HIDDEN TEACHERS

On occasions, the greatest teachers are often overlooked. They are out there ready to teach us, but for some poor learners, like me, they are somehow hidden from our sight. These dynamic “hidden teachers” are named adversity and affliction.

Why is it that so often our greatest learning moments come in pain, despair, trouble, disappointment and hardship? Why is it that I am I so sure of myself I don’t seem to learn until the teachers of adversity and affliction take over the class? Dang it, I wish we sat in the front row during prosperity and affluence, but that is NOT the way we are made. We love to be self-reliant and when things go well, we don’t seem to attend class at all. I guess we hope one of the smart ones attend class and takes good notes.

“How gracious He will be when you cry for help. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more, with your own eyes you will see them” Isaiah 30:19

In order to be sustained physically we need bread and water, so too, in order to learn, accept the good bread of adversity and the sustaining water of affliction.

Wanting to Soar

I was on a run today, on country road in sunny Southern California, when I paused to watch the beauty, grace and ease of a large hawk soaring over me. Effortless, an occasional flap of a wing, and the bird circles, glides through the air. The hawk is perfectly designed for soaring the wings grab the air naturally without effort. As I watched I thought about my life. I know I haven't been soaring lately, maybe you feel the same? Sometimes life can get us down, we can be discouraged and living well is not effortless, it is a struggle. As I watched the magnificant bird I was reminded that God designed me to soar too. That by following closely His way, I too can live my life with a greater freedom, ease and hope. What a great reminder today.

"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 40:31

Every Day Counts

Our journey through this life is a process of building up and tearing down. Of moving forward and faultering. Some good and some bad. So many of us meander along hoping we arrive at our destination or even worse don't even have a destination in mind. I want to live my life with a keen understanding that every day counts toward something. I want each day to count toward developing a greater trust in God's love for me. I want the hours I spend today to be for good, for loving others and moving toward the destinations I have set before me. The book I read says "remember the ant and be wise" The ant has not ruler or king, yet they are busy doing their part, a little at a time, everyday and soon they have stored their food, or built their place to live. There are no shortcuts. Build your life just a little bit each day, moving foward, staying away from the stumble. But if you do faulter or fail, the next day starts anew, with its own set of worries, challenges and opportunities.

SWEET MORNING LIGHT

I live a beautiful forested location in Spokane Washington. I am a early riser. Many mornings I am up before the sun. This last year I have come to realize a greater importance of each new day. It is a special moment when the morning sun rises to meet the horizon and the sweet rays of light filter through the Ponderosa Pines. When I see this I try to stop for a moment and thank God for the sweet morning light.

Just three months ago I lost a dear friend and older brother to cancer. Two years before that, my wife lost her sister to cancer. Life is short. We have all heard it, but many, including myself, don't act like this reality could be ours. This summer as I sat in the Boise airport visiting my brother, I asked God to show me why Jim was sick? I asked Him to teach me --- what lesson should I be learning from this. As I often do, I opened my Bible to find a bit of inspiration. On this day I turned to Psalm 39 and found this:

"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath." We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth for someone else to spend. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.

Now when I see the morning light, I often think that privilege is no longer available for my brother Jim. My hope is that with each morning light I be thankful for it and make the most of it.