We knew we’d have a new president and it was pretty obvious that this is the way it would go. Now that it is over, it is time for us all – no matter which lever you pulled or screen you touched – to come together in support of our country. It’s time to pray for President Elect Barack Obama and our country! But PLEASE don’t do it with distain in your heart, like a religious dagger. Pray for him because we’ve come so far from some of the worst times in our history. Pray for him because we have the honor and freedom to elect our leaders, and should have the regard to respect the office they hold.
Remember, love your neighbor as yourself. “Judge not, that you not be judged…”, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you… It doesn’t say – treat others as they have treated you. We are called to do more, we are called to “turn the other cheek” and show everyone our amazing capacity to do good -- together.
The election is over – it’s in the books. What’s ahead for all of us is how we participate in our collective future. What examples will we set? What will we teach our children about respect for others and the presidency? How do we want to be treated by those that don’t always agree with us? What an awesome opportunity we have before us…
God bless you all, our country, president elect Barack Obama and all of our leaders!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Darth Vader and God?!
Jennifer's been pointing out I come home with a lot of God stories lately. Maybe one of the oddest would be connected to a halloween costume (being such a religious holiday and all -- I won't get into the fact that it's rivaling Christmas in popularity -- maybe later!).
So I was in the 4th store looking for a Darth Vader costume for the little man for halloween (he hasn't even seen Star Wars, but he saw Darth Vader on the front of the Target circular and said that's who he wanted to be for halloween). I had been up and down the aisles multiple times, as I had three times prior, to no avail. I accepted that I wouldn't be able to find "exactly the right one that I wanted", and grabbed an adult costume that would require some major renovations. Not a big deal unless you are such a control freak like me -- it should have been utter failure (according to Rob's Rules of Order). But the oddest thing happened once I accepted the smallness of the battle, that we are not in control of the big things NOR the little things. I turned the corner, and there in front of me -- right where I started and revisited at least one other time -- was the only remaining children's Darth Vader costume left in the Midlands (or so it feels). I immediately thanked God.
Now, really... I mean seriously... Does God care about a halloween costume? I pretty sure the answer is no!
But we know God cares about us -- he knows every hair on our head (more for some than others) -- he knows our struggles and our joys, our strengths and our weaknesses, he celebrates our victories and comforts us in defeat. He is our heavenly Father and he loves us very much. He wants us to succeed and he wants us to experience happiness and joy -- but as every good parent, He knows we cannot experience such things until we appreciate such things.
As I've mentioned, there are many other little stories along the way. Maybe I catalog them, maybe I won't, and this would be one of the least of those stories. But I do think it's another example of how we should celebrate and thank God for everything, everyday. My personal victory was NOT finding the costume, but finding God's hand in everything I do and thanking Him accordingly.
So I was in the 4th store looking for a Darth Vader costume for the little man for halloween (he hasn't even seen Star Wars, but he saw Darth Vader on the front of the Target circular and said that's who he wanted to be for halloween). I had been up and down the aisles multiple times, as I had three times prior, to no avail. I accepted that I wouldn't be able to find "exactly the right one that I wanted", and grabbed an adult costume that would require some major renovations. Not a big deal unless you are such a control freak like me -- it should have been utter failure (according to Rob's Rules of Order). But the oddest thing happened once I accepted the smallness of the battle, that we are not in control of the big things NOR the little things. I turned the corner, and there in front of me -- right where I started and revisited at least one other time -- was the only remaining children's Darth Vader costume left in the Midlands (or so it feels). I immediately thanked God.
Now, really... I mean seriously... Does God care about a halloween costume? I pretty sure the answer is no!
But we know God cares about us -- he knows every hair on our head (more for some than others) -- he knows our struggles and our joys, our strengths and our weaknesses, he celebrates our victories and comforts us in defeat. He is our heavenly Father and he loves us very much. He wants us to succeed and he wants us to experience happiness and joy -- but as every good parent, He knows we cannot experience such things until we appreciate such things.
As I've mentioned, there are many other little stories along the way. Maybe I catalog them, maybe I won't, and this would be one of the least of those stories. But I do think it's another example of how we should celebrate and thank God for everything, everyday. My personal victory was NOT finding the costume, but finding God's hand in everything I do and thanking Him accordingly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)