Today the satellite radio landed on a song by the Beatles. The song takes me back to 1964 when I was an overweight nerd struggling to find my place in the world. What a difference fifty-two years makes. Now I am not overweight. “Can’t Buy Me Love” reached the top of the charts for the group. When asked about the deeper meaning of the song Paul McCartney gave this reply. “The idea behind it was that all these material possessions are all very well, but they won’t buy me what I really want.” Sing along with me all of you tired and achy Boomers… I’ll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright I’ll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright ‘Cause I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love I’ll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too I may not have a
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You see t-shirts and signs that proclaim that I am in control of my success. I used to imagine that I was the master of my destiny and slogans like these sounded really empowering. “If it is to be, it is up to me” “If you can dream it you can achieve it” I agree that having a good attitude and determination is important. But sometimes my life experience is more accurately described by the great boxer and philosopher Mike Tyson. “Everyone has a plan ’til they get punched in the mouth” Yep. Well said Mike. No matter how much I may plan my life I will face the inevitable “punches” in the mouth that life delivers. No amount of efforts to control my life will prevent illness. I do not have control over every relationship in my life. I cannot keep those I care about from making bad decisions. I cannot control unforeseeable circumstances that alter my career. Recently
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Recently we volunteered to help out with the grandkids during a busy time. We met our son Scott and daugher-in-law Caroline late at night as they returned from a family getaway. Grandtwins Bennett and Clara were sound asleep when we made the transfer to our vehicle. Clara rallied briefly but Bennett never roused in the transfer to his bed at our home. The next morning the kids were having breakfast when a thought crossed Bennett’s mind. “Nana…how did I get here?” We laughed at Bennett’s very legitimate question. He went to sleep in his car and woke up at Nana and Papas. The truth is that is a question that a lot of us ask during certain seasons of life. How did I get here? How did I get in this place in a relationship? How did I get here in my relationship with God? How did I get here with my health or the health of a loved one?
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A song by Joe South reflected my teenage disdain for those in power who seemed to not care a whit about the regular folk. I check the comments of Millenials today and I realize that not much, if anything, has changed since this song was recorded in the turbulent late 60’s. “The Games People Play” was recorded by Joe South and here are the first two stanzas. Oh the games people play now Every night and every day now Never meaning what they say now Never saying what they mean And they wile away the hours In their ivory towers Till they’re covered up with flowers In the back of a black limousine I have to admit that a bit of the anger and power of the protest was diminished with this hard-hitting chorus. La-da da da da da da da La-da da da da da de Talking ’bout you and me And the games people play Hard to gin
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I was following a gravel truck down the highway when I noticed the usual warning. The only problem was that you have to get closer than 200 feet to read the doggone sign! The message was simple. If you are going to follow this truck you have to keep a respectful distance so you won’t get hit with rocks. Following too closely has its risks. I think we do the same thing with Jesus. We follow Him at a respectable distance because it does not always feel safe to follow Him too closely. I can talk about how Jesus is love and Jesus loves me but when I follow too closely I get hit with rocks of truth like this. “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in
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I am sure that at least a few readers of these humble ramblings remember a song by Five Man Electrical Band. The song was called “Signs” and it told about some warning signs that dared to tell us what to do. Sign Sign everywhere a sign Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign I remember the opening part of the song quite well. And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why He said you look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll do So I took off my hat I said imagine that, huh, me working for you woah! What struck me most is that the official Five Man Electrical Band website actually has that last word spelled “woah”.  Hearing that song recently on an oldies station made me think
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The Monday Musing is actually an announcement. I am just putting the finishing touches on Waking Up Slowly: Spiritual Lessons from My Dog, My Kids, Critters, and Other Unexpected Places. This has been an incredibly challenging, convicting and fun book to write. The premise is pretty simple. We are the most connected culture in history but arguably the most disconnected from God and one another because of devices, schedules and misplaced priorities. I asked myself this question as I began the book. What if we are stubbing our toes on the sacred every day and not realizing it? What moments of joy do we inadvertently miss as we stare at our screens? What performance idols destroy our ability to appreciate God’s gifts? I set out to find out how life might look differently if I awoke each morning consciously looking for the easy to miss “postcards from God.” Waking Up Slowly is a completely vulnerable exploration of my journey to
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