Impossible.

The things that bother me most are permanent. They are there and that won't change. So why do I waste my time in disagreement? Why would I want to waste time or slam my head full of idea against something so impossible? Something so pointless; surely I'll just be disapointed and discouraged.

But.

What if they aren't really impossible? Those things aren't known for changing, but it's still possible? If I failed should I really be discouraged?

I have been fighting my own mind ever since I can remember.
"To try, or not to try..."
"To peacefully withdraw, or fight."
"To be strange and original, or follow."

I don't just mean the superficial things. To give up or not, to be nice or not, to be origianl or a robot... I mean spiritually.

I've done quite a bit of reading in Ecclesiastes. The writer paints a very dim picture of how things we want to accomplish and the work we do is meaningless. But another question is if we never did anything how much purpose would we have?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

These verses seem very out of place compared to the rest of the book. Describing how the work we do is pointless... but still there is a time and a place for everything.

Maybe, the truth is that all of these things simply pale in comparison to God.

Just because I have bad days and struggle while i'm here in Mexico, doesn't mean that things we do here are pointless. Just because I will fail or stumble while I'm living my life, doesn't mean that it's pointless. There is a time for everthing. Do you want to know who determins that time? The one person that trumps them all.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

13 Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole duty of man.

The things that bother me the most are permanent. They are stationary. They are difficult. How can I assume they are impossible. It's just all in God's time.

Like a tree

Trees. There are many different kinds of trees.
My favorite kinds are tall,
with dark bark,
spacious limbs
and deep green leaves.

Can you imagine this tree?

Imagine how the sun shines through it and the breeze gracefully moves through. The tree is very strong and sturdy. It has weathered many years of change and perseverance. This tree is alive.

I was thinking yesterday. Like I said in my last note, I tend to think a lot these days.

I struggle with painful memories. Sometimes I can dismiss them, and it's healthy to do so... but yesterday was very different. I found myself stuck in an emotional rut. I don't know exactly why these feelings surfaced or why I couldn't move past them... but there they were.

We are trees.

Ok, now... bear with me. I hope you don't hear me saying, "hey, you're brown, green and old..." These things are strictly metaphorical depending on who you are ;).

But seriously. We should be trees... trees are awesome!

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates
day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of
water that yields its fruit in season, and it's leaf does not wither.
In all that he does he prospers.

What holds us back from being everything God says we can be? For me, this barrior is myself. I struggle to let myself truely live free and appreciate my salvation. Fear holds me back from seeing that I am blessed. It hides the truth of how deep my roots go.

What are you? Maybe you aren't like one of the illustrations in the Psalm... but do you ever feel like you just aren't there? Maybe you don't 'walk in the counsel of wicked,' but you struggle to trust God?

I was thinking a lot yesterday... and after some meditation, I remembered that I am a tree. Don't let the past tell you different, don't dwell on yesteday.

Trees. Have bark, are green, are tall... not perfect, but beautiful still the same.

"In all that he does, he prospers..."

Dare

I was thinking the other day. I tend to do this a lot. So, with all of my years of experience in this area, I thought it best to share a few of them with you all listening. I have a thought.

Have you looked around lately and felt that things were incomplete? I would never presume to complain that things around me aren't up to par, or that things are just so-so... but sometimes I get a vibe that things can be better. Do you know that feeling?

I was thinking the other day, and today for that matter... about how God uses the least likely people to serve him. The story of Jonathan and his Armor bearer came to mind. Think about these two men. What were their roles?

You have one who is the Kings son. And another who is basically his servant- with a sword. But what else is there? Jonathan could easily be quiet, wait for his fathers lead and ponder "what are we gunna do?" And justly so, his armor bearer would have stayed put... because he was just as scared as the rest of them.

But when I think about this situation the whole army faced, there are only two actions needed: Someone must lead and someone must follow.

Objectively, I would assume that the King, God's "anointed" would be the first to step up to lead, but instead... his son, a humble man, took the lead. But what good is a leader if no one follows? Jonathan would never ask for his armor bearer to risk his life, he volunteered it.

If you know this story already, I don't need to go into much more detail about these characters.... if you haven’t read this before, it’s in 1 Samuel 14.

My whole point is this… humility. But not where we usually sense it. When you’re able, don’t be afraid to take the lead. Don’t be afraid to speak out; don’t be afraid to go against the grain. There was a whole army still sitting around whenever Jonathan decided to ‘attack.’ Even the King hadn’t stepped up to the challenge. Lead: even when it seems crazy, even when it seems hopeless… don’t stop having hope.

But even more importantly… (Listen well to this one) Don’t be ashamed to follow. Don’t be afraid of trusting your leaders, don’t be a difficult follower, don’t forget that this job is so important as well. If Jonathan went ahead alone, he may not have been so lucky (sure, that really is in God’s hand.) But listen to what the armor bearer said to Jonathan, "Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." These words had to be empowering for Jonathan: encouraging, reassuring. The role that the Armor bearer played was so vital. The follower is vital.

Whether you are Jonathan or the Armor Bearer… it doesn’t really matter does it. Just don’t be a bench warmer. Take a step of faith out of your comfort zone. Trust someone else. Encourage each other if you fail. Thank each other for following. I dare you.