Posts Tagged: looking for change in a parking lot

“OF CHANGE, HEARTS, FULL MOONS, AND LOVELY SUNRISES”

On July 29, 2018 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

Are you familiar with the Joe Raposo Sesame Street song?  It has a nice, catchy tune and really profound lyrics.

“I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star

I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star going by

While lookin’ at my feet, at a crack in the sidewalk
An old tin can by the side of the road
I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star going by

While studying a brand new hole in my sneaker
And finding a quarter and an old bus token
I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star going by

Looking down at the ground means you know where you’re going
No head up in the clouds to lead you astray
But you can’t ever have any kind of dream that way

Looking down at the ground means you know where you’re going
No head up in the clouds to lead you astray
But you can’t ever have any kind of dream that way

While looking at my feet at a crack in the sidewalk
An old tin can by the side of the road
I nearly missed a rainbow
Elmo nearly missed a sunset
I would’ve missed a shooting star going by

I nearly missed a rainbow
Don’t want to miss that sunset
I wouldn’t miss a shooting start going by
Passing me by
Passing me by.”

Sometimes, we all lose our focus.

So, I was waiting for my ride to the twelve-step meeting this morning.  I was walking around looking for change in the parking lot at Planet Fitness, keeping one eye out for someone arriving for an early morning workout.  People who haven’t had their second cup of coffee can be a little less than alert than they need to be.

I found a dime, which gave me great cause for rejoicing.  It also inspired me to keep looking.  No more money, I’m afraid.

And then it hit me: It was a cool, clear morning with a big bright full moon.  The sun was already making its presence known, and there were some lovely fluffy clouds in the eastern sky, roughly the color of orange sherbet.  And here I was, with my head down, looking for a few coins!  I was missing the real treasure.

This is especially ironic because, just an hour or so before my treasure hunt, I had read the following words from Matthew 6:21, in my 3-Minute Retreat from Loyola Press:

“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Then the retreat master for the day made these simple, yet profound, comments:

“Whatever we claim as treasure in our lives is where we put the bulk of our effort and energy. Over time we generally grow in understanding of what is really important to us, and we let go of some things in order to have the time and energy for things that are more important. For people of faith, treasure is found in the love God has for us, in our love for God, and in the love we have for others. The choices we make each day are based on what we treasure.”

I would only add that God’s creation is also something we should treasure.

So, I quit looking for coins in the parking lot, and instead spent a bit of time worshiping the God who made full moons, sunrises, and cool mornings.

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“Spending the Day With God”

On July 14, 2018 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

I make gratitude lists most days, usually in the early morning.  I often give thanks for the same things and people.  But today, I included something I had never listed before, as far as I know.  It was this: “I am grateful for getting to spend the day with God.”

I thought to myself, what would that look like?  Then, I thought, maybe it would be like spending the day with my sweetheart, my wife.  We would enjoy whatever we were doing together.

So, I made up my mind that I was going to be on the lookout for things for God and me to enjoy.  On my way to meet my friend who carts me to my twelve-step meetings, I stopped by the park to hit some softballs off the tee.  The sun wasn’t up yet.  There were a few purple, pink, and grey clouds in the sky, and the field was draped in a lovely grey fog.  “Well done!” I said to God.  I even hit the softballs pretty well.  (Whether this transfers to my actual hitting in a game remains to be seen.)

Then I changed socks and shoes, and headed to Planet Fitness to meet my friend to go to the twelve-step meetings.  I was a bit early and he was a bit late.  In fact, we were both right on time.

I went to the necessary room at P.F., and then walked outside to wait for my ride.  He wasn’t there yet, so I decided to walk around in the parking lot, looking for change.  God and I didn’t find any change, but we did find a wonderful treasure—an important conversation and a wonderful story.

“Did you lose something?” asked a lady who was sitting in her vehicle.

“No,” I replied.  “I’m just looking for change.  I’m afraid that I am a terrible cheapskate.”

“Oh, I look for change too!” she continued.  “In fact, I’m a Christian . . .” she began.

“Me too!” I exclaimed, interrupting her.

“I don’t think this a chance meeting,” she said.  “Well, as I was saying, I’m a Christian, and one time I was praying to God about some bills that I simply couldn’t pay.  Right after I prayed, I walked out to get in my car to go somewhere, and noticed a fast food bag that had been thrown out in my neighbor’s yard.  I felt prompted to go over and pick it up to throw it away.  But then, I felt prompted to look inside.  I didn’t want to do that.  I mean, who wants to see someone’s else’s yucky remnants of food?  When I looked in the bag, there was a big wad of money, enough to pay my bills.”

Our conversation swirled on to other things, and then she admitted, rather sadly, “I’m afraid that I’m not as close to God as I used to be.  And I want to get back close to Him again.”

I ventured, “Well, do you go to church anywhere regularly?”

“No, I don’t,” she replied.

“There are a lot of good ones around,” I said.  “Crossroads meets right in this area.  I go to the Crossing, and it is a really good church.  It bills itself as “a messed up church, for messed up people, with a messed up ministry staff, that exists to introduce people to the One who can clean up their messes.”

“It sounds like my kind of church!” she exclaimed.

I left her with a prayer.

Spending the day with God sure is fun!  Maybe it is even more than spending the day with God.  Perhaps it is an investment.  And even more than fun, it brings joy.

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