Memories

As I struggle through each day and beg God to help me get things right...and then more things right, at some point while doing something as simple as slicing a grapefruit I let go. I slip away to my childhood and I'm watching my dad carefully section a grapefruit for me while humming in a baritone murmur. He holds the blade like an artist working on a sculpture. He stops and tips his chin to the side and tests the blade. He purses his bottom lip and nods judiciously and finishes with precision. He meticulously places the final product in a bowl with a spoon and presents it with both hands. Never hurrying, just devoting his all to something for me. I receive it casually and he wrinkles his forehead incredulously as I dump sugar on his careful offering. Then I'm back and Hazel is asking me to feed her each bite. I'm scooping the sections out and she's gobbling them down without stopping for breath. Her smile engulfs me and she asks me to squeeze what's left in her cup. And I'm transported again and I see his strong brown forearm flex as he squeezes every last drop. 

9 a yeti or a tree falling in the forest alone?

Now if you are puzzled and a little grossed out I'm not surprised. What at first appears to be a shoveled driveway and unflattering picture of me with snot running down my nose is nothing more than a perspective. While you see a simple uninspiring picture Jody is having what he considers a yeti sighting. Jody is wondering how I photoshopped this or which neighbor kindly shoveled while I did snow angels in preparation for my great snot girl pic. I, on the other hand perceive this picture rather like documentation of a man who unloaded the dishwasher while nobody was watching. I feel compelled to tell you that yes I did chop the pressed snow tire tracks from taking the kids to school and scrape them off and I worked up quite a sweat. It was about a 40 minute job and I followed it to completion including the sidewalk. Another perspective would be Gods. What does he see? He sees his girl Elizabeth trying to lighten her husbands load in the best way she can think of based on previous feedback. He sees her finding humor and joy in the journey to connect with Jody in ways that mean something to him. He knows she's a farm girl with little regard for HOA's or perfectly shoveled driveways. God is very happy and his chuckle interestingly sounds exactly like D. Herbert's.

If you read this today, I hope you feel lighter about the simplicity of abiding in Jesus. And if you feel daunted at the mind boggling challenge of perspectives in relationships I would say to you "Let's ask the Holy Spirit to show us God's perspective today. Let's not try to be Jesus to the world but ask Jesus to show us the world and live in it in a way that makes Him smile.