“Master a new skill!” Hello, I haven’t even mastered some of my old skills. But that’s the matchstick suggestion for this week. Maybe I’m making too big a deal about the word “master,” but I don’t think so. When I hear or read “master” in conjunction with someone’s name, it tells me they’re more than average at whatever they’re doing. Yesterday, I renewed my driver’s license. A card will soon arrive in the mail that shows me competent to drive on the nation’s highways and byways until 2027. (If renewing in Texas, you’re required to bring your birth certificate or passport with you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.) Am I a master driver? I’m pretty good. I’ve passed several drivers’ training courses, and had only a couple of tickets in my lifetime. OK, and a few warnings—but being a master driver makes me think of those trained for emergency driving in police and security work. A good driver, yes, but a master driver I’m not. So instead of taking on any new skills, I’m going to work on improving the ones I’ve got.

I heard him before I saw him. “You’re in luck today. Here, let me show you my pride and joy!” Surprised, I turned away from the New Books rack and saw an unfamiliar, white-haired little man with a photo in his hand. What! We’re in the public library. I didn’t know him. What’s this all about? His hair was thin on top and kind of longish and he was dressed in a red tee shirt over jeans, both baggy on him. Maybe one day they had fit him but that was obviously long ago. Before I could say or do anything, he turned the photo over. It was a picture of two bottles—Joy detergent and Pride furniture wax. I smiled and said, “That’s funny!” He laughed and went over to a woman standing nearby and repeated his joke. Then he left the library, chuckling as he went. No telling where he was off to next, telling his Pride and Joy joke to whoever would listen. I love living in Texas! 

For those of you new to this site, one of my daughters gave me a matchbox full of 50 suggestions to “spark happiness.” This week, it’s “Foster gratitude: Write a list of things you are thankful for.” Though some of the weekly suggestions challenge me, this one should be easy. Of course, what I plan to list are all my blessings. But, the Scriptures say I should be thankful not just for the good that happens in my life but in “all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Oops, now, suddenly what seemed easy is challenging. I’ve had some severe ups and downs in my life (maybe you have too), and it hasn’t always been easy to be thankful. It comes down to faith that God will work the bad for good. He rescues us from situations that many times we get ourselves into. And, even if we aren’t rescued right away, we learn valuable lessons. At least that’s been the case in my life experiences, and I’ve gained more trust in him as a result. Whether or not we are always faithful to God, he is always faithful to us. 

At a church conference, my daughter said, “Oh, there’s Mr. … behind you.” She expected me to turn around and speak to the longtime church member, but I didn’t. This man had tried to discredit another daughter by passing along false information about her. I had told myself I had forgiven him, but I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge him as if nothing had happened. A couple of weeks ago our pastor encouraged us to look within ourselves and see if we had any deep-seated hurts or wounds we had not dealt with–some we may have stuffed down inside and tried to forget. He said maybe you feel you have dealt with them, but if you haven’t included Jesus in those experiences, they are still there. I’ve been thinking about his words a lot. Some, such as this man trying to hurt my daughter, came to mind immediately, and I’ve been praying God would show me what else is there, scabbed over but still festering underneath. You know what I’ve learned? It hurts to dig into those old wounds again, but unless I do and include Jesus they can’t be healed by him. Jesus is all about forgiveness. I can’t truly forgive without him being involved, and until I forgive the wounds won’t heal. Help me, Lord!

 

I can do this, “Treat yourself to your favorite dish.” That’s the matchstick suggestion for this week. At least the treating myself part will be easy. My only problem will be deciding what to eat because I have several favorites. And, of course, most of those favorites aren’t on the healthy food list. I grew up in the South, where fried foods are king. For my health’s sake, I have to deny myself my favorite foods. OK, I don’t always do that, but most of the time I do because the older I get the more important good health is to me. Come to think of it, it’s comparable with denying other physical pleasures to follow Christ. It’s not quite the same because we give up everything for him, no looking back or fudging on our decision to follow him. Because our relationship with Jesus is more important than anything the world has to offer. But, you know, I don’t think Jesus cares if I have fried chicken once in a while!

 

“Forge deep connections. Maintain eye contact and listen carefully to people.” That’s the matchstick suggestion for this week. It’s a good one. Do you ever feel almost invisible when you’re talking with a group of people, or sometimes even when you’re communicating one on one with a person? Good listeners are a rarity. I’ve been to workshops on how to be a good listener. Actually, I’ve given workshops on the subject! I’m not much of a talker unless I feel comfortable with the person I’m talking to. Small talk is difficult for me so I tend to listen more than talk in most situations. It’s just goes along with being an introvert. But I need the advice too. I may be listening, but am I really hearing what they are trying to communicate? And, those articulate ones who I admire so much for their fluent ability with words, they may have an even harder time listening. But, for both introverts and extroverts, concentrating on what the other person is saying, really caring about what they have to say, is more than being polite. It’s an act of love.

 

I’ve mentioned that I volunteer at a Home Hospice Office. Last week I was asked to update my personal files. Those files include a conflict of interest policy with disclosure statements and confidentiality agreements. They have documents on sexual abuse, a criminal history background check and media publicity release. Copies of my driver’s license and auto insurance are in there as well. I know these documents are necessary today, but it’s sad that it takes all that official paperwork to be able to help other people and not worry about being sued. It reminds me that we live in a totally different world from our parents and grandparents. People didn’t use to be so concerned about checking on those stopped alongside the road or worried about rushing in to help someone who had fallen or fainted or been otherwise disabled. But all that bureaucracy shouldn’t discourage us from helping: fill out the paperwork, take the CPR training and remember we have cell phones that can get a professional out in a hurry.

 

 

 

 

 

I have to admit it’s true. As this week’s matchstick suggestion says: “Exercise—it’s a proven mood lifter.” I can’t say I’m in the best of moods when I think about exercising. I’m not a jock. I don’t like it, but I exercise regularly, and afterward I feel energized and happy. The endorphins kick right in. You’ve heard the sayings, “Use it or lose it.” “No pain, no gain.” I agree with the first, not so sure about the second. Pain happens for a reason. It’s like an alarm, designed to warn us of danger to our bodies. Even the experts agree, if a certain exercise is causing excessive pain to one of our joints, we should probably not be doing that exercise. Exercise is like most things, good in moderation, not so good in excess. So why do I do what I don’t like? Because I like even less what a lack of exercise can cause, everything from heart problems to early dementia. Exercise is the best medicine I can take and it doesn’t cost me a thing. 

Have you ever gotten a letter from Marquis Who’s Who? It’s an organization that will put your name and education and achievements in a book, and then offer you the overpriced book. I’ve just tossed them before, but I decided to look at this one because I noticed it included a biographical form with information on me that doesn’t even appear on the internet. What’s with that? It even had my mother’s maiden name, which I sometimes use as part of my identity. Is there no privacy anymore? I think we can all answer that—no! But it made me think. Are those degrees and those career achievements really who I am? Does my education and my work define me? It’s easy enough to think so, but they actually don’t. If education and work is all who we are, that’s all gone when we die. As Christians our identity is in Christ. We have died and been resurrected in him to a new life. The only book we should be happy our names are in is the Book of Life! 

This week’s matchstick suggestion is fun: “Whistle, sing, or dance while doing household chores.” Whistle is out for me. I can call a dog, but otherwise I’m not so great, so I’ll probably sing or dance or both. My daughters and I love to dance; wherever dancing is happening, we’re on the floor. I enjoy a weekly line dancing class too. Dancing is great exercise and good for the coordination. Dancing, along with singing, can be an act of worship as well. I’ve seen some beautifully choreographed worship dances in churches and conferences I’ve visited. And, of course, we remember reading about King David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant when it was brought to Jerusalem. Worship comes in many forms, certainly in study, prayer and meditation, but also in service to others. I believe we would be surprised if we knew what all God considers worship.