The Pain Of Pruning
I enjoy yard work for the most part (weeding excluded). That probably sounds crazy to most, but I find it to be somewhat therapeutic and the ability to create a beautiful landscape within which to live is exciting to me. Although I don’t have any real landscaping skills, I get a great deal of satisfaction from watching plants come into their own as they establish strong roots and grow season after season.
A couple years ago I purchased two small lilacs to plant with the hope that they would grow into nice, big, fragrant additions to the yard. When Monika and I moved into our house four and half years ago there was very little done in the way of landscaping and so I took it upon myself to change that. Since then I have planted, and transplanted dozens of plants, loaded and unloaded yards upon yards of bark and added new garden space.
I have also pruned like crazy.
Sunday night I was out working in the yard, mowing the lawn, and pruning these two lilacs as they have grown quite significantly over the last two years and I was struck by how counter-intuitive it seemed to be pruning them. Both plants had beautiful deep green foliage and looked incredibly healthy. Moreover, I was pruning them because they had grown to be quite tall, just like I wanted.
With each cut I made I had to keep reminding myself that this is in the best interest of the plant and that new growth will be fuller and even more lush. This may sounds ridiculous, but it wasn’t easy to do. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on June 29th, 2011 by David | 6 Comments »
Unfathomable Love
What would you be willing to do, in the name of love?
What would you be willing to give up?
A few years ago I watched a short film called “Most” that vividly demonstrates the unfathomable love of God and what He was willing to do on our behalf.
The following is a condensed version of the film.
Posted on June 8th, 2011 by David | 4 Comments »
An Old Rugged Cross And Three Young Families
On Friday evening my wife and I attended the “Good Friday” service at our church. My role in the service was fairly minimal so I was able to enjoy the service from the back of the sanctuary with my wife, our ten week old daughter and two other couples (friends of ours) who had their young children with them.
At some point during the service, all three of us made our way upstairs to the cry room where we were able to be a part of the service without disrupting things with the moans, groans and cries of small children.
Towards the end of the service as the congregation was being led in the song, “The Old Rugged Cross,” I experienced a powerful moment. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on April 27th, 2011 by David | 15 Comments »
A Prayer For When You Feel Lost
My Lord God
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean
that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that my desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
- Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
Posted on February 10th, 2010 by David | 1 Comment »
The Joy Of Watching Worship
One of my favorite things to do on Sunday is watch people worship.
To see small group friends with their eyes closed, focused on God.
A friend who has had a radical transformation raising his arms in surrender.
A teenage girl with a smile on her face.
A grown man air drumming to the beat of the song.
A young woman in a wheel chair being fed communion.
College students singing their guts out.
It is a beautiful and inspiring thing to watch.
Posted on January 11th, 2010 by David | 1 Comment »
Finding God In "Desperate Housewives"
It’s not usual viewing fare for me, but this evening as I flipped through the TV channels I came across the show Desperate Housewives. Not exactly the most Godly show in the world but tonight I caught a glimpse of what it must be like for God to watch us struggle through the trials and hardships of our lives.
In this particular episode, one of the “housewives” is pregnant and in the hospital. As she sleeps in her hospital bed she dreams about what it would be like to have a son with a disability.
How difficult it would be to raise him.
How painful it would be to watch him struggle.
At one point in the dream her son walks into the kitchen as she is doing the dishes and asks her to make him a sandwich, and for a moment she plans on doing it. But there is something inside of her that knows the value in allowing him struggle through making it on his own. Value in allowing him to limp to the refrigerator with his cane. Value in struggling to open the bag of bread with his crippled hands.
Would it be much simpler for her to make the sandwich for him? Without a doubt.
Does she want to do it for him? Of course, she loves him.
But despite her love and her ability to immediately meet her son’s need, she allows him to struggle. She allows him to get angry.
She allows her own heart to be broken.
At the kitchen sink she stands, hands shaking with the desire to come to the rescue of her child because she loves him.
She loves him.
She allows her son to struggle and make a mess, because she loves him.
It is easy for all of us to view our struggles as an indication that God doesn’t love us. And yet, this desperate housewife so clearly shows how a loving parent at times needs to allow their children to struggle. To make a mess and get angry.
God doesn’t allow me to go through trials because He doesn’t love me. He allows me to go through trials because He needs me to learn and grow.
He loves me so much that He is willing to have His heart broken as He watches me, His child, endure pain and suffering.
I suppose you could say He’s desperate for you and me and is willing to do anything and everything to make sure that we grow into the people He wants us to be.
…Who knew Desperate Housewives had so much spiritual depth?
Posted on January 4th, 2010 by David | 7 Comments »
Broken
I’ve had the privileged the last couple days to spend some time with a great guy who has been humbled and broken. He’s lost just about everything…literally. He’s lost his job, his car, bank account, and is on the verge of being kicked out of his home. He mentioned today that if it “weren’t for his bad luck he’s have no luck at all.”
Talk about broken.
And to be going through all of this at this time of year is even more difficult.
While we’ve had some set times for us to get together he told me that he didn’t expect me to actually uphold those commitments because with the way things are going for him, it would be fitting for me not to show up or be available.
I wonder how often we have this perspective towards God when we are in the midst of a trial? Things seem to be going so horribly that it would be right in line for God not to show up when we really need Him.
…And yet he promises to never leave us.
Trials come in all shapes and sizes and yet it is my hope and prayer that no matter the size of the trial I will always expect God to show up.
Posted on December 24th, 2009 by David | 1 Comment »
Who Are You Striving To Please?
I had a great conversation this morning with one of my mentors, Kevin Geer. Kevin is truly a brilliant man and I value his opinion more than most. He has that perfect balance of tact and honesty and the things he says are right on the money. Everyone needs a “Kevin Geer” in their life.
Well our conversation this morning ended up landing on the topic of pleasing people; something that I desperately strive to do.
“Hello, my name is David and I’m a people pleaser.”
I love success, I love working towards excellence and I love it when people are pleased with the work I have done.
If you are familiar with the “Five Love Languages” mine is words of affirmation, meaning that I feel good about myself when people pat me on the back and tell me “good job.”
As my conversation with Kevin progressed he essentially asked me the question “who are you striving to please?”
Who am I looking to pat me on the back and tell me that I have done well?
My wife?
My boss?
My family?
Friends perhaps?
God?
The answer ultimately to all of those questions is a resounding “YES!”
My problem lies in how I prioritize who I am aiming to please. All too often, I put them in a hierarchy similar to what I just listed with loved ones, co-workers and friends floating around the top and there at the bottom is God.
Now, I can easily say that I want to please God, I want to live my life for Him, I want to serve Him…but how often do I worry about what everyone else will think rather than what God thinks?
………….
……..
…
Too often.
I like words of affirmation. I like being encouraged. I like hearing that people respect me. That they value my work. It’s a lot easier to actually hear those words from family, co-workers and friends than God.
But I know that in the end, the most incredible words of affirmation will come if I move God to the top of the list.
It will feel so good to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Posted on August 27th, 2009 by David | 3 Comments »
An "Authentic" Sacred Moment
I love days like yesterday where I get to be involved in sacred moments. Things like baptisms, baby dedications, etc. Yesterday I actually got to be a part of both, two memorable and sacred moments. The funny things is, my favorite moment, the most sacred moment to me, took place behind stage before the doors to the baptismal were even opened.
As we got ready for the baptism, I stood in the tank with Sandi our baptism candidate listening to the worship music. At some point all four of us back stage, our baptism host, the photographer, myself and Sandi were all singing.
Worshipping.
Sandi with both hands raised high and tears flowing down her cheeks, our photographer doing likewise the host team member singing and keeping time with bouncing knees.
Surrender took place in that baptismal. It was an offering. Something sacred and “authentic.” We use that word “authentic” a lot in the church and I sometimes wonder if it’s lost its meaning. But in that sacred moment, back stage, hidden from the hundreds of people worshiping out front, an authentic moment of surrender took place, and it was beautiful.
Posted on August 17th, 2009 by David | 1 Comment »
