Friday, November 14, 2014

"It Was an Ecclesiastes-Sort-of-Morning"


“Vanity of vanities,” says the Teacher, 
 “vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
 What do people gain from all the toil 
  at which they toil under the sun?”

The truck blocked my view
of the traffic light this morning.
I relied on its movement
to tell me when the light
had changed to green.
It moved, slowly at first,
creeping up to the speed limit.
Leaves flew out of the
bed of the truck,
hitting my windshield …
so many leaves …
so much hard work and effort
in raking and gathering
the leaves by those
I shall never know
and for what purpose?
I couldn’t help but think
of the words of the “Teacher”.
It was an Ecclesiastes-sort-of-morning.

“The wind blows to the south,
  and goes around to the north;
round and round goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.”
(says the Teacher).

Once the leaves discovered
their escape route,
more and more flew
out of the truck,
dancing about joyfully,
flying through the air
with a freedom
beyond description.
Although there was
a windshield between
the leaves and me,
I had the urge to pick them
out of my hair or
brush them off of my clothes
or spit them out of my mouth.
So many leaves …
so much hard work and effort
and for what purpose?
Yes, it was an Ecclesiastes-sort-of-morning.

“All things are wearisome;
more than one can express;
…  What has been is what will be,
  and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun.”
(says the Teacher).

I wondered if these very leaves
had once been discovered
by children.
Had they seen
the delight and smiles
and heard
the giggles
of little ones?
Had the leaves
first been raked into piles
that were calling out
for children and dogs
to “come and play” …
crying out to them
before the beautiful
golds and reds and oranges
were finally tossed
into the back of this truck?

If not,
then for the leaves alone,
the “Teacher” is right …
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, 
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

It was an Ecclesiastes-sort-of-morning.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

"1 of 1,034,000"



Every Tuesday, I head to the local cafeteria for what has become known as my "Tuesday Eat-and-Read".  Yesterday (Veteran's Day Nov. 11),  I chose to look for news on my Kindle instead of diving into the book that I’m currently reading.

A lady who was sitting two booths from me was talking in a very loud voice to the man sitting across from her. “HOW DID UNCLE J.B. DIE? DID YOU KNOW THAT SO-AND-SO HAS EYE PROBLEMS? RALPH CAN’T EAT HEAVY FOOD SO I’M GOING TO GET A TAKE-OUT OF MASHED POTATOES BEFORE WE LEAVE. WE’LL GIVE IT TO HIM WHEN WE VISIT HIM.”

This went on and on … she, shouting her words and the elderly man whispering so quietly that I couldn’t possibly hear him. I struggled to concentrate on the news for the day … “only 1,034,000 U.S. World War II veterans still living … 555 die each day … by 2036, there will be no World War II veteran alive.”

Again, the woman yelled. “ARE YOU READY TO GO?” I heard nothing from the man. He placed his World War II Veteran cap on his head and slowly slid out of the booth. He stood straight and proud, steadying himself with his cane, and then walked through the restaurant with determination, leaving the woman behind to catch up with him.

It occurred to me that during my "Tuesday Eat-and-Read", I was staring at the back of the head of one of the 1,034,000 World War II veterans mentioned on the screen of my Kindle. “O God, be with this man and the other 1,033,999 today. Remind them that they are beloved by you and appreciated by so many. Amen.

Friday, November 7, 2014

"Yes, You Can!"

Do not fear for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God;  I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand … For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”   (Isaiah 41:10 and 13  NRSV)

There will be days
when others say
“No you can’t”
and you know
without pause
or doubt
that God has whispered,
“You can.”

When all things,
even the weather,
seem to side
with the naysayers,
you still know
with all certainty
that there is another way
to be revealed,
a better path to take,
for God doesn’t place
ideas
and hope
and joy
and perseverance
within a person
without purpose.

Wait for the next day
or the day after that.
Wait for
the “You Can’t” from others
to be watered down
and weakened
by the power
and strength
of the“You Can”
from God.
Wait for
perfect timing
that is of God’s design
and direction.

Trust
that the right time
will come
and that
when you walk away
from those who say
“You can’t”
you will come
face-to-face
with those who say
with a smile,
“You have come
to the right place!”

And once again,
God whispers
not just
“You can”
but “You will.”


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

"O God, Let It Be So!"



Last Friday afternoon, I pulled into the busiest gas station in High Point (lower gas prices naturally create long lines and lengthy wait times). I was fortunate.  I found a spot quickly.  As I was pumping gas, I noticed a car creeping around the rows of gas pumps, the driver obviously looking for the best and fastest lane. We all know the ways of this … unless absolutely necessary, waiting behind vans, suvs or trucks probably isn’t the best choice and the majority of vehicles that day were those. I was almost finished so I motioned for him to pull in behind my car. He did.

Suddenly, his door opened and out jumped an African-American man in his 40’s. “Excuse me … may I show you something?” I don't think that I've ever had anyone ask me that at a gas pump. Hmmm… ok, there were men pumping gas in the lanes beside of me so why not. So, I said, “Sure!” He reached into his car and pulled out a cotton shirt in the most beautiful African print. It was obviously new, still with the creases in it from shipping. He held it up and asked, “What do you think?” It was beautiful and I told him so. Then the man’s face lit up and his grin turned into an ear-to-ear smile. He said, “I think so too! I ordered the shirt from Africa and it has just arrived. I couldn’t WAIT to show someone. I’m SOOO proud of it!  Can't you tell?” I laughed and said, “I can tell by your face … by your smile! You chose the perfect shirt. It is very beautiful.” “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” the man said. He returned to the driver’s seat and I finished filling up my car and drove off.

This Monday morning, as I think back on that and as I ready myself for a new week, I wonder if there will be a moment in my week that will arrive like a long-awaited package, just for me, that will light up my face when I recognize the moment as beautiful and holy, and that will give me words that I can't wait to share with another person.

O God, let it be so!