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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Taking Care Of Business"
December 8, 2010
I couldn't believe what I was doing. My hands were in four inches of
soapy water and I was washing my underwear. I had already washed my
shirt and was thinking about going for the socks.
Never in my fifty two years had I done such a thing. Sometimes you have
to improvise. I was already on my third day with the same clothes and I just
couldn't stand it any more. So I did the unthinkable. I fought back and did
the dirty job. I washed my shirt, underwear AND the socks.
We can plan and go through the motions of pretending we are in control,
but a freak winter storm can turn the world upside down. I think that's why
the Bible is filled with stories about wind and rain and storms that come
unexpectedly. It is a reminder that we are never in control.
The snow that covered northern Europe last week forced the airlines to
cancel the connecting flight that I was on with my daughter and other
members of the USA Tap Dance team. We were stuck without a flight in
Frankfurt, Germany.
We thought we were in control again when we got on a train to continue
our journey. Yet we should have been prepared to face the unexpected. You
see, we eventually arrived at the site of the World Championships in Riesa,
Germany but our luggage was nowhere to be found.
On Tuesday night, after twenty eight hours of travel, five hours of sleep
in the hotel, and a full day of competition, I broke down and did the deed.
That was as far as I would go.
On Wednesday afternoon I went out and bought some more underwear,
socks, a pair of pants and a sweater. We didn't get our luggage until Friday
night so I made two more small shopping trips in between. I survived but I
learned some important lessons through the experience.
First, it is important to carry your essentials with you. Choose the most
important things in your life and focus on them. When traveling I suggest
extra socks and underwear. Day to day, I'd recommend spending time and
energy on the people you love. You just never know when they will be
taken from you. Love them. Enjoy them. Hold them close. They are a gift
from God.
Second, bring your ATM card. I left mine at home and my cash
disappeared quickly when I needed to buy new clothes. No one took credit
cards. Which reminded me that it is important to be in touch with the
source of all good things. Day by day, we need to lift up our voices to the
Lord. He gives us strength. He gives us courage. He gives us hope for the
future. Without it, we will soon find ourselves lost and depleted.
Finally, don't ever travel alone. It was the companionship of those who
went with me that kept my spirits up and helped me focus on the positive.
They reminded me why we were there. We were there for the kids.
The same is true in life. Find a faith community. Find some good friends.
Walk through life with them and encourage one another. Life can be hard at
times. God provides good friends who can give us a shoulder to cry on or
to lean on. Sometimes we are the strong one. Sometimes it is another who
can be the wind beneath our wings. They lift us up.
Our kids won six gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Even though
we didn't have our luggage, we still did okay because we had the right stuff
with us. Thank you God! I pray that you do too when the next storm
threatens to interrupt your plans. So be prepared and go with God.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
December 8, 2010
I couldn't believe what I was doing. My hands were in four inches of
soapy water and I was washing my underwear. I had already washed my
shirt and was thinking about going for the socks.
Never in my fifty two years had I done such a thing. Sometimes you have
to improvise. I was already on my third day with the same clothes and I just
couldn't stand it any more. So I did the unthinkable. I fought back and did
the dirty job. I washed my shirt, underwear AND the socks.
We can plan and go through the motions of pretending we are in control,
but a freak winter storm can turn the world upside down. I think that's why
the Bible is filled with stories about wind and rain and storms that come
unexpectedly. It is a reminder that we are never in control.
The snow that covered northern Europe last week forced the airlines to
cancel the connecting flight that I was on with my daughter and other
members of the USA Tap Dance team. We were stuck without a flight in
Frankfurt, Germany.
We thought we were in control again when we got on a train to continue
our journey. Yet we should have been prepared to face the unexpected. You
see, we eventually arrived at the site of the World Championships in Riesa,
Germany but our luggage was nowhere to be found.
On Tuesday night, after twenty eight hours of travel, five hours of sleep
in the hotel, and a full day of competition, I broke down and did the deed.
That was as far as I would go.
On Wednesday afternoon I went out and bought some more underwear,
socks, a pair of pants and a sweater. We didn't get our luggage until Friday
night so I made two more small shopping trips in between. I survived but I
learned some important lessons through the experience.
First, it is important to carry your essentials with you. Choose the most
important things in your life and focus on them. When traveling I suggest
extra socks and underwear. Day to day, I'd recommend spending time and
energy on the people you love. You just never know when they will be
taken from you. Love them. Enjoy them. Hold them close. They are a gift
from God.
Second, bring your ATM card. I left mine at home and my cash
disappeared quickly when I needed to buy new clothes. No one took credit
cards. Which reminded me that it is important to be in touch with the
source of all good things. Day by day, we need to lift up our voices to the
Lord. He gives us strength. He gives us courage. He gives us hope for the
future. Without it, we will soon find ourselves lost and depleted.
Finally, don't ever travel alone. It was the companionship of those who
went with me that kept my spirits up and helped me focus on the positive.
They reminded me why we were there. We were there for the kids.
The same is true in life. Find a faith community. Find some good friends.
Walk through life with them and encourage one another. Life can be hard at
times. God provides good friends who can give us a shoulder to cry on or
to lean on. Sometimes we are the strong one. Sometimes it is another who
can be the wind beneath our wings. They lift us up.
Our kids won six gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Even though
we didn't have our luggage, we still did okay because we had the right stuff
with us. Thank you God! I pray that you do too when the next storm
threatens to interrupt your plans. So be prepared and go with God.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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