kenlassblog

No doubt you’ve heard someone use the expression “bite your tongue”. It’s used when someone doesn’t want you to say something you’re dying to say. Actually, anybody who has accidentally bitten their tongue knows it is extremely painful, and often results in a wound on the tongue that remains sore for days.

But that pain is nothing compared to the damage that can be done by saying something that hurts or offends another. Contrary to the old adage about “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”, critical words really do hurt. And once spoken, they can’t be retrieved, and are never forgotten. We really need to think about what we are about to say. Will it help the situation?

If not, better to bite your tongue and stay silent. Just don’t bite too hard.

Sharon and I are taking a morning walk through one of our local parks. It’s a lovely morning and many folks are here for the same reason. Most flash a friendly smile and offer a cheerful “Good Morning” as they pass by. But a few are sullen, quiet, making no eye contact, just staring straight ahead, or looking down at the ground. I wave at them and give them a smiling “Good Morning”. They look away. They’re in no mood to talk.

I often wonder what is troubling them. What keeps them from enjoying a beautiful morning in a peaceful setting. I wonder if they have worries and stress about loved ones, or finances, or failing health. It reminds me that everyone is walking their own path, dealing with their own unique challenges and adversity. They can seem rude and unfriendly, but I shouldn’t judge them without knowing their circumstances.

Maybe my smile and greeting will be the only positive thing they encounter this day.

Sun block is a wonderful thing. You apply it to your face, arms, body and legs, all of you, and it protects you from the harmful rays of the sun. You don’t really feel it on your skin after a while, but it’s there guarding you. You’re still going to get hot and uncomfortable, but at the end of the day you will have avoided the pain and agony of sunburn.

It’s not a bad way to think about God’s protection over you. If you “put on the entire armor of God” He is always there to protect you from the harmful influences of sin. You can’t see Him, but He’s always there. Adversity may come to make you uncomfortable, but at the end of your life you will be in paradise and have avoided the ultimate punishment.

Punishment that is a whole different kind of burn.

Funerals are often referred to as a “celebration of life”. It’s common that the family of the deceased will arrange a table with various pictures of their loved one, and/or a slide show. Did you ever notice that these are never pictures of possessions? You likely won’t see photos of their fancy cars or elaborate houses or expensive clothing.

Instead most all of the images will be of time spent with family and friends. Happy times. Perhaps wedding pictures, baby photos, proud parenting moments, on vacation with close companions, playful, silly times, smiling times. Occasions when joy was clearly shared and treasured.

In the end, when we are gone, no one will remember our stuff. They will remember their relationship with us. That’s something to keep in mind while we are still here.

I recently attended a college graduation ceremony. This was a large university with a graduating class of around one thousand students. As they paraded across the stage, flashing wide smiles while receiving their diplomas, their names were read off. I was struck by the diversity of the class. There were whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Middle Easterners, Polynesians, Indians, young, old, male, female, pretty much every different kind of human being you could imagine.

They came from so many different backgrounds and cultures, yet when the group was officially declared graduated, they couldn’t stop hugging, high-fiving and celebrating each other. For this moment, there were no divisions, no hate, no inequality. They were bonded together by their achievement, and none of the divisive issues of our current world were going to steal their joy.

I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a glimpse at what God had in mind when he created our species.

I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that none of the figures in the bible have a last name. Surnames did not become common until around the eleventh century. In biblical times folks were differentiated by their fathers (Simon, son of Jonah), their hometown (Jesus of Nazareth), or their tribe (Aaron the Levite).

Most interesting to me was being identified by what you were known for, such as John the Baptist. If we still used that method today, what do you suppose you would be called? Would it be something positive? Would you be Sam the Hard Worker? Or maybe Jennifer the Unselfish? Frank the Fisherman? Cindy the Servant Heart?

It’s something to ponder. What is your legacy? I’m afraid I might be Ken the Napper, or Ken the Eater of Sweets. Thank goodness for surnames.

As I write this, an entire community is praying for the grandson of our friends. An eight year old boy who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He has undergone surgery and any number of procedures and tests. As of this writing, his prognosis had not yet been determined.

It’s not anybody’s fault. It just happened. So where do you turn when there’s nothing you can do about it? This community is turning to prayer. When you are powerless to fix something yourself, you can give it to God. The family is, of course, hopeful and afraid, but they trust that God will bring about the outcome that fulfils His will. Sometimes, that’s all you can do.

When you have nowhere else to turn, turn toward Him. He is able when we are not.

When our kids were little, my wife Sharon was constantly taking pictures of them. She snapped photos of them eating, running, laughing, at school, at church, at the library, at the beach, everything and everywhere. I remember thinking “what are we going to do with all these pictures?” She worked hard organizing scrapbooks for each child, dating and identifying the circumstances. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth the effort.

Now, forty years later, I get it. I treasure those photos. They chronicle an exhausting but magical time of our lives. Sharon was storing up good memories back then that she knew would reward us later.

Kind of like the way living a godly life can store up eternal rewards in the future. I’d love to see God’s scrapbook one day.

Nearly every famous TV character had a sidekick. That one figure that was with the hero through thick and thin, always in support, but never quite receiving the same attention or credit. The Lone Ranger had Tonto. Batman had Robin. Lucy Ricardo had Ethyl Mertz. Fred Flintstone had Barney Rubble. Andy Taylor had Barney Fife.

It takes loyalty, humility and trust to be a sidekick. Someone who gets genuine joy by helping others achieve happiness. Someone who doesn’t care if the spotlight shines brightly on the other person, leaving them in the dark. A true sidekick’s reward will be in eternity.

Be the Robin to somebody’s Batman. God knows who the real stars are.

There is a small crepe myrtle tree outside the window of my home office. The other day I watched a bird build a nest in it. I was impressed at how patient and hard working she was. One twig at a time. Later that day a strong wind and rainstorm kicked up and destroyed much of her work. Undaunted, she began again, hunting for a twig, bringing it to the nest, and twisting it into place. She had a mission, a purpose, a job to do. Something she was meant for. She would lay her eggs there and do her part for the next generation.

I couldn’t help thinking, if only all of us had that kind of clear definition as to our purpose, our mission on this earth. And what incredible things we could accomplish if we all worked relentlessly toward the goal. When adversity strikes, we could find the strength to just pick ourselves up and keep going.

The power is out there. We just need to ask for it.