Seeing Extraordinary in an Ordinary World

Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see.”        —Luke 10:23

Last Tuesday was Somerset County Day at the Pittsburgh Zoo. The Zoo closed the park an hour early to the public and, from 5-9 PM, welcomed residents from Somerset County. The Somerset County Visitor’s Bureau gave out free wristbands to everyone who asked, so Nana and Pappy (my wife and me) were urged to take the grand-children. On the drive down, Gavin and Addi (ages nine and almost four) were talking up a storm in the back seat reciting all the animals they planned to see: elephants, tigers, and bears. “Tigers are the meanest,” Addi would frequently chime in. And sharks and kangaroos and giraffes and on it went. In the entire listing, gold fish were never mentioned.

At the African savannah section, we saw a black rhino and elephants. At the next exhibit, we saw a giraffe’s head coming up over the hill towards us. “Oh, look,” everyone exclaimed, “here come the giraffes to feed.” Their food consisted of hay placed in baskets on the top of high poles. While the giraffe made its way to the pole off to our left and then to the one right in front of us, the children became distracted with the koi, goldfish in the moat separating the giraffe exhibit from us.

The word koi comes from Japanese, simply meaning "carp". It includes both the dull grey fish and the brightly colored varieties you might see in restaurant aquariums or landscape ponds. I overheard one parent threaten their children, “If you are gonna’ watch gold fish, we’re going home. We can do that at WalMart.” Darlene and I watched the magnificent giraffe eat its hay and play with tree branches close up and personal while the children knelt in the dirt and watched common bottom feeding carp.

I am afraid, spiritually and naturally, we are no different than the children. The magnificence of this world reveals itself daily, but we are too busy with our ordinary lives to notice. We’ve all heard the saying, “You’ve got to stop and smell the roses.” A stunning sunset, a beautiful flower, or a touching act of love and kindness often goes unnoticed by eyes focused on the daily grind.

Sadly, we fair no better in the spiritual realm. When Jesus paraded into Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday, many crowded to see Him and Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. The legalistic and religious minded Pharisees could only see the details of the Torah and planned to kill both Jesus and Lazarus (John 12:9-10).

Mary and Martha entertained Jesus at their home. Martha had so fixed her mind and eyes on the chores and details of entertaining, she completely missed her honored guest. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus in awe and devotion. We need and appreciate the Martha’s of this world, but let’s not miss the extraordinary moments of life because our focus is obscured by the daily and ordinary (Luke 10:41-42).

When the seventy returned from their ministry tour, Jesus told them, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see” (Luke 10:23). What have you seen the Lord do recently? If you focus on the ugly, the bad, and the ordinary, you will miss many miraculous moments in your life. I invite you to pause, listen, and see the glories of the Lord and His creation around you.

No Longer Strangers

“There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”    —John 4:7

In an opening scene from the movie, Forrest Gump, young, lanky Forrest gets on the bus for his first day of school. As Forrest hesitates at the open bus door, the lady driver says, “Are you comin’ along?”

Forrest thinks and then explains, “Mama said not to be taking rides from strangers.”

The driver replies, “This is the bus to school.”

Forrest solves his dilemma by introducing himself, “I’m Forrest, Forrest Gump.”

The bus driver reciprocates, “I’m Dorothy Harris.”

“Well, now we ain’t strangers anymore,” Forrest concludes as he carefully maneuvers his legs and braces onto the bus.

Forrest’s mother gave him great advice, especially in the world, today. Don’t be taking rides from strangers, but the same advice does not work in Christian ministry and the Kingdom of God. The Bible tells us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2).  By His own example, Jesus shows us how to reach out to strangers, even questionable ones.

Jesus and the disciples were traveling through the region of Samaria. Samaria was part of the old northern kingdom of Israel that had been transplanted and intermarried with foreigners. The Samaritans were considered sub-par Jews and outcasts. The disciples went to town to get food while Jesus remained at the well. A Samaritan woman with questionable morals came to the well, and Jesus began to talk with her. After a short conversation, they were no longer strangers.

It was AAABA week in Johnstown. I decided to take a late lunch and catch a few innings of the Martella/Livonia game. With the Forrest Gump clip playing in my head, I ran into a young mother taking her two boys to the game. I helped her park her car and then asked if she could change my dollar for the parking meter. We struck up a conversation, and it turns out she knows some of my people and I know some of hers. We were no longer strangers.

At the game, I introduced myself to a Junior High baseball player and soon to be high school football player. We talked baseball and a little about life. We, too, were no longer strangers. Can you remember the last time you reached out to or asked for help from a stranger? If you introduce yourself and strike up a conversation, you, too, may become friends.

The Kingdom of God is all about reaching out to the lost, the least, and the stranger. When have you done that lately? When have you invited someone to church or done an act of kindness for a stranger in the name of Jesus? Jesus has shown us the way. A few seconds of courage in the name of Jesus may make the difference of a lifetime for someone else. Whisper a prayer, take a deep breath, and reach out in faith. You may also make a new friend, and we need all of those we can get. Hello, I’m Randy. What’s your name?

Beautiful Thorns

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”    —Romans 8:28

The other day my grandson, Gavin, and I took a ride on the mountain in his dad’s Rhino (a side-by-side ATV). We were actually looking for rattlesnakes sunning themselves on their favorite rocks, when we came across some beautiful yellow wildflowers. “We should pick some for Nana,” Gavin insisted. We ended our rattlesnake hunt and began the bouquet picking distraction.

We picked five or six different colored flowers, many of which most of us would call weeds. For this short summer season, they show off glorious reds, blues, whites, and yellows. As Gavin waded through head high weeds to pick an exceptionally deep red flower, I jokingly reminded him, “Watch where you put your foot and listen for buzzing sounds.” I was quite sure there were no snakes where he was but decided to get out of the Rhino and walk along with him.

On the way back, we came across some of my wife’s favorite flowers, daisies; so we stopped to pick a few long-stemmed ones. Our bouquet was beginning to look like a shock of wild hay. We needed some taller daisies to match. As I sat in the Rhino and Gavin selected some very nice daisies, I noticed a beautiful blanket of colors. The field of pretty blues and magentas was actually a large patch of very prickly thistles. I thought of the beauty of God’s creation and what most of us would call curses and nuisances. Remember; even roses have thorns.

From a birds-eye view, they are beautiful. Their purpose seems to be covering the earth with beauty and bringing praise to God the Creator. From our much lower human view, they appear to be nothing but pricks, scratches, and thorns. God reminded me of the many thorny experiences of this earthly life. From our perspective, they are painful and destructive. From God’s much higher viewpoint, the Lord sees purpose in each challenge and painful experience.

I believe Romans 8:28 describes God’s loving care for each of us. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Everything that happens in our lives is strained through God’s filter of love. If God permits a painful experience to come through, He uses it to glorify Himself and to bring some good result out of it for us. I do not believe God causes all things. Many of the evils in our lives are caused by Satan, sin in the world, and our own worldly choices. The scripture says, “God causes all things to work together for good.”

I, like many of you, have had my share of losses in life. My mother died from cancer at a young age. My sister was murdered after only three months of marriage. But through it all, God has comforted and strengthened me. I still do not understand, from God’s perspective, all the good the Lord has and is bringing from these painful experiences, (I may never know this side of heaven), but I still believe God is big enough and wise enough and loving enough to cause ALL THINGS to work together for my good.

As you pass through valleys and as you face the most painful experiences of this life, remember God loves you. God walks along with you. Call upon the Lord; Jesus will carry you through.

Free to Serve

“You were called to freedom, but do not use this freedom for an opportunity for the flesh, rather, serve one another in love.”    —Galatians 5:13

June has often been known as the month for weddings, but no so this year. At the church, July has turned out to be much more of a wedding month. In my own personal experience, Darlene and I were married in July. In preparation for weddings, I get to talk to couples about marriage and prepare wedding sermons on those famous marriage passages in Scripture. Last week, I used the Love Chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, as the Bible lesson.

The agape love of 1 Corinthians 13 describes a love that reflects the attitudes of the Kingdom of God. “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own” (vss. 4-5). Jesus taught and modeled the agape love of God. He gave up His rights to remain in heaven and cling to equality with God. Jesus emptied Himself, gave up His rights, and humbly served fallen humanity. He did not seek His own rights or benefits.

American culture is built upon individuality and human freedom that focuses on what’s in it for me. What can I do or what do I deserve that is within my rights. I celebrate the first Ten Amendments to the U. S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights. As the Congress debated the adoption of the Constitution, many feared if accepted as drafted, it would open the way to tyranny by the central government. As protection against our national government, the Bill of Rights was adopted. If we took a few moments to actually read the first Ten Amendments for ourselves, we may be shocked how they are worded to protect the citizen from Washington.

Toward our government, I would think it unwise to surrender any rights, but in human relationships and in our life in the Kingdom of God, let us live a life based on love rather than rights. Paul also follows the model and teaching of Jesus as he writes, “You were called to freedom, but do not use this freedom for an opportunity for the flesh, rather, serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13). We as Christians have been set free from sin and death so we may choose to serve. We can now surrender our rights to benefit the needs of another.

Many western Christians want to argue how free we are to dabble in sinful behavior and still be considered a Christian. Many such discussions begin with the phrase, “But you can still … and be a Christian.” The other side of the discussion goes something like, “But you don’t have to … to be a Christian.” I’m not advocating a return to the religious legalism of do’s and don’ts, but Jesus came to set us free from our sin and self so we might serve others in love.

When is the last time you got your hands dirty as a Christian to help someone in need. In the story of the Good Samaritan, there was no law requiring the priest and the Levite to stop and help the possibly dead man along the road. The Good Samaritan, acted like a Christian, and willingly gave up his rights to privacy, his own schedule, and his own donkey to offer aid to the injured man. Why must so many people have to be commanded to act before they go out of their way and inconvenience themselves to help another?

Whether in the Church, the community, or a marriage, God has given us the power and freedom to give up our rights to ourselves. Let us use our Christian freedom to serve other persons in love. Look around this week for an opportunity to surrender your rights for the good of another person. Then reach out in faith and let God’s glory shine through you.