Disney and the Quilt of Life

Today, in the midst of one of those profoundly difficult moments in my life, I think back at a couple of weeks ago to our wonderful trip to Disney World. The analogy between that world of fantasy and our real world could surely be astonishing.

Life is, indeed, comprised of moments filled with contrasting emotions, not much unlike the trip to Disney we just took. The powerful hand of God stitches together moments of all kinds, in a constantly changing sequence that comes together in the end to create the quilt of our lives.

This sequence, at times may seem rather choppy and uneven. One moment feels like the smooth and pleasantly sweet ride of Soaring at Epcot, and the next minute it resembles the unexpected and thrilling Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. Some moments are boring like the educational boat ride that teaches you how to grow tomatoes hanging up-side-down…yawn… Some others are just down right scary like Dinosaurs or the Tower of Terror. Yet there are others which are a balanced combination of all of the above. They are a little bit scary mixed in with the right dose of thrill, excitement and smoothness to make it into an unforgettable ride, like the classic Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom. All in all, at the end, we gather together with our loved ones and just laugh at it all.

When it is all said and done, we chill around a beautiful and relaxing area and reminisce. We recall the adventure and remember the wonderful experience we just had. No tears, no fear, just perfect contentment.

When the moments are all put together, when the Lord has stitched the last moment on the quilt of our lives, we will find ourselves chilling, surrounded by the beauty of heaven in perfect joy for,

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelations 21: 4

This is my hope.

Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.         Isaiah 60: 20

Thanks to All My Friends

In the last few weeks Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 has truly become evident in my life: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Lately, a series of events have come up to interrupt the usual rhythmic flow of my life. Such interruptions have put me in a position where I must reach out to my friends for help. Needless to say, the response has been and continues to be overwhelming. Help comes in different ways to meet all my current needs from those who so willingly desire to extend their hand and serve. It has been shown to me that “a real friend sure sticks closer than a brother,” like Proverbs 18:24b says.

I take a few minutes today to praise and thank the Lord for the friends that He has given me along the way. I am moved by their loyalty and their desire to stick by me even in my unlovable moments.

The Lord provides for all our needs. He knows exactly what and who we need and He arranges it in a way that our needs are met at the right time.

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (NLT)

In the Light of the Super Moon

Early in May there was a big to-do about the so-called “Super Moon.” Perhaps you missed it; maybe you did get to see it. I didn’t know anything about it until the morning of the day it happened. I made sure, however, that I remember to take time to see it in the evening which, I thought, would make an already special day even extra- “super” special.

As it happened, that Saturday, May 5th was my son Grant’s birthday. He turned 10, which in itself is amazing to me. I just cannot believe that it has been 10 years since I received him into my arms as a - 22 inches, 8.14 oz -miracle. But life has a way to slip away very fast. The only thing left for us to do is to make sure we make good memories and imprint them into our hearts and minds in a way that they stay there forever. The fact that there was going to be a “super moon” that evening helped me shape a moment, a memory and perhaps even a meditation.

One of the presents we gave Grant and his brother too, was a full-size trampoline. They had been begging for one ever since their cousins Luke and Sarah got one last year. Dan finally gave in and got it a few days before Grant’s big day. It was a great joy to see the look of surprise in the boys faces once they figured out what was inside the huge box that their Dad had just brought in from its hiding place at Grandma’s house.

Right away we got to work on it and by that afternoon, it was up.

At sunset, as we were trying out the trampoline, I told the kids about the super moon. I highly doubt they heard a word I said. As the moon was not in full view yet, nobody seemed very excited about it. It got chilly, so I wrapped myself in a SpongeBob blanket and stood on the trampoline, trying to steady myself as the boys bounced around me. Finally, darkness came and the moon began to climb on the sky. In a matter of seconds we saw the light of the super moon surround us in a silver glow that made the darkness vanish. I turned to the boys, saw the look of awe in their little faces and realized the magnificent manifestation of God’s power in His creation had finally captured the attention of my distracted sons.

The light brightened up our backyard and bounced off the dark trampoline matt like a spotlight. I said a few things about how we are to be like the moon and reflect the light, the Divine Light we have in us. I reminded them how Jesus is the Light of the World and since He lives in us, we are His light and we need to let it shine. I said many things, which I’m sure they half-heard, until I finally decided to lay down on the trampoline to contemplate the super moon in silence. Dylan lay down next to me and later Grant did the same. We laid down in silence for a long while, basking in that glorious and miraculous gift from God.

A divinely appointed moment, a long-lasting memory, a time set aside for quiet meditation, it was all accomplished in the most simplest of ways, lying out on a trampoline, moon-bathing on a super moon in early May.

We have the Light in us. Therefore, we are called to be the light in this dark world.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5: 14-16

Moments

“…we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.”  1 Corinthians 15: 51b-52a

Many have said that life is made out of moments.  I tend to agree with that sentiment.  Life is a collection of moments.  Some are better than others, but I believe, they are all divinely appointed. 

It’s been a while since the last time I wrote anything.  The last couple of months have been filled with consuming moments which have taken away the ability for me to spend time in meditation.  Some of those very moments, however, are the ones which are bringing me back to the keyboard again today.

Yesterday, for instance, was a day that evolved wrapped around moments that made me paused and breathe in the goodness of the God we serve.  Both of my sons had special ceremonies at school to celebrate their academic and spiritual growth accomplishments.  They both received recognition for their own individual characteristics which they demonstrated throughout the school year.  “My cup runneth over,” as I heard Grant’s 4^th grade teacher give him an award “for being mellow and relaxed even during the craziest of times!”  I was also deeply touched when Dylan’s Kindergarten teacher visibly moved, announced at Kindergarten graduation, that Dylan’s spiritual characteristic is “contentment, because he is always happy with what he gets.”

Needless to say, I was very proud of my boys.  Evidently, all throughout the year, they have displayed spiritual characteristics that demonstrate the work of the Holy Spirit in their souls.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in them that directs their paths.  I always knew it, but these special recognitions have confirmed it:  I cannot boast for it is not by my own power that good things surround me, nothing good lives in my sinful nature, but thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7) 

Seeing my sons being recognized for godly characteristics that I lack was profoundly convicting to me.  On the other hand, it was also a joyful moment because the power of God was brightly and clearly displayed in front of my very eyes.  Even though my sons are exposed to a daily dose of lack of self-control, extreme overreaction, discontent and hysteria, God’s purpose and mighty hand direct their paths and lead them to quiet waters where they can find the ability to exhibit characteristics that they are not taught by their mother. 

As I sat at these events in Grant and Dylan’s school, I praised the Lord for the blessings and I praised Him for showing me that:

The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40)

I praised Him for I know that His promises are true, and that He who rebuked the winds and the waves is capable of working wonders in us if we only trust Him, believe Him and put our faith in Him, regardless of the situations or the surroundings.- He is faithful -.  Bless the Lord O my soul!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1: 17

Dylan and Grant outside their school after Kindergarten Gradutaion - The theme was Children of the King!