CLUTTER IN THE DEN

Merci isn’t aware her den is actually my bedroom and I doubt she cares. When she arrived, she spent two days sleeping on a throw rug in the living room. On the third day, she decided she preferred the bedroom carpet, moved her new toys and claimed her own space. She likes to sleep surrounded by her toys. I like to walk without tripping over her clutter.

My dream is that one day Merci will learn to pick up her own toys and put them in a basket so her den is neat. She will probably learn that right after she learns to cook and clean. Meanwhile, I occasionally pile all her toys in a basket and put the basket in the living room. She reacts like a mother dog moving her puppies to a safer location. Shortly, all her toys are scattered around her bed in her den in my way.

This morning I decide she needs to spend less time in solitariness and move her bed near my workspace. I place the basket with all her toys on top so she will feel secure. One by one, she trots the toys back to their rightful spot in her den.

Merci’s toys are dirty from being repeatedly tossed and fetched. I wouldn’t think of putting one of her toys in my mouth. But as I watch her I realize we sometimes hoard anger in the same way. We embrace it, chew on it, and cuddle it as we sleep and as soon as we decide to move it out of our life, we grab it back from the trashcan and chew on it some more. We don’t consider the germs it carries.

There is a time to be angry, but when the time has passed, we need to toss the anger in the trashcan and leave it there. Anger is like clutter. If we don’t pick it up, sooner or later we will stumble over it.

www.mercyandpercy.com

HARDWORKING RANDY

I remember the days when customers spoke kindly of the U.S. P.S. (United States Postal Service). Today there are more complaints about their service than compliments. The postal service handles more mail per day than I can imagine, yet they have a too-high rate of lost or destroyed mail complaints. I know this from personal experience. In 2005, three of my checks were lost within the short span of two months.

Some of the mail is destroyed by machinery. Some is misplaced, forever lost, left in the bottom of a mailbag, sent on permanent vacation to unknown destination, or hidden in a home or storage locker by the occasional kooky carrier. Thankfully, much of the mail does reach its destination intact. And that is thanks to the hard-working folks such as my friend Bill who has a high pressure postal job in another state. I do not know whether the center where he works realizes how dedicated and conscientious he is or how his determination reflects well on the postal system, but I do know God is aware he perseveres on the job and always gives his best to help postal customers.

Misdelivered or lost mail can cause major problems, so I really appreciate a good mail carrier. I had a carrier in Phoenix, Arizona who knew everyone on his route, even though he delivered to a number of apartment buildings with a high turnover of tenants, and he had a very low incidence of mail delivered to the wrong box. He was personable, diligent and highly regarded.

The carrier at my next apartment complex was just the opposite. One of the tenants in the apartment building called his supervisor one day and asked, “What does that man have on you that he can do whatever he wants and walk away without even a reprimand?” One complaint was that although the news carried warning after warning about boxes of checks being stolen from home mailboxes, this carrier continued to throw boxes of checks on the public sidewalk somewhere in the vague vicinity of an apartment, and he could not understand why anyone would fuss about it.

I moved to a small town several years ago and the mail service has been good here. For several years, Randy has delivered mail in this area. This is a walking route, whereas the other carriers drive their routes. He walks ten miles a day, up and down steps, and up and down hills.

He works hard, yet he is always smiling and cheerful. He knows who is related to whom and which dogs belong to which owner. If anyone has a question or a problem, he will do his best to answer or resolve it. He is not the type to deliver a box of checks by tossing it toward the porch from several yards away. All of the people I know on his route like him and trust him, knowing he is willing to go the extra mile to serve.

He is one of those people who bring to mind Ecclesiastes 9:10a: Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.

Lately I noticed a substitute carrier is delivering the mail and assumed, as did others on his route, Randy is on vacation. I learned today he is not off somewhere having fun. He is recovering at home from injuries sustained when the diving board broke and he fell into his pool while he was cleaning it. The pool was empty at the time and his injuries are serious. He will be out of work for three to four months.

As I thought about his accident today, two things immediately came to mind.

1. No matter how hard you try to avoid them, accidents can happen. In a split second your life is altered, and you can not go backwards, only forward with your life.

2. A lazy worker’s absence is noted with celebration. A hard worker’s absence is recognized with sadness.

My neighborhood recognizes Randy’s absence with sadness. We are praying for his complete recovery and look forward to seeing him back on his route. Meanwhile, the route is being handled by a brave (it’s a hard route, remember) and competent female sub.

Some Christians are lazy workers, wanting to skim through life and into heaven with as little work as possible, but we are called to service. The Bible is our instruction manual. Prayer is our power source. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, which was the act of a servant. He is our example.

Some Christians are such hard workers they can forget salvation is a gift of God, not a do-it-yourself challenge. Their works will not earn their way into God’s kingdom.

I do not know whether the world, your neighbors, or even your family will realize how dedicated and conscientious you are, but I do know God is aware when you persevere and work hard in His service. .

Christians are part of the body. Serving others can be frustrating and exhausting at times, but it is also rewarding. Our work is to be done in Christ and not in our own strength or to our own glory.

© 2006 Janice Price
www.mercyandpercy.com

SOMETIMES LIFE BITES

She is a small, brown dog, sitting in the middle of a traffic lane, causing a northbound traffic tie-up on Highway 19. A man grabs the scruff of her neck, lifts her off the ground and deposits her in a sitting position in a parking lot. He climbs on his motorcycle and drives away. The dog tries to stand and falls over. One hind leg is injured, possibly broken.

Three or four people walk over. When their curiosity is satisfied, they quickly wander away. It isn’t their problem.

But one teenage couple remains with her. The girl kneels, speaks softly and hesitantly strokes the frightened animal. The young man paces rapidly as he uses his cell phone to dial 911 and request help for the dog. He has a sock wrapped around the fingers of the hand the dog nipped when he tried to help her. The trauma of the accident was too fresh, too painful, and she lashed out instinctively. He isn’t bleeding, but his hand throbs.

Sometimes life events hit us so hard they leave us sitting stunned in the road, unable to move on without help. Illness, injury, divorce, unemployment, debt, or a myriad of other unexpected incidents can impact us.

Many people will wander away when their curiosity is satisfied. It isn’t their problem. Friends will remain with us, speaking softly and doing what they can to ease our fears and offer support. It isn’t their problem, but, amazingly, strangers will appear to offer a hand of assistance.

Sometimes, when the trauma is fresh, we also lash out instinctively. We bite the hand that offers aid.

Sometimes we even lash out at our Lord. We often blame God for painful circumstances in life, even those times when we cause them. Still, knowing that in our panic we might bite, he offers a hand of encouragement.

The dog shows no signs of aggression. She is alert and quiet, without even a whimper. Once the initial shock is over, she realizes she is among friendly strangers.

This young man is not severely injured, but he was bitten for trying to do a good deed. His companion is undeterred as she offers comfort to an animal in pain. Each is prepared to overlook the initial response of the dog and to offer help.

This young couple reacts admirably. They invest a bit of time and concern in a stranger’s dog, despite the pain of the encounter. Because they care, this dog is alive and reunited with her owner.

Sometimes life bites. We feel its sting because we are alive. Nevertheless, resist the urge to bite back.


www.mercyandpercy.com

NEW GLASSES FOR BETTER HEARING

The title was intriguing – “New glasses can improve your hearing” – but I did not have time to click on the link to read the article. I should have taken the time. Then I might know how to help all the folks I come across who obviously need a prescription for new eyeglasses. Of course, I don’t fit in the hard of hearing category. I hear everyone fine (as long as you speak up). I’m more “hard of understanding” with some conversations.

For example, I met a sweet Southern lady a few months after I moved to Georgia, and she always ends our conversations with, “We (her and her daughter) love you. Come see us sometime.” But she is nearly ninety now, her eyesight is rapidly deteriorating, and she is almost “as deaf as a door post,” so our conversations these last few years tend to be a bit strange.

SL (This stands for Southern Lady): “How are all your animals?”

JP: “My oldest cat died the other day.”

SL (She always draws out this response to emphasize her pleasure.): “Well, go-o-o-od, go-o-o-od. I’m glad all your animals are doing so well. And how’s your mama? Is she doing all right in this awful weather?”

JP: “No, she’s really feeling the heat and humidity.” I shake my head to emphasize my concern.

SL: “Well, go-o-o-od, go-o-o-od. I’m glad your mama is doing so well. And how are you doing? Are you still taking your dogs on those long walks?”

JP: “No. I injured my knee when I twisted my ankle and fell on the sidewalk yesterday. I won’t be taking the dogs on any long walks for a while.”

SL: “Well, go-o-o-od, go-o-o-od. I’m glad you’re all doing so well.”

I realize she is elderly and she does not give these inappropriate responses deliberately. I let them roll off my back. My mother is also elderly, with impaired vision and hearing, and we have had similar exchanges.

JP: A veterans’ group is using my story, ‘The Lesson of the Poppy.’” (Mother has a copy of this story.)

MAMA (I always thought her name was “Mother,” but, hey, when in Georgia -): “That’s nice. The pictures will be cute.”

JP: “What pictures?”

MAMA: “The animal pictures.”

JP: “What animal pictures?”

MAMA: “The pictures of the puppies.”

JP: (Totally bewildered.) “Puppies? What puppies?”

MAMA: “The puppies in your story.”

This was our “mis”-communication a few nights ago. This one tickled both of us, but usually we are not quite as forgiving with one another. We each tend to take what the other says personally. It hurts more to be misunderstood by family or friends than by strangers or acquaintances.

In the same vein, it hurts to be misunderstood by our brothers and sisters in Christ. Unfortunately, many times when someone asks, “How are you?” or “Is everything okay?” there really is no interest in hearing an honest answer. Family or friends, whether in the church or not, can suffer from avoid-the-truth-aphobia. This often happens when one gets the notion those in Christ should wear a mask separating them (I’ll wear a smile if it kills me) from the pain and anxiety of anyone who dares to be unmasked and in need of a listening ear. It can also happen when a Christian develops a critical spirit, and even though he is deaf and blind to the truth of others’ circumstances, he believes it is his place to set everyone straight.

I have felt the sting of do-gooders who “know what your problem is” and vocalize it in an angry, accusatory manner. I hate to admit it, but I am human and I have dished out some “I know it all” myself. The truth is we don’t know everything about anyone, not even about ourselves. The heart is deceitful above all things, remember. When we “know it all,” we do not listen and further mis-communication results, inflicting pain and perhaps resulting in estrangement. Too often we hear what we want to hear or what we expect to hear because we are not really paying attention.

People do not always talk directly about how they are doing, or explain to everyone they meet why they are overly emotional, talk excessively, act angry or withdraw. There might be physical or emotional abuse in the home, a chronic illness with symptoms that are not apparent to the casual observer, a terminally ill parent or child, or some other reason a person needs someone to listen and understand, even if nothing is vocalized. We should be sensitive to the expressions of others and not try to read our own fears, failures or dreams between the lines.

Yes, sometimes mis-communication can be funny or easily forgiven. Other times it can leave lasting scars and cause division. If anyone could complain about His words being misunderstood and misinterpreted, it would be Jesus. His words have been quoted and argued over for centuries. Can you picture it if He walked among us today?

Jesus: “We’re going to be late for the wedding if you make another wrong turn, Fred. We only have ten minutes before the ceremony. Turn right at the 7-11 on Ridgemont.”

C1 (Christian #1): “You heard him, Fred. Turn right at the Sunoco station.”

C2: “No, don’t turn right at the Sunoco station. He said to turn right at the Shell Service Center.”

C3: “He did not. I distinctly heard him say to turn right past the 7-11 on Riverdale.”

C4: “Well, he may have said to turn right at the Wal-mart Super Center, but he really meant for you to turn left.”

C5: “How do you come up with a left turn when I recorded him on my cell phone and he said just as clear as a bell to make a U-turn at Symphony Hall on Rockford?”

Can new glasses improve your hearing? I have no idea. But if anyone recognizes himself or herself in this story, you might want to ask God for new spiritual eyeglasses in order to see and hear clearly what the Word of God actually says.

www.mercyandpercy.com

BRANCHES OF SIN

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

I was walking home from a nearby grocery store one evening when I noticed a great tree limb from next door was no longer hanging above my tree. Its branches were now entangled with the branches of my tree. Either that huge branch was coming down or my tree had a phenomenal growth spurt.

The previous Sunday a big tree limb fell on the electric lines over the house across the street. It was the day of the booming explosions and the fireballs directly over that neighbor's roof.

He was fortunate. His compost heap caught fire but his roof did not. The event did knock out all the power in the extended neighborhood. It was the final day of the Fire Department's boot drive and there were two firemen and a fire truck less than a block away. It did not take long for the fire truck to arrive or for the electric company to follow.

If the large branch from the tree next door snapped, it could do extensive damage. The power lines to my meter run through my tree branches. The tree is too close to the house. Besides terrorizing the neighborhood, a close-up performance of that weekend’s fireworks could set my tree on fire and I would be able to barbecue hot dogs on the roof.

This experience reminded me of how blind we can be to sin, not realizing its branches are enveloping us. We listen to gossip and repeat it. We ask a child to tell someone we aren’t home and then confuse the issue by telling the child that lying is wrong – except when mommy or daddy gives permission. We adopt pets and then take them to the pound when they outgrow the “cute stage” or become an inconvenience. And then we wonder why our children cart us off to nursing homes when we become an inconvenience to them.

It seemed reasonable to assume the electric company might prefer helping me now to repairing any emergency damage to their lines later. I called them and was assured they would. They were here within the hour, even though it was well past sundown. They checked the trees and lopped off the offending branches.

God is also amenable to helping us before we have an emergency situation. He will disentangle us from the branches of sin if we call on Him in prayer.

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