This past weekend we had some friends over to our house and, for some unknown reason, my wife popped in our wedding video. Leah and I were married on May 31, 1997 (almost 14 years ago) and watching that video brought back some good memories. Our friends, our family, our bridesmaid who fainted during our vows, the Irish dancers, the bagpiper, and so many other moments were captured on that day. I listened to my words. I watched my body language. I relived the moment my wife walked down that aisle. All good memories. Looking back to that moment fourteen years ago made me realize that our wedding was only the beginning. Sure. Our wedding day was a confession of our love and commitment to each other, but those words must be lived out every day following. For better or for worse. For richer. For poorer. In sickness and in health. I meant those words fourteen years ago and I mean them today. Marriage has good times. Marriage has hard times. During the good times we are thankful. During the hard times we are prayerful. But, no matter what, the words which were spoken on our wedding day must be the heart cry for each day.
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We have a closet at the end of our hallway which houses all the geeky stuff in our house. Old computers, ancient software, and outdated electronics clutter the shelves. When an item is placed into this storage area there is a good chance it will never make it out. A couple years ago our elderly desktop computer made its way into the grave of tech. The Geek Squad at Best Buy compassionately broke the news to me that she had breathed her last, so I carved out a space in the closet to store all 150 pounds. It was a sad day…for a geek.
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This morning I was getting ready for work and my wife said to me, “I don’t like your hair. You are doing it like an old man.” She’s a bully. I then turned around so she could take the dagger out of my back. Yes. I have been doing my hair differently. Several weeks ago I decided to let my hair grow out and try styling it a little different. Sort of like an 80′s throwback with the part and everything. People keep saying, “Oh. I see you are doing your hair differently.” Translated, this means, “I don’t like your hair” because if a person really likes a change you’ve made, they will usually compliment you and not just acknowledge the change. Right?
So, when my wife told me she didn’t like my hair, I wasn’t offended. I really wasn’t. She has earned the right to be honest with me. Leah and I have been married for almost 14 years (I’m doing the math in my head right now to make sure I got that right) and our relationship demands honesty, even when it may be offensive. So often in our relationships we hold back in fear of offending a friend or family member; however, your silence may be interpreted as approval. Although I would agree that honesty needs to be tactful, it is still important to be honest. The writer of Proverbs 27:6 has these words to say about lovingly rebuking a friend, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” If you love your friend, you will tell them the truth.
Oh well. The next time you see me, I’ll probably have a new haircut. I guess I’ll never be able to grow that mullet. My achy, breaky heart.
Today I was on my way to the office and I took the “back way” because I enjoy an early morning drive through the park and a quiet neighborhood. As I entered the neighborhood a woman was walking her…unidentified creature. Since it was on a leash I assumed it was a dog but the closer I got, the more I began questioning my first assessment. It was a dog, no, a pig? Now I was really confused. Can pigs have poofy hair? Can you walk a pig on a leash? All these thoughts were running through my head as I passed by the woman walking a pidog. I took one last look in my rear-view mirror to hopefully discern if those were hooves or paws. No luck.
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Usually during the summer months we are on spider watch. Spiders seem to make their way into our house and show up in random places…typically the bathroom. A spider sighting can be dangerous, especially when they make a surprise appearance on the shower wall because there is no easy escape. Through my years of spider squashing, I’ve learned one very important principle. Make the first strike count. If you miss the spider on the initial attempt, that thing is going to take off and you’ll spend the rest of the day worrying about it’s whereabouts – in your bed, under the toilet seat, or in your shoe.
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My kids have good intentions. They really do. However, the other day they introduced me to a new show airing on the Travel Channel called When Vacations Attack. The premise of the show is simple – a person or family goes on vacation, but one harrowing event changes everything. This show includes real life stories such as a women whose fishing trip goes terribly wrong when a hook catches her in the eye or there was another scenario when an alligator “expert” almost gets his arm ripped off when the powerful jaws of the gator clamp down on his bicep. Whenever I watch this show I am reminded that ONE action can change everything. A perfectly enjoyable vacation can be turned upside down with just ONE incident.
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Northeast Ohio has received a fair amount of snow this winter. It seems as if we have had snow on the ground most days since mid-December. I’m okay with that, although it has been a little too cold for my liking. After living here for the last 12 years, I have stopped paying attention to the weather forecast because it usually means nothing. Rather than wasting my time checking The Weather Channel app, I usually get up in the morning, look out my window, and create my own forecast based on what I see. A couple days ago I peered outside and noticed that our street was covered in snow. I automatically assumed that all the surrounding roads were as bad as mine, that is, until I actually left my house and started driving around.
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Last week I had a blister on my foot. It hurt pretty bad. I skipped the gym twice last week because of the pain. On Friday I finally decided to make an appearance back at the gym even though the bottom of my foot was still a little sore. I just sucked it up…that is until I hopped on the treadmill and my blister started throbbing. The whiny side of me thought about quitting and heading home; after all, I was in pain. I was plotting my escape until something I saw inspired me to stop whining and push through the pain. Right in front of me was a woman, probably in her early 80′s, who was lifting weights. As she finished working out on one piece of equipment, she picked up her CANE and literally hobbled over to the next piece of equipment. She was working out with two of her friends and between lifting they were talking, laughing, and having a great time. If anyone had an EXCUSE to stay home from the gym, it was this woman; however, she refused to make EXCUSES.
We all have excuses. We are good at making them. Excuses help us procrastinate another day. They briefly help us feel better about ourselves. But,
instead of making excuses for why you can’t…
You may want to start making plans for why you can and should.
On the way to church Sunday morning, we were stopped at a red light and I was first in line. I decided to use my time wisely so I checked an e-mail I had received on my phone. The light must have turned green because the car beside me started moving forward. I began to put my phone down, but before I could do that the individual behind me honked his horn. It had literally been 1 second since the light turned green. Talk about impatient! I made the mistake of saying, “I hope he wasn’t beeping his horn at me!” My daughter, who always defends her daddy, turned around in the backseat, looked straight at the people in the car behind us, and stuck out her tongue at them (and made the noises that go along with it). I quickly checked my rearview mirror to make sure I could take the guy in case he didn’t like my daughter’s response to his horn honking.
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People sin. You’ve sinned. I’ve sinned. Paul writes that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). No need to remind me that I fall short. My life is a daily reminder of how often I miss the mark.
I try. I fail. I try again. I succeed. I get prideful. I get humbled. I start over.
I’m not sure why God just doesn’t give up on us? He should. He could. He doesn’t. It doesn’t make sense.
I’m not sure that God’s unconditional love will ever be understood by the human heart. That’s okay.
I’ll take it. I’ll embrace it. I need it. I can’t live without it.