Well, it finally happened, after all these years without neighbors on three sides, I have a new neighbor right across the road from me. His name is Jason and he’s a fireman. It’s customary to bake something as a welcoming gift, and I thought about it. Unhappily that was all I did, just think about it, for several weeks. Finally, I drove to a fancy bakery in town and bought a variety of goodies. When I introduced myself and offered him my gift, I told him: “I got these at a bakery. By the time you got something baked from me, you wouldn’t be a new neighbor anymore!” He didn’t seem to mind.

May the fourth was this week, and it always reminds me of when the first Star Wars movie came out. That’s when I and a lot of others started loving to go the movies again. “May the force be with you” has become a catchphrase around the world. Though the movie can’t be described as a Christian production, some of us think of God’s spiritual power when we think of that phrase. His Holy Spirit is available to us, surrounding us always. He is the source of help and comfort in our daily struggles and peace throughout our trials, spiritual or physical. And, no intensive training needed to access that power, all we have to do is ask!

A lizard got into my shop I use as an art studio. For about a week every time I went out to paint, he would be staring at me from someplace up high. I worried he would eventually die in my shop, so after several failed attempts to catch him, I got a bucket with a lid, put it in front of his face and touched his tail. He jumped right into the bucket. I slammed the lid and I had me a lizard. I kind of miss him. Now there’s no one to greet me with that stoic, forlorn look when I walk in. He was safe in the shop with spiders to eat and water I left for him to drink. Now he’s free to face the dangers of life out in the woods. He’s not safe but he’s free. I think he probably prefers that.

In my guest room I have a couple of projects I’ve started. It’s the same in my office and in my studio is a half-finished canvas. I’m in the habit of reading several books at once so I’ve usually got three or four in some stage of completion. It has come to my attention I may have a problem. What do you think! I think it’s time to stop coming up with more projects and spend my time completing the ones I’ve already started. As you know, the fun part is in getting excited over something new. The difficult part is hanging in there and finishing what we’ve started.

When I look at all the flowers, from the lowly blossoms springing up randomly in my yard to the gorgeous irises, tulips, vincas and more in my flower beds this spring, I’m amazed some can say they don’t believe in a Creator God. Several of my family and I visited and viewed the large expanses of bluebonnets in Texas this spring. I’ve read the indigenous peoples believed they were a gift from God. I can’t disagree. God loves to create and he never stops creating. That’s why we see such a variety of flowers, trees, animals, sea life and people all around the world. May we all come to respect and enjoy what God calls his good creation.

Some days I find myself swinging like a pendulum between two extremes, aggrandizement and abasement. I’m either feeling pretty good about myself (so good) or beating myself over my head with all my faults (so bad). When this happens it’s my clue I’m focusing too much on myself and not on others. It reminds me of what C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” And, let’s remember that applies to both extremes, whether thinking so good of yourself or so bad.

Before I retired, I looked forward to the extra time I would have to read, study God’s Word and do the other activities I didn’t have time for. I thought I would still be able to go, go, go through the day. But that’s not how it worked out. It’s more like go, go, rest, go, go, rest, go rest! Thinking of that made me question if in my longtime study of God’s nature and Word, I’ve often focused on the study of God more than my relationship with him. Is it more study time I need or do I need to rest in him. There’s a time for study but just as important is quiet time with our Lord, worshiping him and listening to him. That’s how relationships grow.

Have you ever had someone do something nice for you when you knew they were only doing it because something was in it for them? They had a hidden agenda. Have you hesitated to do something for someone else when deep down you knew you had a hidden agenda? Well, if you’re going to wait around for a perfect person to help you out, good luck with that. And, if you’re going to wait until your motivations are perfect to help others, they’re out of luck too. What’s important is we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and serve others whenever we can, wherever we can and however we can, no matter our feelings at the time.

Do you ever feel kind of empty spiritually? No motivation? You want to serve and help others but you have nothing left to give? If so, that’s a sign your lamp needs to be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. That means you need to slow down and allow yourself to be refreshed by the healing power of your Savior. Empty lamps can’t shine. What better time than now during this special season to be refueled through close relationship with him so you can be reignited to glow ever brighter in his service.

I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness. Can you truly forgive those who aren’t sorry they hurt you? Can there be reconciliation without justice to the injured person? Martin Luther King said, “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.” And we know what Jesus taught about forgiveness. He even forgave those who put him on that terrible cross, while he was being tortured to death! Now that’s true forgiveness! As a follower of Jesus, I’m exhorted to forgive as he forgave. I’ve learned I can’t do it. That level of forgiveness can come only by the aid of my Savior through the Holy Spirit.