weeklythoughtexchange

There is much that is new today, in my life and yours; so much so, that it has given me reason to pause and ponder. Whenever we enter a new year we are embarking on an unexperienced adventure. No one has walked through this year before, so no one is able to tell us what to expect, what to dread, and what to look forward to. For this very reason it is easy to retreat; the old year is familiar and safe, though perhaps not without its faults.  Do we really have to leave it?

The same is true for new relationships. There is a thrill that comes with meeting new people and allowing them to become a part of your life and who you are. They have much to offer in helping us become improved individuals on this earthly road. But at the same time, each new relationship is a new ocean of uncharted waters; a new relationship requires new responsibilities and new expectations. We can’t keep everything the same and move forward. Do we really have to make these adjustments?

And then there are the little changes – the rebooted computer, the new quarter with a new student or two, the new youth camp to plan, the new puppy that has to be trained, and the list goes on.  Each of these things demands its quota of time and attention; it can leave us wishing and worrying – wishing that nothing had to change; worried that if we don’t do it all perfectly we certainly won’t be better off. Does there really have to be so much new?

Many of these thoughts were swirling through my head as I ran with my dogs yesterday. I am someone who is eager for adventure, but slow to embrace it when it arrives. I am a planner and it requires a certain amount of effort to shift from Plan A to Plan B or vice versa. When I encounter new, I need to make adjustments to my plan in order to ensure that the new fits without disrupting too many of the tasks already on my to-do list.  This new year I have a great deal of new in my life, so I am having to do a great deal of task-shifting and plan-adjusting, and not without some hesitation and lingering doubt.

As I was thinking, wrestling and praying I looked to the heavens and there was the most beautiful, perfect rainbow directly over my favorite park. I stopped my run and absorbed it. It grew more and more radiant as I lingered and instantly my thoughts went to my God and how wonderful He is. His love and promises are overarching my life, just as  that rainbow was overarching my park. The words, “Enter into the joy of the Lord,” settled on my mind. New things in my life are not coincidence or happenstance. They are brought into my life by the hand of a loving God; He is the expert Planner and divine Author of my life’s story. These changes aren’t really new; it simply appears that way to me because I haven’t read the whole book yet. They are simply the next chapter waiting to be read. I am going to be doing a lot of reading this year!

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is the variety of twinking lights that grace the community as creatively as icing on the cookies which come with this time of  year. Some of the lights are charmingly arranged, as if an artist was designing his masterpiece. Other lights reflect the enthusiasm of a two-year old cookiemakier. 🙂 I delight in them all.

Last night I had the privilege of viewing the light displays on the ships docked in Pearl Harbor. The tour was simple, yet the atmosphere left my heart full. Seeing the lighted Arizona Memorial, with her flag flying at half-mast and the USS Missouri standing sentry nearby, merged the past, present and future. And even viewing the active ships was sobering. These ships represent lives impacting the world, and yet we all come together at this significant season to remember.

I wonder about myself. Do I glow with the joy of knowing the true significance of Christmas? When people encounter me, are they left with a refreshing fragrance that there is hope that comes with living? Does the message of my Savior’s birth set the beat of my heart? And does my heart inspire others to look heavenward?  The lights of Christmas are a symbol of Christ piercing the darkness of sin that has overwhelmed the world. We need no reminder that sin continues to consume this fragile earth; we need to be the reminders that Light exists.

Within every living being there is an instinct of self-preservation, no matter how domesticized that being has become. It can manifest itself in dogs fighting over a bone; a kitten hissing and spitting at the family dog; a bird flying away when a hand hovers above it.  Human beings also have the instinct of self-preservation, though as we grow older it becomes a bit more subtle.

As beings created in the image of God, we are endowed with an awareness of right and wrong. This knowledge is both a blessing and a battle. It is a blessing when we choose to do what is right, even during the most difficult of circumstances, because that choice has strengthened our character. It is a battle because our natural will desires to protect its own interests and often the right choice demands a slaying of those very interests. What is it, then, that would prompt us to do the difficult thing when it goes against the very nature we are born with?

It is an all-consuming trust in the nature of God. When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He calls us to pick up our cross. The cross is a symbol of death: following Christ requires a dying to self. That can only be done if we trust that He is Who He says He is. His commands are contrary to what my natural self would desire: I do not want to love my enemies, wait for good things, or submit to authority. I do not want to give without getting something in return or be content with less, rather than more. I do not even want to attempt to rejoice in the midst of suffering or to listen to the woes of others when I have a lot on my mind. But is that the kind of person I was designed to be?

An accurate view of God will help us gain an accurate view of ourselves. We were designed to have fellowship with Him. To achieve this beautiful purporse we must surrender ourselves and our instinct of self-preservation and trust that His accomplished will in our lives was worth the white flag.

Americans are renowned for being a wasteful people. We are an instant society with a throw-away reflex. We have everything from instant cocoa to movies-on-demand to voice controlled texts. We throw away whatever we can’t use now. This noncommittal conditioning through material items has trickled down to affect our moral character. As a people we avoid anything that requires longterm effort: marriages after the honeymoon, unplanned children, children with unplanned needs, elderly family members, pets that are too much work, school assignments that require more than one step to be completed, even our presence on a global level is dictated by the level of convenience it affords.

In his book Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper suggests that an all-about-me life is a wasted life. When we determine our next decision or action based on how much it will inconvenience our personal bubble space we are affirming the  hypothesis that it is all about us.  Let’s see if we cannot salvage our lives so far and realign our life to the compass of God’s design.

Reduce:  Think about your regrets. “I shouldn’t have eaten that extra helping of dessert.” “I should have stopped to help that homeless guy.” “I wish I had gone walking with my neighbor when she asked me too. Perhaps she had something on her heart to talk about.” “I wish I hadn’t lost my temper with my kids.” I am sure you have your list of regrets. What can you do today to reduce the number of regrets on your list tomorrow? Can you spend more time in prayer and Bible-reading? When faced with a decision that forces you to choose between yourself and someone else, go with the other person.

Reuse: If something works, reuse it. If there is a relationship in your life that is helping you grow, cultivate it. It might take a lot of work and you might feel like your heart is on the line because you’re not sure where it’s going to go – but if it causes you to grow in your walk with God and grow as a person, don’t give up.  If you have a schedule that helps you stay disciplined in healthy living and spiritual improvement, keep at it. If you are reading a book for school that has too much scenic description but your teacher wants you to finish it, keep reading! Like I said, our human nature shies away from committment and gets bored with long-term; when you have the opportunity to work at something, carry on! Don’t give up or let go.

Recycle: God is gracious and merciful in how He is willing and able to take our mistakes, regrets, hurts and fears and turn them into beautiful vessels that can be used for His glory – if we will only allow Him to do so. Just as we are willing to take our used glass, paper, and aluminum to be cleaned and molded into something new, we should be willing to let go of the baggage from the past and be excited to see what God will do with it. He will definitely make us stronger and wiser in heart; He may use us to minister to other people who are a few steps behind us.  But first we need to set out that recycling bin and fill it up with what we don’t need to hold on to.

You may not be able to change an entire societal mindset, but you can change your own worldview. Remember that you have nothing to do with your existence on this tiny planet in this great universe. A life that is in pursuit of the God who placed you here is anything but a wasted life. Start today.

Long ago, in the days of bold knights mounted on even bolder steeds and fair maidens guarded within the formidable stone walls of proud castles, there lived a king who loved his daughter very much.  This princess was all that fairytales delight in describing: lush locks of rich brown hair, pale skin with a hint of blush, a musical laugh and a skip in her step. Of course, she had a kind heart to match; all in her kingdom adored her. She would flit throughout the city, playing with the children, sitting at the feet of the grandmothers as they recounted tales from the past, and helping the hardworking mothers with their daily household duties.

Needless to say, there were more than women and children who adored her. She caught the attention of many a young man, but none more so than one gallant knight who had known her when they grew up together as children.  The day came when he determined to summon every ounce of his courage and approach the king with his request to pursue her heart for his own.  This brave knight had slain dragons and conquered evil kingdoms, yet nothing caused his heart to tremble more than approaching such a devoted father.  However, his love for her overcame his fear and he humbly, but boldly, laid his petition before the king.

While the king was not surprised by the young man’s request, it saddened him just the same. He knew that this young man was the model of chivalry and had done the kingdom proud. He also knew that the young man was sincere in his request. But an awareness of these facts did nothing to sway his reluctance about releasing his daughter so easily. After much reflection he finally replied, “Young knight, I will grant your request with one qualification. During your courtship I will also entrust you with the key to my castle’s treasure chamber. Within those hidden vaults, lies the entirety of the kingdom’s wealth. Should you decide you do not wish to marry my daughter you will be allowed to keep the key and you will be a more powerful man than I. If your love for her does not change, you will exchange the key for my daughter’s hand in marriage.  Do you accept this condition?”  Without hesitation the knight agreed and word of it quickly spread throughout the kingdom.

They courted for many months and the young man’s love only changed to become deeper and more pure.  With great joy the princess accepted his offer of marriage and soon they were exchanging their vows in front of a rejoicing kingdom, for the people loved both brave knight and fair princess. So great was the rapture of the crowd and the young couple that no one noticed the sinister villain silently slipping up towards the hero and heroine of our story, and when the groom reached out to place the key in the king’s hand in exchange for his bride’s ring, the flash of a sharp blade slicing the air stunned all who saw it.

Apparently the villain’s goal was to grab the key and disappear into the crowd. He was not successful, but he had severed the knight’s ring finger of his right hand – the hand that was supposed to bear his wedding ring.  The crowd held its breath to see how the knight would react. He calmly stopped the flow of blood and held out his left hand, indicating that he wanted the princess to place the ring there.  She bravely did so and without hesitation held out her left hand. And ever since, as a sign of commitment and bravery, the wedding ring is boldly displayed on the left hand.  True love requires courage and commitment.

The sound of a beating heart

is heard on Day 21

is evidence of life,

capable of feeling pain.

The sound of a beating heart

is quickly followed by eyes, ears, lungs, arms, legs,

and blood flowing through a tiny heart and even tinier veins.

The sound of a beating heart

is connected

to reaching fingers with miniature fingernails,

to an active mind.

The sound of a beating heart

is the first step towards

hiccups

and dreams of dancing, running, walking, kicking,

laughing and embracing life.

The sound of a beating heart

fills our ears.

It could be yours, it could be

mine.

The sound of a beating heart

is the symbol of tomorrow.

The sound of a beating heart

fills the air with its silence.

It is no more.

Tomorrow

Is

G   O  n

e……..

In Home For a Bunny (Brown, 1965) we follow a little bunny in his search for a home of his own. He meets a variety of different creatures along the way and asks each one if he could live with them. The answer is always “No” and he begins to feel quite lonely and sad.  One of the messages in this story is that every heart is seeking a place to call home; for some, they are born into a safe, loving family that wants them; for others, this is not the case. Many children, even in our beautiful Aloha state, were unwanted from the moment their little hearts started to beat.

Family is central to a person’s identity. Ask any person about their life story and at some point in the telling family will be mentioned – sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. It is in the home that we learn personal responsibility for our actions and for our role in the home.  It is where we learn the character values that help us become contributing citizens. In our family we learn about being connected to others and that there will always be someone we can run back to when we are scared, or hurt, or lost.  In a family we learn that our actions, words, and attitudes affect others and we learn to choose them carefully. Now ponder the consequences of a child without a family?

According to an August 2012 report from the Administration for Children and Families, a resource of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is a decline in the number of children in the foster system, but that is not the rest of the story.  “The encouraging news is that fewer children are in foster care settings and fewer children in foster care are waiting to be adopted,” said George H. Sheldon, acting assistant secretary at HHS’ Administration for Children and Families. “Our challenge continues to be encouraging states to reduce existing foster care caseloads, working to promote the well-being of children who receive child welfare services and re-doubling efforts to promote the adoption of kids from the child welfare system”  (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/acf-releases-adoption-and-foster-care-data). Yet the fact is that there are still children in the system, waiting for a home.  In a recent report from the  Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System show that “at the end of Fiscal Year 2011, 104,236 children in foster care were waiting to be adopted” (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/acf-releases-adoption-and-foster-care-data).     And those numbers are just from the United States; around the world there are millions of orphans longing to belong. The implications of these numbers are staggering.  These children are going to grow up and have an impact on our society and the world, and we are left to wonder what kind of impact it will be. Who is shaping the characters of these children?

Needless to say, adoption is an option for these lost and lonely children. It is an option that is frequently pushed aside by those who fear the risks of turning babies over to strangers, or who cringe at the thought of opening up their homes to strangers.  There are some people who would be open to considering  the adoption option but fear the risk of falling in love with a child and then losing them.  Others dread the piles of paperwork and the enormous price tag attached to the child.

I am extremely privileged to personally know several adoptive families. The children come from a variety of backgrounds – foster to adoption, adoption agencies, personal connections, and even international. Some were adopted as babies, others as young children, and one as a teenager. In all cases there were adjustment challenges, but love has managed the stormy seas. Upon hearing about my writing this article, one outspoken 10-year old said, “I don’t have anything to say. My mom is my mom.” That just about sums it up, doesn’t it?

I interviewed one adoptive mother, Mary,  simply because I wanted to hear it in her own words. She has three boys that she fostered from infancy and eventually adopted.  Consider her thoughts:

Adoption is the giving of life by the birthmother and the receiving of life by the adoptive family. It is a sacred trust. It is a life-giving and life-affirming act. All three of my boys were supposed to have been aborted, but were not.  Adoption has changed my life. It has made me less judgmental…and has given me more compassion and patience. It has strengthened my love and admiration for children and give me the desire to work with them as a profession. The pros of adopting are the amazing support system that the state provides to help adoptive families; the cons are the baggage that can come with children who may have attachment issues or behavior problems if they were exposed to drugs. Have the birth family present in our lives has been a blessing…however, Z is unable to see his birth family and this causes him great sorrow.  I fell in love with each of my children and they ended up never leaving after being in foster care. It was a willingness to love the “least of these” in Jesus’s name.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. This is the time of year when we celebrate the families that have come together through adoption. It’s the time of year when we support those in the process of adopting. It’s the time of year when we rally together to raise awareness about the many children waiting for their turn to come home.  There are numerous family-friendly resources for adoptive families. One such resource is Steven Curtis Chapman’s organization Show Hope:  www.showhope.org. On this website you can read beautiful testimonies of families coming together through adoption, as well descriptions of resources that can aid in the adoption process, including financial assistance for adoptive families.  When we are willing to love selflessly miracles can happen.  And the Little Bunny?  He found a home with someone who was willing to share its life with another beating heart. Can you?

This week I had all of my 7th graders write a short essay on what they will do when they are president. I thought it would be interesting to see what they are absorbing from the election hubub and how they are interpreting it. Below are excerpts from their essays.

When I am president:

-“I want to create a program that will help people who are getting bullied heal and put everything behind.”

-“I would ban homosexual marriages because same-sex marriags can be wrong.”

-“I would have every person who immigrates to the United States pay #1 so that we will have more money.”

-“I will lower gas prices. I will lower gas prices because I think about $4 a gallon is a little outrageous. A price I would set would be around $1 a gallon….I would also invent a $500 bill and a $1000 bill. I would make coins extinct by making every pricing have a “0” or a “5” at the end of the price.”

-“I am going to ban abortion. If I ban abortion this would make more Americans. By having more Americnas this would make more jobs, which would help the economy.”

-“I would try to boost the population of Christianity by being an example. And at most try to put some Scripture into my speeches to boost them up.”

-“I would have our militiary be more like special ops.”

-“I would ban abortion because babies should have a chance to live.”

-“I will stop all madness. I would fix cruelty, such as parents killing family members, and abortion, and the law Obama wants to make about being more dependent on the governmetn. I don’t want them to set a rule saying that you can’t grow your own garden…I would also have every morning dedicated to God. I want to change this nation’s attitude.”

-“I would make school hours longers. I would also get better teachers so we could keep up with China and make our own products.”

-“I wouldn’t allow abortion. Killing babies is such a bad thing to do.”

-“I would lower the taxes for all people, even for the rich. If I do that, then more people will be able to get jobs. Also, we need to have a good strong relationship with Israel.”

-“Our environment needs to be cared for. No more littering. No more dying creatures. We need to care about our environment in order to have an environment.”

-“I would make people stop cutting down so many tress. They made too many buildings in the big and less tress in the country. This equals bad oxygen!”

-“I would make more days on the weekend and less days of work because there could be more days of church. I would also make minimum wage $20 so that the homeless could at least have a home. We should also dig up our own oil so that we can save money so that one day we can pay back our debt.”

-“I would help the healthcare situations that the poor and eldely have problems with. I will try not to let them die. I will at least give the medication to take and give them money that they need.”

-“I also believe thatt children should have more edcuation in their schools. If children have more education I believe that they have more of a future to succeed in life.”

-“I would work with healthcare. People are starting to think that we should cut off life support of older people, and babies are being aborted. I believe that we should put ourselves in those positions: how would you feel? Would you want that to happen to you?”

-“Our military is a wonderful, elite group of brave men and women. We should not let ourselves be weakened because we cut down on the military. We are strong because we have a great military. If we cut down on them then we become more vulnerable. When we are vulnerable, countries can take that opportunity to take us down. I would not let that happen.” (from a daughter of a soldier who has been deployed nearly as many times as the number of years she has been alive)

As their teacher I might be biased, but I think these kids have a decent handle on the relevant issues at stake in this election. Some of their solutions might be a touch simplistic, but overall I believe that, between the pencil sharpening, bathroom breaks, rabbit trails during discussions, and exaggerated stories told during subject transitions, they might actually get a lot done as president – at least more than the adults in government.