Good Morning

Friday 4:00AM, Jan 27, 2012

Good Morning, Lord. How have you been?  Sorry about the last few weeks.  I know we haven’t talked much lately, so I thought I‘d drop you a note and bring you up to date.  Quite frankly I’ve been “dragging ass” to use the vernacular.  That is...my beast of burden has balked at each and every step and the struggle has drained me both physically and mentally.  I think it all started with a touch of the flu mixed with hay fever…then it settled in my respiratory system and produced a gelatinous slime that was unstoppable as a lahar.  This condition caused the weakening of my mental state that subsequently allowed me to catch a spiritual virus…doubt/despair.  So once again I have turned to you for help.  You are the one who always saves my ass.  Thanks again.  I'll try to do a better job of staying in touch.  Hope all is well with you.  

Your not so faithful servant
Amen

Coughing, Sniffles, And Sneezing

In a semi-conscious state I dragged myself from my bed after what seemed like weeks of being incapacitated.  Sick is my least favorite thing.  It saps every ounce of my physical and mental energy.  I don’t have the drive nor the desire to even journal my ailing thoughts...record my ambling journey...or pen my nauseous progress.  After two days of lying on the couch, drifting in and out of a zombie like coma with the TV droning in the background…I could barely muster the strength to take a breath.

What is it about being sick that clouds my thinking and fills my head with all manner of dark thoughts and deep doubts.  What’s with all the wondering and wandering down the dark dank halls of my mind?   I go over and over a relentless litany of questions, misgivings and fears.

Will I ever feel better?  Am I going to die? Am I ready to meet my maker? Am I sick in the head?  I would like to know what’s the point of being sick?  What purpose does it serve?  Is it an exercise in defeatism?  What? What? What?  I just want to give up and throw in the towel…I just want to lie down and groan. 

Maybe sick falls into the suffering category.  Maybe suffering is just a way God allows me to have a little taste from the cup.  Maybe it’s the way I can gain some understanding…some understanding of who Jesus is.  Maybe it’s some way to acquire prospective...an opportunity to learn what Christ went through…what he had to put up with.

I have to stop cursing the darkness, focus on the light at the end of the tunnel and enjoy the chicken noodle soup.

Life is good, God is great, and people are crazy.  

Amen.

Ode To The Evergreen

As I drove the East Texas backcountry following the winding roads over the rolling hills, across the cedar bogs and through the endless pine forests…I marveled at the sights and smells. 

The deciduous trees

Gave up their leaves

And the reddish brown

fell to the ground. 

The orange-brown hues

Told well of the news 

That for no other reason

It was the season.

Logging trucks lumbered

Clattered and thundered

Under the loads of pine

That smelled so fine.

Through Woodville I drove

Through Pineville I wove

Through continuous coves

And countless groves.

But the pine tree stood

As well it should

All tall and slim

With every limb.

Unchanged by the season

In a deciduous treason

Like a stubborn cow

To an evergreen vow.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the trip in your awesome woodlands.

Amen.