Precious Gifts

Guide our feet into the way of peace. - Luke 1:79 

Yet again tragedy has struck our nation, hitting us when we least expect it. I am not sure that people have changed all that much over time. I know that communication has changed allowing everyone to have a voice or allowing information to spread much faster. Not but 50 years ago when something happened it could take a few days for the tragedy to become known to everyone. One hundred years ago it would take weeks or months and before that if something did not happen in your local area you would never know it happened unless a traveler happened to come and spread a tale of it’s happening.

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9

One of the hardest things for me to discern is the ability of man to bring harm to one and other for ones own gains. I served in the Military in the beginning with a youthful naivety that there was a right and wrong, a good and bad. As I served I became tainted and yes started to feel like I was losing my way, being pulled into the cesspool of humankind. We all have to travel the path we travel, the question is whether we lose our faith our joy and our hope in all things. I like many have had some very dark times in my life where I felt so alone I was ready to exit stage right. My own personal tragedy of life’s making had become so bad that the thought of living was to much to take any longer.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1: 2-4  

For me, When that time hit, I had everything a man could want for. I had a family, children, car, house, the list goes on and on. What was missing was my Joy. I could not take my life’s lessens and see where everything that I had dealt with was leading me to help others and be used in ways I could not even fathom. I knew how to talk the talk, but I could not hear my own voice in my own heart. I was barren when it came to seeing the light. I thank God that the darkest times of my life today are the shining stars. Those times that I thought were absolute worthy of pulling the trigger and giving up are today what raise me up and push me forward to help others who have the same feelings.

What I have learned is that God does not tempt us ever. But just like the Iron being forged before becoming that sword it has to be tested under the heat of fire. It is that fire that creates a new creature in us that can be transformed from a dull piece of metal to a sharpe shiny sword ready to protect and defend. 

Yes our nation is having a rough time right now. I hear the divide between people widening everyday. Politics are just that, Politics. The Color of our skin does not define who we are only the shade of the person. We can not pick what we look like but we can pick how we act. We can learn to take credit for our own actions in life and be responsible going forward. No we can not change the past. The time machine is a dream that has yet to come to fruition and I hope it never does. We learn from everything that is why history is such an important lesson to us all. 

God never calls Qualified people, he creates them!

I am not a preacher, never have been, never will be. I am a 54, almost 55 year old male who has seen more than his fair share of hate, hurt and selfishness. It is time for all of us to get off our high horses and learn how to unite. It took a DOG yes dog spelled backwards is GOD, for me to start on this journey. I am walking a road I never saw coming. Holding hands with people of all sorts of backgrounds working to create peace one hand at a time. There is nothing unique to what I am doing, nothing special I am doing but the outcome is blessed because we are allowing God into our lives and community. Join us by reaching out to the person next to you. You don’t have to travel around the world, just tap the person next to you and listen to what they have to say. Truly be with them.

We all make mistakes in our lives. Own them, then let them go. Time is to precious to hold on to anything for more than a moment. The hate in the persons heart to take all those lives was pure evil. Don’t join that evil by continuing the story. 

Mike was injured this last weekend. He ripped his DewClaw on his front leg while running in the yard. He acted as if there was little wrong because he loves to run, so he limped a little but brought the toy back wagging his tail all happy. I saw it and saw the blood. My first worry was he had stepped on something and done some real serious damage. I cleaned him up put a pressure dressing on, it helps to be a bleeder myself, and called to see if the local vet was open. No such luck. That meant a trip to Charlotte, to the animal emergency room. This is never a fun trip for anyone but thank God that the VA has the Dog of Record program where service dogs get medical benefits. 

So to make a long story not so long, I get there with Mike and they go through the process of clearing the DOR card and get Mike into the treatment room. Then decide he needed to have surgery to amputate the DewClaw. Yes, those are the terms they used. Realize that Mike goes everywhere with me 24/7 so I am starting to really get worried. Wondering what am I going to do without my trusted friend during his recovery. (How selfish can I be right?) Fast forward, Mike comes back out into the waiting room a tad punch drunk from the anesthesia and he is doing great. He will have meds for a couple days to fight the potential bacterias and need to wear a bandage for a couple days also. They help get him in the truck all comfortable and all is good.

Now for the rest of the story. The doctor was an Army Vet so low and behold when the bill (which I was not worried about) came out to the techs in front for payment, they made the calls to DOR. When I was handed my copy it read $40. yes that is not a typo, $40 that is all for the entire process. The techs were as shocked as I was. They asked all sorts of questions about Mike and why I had him. So I got to tell part of my story, they were in tears before I left the building (joy tears). It was an amazing day filled with some God moments where he showed himself in such wonder filled ways. I share this for two reasons. One because many of you read the blog to hear whats happening with Mike not to hear the ranting of the wild man. Two because after the ranting of the wild man I figured a very positive story was due.

Seize the day!

God Bless