Faith in the unseen

Did you watch the video above did you close it early or were you fascinated and intrigued by the inner works of the mechanisms that mark or keep track of what we call time?

This morning when I wound my watch; which by the way is a wedding gift from my lovely wife, I found myself just entranced by the movements. As I watched I came to a realization that time is seldom recognized or marked anymore. What I mean is that with the advent of the digital watch and other electronic devices, time is seldom looked at as something that is moving, but rather something that merely exists. I almost get the impression that we as a society no longer have time for time. We are too busy being distracted by this or that, running from one engagement and to another. Time has seemingly been pushed aside. Were once it was celebrated; as in the invention of standard time, it has now been trivialized.

I mean we now have access to everything all of the time, so why should I care about when things are open? We live in a global market and leverage time zones in both our personal and business lives; I can buy anything anywhere and have it shipped to me the next day. Instant gratification has dulled my sense of time, decreased my urgency and allowed all of us to procrastinate until the very last possible moment. It is no wonder that many of us have caught ourselves in a daze, looking around at our environments and saying, “Where did the time go?”

This lack of connection with the unseen march of a force so powerful to our finite beings, that I would say is more than just ignorant, but even foolish. For if we by thoughtlessness allow ourselves to believe that there is infinite time, why would we ever do anything? Couldn’t we just push things off until the tomorrow that never seems to come? Truly this is a shame, one in which many of us share!

For if our life; which is based and maintained by time, is ignored, then how will we ever learn to appreciate it or anything else. Isn’t a rose appreciated when it blossoms, don’t our faces stretch to the sun for warmth and tell me who among us does not welcome the end of a winter storm? So with this knowledge, what should we do? I know that I for one wish to appreciate all that I have, which means that I would have to understand that time effects my appreciation.

For my part I will continue to look and wind my watch daily in the morning as a reminder that the day to come is precious and that one day like me, that same watch may run out of time. May I always have faith in the power of the unseen, and respect for it.

3 Squares

Everyone I know understands that a healthy life includes a healthy diet which usually includes, breakfast, lunch and dinner. You may have even heard the term 3 squares a day, or 3 square meals a day. This Idea of being square eludes to blocks and by extension buildi9ng blocks which form a good foundation for daily living. I still remember being taught in school the nutritional chart and the different categories of food groups and the concept of an ideally balanced diet. Even now many years later balance is considered to be the key to our lives. Work verses play, leisure verses exercise, junk food verses whole food and many other moderations including how much meat we eat, fruit and vegetables.  Even those of us who perhaps don’t have the greatest balance in some of these areas still agree that 3 squares are important.

So it is surprising to me why it took so long to figure out that what I apply to my physical being should also be applied to much spiritual being. Just as my body requires certain things for health, maintenance and growth, so too does my spiritual being. Many times I have wondered why I feel disconnected, uninspired and even despondent because God feels so far away. The reality is that it is I and not him who is far away. I need to feed my spirit on 3 squares just like my body. Prayer, meditation in the word, and listening to his spirit are the key elements to this growth. If I want to be a more whole, and a more complete person, should I not concern myself with more frequent feedings from his truth? And how much more important is it than the actual feeding of my body? I mean if I believe in life everlasting; one which is comprised of eternity in the spirit and not of earthly flesh is it not of even more importance? It must have been for Jesus even requested of Peter to “feed my Sheep” three times (aka 3 Squares).

John 21:15-17

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁵ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

¹⁶ He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

¹⁷ He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

So I have a new challenge to pursue, a new race to run for I wish to grow strong in my faith and the best way I can see right now is to dig into 3 squares a day. For those of us with children this is even more important because we are charged by God to feed and be responsible for our children, so I encourage you as well to make sure they get all their physical and spiritual nutrition. Even the veggies!

Think outside the box

I don’t know about you, but I am a creature of habit and routine and once one has been established it is hard to change. This can be good or bad depending on the habit; balance in life is the key to living well. Of late I have noticed that I have been spending too much time in front of the “box” that we call TV. I admit it I am a bit of a junkie when it comes to movies or a good series like, House and Madmen. The trouble is, if we are not careful we can be sucked in and it can change from a treat or occasional, to the norm.

As I said, recently I have noticed that my time allocation has been shifting from things I should be focused on, to what’s on the box. Because of this other areas in my life are beginning to suffer, such as sleep, studies and even my relationships with others. My priorities have become skewed, just like it would with any other singular focus. I am sure you have heard the phrase, “too much of a good thing.” Well, for me this is certainly the case.

In life, each of us can get caught in one of these ruts. We can find ourselves comfortable or resistant to change, this is why I believe strongly in the art of discipline/fasting. In order to regain balance, sometimes one must take drastic measures to restore the proper level of importance to the things in our life. Although to some this might seem drastic or crazy for a guy like me, who defines himself as all or nothing, it’s just right. So with October rolling around, I have decided to take a break, a little vacation and focus on thinking outside of the box. I challenge you to do the same with something that is too BIG in your own life.

My Wife, My Hero

Many of you know this already, but I adore my wife and she is my hero. Despite the frequent rumors, she rescued me and it was not the other way around. Merna, my wife is vision impaired this in no way means that she is disabled! I hate that word, because it is full of ignorance and lacks the understanding that we are all differently gifted from God.

What I mean to accomplish by writing this blog is to open people’s eyes to how wonderful she is, how courageous and how good God is. Now I do need to point out here that even with my understanding of who she is this is only a fraction of what I am sure she has to cope with on a daily basis. I want you to imagine what it is like to not be able to see by closing your eyes, feel the darkness sink into to your mind. I know that you’re probably like me and can stumble around in the dark at night to get that glass of water or use the washroom, but think of being outside of an environment that you know. Slowly go through all of the daily routines, like taking a shower, picking out your clothes, walking to the bus, finding a seat, knowing if you’re on time or simply seeing a Tim Horton’s you can pull into for that first coffee. Now go over them again with no or low vision. Can’t find the shampoo that your husband moved, not sure if your shirt matches your pants or shoes, not being able to see the construction on the sidewalk, missing the bus because he stopped short of the actual stop, and not knowing where you are or simply what stores are available. I hope you don’t have to use the washroom right now; you might be walking into the men’s room instead of the ladies.

What I have described above is a fraction of what my lovely wife deals with daily and if you couple this with good intentioned people, who grab her, pull her cane or simply walk over it to get on the bus first then I think you will start to understand her better. I don’t know about you, but I have doubts that I could do it. Simply living seems to tuff, except that for her it isn’t. She lets nothing stop her from doing what she wants to do; trial and error does not phase her. Top that off with all of her abilities, like crochet, harmonica, piano, cycling, singing and her continuous offers to assist those around her and you being to have an appreciation for how wonderful she is.

So I will close this letter with thanks to God for bringing her in my life and guiding her on a daily basis. Truly I have been blessed as a man to know so great a woman.

Benefits of Sleep

My brother posted a challenge on Facebook the other day, one which I have chosen to accept. Now only after I had done so, did I learn that he was not the author of the challenge but simply an advocate of the idea. The premise of this challenge was to create a piece of writing without electronics, but with the old school pen and paper. The perception being that by doing this exercise, it would result in better content and writing. And so here I am writing today about sleep, the subject my brother David suggested. As you can see I have typed the resulting piece from the original chicken scratch.

As I am both fond of sleep and know many of its values, I think this was a good choice. Sleep is an essential part of life and takes up and makes up about one third of our day and by extension life. I suggest that it is very important to all of us and that the benefits of sleep are numerous. Here are the ones that I personally value the most.

Sleep is great for repairing the body. During this immobile state, all of the body’s miraculous energies have the opportunity to focus inwards. Scars heal, nails and hair grow, blood is made and even our spines are rejuvenated. Did you know that while you are laying down the individual parts of your spine swell? These fluids which are lost during the day; after the effects of gravity and the whole day have been pressing you down are once again allowed to pool and be absorbed.  That means that you are taller in the morning then when you go to bed.

Not only is does our physical being and body reboot, but so do our complex minds. As we sleep our brain switches into housekeeping mode and begins the filing of information. Memories that have been taken in during the day are sifted and transported from short term to long term memory. Many times I have even awakened during this process by the solving of a problem that occurred during the day. I am sure that if I were to interview people, that they would have similar stories of their own sleeping Eureka moments.

As with both the mind and body, our spirits are refreshed as well. Today in our fast paced environments we are constantly bombarded by information, stimulation and anxiety riddled issues. This overwhelming condition can only be reset through sleep. If you are like me, you can sometimes get too wrapped up in things and then they can override all other reasonable thoughts. This worry or obsessing state is not only damaging but also stops you from moving forward and impacting other things that you wanted to accomplish. Sleep is the ultimate perspective reset. My problems never seem to be as large or as important the following morning as they do in the present moment. The simple fact that my existence is established daily, every morning, brings new attitude and appreciation for life.

So let us not be childlike and struggle against this great gift, but let us rejoice that come the morning we will feel more than just refreshed, but new and full of life in the knowledge that with sleep comes energy, perspective and good health.

Dress Code: It had to be said

at·trac·tive

adjective

1. providing pleasure or delight, especially in appearance or manner; pleasing; charming; alluring: an attractive personality.

2. arousing interest or engaging one's thought, consideration, etc.: an attractive idea; an attractive price.

3. having the quality of attracting.

beau·ty

noun,

1. the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

lust

noun

1. intense sexual desire or appetite.

2. uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness.

3. a passionate or overmastering desire or craving (usually followed by for ): a lust for power.

Okay now that we have the definitions of the world’s idea of what is beautiful and attractive, I would like to address an issue that in my opinion has gotten out of proportion; today I would like to discuss our obsession with our physical bodies.

I am noticing more and more the lack of decorum; you could even call it a lack of grace or shame with the way some people dress. Everyday my vision is assaulted with the sights of people wearing what I would call inappropriate clothing. From a man’s perspective I have to say that it has gotten to the point where I have left a room, elevator and store isle, because I was not comfortable being in the same space as the individual in question. Now I know that we are supposed to have an open mind, allow for individuality and even have understanding for our differences. But just like every other area of society, boundaries and limits are necessary for all parties.

I have seen pockets on shorts, which are longer than the shorts, shirts that are sheerer than my curtains, yoga pants so tight that every crease is visible and people with more clothes on at the beach than some walking around in the mall. My question is when is enough, enough from the perspective of the collective society? I say that if you approach me to talk to me and have to cover your chest with your hand or pull up a piece of clothing maybe your wardrobe needs to be adjusted.

 All the ladies that I call friends, and family members near and far, you know that I love you, but believe me when I say that dressing this way is not good. I know that some of you feel good all dressed up and that you want to look your best. But when did your best mean exposing as much skin as possible without being arrested for exposure? I have to ask what are you hoping to attract and how could you possibly feel good showing everything God gave you to everyone? How meaningful will intimacy with your significant other be, if privacy or modesty is not in the mix? If we have seen it all, what then is left for us to discover? You are more than the sum of your parts, you are a mind, soul and body.

Look at it this way, if you encourage men to think of you and focus on only the physical then how long will that kind of attraction last? Our bodies do and will change, don’t you want someone around who sees to the heart of you and not just that new grey hair or wrinkle. What emotion other than lust is involved with the sight, none that I can think of? So when our need for comfort, joy, safety, security, intimacy, and all the other ranges of emotional needs arise how satisfied will you be?

Why am I writing this, what is my point? I want you to know that you matter, you are more than the clothes and make up you wear and you have great value. Hopefully with this posting you will see it too.

1 Peter 3:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

³ Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ⁵ For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.

Is calling someone disabled Prejudice?

Many people throw this term around without understanding it’s true meaning so I am looking to get them to think about it in a different light. First let me just say that we are all disabled in some way form or fashion, we are all different and have different skills and abilities. It is what makes us humans unique; we were created in God’s image, all of us. The Bible even says, to curse no man for we were made in his image, James 3: 8-10.

Prejudice by definition, is projecting one's own ideas and concepts about an individual onto them without knowledge or validity or truth. These preformed ideas are usually based on limited knowledge regarding a geographic or cultural locale. I contest that in so doing, we are actually disabling our own minds and ourselves. For the definition of disable is; “ to make unable or unfit; weaken or destroy the capability of; cripple; incapacitate: ie. He was disabled by blindness. ”

This is where I would like to pose a general question, since when has focusing on anyone shortcomings ever lifted our perception of anyone or see the best in them or the hope of Christ which lives in us? It doesn’t. If you notice the definition above again, it say to make in the beginning, that is referring to the person who is doing the projecting. The object, or person who you are judging is not actually what you believe they are just because you think it. We as a society must make room in our minds for the possibilities of an individual, and should not limit them to our musing or limited understanding of their attributes.

I would like to suggest that we are called to a higher calling, one of enablement, both of our minds and others. In Corinthians 12:11-13 , Paul mentions that we are all part of one body with diverse gifts and callings and that we should exhort one another in Hebrews 10:25. So I encourage you to step out of that box we have been living in and have an open mind regarding people’s abilities. I ask you to see them as different-abled and not disabled and renew your mind as in Romans 12:2.

P.S. Just another additional thought that crossed my mind on the subject. Sometimes we focus so much on the ability that we lose sight of the person and in our minds they become the disability we percieve and stop being the person. We need to all stop objectifying each other and accept each other as Christ did for us.