Lent

Good Friday is right around the corner and I haven’t really given up anything except going down the “belly-bean” aisle at HEB. I do not know how much longer I can hold out…every time I pass by aisle # 8 my shopping cart turns toward the colossal belly bean dispenser like a forked peach limb or divining rod in the hands of a douser. The thought of scoring a bag of reds or yellows haunts me as if I were a drug addict. The thought of a bag of liquorice delights is almost unbearable. Then…I realize what a spiritual wimp I am when I think about how painful a nail through the hand must be.

Dear Lord Jesus

You ask so little
Still yet I piddle.
Even though it’s late
You fill my plate.

I have not a clue
Of all you do.
But what I see
You are good to me.

Amen

Return Trip

I set the altimeter to 30.15, leveled off at 7500 feet and let the air speed true out at 167 kts (192mph) while I turned to 130 degrees on the heading. Peering through the holes in the overcast I could see the patchwork of the Texas High Plains farmland pass beneath me as I returned home. The uneventful flight gave me to time to reflect on a weekend filled with mixed emotions. I was glad to be going home but unhappy to be leaving my wife. I was glad she was staying to care for her mother but a part of me was sad that she would not be taking care of me. I was happy my mother-in-law was better but sad knowing her time was limited. I was happy to be flying 192 mph instead of driving 70 mph. There are two sides to every coin and I am thankful that I have a pocketful of coins.

Thank you Lord Jesus
for all my blessings, those I have so many.
Thanks for all the gifts, these I have a plenty.
For a life sublime, there is nothing so fine.
It is Your example I must keep in mine.
Amen.

God's Best Work

Dear Father God,
Please be advised that I overwhelmingly approve of your handy work. It has come to my attention that you made man in your image and likeness but you really hit a home run on your second time at bat. When you made women you totally outdid yourself.
Of course it only makes sense. In my experience building stuff, the second prototype affords the opportunity to refine all the parameters; usually the first one has bugs in it. For example: testosterone or whiskers, which have no apparent use, other than to get man into trouble. Nevertheless, I am totally thrilled by your best work...women. I like the wiggle when they walk and the giggle when they talk. Their hair, their face, their voice…it’s poetry in motion…they are pleasing to the eye and they warm the heart. Everything is in the right place…they have a special symmetry and balance…a certain “je ne sais quoi”.
Detroit’s best work was the ‘57 Chevy. Your best work is women. And the very best part is the one you picked for me. I will be eternally grateful for that bit of Devine providence. I just wanted to drop you this short note to let you know, but I guess you already know that.
Sincerely Yours,

Your “not so” faithful servant

Note To Self

After several months of procrastinating I finally decided to clean off my desk.
That’s when I found a scrap of paper dated 11/12/2010 with the words scribbled in my handwriting “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather…Luke 17:37”

Now I remember Father Harold reading that gospel and I remember that it painted a vivid picture in my mind. I remember thinking that the vultures will prey on the lifeless and maybe I need to become more spiritually active. I need to do something to keep the buzzards from circling overhead.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Give me the strength to keep on moving,
To keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Give me the wisdom to stay on the straight and narrow,
To keep my toes pointed in your direction.
Amen

Bars And Scars

I looked through the bars,
At the tattoos and the scars,
The awful sight was frightful.
This is not the place,
To take up space,
I pondered a notion so dreadful.

For those that reside,
All puffed up with pride,
And I knew this would not do.
I feared for their souls,
They had the wrong goals,
'Twas the things they misconstrue.

Such confusion and woe,
With no place to go,
I barely could comprehend.
What trouble and sorrow,
With no hope for tomorrow,
How could they even pretend?

They all dress in white,
But it did not seem right,
I could feel it in my soul.
What a pitiful sight,
I witnessed tonight,
And it made my blood run cold.

If only I could tell them,
The chains that held them,
Were not made of iron or steel.
Their only prayer,
To get out of there,
Would be something quite surreal.

The effort was made,
We talked and we prayed,
We tried like never before.
This is your chance,
To do the dance,
To make the Lord your Savior.

It was down to the wire,
It was heaven or fire,
It was time to make a choice.
They threw in the towel,
And made Jesus their Pal,
With the sounds of their praising voice.

It tugged at my heart,
To see such a start,
For this I can only say.
I saw the tears,
Wash away the fears,
For Jesus saved the day.

I thought to myself,
Put pride on the shelf,
Let Jesus make you all new.
With a little foresight,
You can light up the night,
It is this anyone can do.

I look passed the bars,
And all of the scars,
I saw the men in white.
Thank you, Jesus,
You do so please us,
For souls that shone so bright.

Amen.

I Was in Prison, and You Visited Me

I sat at my makeshift desk…cluttered with unfinished business…glaring at the computer screen and wondering what I had gotten myself into. Why did I agree to go on a prison retreat? Why did I agree to give a talk? What do I know? What am I going to say? My insecurities and fears threatened to drag me away to a dark and forboden place. I had to remind myself that God chooses the unqualified and the unworthy to do his work… He chooses the lame to lead, and the mute to speak.

So…What Can I Say?

What can I say that will make your day?
What can I say that is not a cliché?
Who can I trust, whom can I pay?
What shall I pray to make you sway?

It’s not for nought I pen this essay.
It is not gossip; it is not hearsay.
Take advantage of that fateful Friday.
Shout to the Lord a big hurray.

Make it your goal to avoid the decay.
Stay out of the fracas, stay out of the fray.
Do not put off, do not delay.
If you are wise, follow Him right away.

‘Tis the Lord Jesus who knows the way.
We have His promise, “it will be OK.”
Upon reaching our end, there is no leeway.
So for your salvation accept Jesus today.

Amen

Ash Wednesday

I noticed the black smudge on my forehead as I looked in the mirror and it reminded me that today is the first day of lent…the first day of spring training…so to speak. This is my chance to get in shape, to do a little self-discipline. This is my chance to work on the person I need to be…the person God wants me to be.
Training is necessary to get in shape for the race. Fasting and abstinence is eating right. My goal for the next forty days is to build some spiritual muscle mass.
Whoever thought up lent was on the right track. What a great reminder that our body returns to the earth and our soul returns to God, our creator.

Thank you Lord for these forty days
Sometimes I get a little sideways
But it's your forgiveness that does amaze
So let my voice sing Your praise.

It is You who sets my heart ablaze
Upon Your face I hope to gaze
You’re my Father when it comes to padres
Thank you Lord for these forty days.
Amen