The Next Thing Right

I have lived most of my life striving to do just that… to do the next thing right.  It’s not a bad thing, I don’t think.

For those of you who don’t know me (and for probably most of you that do), I am a big fan of Michael J. Fox.  And tonight, I became an even bigger fan.  I just got done watching “Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.”  It is a documentary he did about optimism.  Very cool.

At one point in the show, he’s on a golf course with Bill Murray.  And they were talking about doing the next thing right.  And Michael J. Fox was saying how hard it is to go through life that way…especially for him now, as a parkinson’s patient…it is very difficult for him to do the next thing right (especially on the golf course) simply because sometimes his body won’t allow it.

Somewhere in the conversation Bill Murray says, “The next thing right, as oppossed to the next right thing.” And it really struck a chord with me.  Big time.

For most of my life I’ve concentrated on doing the next big thing in my life perfectly.  And I’ve missed alot of the in between times.  The space between.  The ironic thing is that I normally ending screwing those things up anyway.

So my new goal, to stop focusing on doing the next thing right, and focus more on doing the next right thing.

I think that’s how Jesus calls us to live our lives.  Doing the next right thing, regardless of whether we are going to screw it up or not, because we will…instead of striving for perfection by doing the next thing right, and missing everything in between.

I think looking at the world that way would make it a better place.  So I’m going to try it.

Peace to each of you.

Training for “Life by the Spirit”

“What counts is whether we really have been changed into a new and different people.” Galatians 6:15

So…yes.  I have this new puppy.  6 months old.  Adorable little puppy.  He’s just about all I’ve talked about for the past week since I got him.  And it is amazing to see the transformation in him already.  What used to be a timid, hand-shy, submissive puppy is now becoming confident and approachable.  He is not “submissive” so to speak, but he is obediant.  He listens…and does what he is told.

For the most part, he did what he was told to do before (last week, when I first got him).  But he did it solely out of fear.  And that fear was evident in his mannerisms. 

So, the other day, as I was inviting him up on the couch with me for the first time…he refused.  It was clear that he had never been allowed on the couch before…and was so scared at even the invitation, that I’m sure he probably has some very terrible associations with jumping on the couch. 

But little by little, I lured him up.  After about 20 minutes, he finally jumped up and stayed for just a couple second before getting down again.

In the week that has passed since that time…he has pretty well taken ownership of the couch.  He is on and off without any hesitation.

But that first few days…the first time he got up, I found myself saying to him, “Mordecai, this is life by the spirit buddy.  There’s no need to fear the condemnation from the old law.  Life by the spirit says that you can join me on the couch.”

Transformation.  I am witnessing it daily with my pup.  The transition from a life of strict law, to a life led by the spirit.  And truly, a new dog is emerging from this experience.  As I think about it though, he still listens.  He still respects and obeys.  And that seems to me to be what it is all about.  Life by the spirit doesn’t mean act willy-nilly and do whatever you want.  It means that yes, the old law is gone…but God is still God…and he still speaks, and we still need to listen, and obey.  But the fear…the fear of not getting it absolutely right…the fear of misunderstanding and messing up, the fear of breaking the old law…well, life by the spirit has no room for those fears. 

So live it up Mordecai.  Live by the spirit my friend.  There’s no reason to live in fear.  Please, though…don’t forget to come when you are called. 

 

Not Sleeping Soundly…

Sometimes I wish I could sleep as well as my new four legged friend (See previous post).

But alas…it’s 2:30AM, and for whatever reason, I am awake.  He’s still sleeping soundly, though.  And I imagine will be for quite some time.  Probably until the time that I get back to sleep and start sleeping soundly…then he’ll awake, and need to be walked. 

It’s a lovely rhythm we are falling in to together. 

Sleeping Soundly

I have just adopted a dog from the Humane Society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He seems to me to be about as good as dogs can get.  He is house trained, mellow, not hyper at all and is learning to be loved.  Because…I’m not entirely sure he was quite so loved before.

But, after several days at the pound, I thought he’d be so happy to be out of that situation.  And don’t get me wrong, he totally is happy.  I can tell…because he’s sleeping….and he’s sleeping like he hasn’t slept in ages.  Now…when I’m really happy, I show it by being energetic, bouncing off the walls, etc.  But not my new pup. 

He’s happy…that’s for sure.

But more than happy…I think he knows he’s safe.  And when you haven’t been safe in a really long time, it probably means you haven’t REALLYslept in a really long time.  And that just seems to take priority.

So here’s to my new friend, Mordecai. 

                                                                         

Rest well my friend.  I’m a little nervous about the 6 month old puppy energy that may be on the otherside of these deep sleeps you are having.  Bur for now, rest well.

You are safe.

Stereotypes

I was in a funeral procession yesterday for a lady at the church.  It was a long procession…and it lasted for nearly 45 minutes.  I was the last car in line, with the exception of a police car that would pull ahead of me to stop traffic, then lag behind again.

At one point I glanced over and saw a man walking.  Pants were hanging off him, baggy sweatshirt on, chain around his neck.  I had totally pegged him.  “Thug” I thought.  And I’m ashamed to admit that I thought that…but I did. 

As I got closer, I saw the man was carrying a hat, that he was holding over his heart.  I did a double take, and as the procession finished driving by, he gave a solemn nod and put the hat back on his head.  I don’t know if the man was praying, or just showing his respect, but, in those moments, the woman that had passed was on his mind…and that was important.

Whoever you are, I am sorry, and ashamed, that I would peg you so quickly. 

Thank you for that lesson.

Reconciling

So…if you’ve been reading my blog, you may have noticed that two posts ago I wrote about the birth of my nephew.

The Gift of Life.

And then…my last post, was about someone dying.

To say the least, I’ve been trying to reconcile the two all day now.  In my mind, at the first, they seem to be polar opposites.  Life and death.  Just like hot and cold.  Or hard and soft.  And it’s very difficult to live in a world where two totally opposing things are coming at you.

But maybe they aren’t so polar opposites after all.  It doesn’t make the joy of life…or the pain of dying…any different to have that realization.  I’m still thrilled about the birth of my nephew…and I still ache for those who are sick or dying.  It doesn’t take away those emotions…it just makes them…reconciled.

Grace and Peace to all of you.

Weeping

So I arrived at work this morning.  We’ve had a parishoner sick in the hospital for a few days now…and it’s beginning to look rough.  When I got here I was talking to our administrator.  She gave me a book, “Gone From My Sight”…the book that hospice hands out to those who have a family member dying.

It is well written.  Not depressing at all…simply stating what happens in the body as a person dies.  It is actually very poetic…and peaceful.

But it makes me want to weep.

So, today, I pray for tears.

The Gift of Life

It’s been an anxiety driven pregnancy for my brother and sister-in-law. 

Finally, it was decided that their baby, my nephew, would be born on February 5th.  He was a pretty big baby, and Lauren is definitely tiny…so C-section was pretty much essential.

Well…my nephew apparently gained some of the Johnson impatience…because yesterday, they decided that it was time to get that boy out of there.  At 5:11PM my nephew, Truitson Creger Johnson was born.

So…without further adieu, I present him to you.

Truitt Johnson (8 pounds, 1 oz.  19.5 inches tall):

 

 

Welcome to world, sweet boy.

To Discern

Things are good. Things are great for me.

For the first time in a LONG time…I feel the ground under my feet. I have a solid footing.

Could things possibly be working out?

I’m in a bible study on discernment. As I have prepared this week to meet tonight, several thoughts have come in to my head…but primarily, right now, the thought that is in my head is, “Don’t stop discerning”

Because…things are working out. Through the pain of the past two years…my seperation, divorce, not going to seminary, trying desperately to find work after 6 months of unemployment…I truly feel I’ve been called right where I am. I have discerned. And I have been faithful.

So, it’s easy for me to stop. And maybe that’s what I’m called to do…stop and rest. Regroup. Refresh. But that doesn’t mean stop listening. I must keep discerning, or I will become complacent. So, the following is my prayer for this point in my life. My prayer for continuing discernment…even as I feel confident in my calling to be where I am.

My vision is blurry Lord, make it clear.

My hearing is muffled Lord, make it clear.

My wisdom is cloudy Lord, make it clear.

My heart is scarred Lord, make it clear.

Lord, have mercy.

The Manger (what happened?)

So…my call a few weeks ago, was simply to make it to the manger.  And I had all of advent to do it.  And I did make it to the manger.  I made that journey…and I knelt at the feet of my Rabbi, my teacher, my savior, my king.

And then, all to suddenly, I turned around and left.  It is as if I said, “sweet, I made it here…now, let’s get back home.” 

In my eyes, of all God’s promises in the bible and in life, His greatest promise is that he will be present.  Through the pain, joy, sorrow, and happiness of life, he is present through it all.

I wasn’t very present to God when I made it to manger. 

It’s amazing how, once we get there, we simply begin focusing on how to get back home.  After such a long journey to the manger…after weeks of preparation, gifts given, gifts recieved, joy spread, pain felt, decorations up, and back down again…after all that, you’d think I would have lingered at the manger a few more moments…

But it’s amazing how life catches back up…so here I am…yearning again for the manger…when, just a few weeks ago, I was there, and should have stayed longer.

So, Lord, turn me back.  Keep me focused on you and your son.  It’s about 11 months before the world travels to the manger again, but keep my heart, and mind, and spirit on you, and I’ll make the journey again.

Maybe next year I’ll linger a bit longer.