 am, so he can meet me at the trail at 5:00 am. Running Buddy doesn't care how I smell. He doesn't brush his teeth before the run, and he doesn't care whether or not I brush mine. It doesn't bother him if I puke on the trail, cuz' he knows he just might puke on the trail.
Running Buddy shares. He brings an extra bottle of water just in case I forgot (I always forget). He'll give me his other dry T-shirt after the run on rainy or very hot days. When it's dark, running buddy shares his flashlight; so we don't go splash in the Cuyahoga River. Sometimes Running Buddy buys breakfast at Hamburger Station. Yes, he even shares his vaseline if necessary; that's true friendship! (you'll know why that's important once you are forty).
My Running Buddy gives sacrificially. If I can't make it all the way, he runs to the car and comes back to pick me up. He runs on days he doesn't really feel like it, because it'll make me and other friends run too. Running Buddy never quits. I told him it would be wise to do so a few times - not my Running Buddy - nope!
The fact that my Running Buddy got sick got me to thinkin'. My thoughts were not very helpful at first. I asked God just exactly what it was He thought He was doing to allow my Running Buddy to get sick.
God responded by talking to my spirit; sometimes He does that. He asked me if the Running Buddy was mine or His. I had to admit that I didn't own my Running Buddy and that God did.
Then He ask me who it was that could take better care of my Running Buddy, me or Him. "Well...You can, God, " I had to admit.
Finally, He asked me, "Would you trust Me with your Running Buddy, since I love him more than anyone else can?" "...OK," I said with some hesitation.
"After all," said God, "Wasn't I the One who gave you the Running Buddy as a gift in the first place?" I had forgotten that.
So I trusted the Running Buddy God gave me back to Him. That got me to thinkin' some better thoughts, like a Scripture verse we've talked about before. Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take."
God has really been helping the Running Buddy in recent days. And in the process, He is teaching me more about prayer, so we better have one!
Dear Lord, teach us all what it means to trust You. Help us know that You love most and best. Continue to be with my Running Buddy by "strengthening Him with power by Your Holy Spirit in his inner being." So be it, Lord! Amen.
Proud of you,
Pastor Wilson
Ps Sorry I haven't been writing here as much over the last month. I will get back at it!
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