Posts Tagged: death
“Summer Haiku: Of Thunderstorms and Breathing”
“Watching thunderstorm,
Boiling over western woods;
Child rapt in wonder.”
NPR is having a summer haiku fest. I sent in the above. It is based on a real event, which recurred many times during summers when I was growing up.
I used to love watching thunderstorms as they approached. I would stand outside, near the door, so that I could dash in if the lightening got too close or when it started raining. I would watch as the black clouds boiled up over the woods to the west of our pond. If there wasn’t too much (or any) lightening, I would watch as the rain marched through the field beyond the pond, and then across the pond and the pasture that was close to our house. I would try to wait until the last possible moment, and then would run into the house. Those were wonderful—indeed, sacred—moments.
I had a bad spell yesterday evening. Couldn’t breathe. I’ve been on blood thinner for years, but blood thinner doesn’t necessarily destroy the clots. Blood thinner hopefully keeps the clots from getting too big or numerous, but it does not keep my body from producing them. Every now and then, apparently, one of them breaks loose. My lungs seem to be the favorite target of these little internal critters. I’ve been diagnosed with pulmonary embolisms on two separate occasions.
It is scary to not be able to breathe. However, to be breathless in wonder is a sacred moment.
Perhaps death is like that. Perhaps, if I take a childlike attitude toward death, I will be able to watch it boiling up, with breathless wonder. If I begin to breathe again, I go back to my usual tasks, glad to be alive.
But, if I am not able to breathe for a longer period of time, and the storm fully breaks over me, I will stand still and still stand, like a child in rapt wonder.
“Bait or Poison?”
A good friend of mine is struggling with an invasion of ants. This is not unusual this time of years. She and her husband have put out lots of ant bait, but it is taking a while for all the ants to get the message that they are not welcome.
She wasn’t sure if the “bait” was working or not. I commented that it takes some time. And then I added, “They call it bait, but it’s really poison!”
Immediately, my mind went to James 1:12-15.
“12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (English Standard Version)
Apparently, people in James’ day (about two thousand years ago) were prone to blaming God for their evil. Imagine that! I’m sure glad that we don’t do that these days!
James is very mathematical at this point;
Desire Sin Death
And it’s something we do to ourselves.
Of course, we wouldn’t (hopefully) do this on purpose. We don’t necessarily start out desiring our own death.
And, of course, not all desires are wrong. But when we indulge wrong desires, or even right desires excessively, we set the chain in motion. Like the ants in my friend’s house, if we take the bait, we have taken the poison. We can call it bait, but it’s still poison.
“SO MUCH JOY!”
Some days, there is so much joy! Not all days. But many.
Joy in the fact that the semi-final softball game was rained out this morning. Not that I didn’t want to play. I just rejoice because the rainout is a fact.
Joy in weeding the flower bed with my sweetheart, even though I forgot to wear a belt, and my shorts were in constant danger of falling down.
Joy in writing a blog about mental noise.
Joy in looping Rich Mullins’ song “Calling Out Your Name.”
Joy in the breeze outside.
Joy in my puppy sleeping on my lap, as I write this post.
Joy in the goldfinch outside my study window.
Joy in having lived.
Joy in living right now.
Joy in thinking about my own death.
Joy in getting the paperwork together for donating my body to U.C. Medical.
Joy in looking forward to Heaven.
Joy in this planet.
Joy in my wife making gumbo for our dinner tonight.
Many years ago, a friend said to me, “You know, I think you have more joy than you know.”
Yes! And now, I know!
Readers, may you be joyous today! And may you come to enjoy your joy, and to know that you are in joy!
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
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