A Dream Deferred



Hope deferred makes the heart sick; But desire fulfilled is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12)

What happens to a dream deferred? These famous lines come from a Langston Hughes poem. However, they have their origin in the Bible. A dream deferred might dry up; it might explode with anger. When I met Vanessa, she was sitting in the gutter waiting for someone to buy her for an hour. In her, I saw a picture of what my might girls might become, if not for intervention. No job; no education; forced to sell themselves simply for something to eat.

But, I am assured that Vanessa did not wake up one morning and decide: I will simply prostitute myself for anything that anyone will give me. I will give up my youthful beauty. I will destroy my health for no better reason than simply I want to do so. No, I believe like every young girl, Vanessa, (and so many of the women in South Africa and most of the world who feel that they have few or any options), had a different dream, a different aspiration, a different hope for their lives. 

But somehow, those dreams got deferred. I believe that God's plan for a hope and future, which He promises all of us in Jeremiah 29:11, is what He fully intends for us to experience. But lack of education, lack of  a good home, lack of parental care, all of things come into destroy the dream that God has.
And so it gets deferred. Poverty defers the dream. A lack of a quality education defers that dream and hope slowly begins to dry up until one is left simply existing, merely taking up space in the universe. Not living out one's God-given potential- not achieving the goals, the end, the future hope that God had originally planned.

So what do we do when we see a dream being deferred? Do we simply shake our heads and say that's rather tragic?  Or do we intervene; do we actually push the pause button on our own dreams, on our own hopes, to help someone get out the gutter and begin to walk into the future and plan God has for them?

Jesus did that for us. He left heaven, its purity, perfection, and glory and came intervened in our hopeless situation. He pushed the pause button for thirty-three years and walked among us. As Emmanuel, He touched our broken places and felt our wounds (Isaiah 9 and 53). In fact, He took our transgressions and infirmities, so that we might have life. He proclaimed in Isaiah 60, that the Spirit of the Sovereign was upon to Him to set at liberty the captives, recover sight to blind, and declare the acceptable year of the Lord. If Jesus pushed the button for more than thirty years, maybe I can push it for a few minutes each day and help a captive walk free.

Pushing the Pause Button,
MJ

Master Repairman

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

God sets out to repair us. He does not merely tinker. I have firsthand knowledge of the work that goes into repairing an instrument. You see my friend of thirty- two years needed a major overhaul.  I could tell that Clarissa wasn’t her normal self; she squeaked and squawked like she had a bad cold.  At first, she had to have her cork refitted, but it soon became apparent that after a more serious investigation, thorough repairs were necessary. So, I decided to have her overhauled when I returned home to the States.

I first tried an Internet company, but when she was returned to me she was worse than before I shipped her. So, I sought a local remedy- a real pro and thus my lesson began. This search led me to the home of a master repairman.

The master repairmen took off the keys and polished them one by one. Cleaned inside the holes. This was done meticulously. He examined each wire and tightened it precisely, and after an hour, played on her perfectly. I was direly afraid she would never sound as she had the first time my eleven-year old fingers caressed her ebony wood, but there it was, as a brilliant as the day the craftsman pieced her together, a clarion crisp sound.

I am a lot like my clarinet. I need a real specialist to examine every nook and cranny, to find out what is out of alignment and fix it completely and properly. Sure, I can go on the Internet, some self-help, or dating game show, but only a master repairman can put things to right. God, our maker, is that master repairman.

It may seem scary and crazy to allow someone to get that close, that all up into your business, looking at the scarred and broken pieces of your life, barely held together by a worn piece of cork, but let the repairman touch and feel those places, play those notes that are brooding in your heart. Otherwise,  you will never be quite right, something will always be off- the lower octave does not sound as resonant as it should, something is not quite right in the upper register. Hum. Best let a pro examine it.

I know; I know; all that poking and prodding is so darn uncomfortable and intrusive, but someone has to get down to the nitty-gritty of our hearts. Why not the one who made it in the first place?

Being Fine-tuned, MJ

 

Sitting Pretty

Watching the cat lazily rest on its haunches gave me a picture of complete serenity: no cares, worries, or anxieties, nothing to fret about. The cat simply was. I want to be like the cat, blissfully unaware of problems, people, and situations that seek to threaten my peace of mind, push into my quiet place, and disturb my rest.
Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). The word shalom in Hebrew means completeness and wholeness spirit, soul, and body. In fact, shalom is the same word for maturity or perfection. God calls us to rest on Him. He invites us to even rests between His shoulders. He offers to carry us when we can't walk: “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders”  (Deuteronomy 33:12). When I watch an African lady carry her baby, she bundles the baby with clothes to her back and tightly in front of her chest, and the baby sleeps safely and peacefully in the cradle made of her flesh and bones. I want to rest in God's presence, for in His presence is the fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11) in the same way, lulled to the drowsy rest of a baby.

 Jesus invites us to cast "the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully" (I Peter 5:7). To be free of are and anxiety requires that I trust in Someone bigger and stronger than myself to take care of me. The cat doesn't worry when she will eat, whether she will be cold, or where she will sleep. She simply trusts that her master will care for every need, and thus she can relax and be at rest. Jesus knows that we will have troubles and trials in this world, so He promises that after we "have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you" (I Peter 5:10). That is what I see when I see the cat: at peace no matter the turmoil and confusion surrounding her.

On the day I took that photo, there were half a dozen people in the room, but the cat continued to doze contentedly.When we are settled in who we are and whose we are, we can rest no matter what.

I can focus on what is making me crazy or I can rest in who God is: my safe place.

Resting,

MJ

 

 
 
 
 
 

New Year's Resolution: Spiritual And Emotional Balance

  I realized there are two components to true healing. If you lack one, serious consequences and repercussions will be the result. The two kinds of healing are emotional and spiritual maturity. What are the differences? Someone may spend hours in counseling, addressing the past, the wounds, and received managing and coping strategies, but still be afraid. That is from where the spiritual component comes. One can see a problem, but not have the power to forgive, release, and be a whole confident individual, free of fear. One lives behind walls in order to protect one's self. The fear has bound the person.  He knows that Jesus said that He came that he might have life, and life more abundant. But, he experiences none of it. He knows that perfect love casts out fear, but he still leaves bound, trying to protect himself.

Then there is the spiritual person. That individual knows the Word of God. He is acquainted with prayer and fasting. To be sure that discipline, if added to seeking healing, would be the perfect combination, but they often are not. These spiritual disciplines are often practiced in isolation. This individual is one likely to dismiss any brokenness and claim the blood of Jesus has washed all pain away though he has spent no time hearing God’s voice directly on that issue.

Now, put the two together. For instance, this same person is quietly seeking God’s face, and God reveals that there is an issue: for instance, a person he needs to forgive, and perhaps, the key to the forgiveness is he also receiving healing for the event. The order typically happens in this way: Jesus walks the individual back to the event so that He relives the feelings (this reliving of the pain is the number  one reason why individuals don’t want to go back; it is easier to say the blood of Jesus covered it instead of walking back into the situation and facing the pain). So, the individual and Jesus spend time in the Secret Place; they talk frankly and candidly about what occurred. Now, the individual knows exactly what he is forgiving; the price that has to be paid for the pain that was inflicted or perhaps, he learns that he has misconstrued the event all together and been in pain needlessly.

No matter. The individual experiences the honest emotions of grief and anger. He wants to know who will pay this debt. Then, Jesus reveals his scarred hands, ands says that He already his paid it. This truth allows the individual to forgive the offender; thus, closing the cycle. The spiritual and emotional are no longer disconnected. He no longer tries to smother, push down what he considers are negative emotions- emotions which are not negative at all, but God’s attempt to get his attention that something is broken and needs to be addressed.

I pray that God will bring a greater sense of peace through His love and healing in our lives this year. For there is no fear in love. But, perfect love drives out fear. (I John 4:18).
Progressing, though Imperfectly,
MJ

A Pioneer's Christmas: Fill up your wagon with joy!

The most important and the most precious thing the pioneer had was his wagon. The wagon was his home.  He slept in the wagon. It was the parlor or living room where he might read, pray, or play checkers.

Secondly, the wagon provided shelter from the elements; it kept out the wind, sleet, and sun. What lessons can we learn from the wagon? Don’t overload your home with unnecessary burdens. A marriage and family can only sustain so much. Don’t forget the provisions of love, kindness, gentleness, perseverance, humility. These are the knives and other implements that hung inside the wagon’s interior. Pioneers always had a can of grease at the ready to oil and moisten the axles and wheels of the wagon. Forgiveness is your oil in your family wagon.

The most important part of the wagon was the tongue.  If the tongue broke, the wagon would be useless. The oxen would have nothing to pull. Similarly, our tongues set the course of our lives. It directs where we will end. The power of life and death are in the tongue.  James tells us that "the tongue is set on fire by hell. With it we praise God and curse our brother made in His image. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself" (James 3:6).

We have all seen movies were the pioneers circled their wagons and fought the natives. A wagon became an instantaneous fort, a corral for the animals as well. The pioneers preferred oxen over mules or horses. The oxen were strong, but even so, a wagon could not carry more than 2000 pounds. Similar to the wagon, your family can only take so much stress. Your family needs more than just provisions, gifts; they require love, time, and listening. Be sure to protect your family from predators: overstimulation, lack of commitment, and too little quality time. The tongue stuck out a quite a bit in the front and onto it, the oxen were attached. Without the tongue, the wagon was useless, a dead heavy weight. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another"  (I John 4:20).

May we always use our words to build up and not tear down. Your words of affirmation and love protect the hearts of those whom you hold dear. It protects the hearts of your family from predators which would seek their destruction. Unconditional love and words of comfort keep the home fires burning. Circle your wagon so to speak and corral the lost ones inside the warmth of your heart. Pull them close this season and use every implement you can find to protect what you value most.

 

 

What is a Pioneer?

A pioneer is one who leaves all behind in hope of a better life ahead. Nations streamed to what was known as the New World. They came from Africa, Europe, and Asia to escape drudgery, persecution, and some against their own will, but they came all the same. They took Paul’s words of Philippians 3:13-14 truly:  one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

In order to embrace the destiny and new life which lay ahead they had to forget their country and people. Like Ruth, the quintessential pioneer, they needed to forget their people, their land, and their god to find the new life before them: "Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. (Ruth 1:16).

Being a pioneer meant being prepared. One had to anticipate the dilemmas and problems one might encounter on the trail.  Life is a similar kind of journey, which at times, with its twists and turns, requires us to anticipate the challenges which may lie ahead. "But don't begin until you count the cost," Jesus warned; "for who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish? (Luke 14:28).

The pioneer needed to bring barrels to collect water and simple cooking supplies such as cornmeal, yeast, bacon, rice, and beans. All of the pioneers traveled with supplies such as needles, pins, leather, scissors, and all the necessary sundries to sew and make clothes. In essence, they took as much and as many supplies as possible on the journey.

They would have been destined for failure if they had not had the foresight to carry dried meat, potatoes, crackers, and yeast for baking. The family cow made the trip as well for it provided the necessary milk for growing children and nursing babes who were still suckling. Even a tin of chocolate might be taken for special occasions. A hen or two would provide the eggs that would serve as a good source of protein and a necessary ingredient in cooking.

No malls were nearby so leather was brought to fix worn-down shoes. They also made their own repairs to wagon wheels and such, so they brought nails, hammers, saws, knives, and the utilitarian string. When they set off toward their destination, they did not know exactly what awaited them, but they attempted to anticipate and prepare to meet their most basic needs.

Yet, we seem to little resemble the pioneer as we carelessly get into our wagons so to speak and head out on the trial of life. We give little thought to the gear that we will need to mend the broken parts of our hearts. Like a pair of broken worn shoes whose tread is gone, our hearts keep on trudging on the miles but are never restored, never mended.

We fail to sharpen our skills and intellect. No pioneer worth his or her salt would go on the trail without a good set of knives and the ability to sharpen them, but many people spend little time investing in sharpening people skills, relationship building, and cognitive growth.

 

The story of the pioneer provides a worthy allegory to life, and for next few installments, I will examine the tried and true virtues exhibited by the pioneer.

A Bourgeoning Pioneer,
MJ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Monkey See, Monkey Do!

For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship” Romans 8:19

When the Bible says that all creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God, it has exciting and frightening ramifications. I think I understand what it means in a deeper way because of a few trips that I have taken with English Language School. During a trip to Monkey Town, and also during a trip to refuge for abused primates, I heard similar stories about two different primates who had been taught to drink. One was a monkey who became an alcoholic like his human master. When the man died, the monkey was taken to Monkey Town where he was rehabilitated, but today still shows signs of his abuse. He abuses his wife and children, according to the guide. When he first arrived, he had the shakes and other identifiable traits of addicts.

The other was a chimpanzee who both drunk and smoked. He was taken to taverns and was made to drink for the sport of those who would pay, as he put on this sick display. Cruel humans thought that it was funny to exploit him in this way. To this day he displays great hostility and violence.

In addition, I have seen footage of animals that wait for fruit to ripen and fall from trees. As the fruit drops to the ground, it begins to ferment. Some animals don't even have the patience to wait for the process to be completed.  They consume so much of the fermented fruit they get tipsy and even fall down drunk during this season, staggering through the forest. I do not believe that these behaviors are indicative of the conduct that God intended from the animal kingdom, but as sin has encroached into their domain as well, we see the results of the fall of man.  It makes you wonder who needs to be caged and rehabilitated.

But what if we influenced the earth for good? What if creation's anxious waiting revealed a people anxious to do good, to protect the animals and their habitats? People who did not care about their own selfish pursuits more than obeying the first mandate given: to care and maintain guardianship over the earth. Genesis 1:28 states, “God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

It is not only unbelievers who act in ways that are egregious towards creation. It is not just alcoholics and circus  trainers who maim primates; it is large corporations that pollute our waters and environment; it’s the simple citizen who litters, who doesn’t recycle; that individual leaves a large carbon foot print on the earth. But when, we walk or bike instead of drive, put our rubbish in the compost heap, we are saying that we value the gift of creation God has given us.

Who really should lead the way of protecting the animal kingdom and the environment? The children of God of course. He gave us the responsibility, didn’t He?  One day, the lion will lie down with the lamb. There will be a day when there is no more death- animal or human on God’s holy hill. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD. (Isaiah 65:25). How I am bringing His kingdom to the earth now? How do I reduce the enmity between man and beast?
 

MJ