Soul Food

"You don't have a soul.

You are a soul.

You have a body."

~ C. S. Lewis

We know how to feed our bodies, but how do you feed a soul?

• Feel the wind on your face.
• Listen to a toddler laugh.
• Smell an evergreen tree.
• Watch the sun set.
• Taste a banana.
• Hold the hand of a terminally ill person.
• Listen to the ocean.
• Share a meal...or a coat with someone in need.

Ouch!

I guess someone didn't like my bumper stickers.



I was doing some research at the public library this afternoon and when I came out to get in my van this was waiting for me.

Life Bringer

One of my favorite authors, John Fischer, tells of a friend of his who works with homeless teenagers. He likes to experiment with new ways of beginning a conversation. It's hard to start a conversation with "How are you?" with the inner city kids with whom he works since the unpleasant answer kind of screams in your face without anything being said.

This guy often asks, "What has brought you life today?"

What made you sit up and take notice of the fact that you are actually alive? What made your heart beat faster? What got your attention? Something in the news? A God moment? A phone call from your friend? A brush with death? What made you know you were alive today?

It's a valid question that cuts through much of our mundane existence. If you can go through an entire day without coming up with anything that made you feel alive, it doesn't necessarily mean there wasn't anything; it just means you didn't notice it. That's why the question is a good one. It draws something of value out of us.

So think about it for a moment, "What brought you life today?"
Be grateful for the person/gift/experience.

And here's another one: "What did you do to bring life to someone else today?"

And one more thought: The day's not over yet! There's still time to make a positive difference is someone else's life.

Remember: "Encouragement is oxygen for the soul."

Real Acceptance

I have spent most of my life living with a lot of guilt; feeling (and sometimes being told) that my best wasn’t good enough, that everything was my fault, and often failing the expectations of myself and others... even God.

Our culture programs us to think that significance and acceptance is based on performance. If we behave properly, we will be loved, accepted and rewarded; but when we mess up love is withdrawn.

Love is often conditional: "I’ll love you if…", "I’ll love you when…", "I love you because… " or "If you'll ______ then I will love you."

God has a different economy. "When John the Baptist baptized Jesus, a voice was heard from heaven as He came up out of the water, “You are my Son, whom I love, and I am fully pleased with you” (Matthew 3:17).

At this point Jesus hadn’t yet begun teaching, performing miracles or healing; yet God’s acceptance was a given. I don't think He just felt that way about "His Perfect One", but I think He loves all His children like that--He doesn't play favorites.

It is the same thing with us. God delights in you, His son or daughter, just as you are. God’s love and acceptance of us is not based on performance. God says, “I love you; period.” You are pleasing to God already. You bring pleasure to God right now. You are valued by God just as you are.

There is nothing you can do to make God love you more; and nothing you can do to make God love you less... and there is nothing you can do to alter that fact.

Right now, without doing anything, God is pleased with you. He delights in you. He loves you. How you respond to that is the big choice.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:7-11)

Bumper Stickers

I'm going to make some bumper stickers to express my views on a few subjects:

First, to express my anti-war sentiments:

A camouflage background with the letters

WWJK? Who Would Jesus Kill?


I'm also toying with the idea of doing one in response to PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Don't get me wrong, I love animals and I'm all for the ethical treatment of animals. I am becoming vegan, moving more a more to a plant-based diet. The problem I have with PETA is the way I've seen some of their members treat people (anger, harrassment, cursing) in an effort to get their point across.

So I'm starting a group called

P.E.T.H. -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans.

Let's not forget to treat each other at least as well as we want the animals to be treated.

Speaking of treating people with decency, I'm a little tired of the "hate speech" I hear coming from some pastors and pulpits these days, especially in regards to issues like race, immigration and homosexuality. It's not an original idea with me, but in addition to American United for the Separation of Church and State I want to form a group called

Christ Followers United for the Separation of Church and Hate

Another un-original idea, but one I like: In response to the bumper stickers I've seen that say "In case of rapture this car will be unmanned", I like this one:

In Case of Rapture...can I have your car?!

Keep smiling and don't let anyone rob you of your sense of humor, but please feel free to give it away :)

Serendipity-Doo-Dah

I've been itching to go for a power-walk today, but kept getting detained by one unexpected event or another. Late afternoon, just as I laced up my shoes and opened the door, the rain began to pour. It didn't last long, so I soon had another chance. I turned on the Weather Channel to see the local Doppler radar and found that more showers were on the way, but a window of opportunity was available.

It was a small window. I found out just how small when I was just over half a mile from home and "the bottom fell out". Within seconds I was drenched. It felt gooooood.

I headed for the front porch of a nearby house. Had no clue who lived there. Had no clue if I'd be shot or not (hey, it happens around here), but thought I'd take a chance.

Just as I stepped into the yard I noticed her standing behind the Plexiglas storm door. I stopped short. Pointed to myself, then the porch, made a a little roof with my hands and then clasped them together as if to beg, "please".

She waved a cautious invitation. I told her I meant no harm, just wanted some cover until the rain let up. From the doorway she had been keeping vigil over a dove that had nested in a hanging basket on the eave of the porch. The wind blew the basket back and forth as the little mother covered the eggs in her nest.

As it turned out I made a new friend and found out her life story, struggles and deepest fears within the span of eight minutes. She and her husband have been married 50 years. He suffered a stroke a few years ago, and she lives to take care of him. Her biggest fear is that something will happen to her before he passes on, and he'll be at the mercy of strangers. She is lonely...and scared.

I promised her I'd check in on them often, and I can't wait to keep that promise. Had it not been for the rain I never would have met the sweet little lady with the big heart. I'd have hurried on by as usual. Thank God for unexpected showers.