In All Things Give Thanks ....

I'm keeping the soap box in the corner for this one; no need to break anything down or offer any insight. The Sunday before Thanksgiving our youth had a worship service -- after some scripture and sharing in communion, we spent time counting our blessings. Each kid was given a stack of Post-it-Notes and asked to think of all the things they were thankful for. Then we stuck them on the cross. I Thessalonians 5:8 says "In all things give thanks." These are all those things ...

Grandparents... Pictures... Freedom... Sweat pants... Cell phones... Faith ...Smiles ....Family... Pens... Missionaries ...That I was adopted ...Snail Mail... Other countries ....Music... Christmas music ....Cars ...Tennis ....Being able to have at least one good friend ...Washer & Dryer... Computer ...Clothes ...Basketball ...Food ...My brother ...Jesus ...School so I can have a good education... 3sixty5 ...Camera ...Jobs... My bed ...Sticky Notes ...Pandas ...Facebook ...Pillows... Being me... Rain boots ....Internet... Laughing.... Bagels ....Transportation ...Chocolate ....Frogs.... Dogs ....TV.... Halloween costumes..... Pizza Hut.... A church.... Soft blankets..... Contacts.... Mall..... Gum..... Home.... Christmas.... Duke .....Fuzzy Slippers.... Garbage pick-up... The lake ....Tarheels..... Showers before bed..... Fast Food..... Electricity.... Watches.... Hair ties.... My relationship with Christ..... Earth.... Inside jokes... My twin.... Waking up every morning for the last 11 years... Cherry Lemon Sun-Drop.... Bamboo.... Presents.... Air conditioning... Pants... Toothpaste/toothbrush.... My daughter.... God takes time to listen to my prayers.... Bread.... Comfort... Book bags... Pets... Bathrooms... Zebras... Fresh air.... Softball.... Colors... Bones... Dad... Clue (the game).... Cool socks.... Fresh chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream.... Buildings.... Nature.... Memories.... Toilet seats..... Helpful supplies..... X-Box Live.... Baltimore Ravens..... Lil Wayne.... Mom..... Hand Sanitizer..... Milkshakes.... Blankets.... Cookies.... Bubblegum..... Worship.... Purple.... Smiley faces..... Texting.... Dogs.... Candles.... Epworth UMC..... Strawberries dipped in chocolate... First Aid supplies.... Beach..... Military Uniforms (scouts, EMT, military).... Coffee.... Happiness.... Neighbors.... Radio.... Smiley faces... Sweatshirts.... Chairs..... North Carolina.... Kind words.... Stuffed Animals..... Relationships.... Alarm clocks..... Privacy... Books.... Flashlights... A roof.... Kitchens.... Water pressure..... Sundrop slushies...... Running water..... People who care about me.... Christmas lights.... Movies..... God loves me.... Snow.... Vault soda.... Harry Potter..... Paint..... Neon colors..... Soccer..... Flowers..... Trees..... DUH!Sciples.... Sunsets & sunrises.... Christmas trees.... Test corrections... Wii.... Bikes.... Teachers.... Football.... Dark Chocolate.... King of the Hill..... Guns... Safety.... South Park.... Vehicles that run properly.... Sister.... Eagle Scout.... Pocket knife... Yo-yos..... Health.... Build-A-Bear.... Fishing... Being loved.... Sports.... Outdoors... Candy.... Bed with right edge.... Plumberry candles.... My (our) planet.... Good books..... Indoor plumbing.... Being a Christian.... I can worship God without being worried that I could be hurt for it.... A heaven to go to when I die.... Hair products.... Love.... Halloween decorations.... Curtains to keep light out..... Christmas movies..... Tennis shoes... Apple Juice.... Cousins..... Hot Water..... Farming..... Converse.... That special someone.... iPod Touch..... Electronics...... iPod...... Chicken..... Socks.... Deoderant..... Make-up.... Money.... Bible..... Friends

The "THPPPPPTT" Heard Around the World

It's one of those weeks I look forward to with an uplifted spirit and a strong sense of purpose. It's Operation Christmas Child Collection week! For several years I have packed a shoebox for some unnamed child on another part of this planet that I'll never meet, but for whom I wish great joy and happiness as they clutch that box and "own" its mysterious contents.
Last week we did our annual youth group field trip to Wal-Mart for our Operation Christmas Child shopping spree! This is how it works - we pool our money together and announce the grand total then figure out how many boxes we can do for "x" amount of dollars. That's the master formula I've devised. Feel free to use it. Armed with a shoebox list of "dos and don'ts", 20 of us strapped in behind our shopping carts and took off in all directions in search of the perfect shoebox goodies.
If you've ever done a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child you'll remember that there is an emphasis on personal hygiene items like soap, toothpaste and combs. There is also an emphasis on school supplies like paper and pencils. Then things like socks and washcloths get their spot in the box. You fill in the crevices with hard candy, flashlights and crayons. We got that stuff out of the way and we know it'll be used and appreciated. But along with the responsible stuff you've got to leave a little bit of room for those completely inane items who's sole purpose it is to make a kid speak in a language we all understand; laughter! As I was wheeling my cart down a toy aisle in search of the perfect yo-yo I met up with one of my groups. They were belaboring over a little basketball goal or a Slinky to add to their box; quite deliberate and thoughtful about the pros and cons of each. But then something overrode the basketball goal and Slinky. They spotted the rubbery red Whoopee Cushion and a whole new world of possibilities opened up! They looked at me waiting for a response. OF COURSE I gave the approving nod!! You could feel the Christmas Spirit whirling through the novelty toy aisle -- whizzing past Silly Putty, flying through Etch-a-Sketches and darting through decks of Old Maid cards. It wasn't the fact that it was a Whoopee Cushion - it was the fact that some kid in Concord, North Carolina bought that Whoopee Cushion knowing it was going to be sent a million miles away to some kid in Cantprounounceit, El Salvador. That kid was going to open up that box full of soap and socks and Colgate and find his very own Whoopee Cushion. Instinctively, he would know what to do with it; blow it up, stick it in his brother's chair and patiently wait for the "THPPPPPTT!!!!!!!!" Afterwards, there would be a burst of laughter that would be heard throughout the village. And just like here, some would laugh along, some would roll their eyes and some would want to hear it again. All because that kid in Concord, NC knew "that sound" makes everybody laugh and laughter is the sound that love makes. Make sure you leave room in the box for that. Thanks Ashton.

On your feet now—applaud God!
Bring a gift of laughter,
sing yourselves into his presence.
-- Psalm 100:1-2 (The Message)

The Jack Ass, the Gorilla and God

A lot of the stuff I write about here are quirky little things that pop up in moments when I am in control and have the self-awareness to see God's presence working in my life. Sounds beautiful don't it? Well it's time to switch gears and talk about being rattled and impatient and treating God like a waitress in some forgotten truck stop diner who got my order wrong .... "This is what I asked for plain and simple. What's so hard about it and why can't I get it NOW?!" This is why patience is a virtue and can't be sold at Wal-Mart.
I have had the same best friend since I was 15 years old. Our friendship began on a church beach retreat. Ironically, I now haul bus loads of youth to those infamous beach retreats. I digress. But when I think back to it, doesn't that mean God had a hand in it from the beginning? He was there molding and mushing and laying the ground work for what would eventually turn into a long and meaningful friendship; we are total opposites so it had to be divine intervention. This friendship withstood high school drama, a few bumpy college years, marriage, kids, long distance maintenance and lots and lots of laughs along the way. We became each others chosen family and it seemed that all those high school notes that we passed back and forth signed BFA (best friends always) were actually a reality. Those cheesy "Best Friends" necklaces that we wore religiously (I was "st nds") actually had merit. Then after 20 some years we hit a wall about three years ago. I still don't know for sure if there was a straw that broke the camel's back --- I hadn't seen any camels along the way and certainly not any that seemed like they were having back problems. I think it surprised both of us to be honest. The wheels just sort of came right off (which is kinda funny, 'cause we do have a story about the wheels coming off). We didn't know how to react to each other on this level so after a while we just didn't react at all and it became easier and easier to do nothing ... at least for me. But I never imagined my life without her in it -- and even as phony and fake as it was, at least it was something. After a year and a half had passed we attempted to patch things up and put Humpty Dumpty back together again, but it was short-lived .... at least for me -- I quickly fell back into the "do nothing" mode. Then something began to cross my mind that sort of scared me -- it started feeling more and more like this thing, this relationship I had had since I was 15 was over for good. Y'know, I'm happily married and I've got some wonderful friends and I love my life and I dig my job and I'm doing okay in the grand scheme of things, but there was just something unsettling about giving up on this thing that started such a very long time ago. I know you have relationships, heck even marriages that run their course and then it's just better to move on .... but seriously? This one? C'mon! So I started praying for discernment ... that I would recognize what "to do" with it. But once I figured out what to pray about I wanted it right then and it didn't happen. Nothing happened. We continued to ignore each other. So was this my answer? Nothing had happened therefore it was over? Seriously? When I played it back in my head and let the dynamite blow it to pieces what I had left was a small talk, Christmas card friend that I had gone to high school with. We knew each other too well to fake it and that was just more painful than calling it quits ...
But then I turned 40 a couple of weeks ago and being the dutiful friends we are -- we talked for the first time in almost a year; the obligatory "Happy Birthday" phone call. The first 45 minutes killed me because it was safe small talk and nothing else. So me being the jack ass I am decided to attack the 500 pound gorilla in the room; with complete and wreckless abandon. If I was gonna go down it was gonna be right now but at least I'd have an answer. And then God in His mysterious way, in His own time, plopped himself right up there on that gorilla's shoulders with a bowl of popcorn and watched for the next hour. We were honest and we never blamed one another. What came to the surface in that long overdue conversation was grace and mercy and forgiveness. It was like it was scripted or something. The more we talked the more I realized we weren't going anywhere - we just needed a break. I can only hope that the past three years of loss and hurt are tools that God will use to put us back together again -- in a different way; a way to sustain the next 25 years. So I think we're gonna be okay this time - God willing.

Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world,
we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face,
we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us,
nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not still friends.
-- Anonymous