"We're Here! We're Here! We're Here!"

Today while watching a personal favorite, "Horton Hears a Who", I was amazed at how this story so parallels what religion does in the world. The story starts with the innocent, open Horton just living his little elephant life when he hears a voice from a dust speck asking for help. Recognizing that the life is of value he tries to protect who or whatever it is and places the dust speck for safe keeping on a cushy clover.

Upon seeing him talking to the dust speck the other animals decided Horton was acting rather peculiar and concluded he had flipped his lid. They refuse to see or hear the life that exist on that dust speck, so to them it does not matter, in fact does not exist.

Religion does the same thing, it dictates who can be saved and who can be loved by God, indeed who is "normal". God couldn't love hookers, or drug addicts or alcoholics and not possibly gays.. Religion has declared them imperfect and not worthy of love, mercy, or existence. God on the other hand is like Horton, quick to save them and quick to acknowledge, "a person is a person, no matter how small".

Many have been shunned by religion and its narrow parameters of who can enter the kingdom. Like the Pharisees; Mrs. Toucanella, Jane Kangaroo and Jr. in her pouch and the Wickersham Brothers seek to silence the Savior who loves all and worse yet to refuse to love or embrace whom He loves and created. It is far easier to boil those who are different in beezelnut oil!

Horton insists that the "Who's" do exist and must be acknowledged. He calls on them to make themselves heard so religion mut see their value. "We're here, we're here, we're here", they chant, much like the anthem many gay activist use; "We're here and we're queer". Why must a group be labeled queer? Queer means odd. Must everyone who does not fit the mold be degraded and treated as less than human or flawed in some way? God forbid! My mother used to always say, "God don't make no junk!"

We are all diamonds in the rough; it takes the Holy Spirit to knock off all our rough edges, polish us up and show our value. Whoever you are little who, to God you are priceless! "A person is a person no matter how small. A person is a person after all."

The old hymn says, "His eye is on the sparrow", meaning if God watches out even after one little sparrow, He must surely be concerned about me. How true this is, everyone and everything in His creation He made as He did for a unique purpose, so how dare we ask the Potter "why have You made me or why have You made them like this?" Eternity and Heaven only know who a "Horton" or a "Who" can help.

Overcomers - OVERCOME!!!

OMG!!! Drove in a blinding torrential downpour to work today with my driver window down because it won't stay up unless you prop it with a screwdriver. Needless to say, there was no good place to stop where you could see or be seen to put it up, so I drove and prayed.

This just seemed slightly familiar, since I'm from the Chicago suburbs originally and had to drive in blizzard like conditions to get home sometimes not being able to tell where the line was that separated you from that 18-wheeler that was coming your way or the ditch on the other side of the road. 13 foot drifts on the side of the house, city closed virtually for about three days. Again, just drove and prayed.

Lived and went to college for a short time in Missouri, my grandmother also lived for a short time in Iowa, and of course good old Midwest Tornado Alley as we call it. Yes, been in one of those too. My whole family and the dog in a half bath as the sound of the train going through finished. In the morning house behind us leveled, another neighbor, top floor gone, farm across road leveled, us water in basement. Again, just prayed.

I feel like the Apostle Paul when he listed being shipwrecked, etc. Bankruptcy, been there done that, job layoff, two years; foreclosure and repo of vehicle, been there too. Car accidents and bodily injury, wow, been in 8, but 4 where the car was totaled, only one where I was driving and t-boned, told I wouldn't walk again and would have nerve damage in my right hand. I'm walking, and have full use of my hand.

Went through a breakup at the end of last year of the most important relationship in my life. I thought I was going to die. I wanted to die. But God is rebuilding it even better than what it was.

Why did I say all that? You tell me. Have you been going through your own personal hell, and wonder if anyone has ever been where you are. For 10 years we even buried a different family member each year. I may not have been through just what you have but to even sit here and try to encourage you that it will get better, either makes me sound nuts or maybe, just maybe, like God is in control and does work all for good. Now that does not for a minute mean He is some bully out there making all this junk happen, OH NO!!! God is good, but life can be hard. We are told that it rains on the just and the unjust or the good guy and the bad guy also.

At the end of the day, my life is good. I'm working, not making a bundle of money, but it's good for now. We're rebuilding. Pick yourself up, find the will of God for you, pray and decree a thing and see it established, and keep on driving!!!

"Fresh Start"

Don't know how profound I feel like being today, but the term "Fresh Start" is in my head. I think everyone needs and deserves a fresh start from time to time. A kid that screws up, a first offender, any human being needs a fresh start. We all need the opportunity to not be held to our past mistakes and behaviors, and allowed to grow, learn, and change. We all have the potential to become the best version of ourselves, but often that is determined by our external world. True we are ultimately to live from the inside out, but until our internal strength, and resiliance, maturity and character, and overall self-esteem gets to the point that they can really guide us, we will need fresh starts from time to time. Even God is in the habit of handing out fresh starts to all who ask and believe.

I think the point I am trying to make here is in this life, while we are working out our salvation, there is already that "fear and trembling" thing, wanting desperately to please God, but we work just as hard trying to please people who really matter in our lives. We all just need to cut our family, friends and loved ones some slack, and offer them that "Fresh Start" without them having to ask or beg for it. Stop looking at them through what they did to you or how you feel they did you wrong, and remember what Jesus said from the cross; "It is Finished". From that point on it was as though none of the mistakes of humanity had ever happened. Not granting us  permission to act foolish or to choose willingly to disobey what we know is right, quite the contrary. Instead we are given the chance by God to work it out one day at a time at our pace, trying to hear and discern our path, trying to please Him first and please the people we love that matter in our lives. Now, everyday we have fresh mercies, and a fresh start, and should grant to others as well.