From Teaspoons to Serving Spoons

"This spoon isn't big enough," my son, Elliot, said.  "I need a bigger spoon."

"Then get one," Anna told him.  "You know where the spoons are."

"OK," said Elliot and went over to the silverware drawer in search of a spoon larger than your standard issue teaspoon.  In a few moments he returned.

"Elliot, that's way too big!"  Anna told him.  She was right.  Elliot had gotten a very large serving spoon out of the drawer to eat his soup.

"It's not too big, it's just right!"  He told her, unconsciously quoting the famous philosopher Goldilocks.  He proceeded to eat his chili with said serving spoon, contorting his mouth in odd ways the whole time.

It probably is not a unique observation to me that people tend to fluctuate between extremes.  Someone who has just burned their tongue on McDonald's coffee runs to soothe it with ice cream.  The couch potato who hasn't exercised seriously for three years gets a bad report at his doctor and goes home to put on jogging pants and attempts to get through a mini-marathon.

While our human tendency is to fluctuate between opposite ends of the spectrum, our psyches don't deal well that.  An emotional roller coaster of a life is bound to wear most of us out.

The prophet Elijah experienced such ups and downs.  He went from defeating the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel to fleeing for his life in a few days. 

It was at that time that God lead him out into the desert and explained a few things to him.  Elijah wasn't alone.  He still had a purpose and God would give him the strength he needed to fulfil that purpose.

I think that's what we need to hear when we come crashing down from Cloud Nine into the deepest dungeon.

God is the same God in times of intense highs or deep lows.  He still has a purpose for you and me and will give us the strength to fulfil that purpose.  We are not alone.

Let's just not make the mistake of exchanging our teaspoons for a serving spoon.

Better Than a Sparrow

"Dad," my son Vince said to me.  "Look at the bird feeder.  There are lots of sparrows there."

"Sure, enough, there are," I said. 

 "I like to see the sparrows," Vince told me.  "I know that there are prettier birds, like cardinals, but when I see sparrows it always reminds me that one of the sparrows will not fall to the ground without God knowing it.  God cares about the sparrows, doesn't He?"

"He definitely does," I told my nine-year old son.

Of course, I care for the birds too.  I'm the one who is buying them bird seed and honestly, not a single one of them has ever thanked me, or sent me a card of appreciation in return.  I think they are beautiful and like seeing them at the feeders, even if bird seed is not free.

The verse my son was referring to does tell that God cares about the sparrows, but it doesn't stop there.  Jesus told His disciples, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matt 10:29-31)

It is a blessing that God cares about the very smallest parts of creation.  He notices when sparrows and hummingbirds die.  Even more it is a blessing that He sees me as valuable and knows the tiniest details about me.

God knows us better than we know ourselves.

I don't know how many hairs there are on my head and my guess is that few people out there do.  The number of hairs isn't important (except, I suppose as they gradually lessen), but the fact that God knows this, extremely trivial aspect about us, indicates that He also knows and cares about the things that are important to us as well.

God sees us as valuable.

There are plenty of times that I don't feel valuable, times when I feel the tiniest part of this Universe.  God doesn't care that I'm tiny or that there are seven and half other billion humans out there.  God sees me as a worthwhile and important part of his vast creation.

I don't understand it, but that's what God thinks of us.

God does not want us to fear.

This passage doesn't promise that sparrows won't go through hard times.  It does state clearly that sparrows will not fall to the ground without our Heavenly Father.

In the same way, we will go through difficult times.  That is certain.  At the same time, God has promised that we will not go through these situations apart from Him.  He has stated that He will be with us regardless.

In the end, God cares for the birds.  Sometimes He uses generous people like myself and our bird feeders.  Sometimes He uses worms from the ground, but either way, the birds do not worry about their future.

The next time you see a sparrow stop for a second and think.  That tiny bird is important to God.  How much more am I?

Blooming in the Snow

It was the first day of spring and snow was falling!  Big fluffy flakes floated down to cover the grass and melt glistening on the driveway.

Of course, this is Virginia (not the outskirts of Anchorage) and the bipolar weather flips from 70 degrees to snow so fast you hardly have time to drop your container of SPF-50 sun block to pick up your stocking cap.  This doesn't provide too much of a problem for the human population (since we can just put on a coat), but plant life suffers.

As I looked out of our front window, I could see our Magnolia Tree, which had bloomed a beautiful purple the week before, now shrouded in white.  It was snow bound in spring.

The contrast between this southern tree, covered with flowers, and the snow struck me.  What is it that lets a person continue to bloom even in the midst of suffering?

Focus on the sun, not on the snow.

Even on the most frigid, snowy day, the sun is still there behind the clouds.  In that grayish half light lies something called "Hope."  Hope for the Magnolia Tree that spring really is coming and hope for us humans that the same God who lead us into this trial will lead us out once again into the light of day.  The snow will melt, the birds will sing, and spring will come again.

Use your energy to bless others.

Perhaps flowers are a waste of energy when the temperatures drop into the high twenties, but they stand out and lift the spirits of those who have to slog to work in the cold.  Everyone has an opportunity to bless those around them, even in a time of suffering.  It may be as simple as a kind word, a card, or a smile. 

It is hard to think of others in the middle of a difficult time, but those who do receive a special blessing.

Be who God made you to be.

Magnolia Trees bloom because they are Magnolia Trees.  That's it.  In the same way, God has not called us to be something or someone we aren't.  He only asks us to be the person who He created us to be -- in every situation we find ourselves in.

In the end, that may put a smile on the faces of those around us.  It definitely will bring glory to our Creator.

That's reason enough for a Magnolia Tree to bloom in the snow.

Minor Crime

"Dad, do you know what happened at school this morning?"  My children asked me.

"I think so," I said.  "Mom texted me about it this morning."

"Someone broke into our school last night," Anna told me, breathlessly.  "They took two computers and the money that people pay for personal copies (but they left the pennies) and they took all of the special drinks we had there.  All of our Frappuccinos are gone!"

"School was delayed for two hours while the police came out to investigate!"  Vince added.

"I'm surprised that Bun Bun (the sixth grader's class rabbit), didn't stop the burglar," I said.  "She's not a very good "Watch Rabbit," is she?"

"Oh, Dad," Anna said.  "Bun Bun was away for Easter Break, otherwise I'm sure she would have guarded the school.  We never had a break in when she was actually there."

"The police said that they probably wouldn't catch the robbers," Elliot put in.  "I wish they'd call the Bobbsey Twins.  They would find the men who stole things for sure!"

"Oh, Elliot, the Bobbsey Twins wouldn't catch anyone," Anna said.  "Mandie is exactly the person to call for a situation like this.  She's so much better at catching criminals than the silly Bobbsey Twins!"

I had to smile.  The children's school was broken into last weekend and such things were taken as one would find at a small (not very wealthy) Mennonite School.  Elliot was probably right that the police would never find the culprit, but I don't know if Mandie (of such books as Mandie and the Silent Catacombs) or the Bobbsey Twins (of such books as The Bobbsey Twins and the Mystery at School) would really do a better job.

At the same time, while this crime was pretty minor to the law enforcement officials, it was pretty major to the people involved -- particularly my children.  When they wanted to consult with the detective heroes of their books, they were really saying that they wanted someone to come who would care about the case and actually solve it.

When you are dealing with a problem, you want someone to help you who cares as much about it as you do.

God has asked us to bring our worries and anxieties to Him.  He does this, not because He is some sort of divine therapist who wants us to get these things off our chest, but because He simply wants to know what we are struggling with and help us with those things.  Peter, in his first epistle, told the Christians to "cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."

God hears our prayers and will help us in the midst of adversity.  He is more than enough for every situation, even for the "Baffling Break In at Bethel School.