Color My World

Every one that crosses my path leaves a mark in some way. Some in a good way and others not so good. Some add color others just a footprint. I am so thankful for those who have poured into my life and added the colors and hues that make me who I am. I may not be anything special but I am glad to be me. I know so many who won't say that about themselves. They have been left with so many footprints and tire marks that they can't see the color anymore. We all get walked on and even ran over or thrown under the bus by those closest to us and the hurt is sometimes more than we can bear. Even Jesus was betrayed by one of his own. If Judas had been a stranger to Jesus it would have been another accuser not a betrayer. Because He was betrayed he knows how we feel when the scars go deep. Now here is the point. It's not about what other people do to you, for if they did it to Jesus how can we expect different, but what are you doing to others? Are you adding color or leaving skid marks? I hope in some way I can add a brighter hue to every one I meet. Sometimes we only see in black and white, while others only see shades of grey. I want to see in God's color palet, with lots of crimson.

From Super Baby to Superman

I can't believe it's already here. It seems like just last week I would pick up my little boy and hold him out like he was flying with his arms streched out and he would fly around the house saying "Super Baby". Written words can't mimic the sound of his laugh or excitement as we went around and around. And when I sat him down he would come back with his hands reaching out to me and say "Super Baby", and we would do it all again. He really was a super baby, the kind of baby that makes you think "hey, this raising kids stuff is pretty easy, let's have another one." So now we have four children, each one special, and each one super. Next month my little boy will graduate from high school and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I seem to be doing both. I am so proud of the man that he has become. I wish for a second that I could pick him up and play super baby again and hold him in my arms so that nothing could get him, but now I have to let him go. If I have done my job as a father then he should be fine. He will leave our house this summer to attend college and I won't be there to make sure he gets up on time for class or gets his homework done or doesn't stay up to late. Maybe what makes me sad about him going is that I realize he doesn't need me so much anymore. After all He's not a super baby anymore, He is Superman!

Can You Change?

Well can you? Everyday I can see a little more of my dad coming out in me and thats ok most of the time. There are some characteristics that I would just as soon not have though. Like the ability to fill the garage with stuff just because I might need it some day. Or the unconscious act of driving slower when someone in the car is in a hurry. And how about, procrastination? Always putting off until the last minute with no time to correct for errors. But I can change, I don't have to be just like my parents. Yeah right, that's easier said than done. Notice the date of the last post to this blog. Four months have gone by since I last posted anything. I guess my mantra has been, "It can wait." So once again I'm going to change. What brought on this sudden burst of determination, you might ask? I'm glad you did ask. This weekend I got to take my boys out to the lake for a while. Well it's really more of a lake bed, not much water around. Anyway, we hiked up and out of the valley to look over the lake and while we were there a helicopter/airplane, (OSPREY) flew over. Immediately I was given a lesson on the maneuverability of the craft and several other details, gotta love teenagers, although most of it I already knew. One thing stood out to me though. And that is the ability for change. At take off the rotors are up like a helicopter so the craft can achieve lift quickly and without a runway. When enough altitude is aquired the engines and rotors are "changed", tilted to the front until they face forward like that of an airplane, and they propel the plane forward. With out that critical change of position it would be impossible for this plane to fly.

So many times I achive lift and even altitude, but my inability to change me prohibits my forward momentum. So I will trade in my altitude for momentum and remind myself that I can change. The OSPREY has a pilot and crew that works the controls and causes the change, I have Jesus. And I know that with Jesus, I can do all things, even change.