Wednesday, March 25, 2009

For A Time Such As This

The story of Esther. Girl grows up, picked from a slew of others to be groomed into a princess. King meets girl and marries her. New queen from a culture under threat. Her people will be put to death. Queen breaks law and approaches King. Pleads for her people. People saved because of Queen's bravery.

When trouble came to Esther's people she was told (paraphrasing) "you are where you are for a time such as this". Her positioning directly impacted what she was able to do for her people.

Different scenario. It's Sunday morning. We hear the roar of not one, but two 65' Cobra engines outside of our door. The door opens and David Kirkham (and Dave #2) step in. "We heard about your health situation Paul, and we'd like to take you for a ride." Anyone that knows my husband knows he has been working on building a 65' Cobra - his dream car - and has been too sick to work on it for quite some time. Anyone who knows Cobras knows David Kirkham builds some of the most incredible Cobras in the United States - with a factory right here in Utah.

Needless to say, my husband was speechless. We drove side by side down the freeway - he in one Cobra with David Kirkham and I in the other (with Dave #2). Then up the canyon to Sundance and back - grinning all the way - squealing and laughing - taking pictures and soaking up the moment of freedom and life.

Think on Esther. Her path brought her to a position to make a difference in a way no one else could. David Kirkham did not save "a people" - but given the dire circumstances in Paul and I's world right now, he saved the day for my husband with that ride. Because of his positioning, his expertice, his vision, David was able to do something profound - "for a time such as this" - for us it was a ray of hope - a celebrity visit - for David it may have been a simple ride with a stranger who was suffering.

What is God positioning you to do? What arena is God asking you - compelling you to step into - because of work only YOU can do? What lives can you uniquely touch because of the road you've travelled? Trust me - there is a reason. Ask God - "for a time such as this" - where do you want me God? Today I want to stand up for someone. Put me in a position to do that . . . .

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Look For The Pony!

Wow. Things have been pretty rough the last two weeks. Paul had a major surgery and then pneumonia. The lack of sleep, the juggling children to and from school while sleeping at the hospital, worrying about Paul's breathing . . . it has been more than a bit desperate times in our household. Hard to get a handle on things when it's been going so cruddy.

My mom has a saying, "When there is a lot of poop and things look really crappy . . . look for the pony. With that much poop there's GOT to be one!"

So, with that enlightened saying on our minds Paul and I have consciously been "looking for the ponies" in our situation. Dinners lovingly made and delivered for our family. People to pick up our kids from school. A new group of angels helping Paul finish his dreamcar. Phone calls, emails and prayers our way from loved ones close and far. A benefit concert planned on Paul's behalf. I'd say that's a lot of ponies!

How about you today friend? What kind of day are you having? A one pony day? A two pony day? Just how much poop is going on in your life right now? Remind yourself there's got to be a pony in all of that. And then look for it. Perhaps today you could choose to be the pony in someone else's cruddy situation riding in on a white steed to save their day?

Life can get pretty dang heavy. Remember . . . count your ponies. There is ALWAYS a pony when there's a truckload of poop!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Cancer Is So Limited

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit

Thank you Annette for reminding me . . . cancer is so limited!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Just What I Needed

Right about now I feel like we're just getting by. There is enough, but just enough. There isn't a surplus of anything but we have food, we have shelter, and we have our kids. It's good. Except when it doesn't feel fair. Then it gets rough.

I see the black Escalade passing me on the freeway, I flip through the decorating magazine at the doctor's office, and I see the "For Sale" sign on the dream house I don't own . . . and a pain seizes me and brings me to tears. Having been fed the whole notion from childhood that "The American Dream" looks like prosperity and STUFF . . . well . . . right now I don't own any of that stuff and it gets to me. I'm not a materialistic person but there is an aching for things we owned before the cancer came . . . and it hurts.

Reading in the Bible a story jumps off the pages. The children of Israel were tired of manna from heaven - they were tired of the same old, same old. They missed the meat back in Egypt. Even though they were slaves back then, they did have meat. So they grumbled and complained to high heaven . . . literally. So God sent quail. Lots of quail. And the ones that ate the quail instead of the manna died.

They named the place of the quail "The Valley of Craving" for it was their craving for more that ended in destruction.

I see the shiny black Escalade pass me on the freeway and I thank God that I have a vehicle that holds my beautiful family. I flip through the pages of the decor magazine and thank God that I have a strong roof over my head. And I see the sign on the dream home for sale and I pray, "God - one day I pray to be in YOUR home - your mansion - and I pray that I will be ready. Take away my obsession for more. Give me a gratitude and a satisfaction for what is right and good. And let me see the truth about my appetites and my motivation. "

Enough IS enough. I am alive and sustained with enough. I trust God has given me just what I've needed.