Lord, teach me. . . .

In the presence of eternity, the mountains are as transient as the clouds.  –Robert Green Ingersoll Death is unavoidable, Try as we might, there is simply no way out of this life alive. Death and life are inseparably connected, making the promise of eternity even more tantalizing. We want to live forever—or if not ourselves, then someone we love. But what if we actually do control what it means for someone to live forever? And what if eternity is something that happens here, in this world, after we die? I believe that’s exactly how eternity happens. When someone we love dies, they leave behind stories. My father, for instance, served in World War II and was a soldier in charge of repairing jeeps at Omaha Beach. His task, I am told, was to keep the Army moving by making sure at least some of the jeeps were functional. He would take wipers off Jeep A and put them on Jeep B, pull brake pads off Jeep C and get Jeep B up and running—all this while the war was going o...

Being contented with God in my everyday life is a focused attitude. It is always available. It means letting go of my obsession with how I’m doing. It means training myself to learn to actually be present with people, and seeking to love them. –John Ortberg Every now and then, I have these experiences during quiet time, when I am supposed to be focusing on God, when I realize there’s a problem. And that problem-- is me . For me, the easiest way to quieting my spirit is to first allow it to get a little noisy with God, to give words to what’s really bugging me. (Truth be told? That’s often what drives me to quiet time in the first place: the need to unburden myself of the day’s stuff .) Some days, it’s politics; some days, my family. Some days, believe it or not, it’s even my church! But the conversation is always pretty much the same, and goes something like this: God, I am so tired of this. I cannot believe they’re still not getting it. God, can you please change t...

Beware the barrenness of a busy life. –Socrates Busy, busy, busy. Busy as bees. We text on our phones while we binge-watch a TV series or ballgame we were too busy to watch the first time it aired. We return phone calls while we drive. Dinner in the microwave because we are too busy to shop, let alone cook. Power smoothies, power workouts—power naps. We have this incredible notion that everything is urgent, everything needs to be done now— and everything needs to be done by us . Somehow, it seems, if we take a day off just to breathe, the world just might fall off its axis. We are too busy to take a break. Truth is, we are too busy not to take a break. Our bodies and our spirits crave a little down time. Even God took a Sabbath, and here’s a news flash: We are not God . (No, really!) When was the last time . . . you stopped? Just quit what you were doing and literally walked away into silence? When was the last time you chose no-watching over binge-watching? T...

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.  –Ferris Bueller Last week, my church family experienced the sudden loss of two deeply loved members. While they were sleeping, a house fire engulfed their home and ended their earthly lives. They literally never saw it coming. Every night, most people go to bed and have the beginnings, at least, of a mental “to-do” list for the next day. (Even as I write this, my wandering mind is planning the weekend. When do I need to get up? What do I need to take with me? Is that on my calendar? ) It’s just the way we are. But just as important, to me, is the need to pause and notice the day that’s just ended. How did I do? Did I love as best as I was able? Did I stop and rest in prayer? Have I actually taken time to see the beauty that’s all around me? Or did I push forward, eyes down and heart closed, busy, busy, busy? Have I decided it’s all about me , my plans and my desires? ...

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing. –Theodore Roosevelt I have decided. In many evangelical circles of the church, at the end of every worship service comes an altar call, a chance to come forward, profess your faith in Jesus Christ and assure yourself that you will reside with Jesus in heaven for all eternity after you die. Making this decision for Christ is a rite of passage; for some folks, this is where it stops. My soul is safe. Thanks be to God. I’ve made the decision to follow the Christ, but for me, it means more . If I am following Jesus, I am living my life here and now , until I die, as closely to the way Jesus lived as I can manage. So what does that mean? Here’s what I think: Take care of one another . If someone is hungry or thirsty, if we see a need in the world—do something. Offer a sandwich. Offer a jacket. Offer a hug.  T ake c...