Every December I have the same experience. I spend a great deal of time talking to people in pain. In this time when people have hopes and expectations for joy and peace and harmony many struggle to just get through the month. My heart goes out to them - they come to the season with a bundle of baggage and pain that has accumulated over many years and December is often no fun at all.
Years ago, Country singer, Merle Haggard coined the line to describe their feelings: "If we make it through December...". Haggard had a way with a sad song and that old tune was certainly sad - many people can connect with that feeling.
One thing that can help is to step back and have reasonable expectations for the Christmas and Holiday season. If you don't get along with your family all year long the expectation that the Christmas season is going to be some kind of miraculous time of peace and joy is unreasonable. Maybe the exchange of a nice Christmas card or a phone call makes more sense than trying to spend time together. Sometimes turning our focus away from ourselves to bless those less fortunate puts things in to proper perspective - reach out and serve someone and give some joy to someone else. You will be amazed at how much joy you will experience, as well.
Our emotions run high during this season but most of us will do much better to just keep our expectations realistic.
Remember that the newborn Jesus and his family were basically left out in the cold on the night Jesus was born - no room in inn. Jesus knows what it is like to be left out and excluded. Perhaps that is why he was always reaching out to those who were excluded and overlooked. Everyone is welcome in his presence - even those who have a tough time "making it through December."
Just thinking, Steve Yates
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Life is a Miracle! Be Thankful!
One of my jobs is to make hospital visits - these adventures in pastoral care are always different than I expect. While I am planning on being an encouragement to those who are ill I often find that it is the patient who lifts my spirits. I have become very familiar with hospital parking lots, back entrances, short cuts, and where all the Diet Coke machines are located.
By my count I made more than 165 hospital visits so far in 2010 - I have no idea how many hours that involved, how many miles I have driven, or how much I have spent on parking. What I do know is that going to people when they are facing the upheaval of health problems is a good thing to do. When I go I am reminded that life is a miracle!
With all the things that can go wrong, all the illnesses that can attack our bodies, all the accidents that can happen - the gift of life is an amazing miracle!
Every day, every breath, every moment - it is a miracle to be alive! I thought of this on a recent morning fitness walk with my sweet wife of nearly 37 years - I told her that I treasure that one hour together a few times each week - with each step and each conversation and each burst of laughter I am living in the midst of a miracle.
None of us know when the life we now enjoy will be over - that is out of our territory. So how should we respond to this gift?
Gratitude, of course. Thankfulness and joy should be ours. It is amazing to me to hear people complaining about their "miracle" - their life. Jesus said that he came to grant us "abundant life" - life that overflows! (John 10:10) Oh be thankful!
We should also respond with a sense of intention - now is the time to express your love, to act upon opportunities, to do what needs to be done - don't wait - act now!
We can also rejoice that when this miracle of daily living concludes because of God's grace we can expect life unending in the presence of our loving Creator. (I John 5:11-12) We live in the "already but not yet" place of life in the Son - praise God!
My life has been so full -so truly wonderful - to this very moment that blessing continues - this Thanksgiving I am celebrating the miracle of living!
Just thinking, Steve Yates
By my count I made more than 165 hospital visits so far in 2010 - I have no idea how many hours that involved, how many miles I have driven, or how much I have spent on parking. What I do know is that going to people when they are facing the upheaval of health problems is a good thing to do. When I go I am reminded that life is a miracle!
With all the things that can go wrong, all the illnesses that can attack our bodies, all the accidents that can happen - the gift of life is an amazing miracle!
Every day, every breath, every moment - it is a miracle to be alive! I thought of this on a recent morning fitness walk with my sweet wife of nearly 37 years - I told her that I treasure that one hour together a few times each week - with each step and each conversation and each burst of laughter I am living in the midst of a miracle.
None of us know when the life we now enjoy will be over - that is out of our territory. So how should we respond to this gift?
Gratitude, of course. Thankfulness and joy should be ours. It is amazing to me to hear people complaining about their "miracle" - their life. Jesus said that he came to grant us "abundant life" - life that overflows! (John 10:10) Oh be thankful!
We should also respond with a sense of intention - now is the time to express your love, to act upon opportunities, to do what needs to be done - don't wait - act now!
We can also rejoice that when this miracle of daily living concludes because of God's grace we can expect life unending in the presence of our loving Creator. (I John 5:11-12) We live in the "already but not yet" place of life in the Son - praise God!
My life has been so full -so truly wonderful - to this very moment that blessing continues - this Thanksgiving I am celebrating the miracle of living!
Just thinking, Steve Yates
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A Whole Lotta Shakin'
In January of 2010, a huge earthquake that measured 7.0 in magnitude hit the nation of Haiti and thousands were killed and the nation was left in shambles. A few weeks later, another earthquake hit the nation of Chile - it measured 8.8 in magnitude. In fact, the Chilean quake was so powerful that scientists estimate it the moved the earth's axis by as much as 8 centimeters and even shortened our day by 1.26 microseconds. No wonder it seems like the days are shorter - they are!
My wife grew up in Southern California where small earthquakes were a way of life - there seemed to always be some shakin' going on. According to a U.S. Geological research group there were thousands of earthquakes in this past year. Shake, shake, shake - there is a whole lotta shakin' goin on!
Despite all this geological shaking that is happening I think human beings have to deal with another kind of shaking that is even more unsettling. Every day I hear of someone who has experienced some kind of event in their life that has shaken their whole world.
The doctor says that word - "cancer". A teenage daughter says that word - "pregnant". A boss says that word - "fired." A spouse says that word - "divorce". These words and events have a seismic impact on peoples lives.
So how do we live in a world that is always shakin'?
Jesus never denied that our lives are shaken but offered something we all need:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Peace in the midst of all the unsettling troubles of life - can this be possible?
A dear friend confided in me that in the past his wife suffered terrible emotional problems. She was terribly afraid and unable to leave the house for sometime - she could not care for their three children. Along with his demanding job, he cared for the kids, cared for his wife, and did his best to not go under himself. He told me that something helped him make it through - once a week he met with his minister and they prayed together - sometimes he wept, sometimes he laughed - but always he felt hopeful and more at peace after those meetings. Now his wife is quite healthy, his kids are in college and he looks back as those days of terrible upheaval with perspective - he says take heart, the peace of Christ can sustain you when there is a whole lotta shakin' goin on.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... Col. 3:15.
Just thinking, Steve
My wife grew up in Southern California where small earthquakes were a way of life - there seemed to always be some shakin' going on. According to a U.S. Geological research group there were thousands of earthquakes in this past year. Shake, shake, shake - there is a whole lotta shakin' goin on!
Despite all this geological shaking that is happening I think human beings have to deal with another kind of shaking that is even more unsettling. Every day I hear of someone who has experienced some kind of event in their life that has shaken their whole world.
The doctor says that word - "cancer". A teenage daughter says that word - "pregnant". A boss says that word - "fired." A spouse says that word - "divorce". These words and events have a seismic impact on peoples lives.
So how do we live in a world that is always shakin'?
Jesus never denied that our lives are shaken but offered something we all need:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Peace in the midst of all the unsettling troubles of life - can this be possible?
A dear friend confided in me that in the past his wife suffered terrible emotional problems. She was terribly afraid and unable to leave the house for sometime - she could not care for their three children. Along with his demanding job, he cared for the kids, cared for his wife, and did his best to not go under himself. He told me that something helped him make it through - once a week he met with his minister and they prayed together - sometimes he wept, sometimes he laughed - but always he felt hopeful and more at peace after those meetings. Now his wife is quite healthy, his kids are in college and he looks back as those days of terrible upheaval with perspective - he says take heart, the peace of Christ can sustain you when there is a whole lotta shakin' goin on.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... Col. 3:15.
Just thinking, Steve
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
True Value
A friend confided in me that he has spent his life feeling very insecure about his worth as a person. If you were acquainted with him you would be shocked. He has all the trappings of success: a successful career, a beautiful family, good looks, and the admiration of those around him. How can he feel insecure? He told me that his Father never affirmed him for anything except when he was number one at something: number one in his class, number one in a race, number one in sales - if he ever was second or lower he was ridiculed as a slacker. He has begun to realize that the haunting criticism of his Father has controlled his life. He told me that he had built his life on two premises: First, I can control your opinion and approval of me by my performance. Second, that is all that matters in life.
My friend is working on being free by finding a new way of seeing his value as a person. So how do we assess value if it is not by perfect performance? Our current culture says this is the only method.
In traditional cultures of the past and even some that exist still today, people have personal worth because of "honor". That is they are valued and honored because they fill their role in society - father, mother, teacher, leader, citizen, etc. Honor is not about "winning" and "being on top" but being a genuine success by fulfilling their responsibilities where they are.
There was a time when good families were a "haven in a heartless world" - a place of safety, love, instruction and joy. In his book, On Paradise Drive, David Brooks describes a new kind of family where we have the "professionalization of childhood". From the moment a child is born, Parents and Grandparents begin a plan to produce children who excel in a "profession" not a vocation. The goal is status, power, money - Brooks calls the system many Parents use as the "great Acheivatron". The result is that from day one a child is taught that only as they perform perfectly do they have real value. Brooks suggests these children are headed for the Psychiatrist or for drug and alcohol addiction just to cope with these immense pressures.
To be sure, challenging ourselves to excel and do our best is a good thing. But that is very different than making performance our God.
One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 8: David speaks of our majestic God - creator of all things, who shaped human beings by his grace - "made a little lower than heavenly beings, crowned with glory and honor". (Psalm 8:4-5) Our worth is because of God's grace and love not something we have done or will do. God has crowned us with glory and honor - his action, his love, his view of us.
My dear Mom used to sing this little song to her children, including me...
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you - please don't take my sunshine away."
She followed up that song by treating us with honor and admiration - I always believed her when she sang the song.
God is singing a love song to you - do you hear it? - do you believe it?
Just thinking, Steve
My friend is working on being free by finding a new way of seeing his value as a person. So how do we assess value if it is not by perfect performance? Our current culture says this is the only method.
In traditional cultures of the past and even some that exist still today, people have personal worth because of "honor". That is they are valued and honored because they fill their role in society - father, mother, teacher, leader, citizen, etc. Honor is not about "winning" and "being on top" but being a genuine success by fulfilling their responsibilities where they are.
There was a time when good families were a "haven in a heartless world" - a place of safety, love, instruction and joy. In his book, On Paradise Drive, David Brooks describes a new kind of family where we have the "professionalization of childhood". From the moment a child is born, Parents and Grandparents begin a plan to produce children who excel in a "profession" not a vocation. The goal is status, power, money - Brooks calls the system many Parents use as the "great Acheivatron". The result is that from day one a child is taught that only as they perform perfectly do they have real value. Brooks suggests these children are headed for the Psychiatrist or for drug and alcohol addiction just to cope with these immense pressures.
To be sure, challenging ourselves to excel and do our best is a good thing. But that is very different than making performance our God.
One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 8: David speaks of our majestic God - creator of all things, who shaped human beings by his grace - "made a little lower than heavenly beings, crowned with glory and honor". (Psalm 8:4-5) Our worth is because of God's grace and love not something we have done or will do. God has crowned us with glory and honor - his action, his love, his view of us.
My dear Mom used to sing this little song to her children, including me...
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you - please don't take my sunshine away."
She followed up that song by treating us with honor and admiration - I always believed her when she sang the song.
God is singing a love song to you - do you hear it? - do you believe it?
Just thinking, Steve
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
No Mask Needed
As a kid, I could not get over the idea that on one night each year we could go house to house and get all the free candy we could bag and then come home and eat it. All we had to do is wear a really cheap and cheesy costume that made us look just a little like a Cowboy or Superman or Popeye or Snow White or Cinderella. This was just too good to be true. These costumes included a plastic mask with a couple holes in it and the cheapest rubber band on the back to hold it in place. The rubber band always broke and you could never breathe out of those holes.
Trick or Treat was the magic phrase and the goodies would come our way - what a great deal! I cannot believe that my parents suspended all the rules on this night - wandering the streets in the dark, wearing weird clothes, and eating enough candy to cause anyone to become a diabetic over night! What were my parents thinking! Even crazier is that I did the same thing with my daughter and now with my Grand kids!
Wearing a mask is fine for Trick or Treating but wearing masks in our daily life can be disastrous. I am constantly amazed at the people I meet who are hiding behind a mask, trying to be someone they are not. Why do we do it? Some hide because they are afraid that if you knew who they really are you would not accept them or love them. Some wear masks to try to bully or intimidate others in to doing what they want.
Being real is basic to being healthy and content. Living in some kind of fantasy world about who we are is dangerous. How can we build real relationships if we cannot be real with the people we love and care about?
No masks are needed. Your creator knows what is under that mask - you can hide nothing.
"God so loved _________ "(put your name in the blank) not because of how you look or some human accomplishment - God's love sees through all the masks to the real me.
Just thinking, Steve
Trick or Treat was the magic phrase and the goodies would come our way - what a great deal! I cannot believe that my parents suspended all the rules on this night - wandering the streets in the dark, wearing weird clothes, and eating enough candy to cause anyone to become a diabetic over night! What were my parents thinking! Even crazier is that I did the same thing with my daughter and now with my Grand kids!
Wearing a mask is fine for Trick or Treating but wearing masks in our daily life can be disastrous. I am constantly amazed at the people I meet who are hiding behind a mask, trying to be someone they are not. Why do we do it? Some hide because they are afraid that if you knew who they really are you would not accept them or love them. Some wear masks to try to bully or intimidate others in to doing what they want.
Being real is basic to being healthy and content. Living in some kind of fantasy world about who we are is dangerous. How can we build real relationships if we cannot be real with the people we love and care about?
No masks are needed. Your creator knows what is under that mask - you can hide nothing.
"God so loved _________ "(put your name in the blank) not because of how you look or some human accomplishment - God's love sees through all the masks to the real me.
Just thinking, Steve
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Voting Stories
It is voting time again. The mid-term elections are upon us. I do encourage people to get out and vote - what a great responsibility to prayerfully prepare and vote.
When I was a kid the local politicians, like the local Sheriff who was up for reelection and had been Sheriff for years, would send his Deputies out to pick up people to come vote. And yes, they used their patrol cars to give them "free" rides. Seems a little fishy to me but it was the way it was done. The Sheriff seemed to always win by a landslide.
Texas politics has always been pretty colorful. Some people running for office were known to have had people vote for them who had been dead and buried for years. Someone apparently went to the cemetery and got the names off the gravestones and cast their vote for them!
For years many states had a "poll tax" - you literally had to pay to vote. So politicians would send their supporters out with money to pass out to all those who might be a little short on cash come election day. Who says you cannot buy votes.
I heard a country and western singer talking about getting in trouble with the law and ending up going to jail. He was convicted of a felony and so he was no longer allowed to vote or carry a gun. He said he did miss being able to vote but being a country and western singer and not having a gun was downright dangerous in the crowd he hung out with. He said he did get one good hit song out of going to jail, which eased the pain a good bit, especially whenever the royalty checks would come in every year.
One couple I knew were opposites when it came to politics but they would always vote just to negate the others vote. There are all kinds of motivations for voting - sometimes all it takes is knowing that your spouse will vote for the other person!
Early voting is great! Getting it done early usually means a shorter line. Some of the most enthusiastic voters are early voters - they are so excited you would think it's the Grand Opening of a new Wal-Mart! My parents would always vote on the first morning of early voting - they could not wait!
We are blessed - in some countries people who vote for the wrong candidate loose a hand or finger or worse!
Enjoy the blessing - see you at the polls!
Just thinking, Steve
When I was a kid the local politicians, like the local Sheriff who was up for reelection and had been Sheriff for years, would send his Deputies out to pick up people to come vote. And yes, they used their patrol cars to give them "free" rides. Seems a little fishy to me but it was the way it was done. The Sheriff seemed to always win by a landslide.
Texas politics has always been pretty colorful. Some people running for office were known to have had people vote for them who had been dead and buried for years. Someone apparently went to the cemetery and got the names off the gravestones and cast their vote for them!
For years many states had a "poll tax" - you literally had to pay to vote. So politicians would send their supporters out with money to pass out to all those who might be a little short on cash come election day. Who says you cannot buy votes.
I heard a country and western singer talking about getting in trouble with the law and ending up going to jail. He was convicted of a felony and so he was no longer allowed to vote or carry a gun. He said he did miss being able to vote but being a country and western singer and not having a gun was downright dangerous in the crowd he hung out with. He said he did get one good hit song out of going to jail, which eased the pain a good bit, especially whenever the royalty checks would come in every year.
One couple I knew were opposites when it came to politics but they would always vote just to negate the others vote. There are all kinds of motivations for voting - sometimes all it takes is knowing that your spouse will vote for the other person!
Early voting is great! Getting it done early usually means a shorter line. Some of the most enthusiastic voters are early voters - they are so excited you would think it's the Grand Opening of a new Wal-Mart! My parents would always vote on the first morning of early voting - they could not wait!
We are blessed - in some countries people who vote for the wrong candidate loose a hand or finger or worse!
Enjoy the blessing - see you at the polls!
Just thinking, Steve
Saturday, October 16, 2010
New Seasons of Life
Fall is here and I am thinking of all the things I love about it. Football, pumpkins, trick or treat, changing leaves, cooler weather, and so much more. Of course, I love all the seasons. When Winter arrives I glory in the cold days and the chill in the air but I also love those first warm days of Spring and the spring flowers that are so spectacular. And of course, Summer is so great with days at the river and on the beach and time with family - wonderful!
The need for seasons in our life is so clear. We need the change - something new, different, a new way, a new challenge, a new journey, a new place and time. Seasons in life are often resisted by human beings. I see people who live in denial that they have entered a new season in life. They are not in their 20's anymore but they kick and scream about the natural change of becoming older. Why not welcome it and enjoy the new experiences it will bring. Some couples dread the day that their kids will grow up and leave home - the "empty nest" leaves them with an empty heart! But this is simply a new season in life - embrace it, enjoy it - see what you can learn from it!
I read recently that more people are living into their 100's with each passing decade. Life can be long and full - what will you do with the seasons that come? You can moan and groan and complain about each passing season of life or find the amazing newness of these God shaped new experiences - you have a choice.
I, for one, will embrace each one and live it to the max!
"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1
Just thinking, Steve
The need for seasons in our life is so clear. We need the change - something new, different, a new way, a new challenge, a new journey, a new place and time. Seasons in life are often resisted by human beings. I see people who live in denial that they have entered a new season in life. They are not in their 20's anymore but they kick and scream about the natural change of becoming older. Why not welcome it and enjoy the new experiences it will bring. Some couples dread the day that their kids will grow up and leave home - the "empty nest" leaves them with an empty heart! But this is simply a new season in life - embrace it, enjoy it - see what you can learn from it!
I read recently that more people are living into their 100's with each passing decade. Life can be long and full - what will you do with the seasons that come? You can moan and groan and complain about each passing season of life or find the amazing newness of these God shaped new experiences - you have a choice.
I, for one, will embrace each one and live it to the max!
"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1
Just thinking, Steve
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