Circumstances

Sometimes circumstances are not to my liking.  Sometimes the world will not align itself to make me happy.  Still at the experienced age of almost 66, I wish that the world would work harder to make me happy.  Isn't that it's job???

And then I am reminded, that happiness is not about situations, circumstance or what comes or does not come to you or me.  Happiness is found in my mind and heart when I choose, choose, CHOOSE to look past circumstances and look for the good.

May we all look a little harder to see the good, and in so doing, find the love.  It is only when we find the love in this life that we can give it to others.  

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Learning to accept that which we cannot control

A man who took great pride in his lawn found himself with a large crop of dandelions. He tried every method he knew to get rid of them. Still they plagued him.



Finally he wrote the Department of Agriculture. He enumerated all the things he had tried and closed his letter with the question: “What shall I do now?”

In due course the reply came: “We suggest you learn to love them"

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

And the desert shall bloom

We all have parched times in our lives.  Some years ago, my wife asked me what the sermon was on.  I told her it was about the dry soul seeking for God.  She said, "again???"  Evidently there were lots of sermons about searching for God back in the day.

We all feel dry from time to time.  Seeing the desert last week reminded me that there is beauty and blooming even in the dry places.

Flowers on top of Saguaro 

Cactus flowers bring seeds and new babies.

Choyas are in constant bloom

prickly paddle leaf cactus

Even the prickly cactus make beautiful flowers.

Isaiah 35:1-4

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come

Friend, if you find yourself in a dry time, do not despair.  Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.  Every death brings a resurrection.  Every valley gives way to the next mountain top.

There are flowers in the desert.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Saguaro Cactus

I have never been around cactus very much.  The tall saguaro cactus which we see in the western movies are very interesting and have a very interesting story.  But the desert holds lots of kinds of plant life that is different than what you find in other parts of the country.

they can grow to 40' in height.
they grow slowly.  it takes 12 years
to grow it's first one foot in height.

It is really cool to see them up close.
A very different experience for sure.

Saguaro cactus are resilient. 
They can grow in the strangest of places.
Sometimes we people have to learn to
be resilient in the face of difficulty.

God's world is a very interesting and diverse place.  God's imagination in immense.  When I see so many different kinds of things, I am reminded that there are many different kinds of people.  Some nice, some prickly.  Some warm and some cold.  But all are loved and valued in God's economy.

It's a beautiful, hot day in God's desert, be sure to see the good.

Arizona

After working for my sister in San Jose, I travelled to Phoenix [Apache Junction] to hang out with our friends Tim and Cathy Cristensen.  I did some work around their house, but also sent a good deal of time taking in the beauty of Arizona.

I had been to Arizona a couple of times as a child, mostly passing thru.  Tim and Cathy's house has a lovely view of the Superstition Mountains, specifically Ship Rock Mountain.

The mountains at sun up.

The saguaro cactus were very cool.

cloudy mountains

Sunny mountains.  What a view!!!

I have to tell you that it was all so very lovely.  I don't sit still very well, but to just sit and look at the mountain is an amazing thing.  It was so peaceful and so beautiful.

You definitely felt the presence of something bigger than you and I.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Thoughts on embracing change

One thing is for certain... things will change.

• The Kansas City A's will move to Oakland.
• A new building will be built down the street.
• There will be more traffic than ten years ago.
• Your hair may fall out.
• your kids will move away
• you are going to get a new pastor.
• someone that you love is going to die.
• You will gain weight. It will be harder to keep off.
• The population is growing.
• Prices are up.
• Your favorite server just left the restaurant.

Change is certain and most of us don't like change.  I am forever amused by the neighborhood app where people love to complain about new subdivisions going in and other things that upset their world.

Because nothing is supposed to upset my world...

That is crazy thinking because things are going to upset our world.  The question is, how will we respond to change.  We can be angry about every small thing that bothers us, or we can learn to roll with the punches.   We can even learn to embrace change... we can learn to understand that change is a constant part of this life.

In order to do this, we need to come to understand that "life is not about me."  Life is not about me or my preferences.  We don't get to control everything.  We are pawns, not kings in the game of life.

Just as the Israelites wandered in the desert, we too will move from one reality to the next in this life.  This truth is beyond our control.

The sooner we relinquish our need to be in control, the sooner we learn to trust in God, the sooner we will find contentment.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Simple vs complex

Jesus was pretty simple.  Love God, love others.  He welcomed folks.  People loved him.  We love to think about his welcome, and we love to think of what he was like.

. . .

And then there is the church: The church has piled on layers of oughts and shoulds.  You better do this, you should do that.  Do this, do that.  Support us or you are bad.  Read your bible more.  Feel guilty.  Give more money.  If you don't then you are a bad person...

We are the right group... they are the bad group.  Believe like us.  Do it like us.  Wear a cross.  Dress up for Sunday.  Don't miss church.  Why aren't your kids in youth group?  Follow the rules... on it goes...  

It is crazy what the church has done with the message of Jesus.

The good news is, we can still be a part of our local church and choose to focus on the good, simple, clear message of Jesus.  All we have to do is to share his love.  Nothing more.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

A lost cause

Sometimes we feel like a thing is a lost cause.  Sometimes we feel like a person is a lost cause.  Maybe sometimes, if we were honest with ourselves, we might wonder if we ourselves are a lost cause.

I am so glad that in God's world, there is nothing broken beyond repair.  And so I was in San Jose working on my sister's shed.  The floor was gone.  Was it even worth saving?

Floor sections from the shed.  Rotten wood, 
termite tracks.  Literally rats nests... I met one
live rat... gross, gross, gross.

The old floor removed.  The gross stuff removed.
Working on the new frame.

New frame complete.  Concrete around
the perimeter to discourage rat population.

New flooring down.

Looks like a new place.  Floor finished. 
Extra plywood in the center walkway.  

And so, I do believe in resurrection.  If there is someone or something in your life that you think may be past saving... it may be.  But it may not be.  Sometimes, with a little work, things can come back from the dead.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

My sister has flowers

I went to visit my sister Amy in San Jose, California.  I went there to work on her shed floor and to see her.  

I noticed her beautiful flowers!!!

me and sister Amy out for pizza!!!

rescued flowers

beautiful roses

not sure what kind of cactus this is but I loved
it.  She said that it was three little buds when she got
it.  Amazing what a little care will do to a thing in life.

The great story about these flowers is that they were all collected from a neighbor who neglected them and then gave them to Amy when they moved away.  My sister cared for them, fertilized them and voila!!!

A little time, a little care, and God makes all things beautiful!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see, be sure to make the good.  

Heal the world

Was it Michael Jackson that sang, "Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me, and the entire human race."

One of the things that I love about my handyman work is that I get to fix things.  I get to make things better.  I get to heal broken things.  At then end of a job I have the satisfaction that I made something whole.  

I also work hard to be gracious to the client while I am working.  Not just because I want to be asked back, but because we all need love and we all need to be healed.

We can heal people.  We can make the world a better place, one day, one act at a time.

Case in point... a recent cabinet end replacement.  The cabinet end had soaked up a bunch of water and delaminated.  I scraped off all of the loose debris, cut and fitted a new end cap, and painted it.

visible water damage to end cap.

New board cut and installed.

Painted.  Needs another coat, but you 
see where this is going.

Making the world beautiful.  One day, one item, one thing, one person at a time.  Everyone needs a little healing.  We can help.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

heavenly dreams

I had another dream last night.  Another dream of heaven.  Not of heaven as I learned it as a child, but heaven as this reality beyond the five senses.

I am having these dreams that feel like this... being loved completely, feeling included, joy, happiness, completeness.  I see old friends... I see old "enemies."  And they are all good.  We are all good.

Here is another strange aspect to this... I have these dreams sometimes while I am awake.  I can feel this place, this next place, this next phase of life... it is here, already.  Right here with me and around me.

It is like one day, I may just slip on over.

I am happy as I write this.  These are such beautiful thoughts and feelings.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

cruise

Recently I went on a short Royal Caribbean cruise.  I love cruising.  If you want to go sometime, let me know.

I took this picture of the Disney Wish from our
Royal Caribbean ship.

You meet lovely people on cruises.

Animals like this armadillo invade your room.

Neat little old tug boat.

The islands are amazing!!!

A bear attacked one afternoon.

I add this to the long list of things that I should be thankful for.  The ability to go see cool things.  The wonder of travel. 

For many many reasons, we are very fortunate people.  What do you have to be thankful for?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Elevator etiquette

When it comes to elevators, some people have not been trained in proper etiquette.  

When waiting for an elevator, one should stand to the side to give room for those who will be exiting the elevator.  The elevator should not be entered until everyone on it that wishes to leave has done so.

When waiting for, and boarding an elevator, pay attention to the line... do not cut in front of others who were there before you.

When you board the elevator, move to the back so that others can board as well.  If you find yourself on a crowded elevator and you are by the door, step off when the door opens so that others can get off easily, then step back on.

Never talk on your cell phone on an elevator.

I am sure that there are many more ideas for elevator etiquette.

So recently I was waiting for an elevator.  Me and a young man of about 20 years.  I watched how he followed all of the rules for correct behavior.  When we got onto the elevator, I told him "thank you for observing elevator etiquette."

He said, "well sir, I was raised right."

I loved that.  I wish that more parents took the time to train their children in matters of respect.  I wish that more people would work to be more considerate of others.

I can start the process with me, and you can start that process with you.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Oh, to be clean

So when I was working out of town, I would get pretty dirty on the job site.  I had the benefit each day of taking a shower back at the hotel.  I so appreciated the washing off of the dusty dirt and the sun screen and the dirt caked on in the sun screen.

I got to thinking about the new ministry at church that provides showers and more to the marginalized.

Every Saturday, volunteers from the church set up the shower trailer and a tent with all sort of personal needs items.

Volunteers help a person collect needed personal items.

Interesting development.  Others in the community have heard of this
ministry and are coming out to volunteer.  Here a hair stylist, not 
affiliated with the church [yet] gives a free haircut.

So, I expect a shower when I am dirty.  I expect a shower when I want one.  It is never a doubt that I can have a shower if I want one.

Ohhh, but if you live on the streets, a shower and a haircut are a blessing.  A miracle!!!  The joy that is on the faces of these folks when they come out of the shower, in clean clothes, it is unexplainable.  It brings tears to the eyes of we who take such things for granted.

Gratitude alert... we should all be thankful for showers.  For running water.  For towels.  For soap.

It is a beautiful, clean day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Another hotel story

A man is walking along the beach.  A monkey sits atop a coconut palm.  As the man passes, the monkey throws a coconut, hitting the man in the head.  The man picks up the coconut, cracks it open and drinks the milk.  Mmm it tasted good!

This is a story about about how we respond when difficulty or "perceived difficulty" comes our way.

And so I was getting ready for work.  I always fill my thermos with ice for the day.  Evidently I left it in the truck last night.  So I grab my keys to the truck and my room keys.  I go out of the hotel, get into the truck and grab the thermos.  When I return to the hotel door, my key will not open the door.  What should be blinking green is blinking red.  And a coconut has hit me in the head.

I have a choice to make.  Anger?  Frustration?  Or?  I decide to take a morning walk.  I walk back up the sidewalk, up the hill and around the building to the front of the hotel.  I go inside to the front desk.  There is no one on duty.  I wait.  Then I call out.  I call out again.  Another coconut is hitting me in the head.  I want to be upset, but I choose not to be.

Finally Alice shows up and remakes my keys.  Do you remember Alice?  Remember, she is a person, right?  And even if it was my first day in the hotel instead of day 24, she is still a person.

Every day we are hit in the head with coconuts.  Things don't go our way.  We can choose to be angry or to see the good.  Crack open the coconut, drink the milk.  See the good.

And so it is a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Laundry

So I was on the road for 3 weeks.  Even this guy has to do laundry at some point during a three week tour.   So, I went to the front desk to see if they had soap.  I told the gal at the desk that I wanted to do a load of wash. A load, one load.

She handed me all of this [not the jelly] and said, no charge. I told her that I could pay. She said no you’ve been very good to us.

So after I rounded up quarters, I did my laundry.  Oh what a blessing to have clean clothes!!!

I find it interesting that we tend to get back from people what we deliver to them.  If I deliver anger or hatefulness or selfishness... then no one will want to help me.  But if you are kind, it seems that kindness comes back.

The hard part is to continue to be kind to someone, even when they are nasty.  Let's keep working on that one.  If we can't love our neighbor whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen.  And so the Apostle John says that, "he who loves God must also love his brother."  1 John 4:21

It's a beautiful, clean day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Thoughts on thinking

This is what I see from the window of my
train car.  Yes I can see everything in my
site, but do I really have a full vision of
what is going on in the world???

I like to think. It is my belief, I think, that some people do not think about things, they merely react to situations around them.

Thinking is different than reacting. Thinking is setting aside my notions of a thing and looking for other angles.

True thinking asks me to release all preconceived ideas. It asks me to set aside my prejudices and the normal paths that my brain takes, and look for another way.  What were they thinking?  What is this situation like from their perspective?  How are my actions perceived by them?

Consider a railroad track. It is going one way and one way only. Most people, when they think, look at other ideas from the safety and security of their train. What if we totally got off the train track and got on a bus or a boat or an airplane? What if we discovered and explored the myriad of ways to look at the landscape of life?

"A great many people think that they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."
                                                        William James

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to look for other perspectives on life... Release yourself from the past... get off the tracks and see what is really out there...

In Church

Sunday I was in church in Elsbery, MO to hear my friend Laura Taylor preach.  It was a very nice service which included communion.

Pastor Laura

I received the elements and knelt at the rail.  It felt so good.  The church reminded me of the years that I spent serving the Mercer, MO congregation.  Small sanctuary, intimate, quiet... plenty of time to reflect.

Sanctuary seats about 100 I would say.

Anyway, I knelt at the rail.  And I prayed.  I prayed this:  God please forgive my sins.  Thank you for your many blessings.  Please help me to be more kind and more grateful.

This is the spot.

I would like to expound on those bullet points of prayer...

• forgive my sin.  Yes I am 65 but I still have sins.  I do however find them pretty boring.
• Thank you for my blessings... oh my gosh... where do you stop.  For family, for friends, for health.  For people who love me.  For people who like spending time with me.  For memories.  For the ability to work.  We could go on and on.
• Help me to be more kind...  that involves thinking harder about my actions and seeing other people.  I think that we could all be more kind.
• More grateful... enough said.  When we are grateful, our attitude completely changes.  We cannot be selfish and grateful at the same time.

Lord please forgive my sin.  Thank you for all of your blessings.  Please make me more kind.  Please make me more grateful.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Cynthia Mack

Most of you will not remember Cynthia Mack.  She was an active member of Woods Chapel.  She was fun and funny and a delightful Christian lady.  She was single, and she travelled for her work.  She was a trainer.

She passed away in 2000 at the age of 56.  Her children were devastated.  I was shocked- she was so young.  She was a tremendous loss to this world.

She died in San Jose, California on a road trip in her hotel room.  I went to high school in San Jose, and started college there.  I have often thought over the years about how sad to be on the road travelling and to pass away, alone in a hotel room.

- - - - - - 

Recently, I have been travelling for work again.  As I write this, I have been on the road for three weeks.  I have been doing work that I love.  The other morning as I was driving to the job site, I thought about how much I loved what I was doing.  To me, it just feels so good to be out working construction.

And I thought about Cynthia.  What if it wasn't sad?  What if she was on the road doing what she loved?  What if her end came while she was doing the things that made her happy?  If so, then there is no reason to be sad.  Finding fulfillment is this life is a beautiful thing indeed.

We are all going to die at some point.  How nice to pass away while doing something that you love.  My father passed away in the parking lot of his favorite restaurant.  He ate at Romanelli's on Wornall Road every single day without fail for lunch and dinner.

So, while I have no premonition of leaving this life, I want someone to know that I am happy.  I am in a place that feels like "my place, my groove."  I loved being a pastor.  I really love doing the work that I am doing now.

It feels good to be happy.  I wish that more of us humans could find satisfaction more often.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

From a recent devotional by Richard Rohr...

“We are going to hit some turbulence ahead,” [my flying instructor] went on, “and you will learn something about your airplane…. If you tighten your grip on the yoke, you reduce the aerodynamics of your aircraft. You, as the pilot, actually make the flight less safe, steady, and stable. So, remember: When the going gets rough, fly loose....”

Our world today is nothing if not swirling, turbulent wind tossing us around. [Recently], we have experienced economic meltdown, climate countdown, racial throw down, political breakdown, technology showdown, and religious letdown. We are living through the breakdown and breaking open of much that has defined modern life.

In the face of such extraordinary transition, it’s natural to look for solutions to our problems.... We tightly grip the yoke of our families, businesses, government, and communities, trying to regain control of people and systems that feel broken...

And so friends, as times are unstable, the advice here is to relax.  Getting all balled up or bunched up is only going to make our lives more stressful.  Sometimes we have to take a deep breath... relax, let go, and trust God.

Everything is ok.  Bank failures and all.  Don't make yourself crazy by being worried sick.  Fly loose.  Hold to God's unchanging hand.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Upcoming trips

Yesterday I posted a picture of a sunrise in the town of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee.  That reminded me that I need to get some info out about possible upcoming trips.

Trips that I am considering for next year  and 2025 include...

The Holy Land -  this is a 9 day land trip.  Extensions are available, usually several days in Jerusalem or Egypt.  Probably February or March 2024.

Praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Boat ride on the sea of Galilee

Ireland - this is also a 9 day land trip.  Last time I went we had a great time.  Well, we always have a great time!!!  I also took an extension of a few days in London which was amazing as well.  I am looking at the fall of 2024

Typical Irish Town 

Blarney Castle

The Journeys of Paul- this is a cruise [full size Royal Caribbean ship] that bops around New Testament locations in Greece and Turkey.  This would be a 2025 trip.

Library at Ephesus

Arch of Galerius, Thessalonica

So friends, if you are interested in any of these trips, please let me know.  You can email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.