Current events

Ashamed Of The News? Surprise! Look Down! Peace Is Right Here Waiting To Be Found!

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
person hands with black liquids

I felt shame when I read in the news that the Christian organization that I love had allegations of “sexual misconduct” splattered across their building.

I felt shame when I read in the news that the country that we are associated with, that is our friend, has allegations of “extortion” splattered across that beautiful landscape.

Why did I feel shame?

  • I am standing a bit close and am splattered a little by the mess.
  • “Sexual misconduct,” “extortion” and other stuff like that is wrong.

Similarly, I read Lord of the Flies this week, and when Jack stole Piggy’s glasses and purposely smashed them, that was wrong.

Jack stole Piggy’s glasses just before he and his cronies felt justified to do worse stuff.

And so, if we wonder where some parts of Christian culture and some parts of American culture are headed, check out Lord of the Flies to find out.

Thankfully, Jesus is seated on his throne, far, far above those who define themselves by His name. Thankfully, He sits far enough above us that the splatters of dirt and messes we make on Earth don’t reach His robe. His identity is not affected by what we do in His name.

HE defines US, instead.

And this is the good news.

Jesus, when He walked on Earth for thirty-three years didn’t intentionally pick up the banners to support the various political or religious quarrels of His day, and so neither will I.

Instead, I will continue to receive the love the Father so generously pours out when I stop to listen to His whispers.

And I will give away some of the overflow of the love I receive to others.

Jesus’ kingdom of love is the only powerful kingdom still standing thousands of years after Jesus roamed a tiny piece of Earth for thirty-three years. This kingdom of love is the only powerful kingdom guaranteed to stand indefinitely in the future. (For example, a dozen uneducated followers in a remote unknown town have turned into almost one third of the planet who claim to follow Him.*)

Thankfully, I’ve found a leader I am always proud to serve.

And so, I can curl up next to Him, feel the comfort of His presence, and know that since I’m His child, bearing His name, I can soar on the wind of His presence into whatever turbulence I encounter in the world.

Who defines you, friend?

When the lyrics of the song below sing, “You are the peace that settles around us,” are you ready to reach down in humility and pick up this peace, friend, carrying it close to your heart? God, we pray that everyone reading these smudged, messy, and grimy words will be surprised to find a handful more of peace they can carry today.

Footnotes

*Have you carefully examined some of the evidence for why?

Photo Credit: Dirty hands by Stormseeker on Unsplash

Thank you for liking me! I like you too! (Proven HERE, HERE and HERE!) Subscribe below so we can soar together!

Why Americans Should WANT To Be Losers Sometimes

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
yellow and white trophy

I said the one thing that no one thought I would say.

These five words, said quietly, into a rare moment of stillness at the boisterous party quieted every heart in the room.

The silence lasted for a minute, which felt like an eternity in that boisterous room full of shouting and laughter only a second earlier.

Here’s what happened.

They were loudly recounting the tale of the guy* who was poised to win a gold Olympic medal in the sailing competition at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

Instead of sailing to glory and sitting atop an Olympic podium with his medal, the guy changed course to help fellow COMPETITORS, who were in an overturned boat for 16 hours and were in imminent danger of dying at sea.

“[Insert name] won that race,” the storyteller at my party continued, taking another swig of beer.

“Yeah, and what was the name of the guy who abandoned first place to help the other guy?”

“Who knows?”

The crowd exploded in laughter.

When it was silent again for that millisecond after the guffaws, I spoke up quietly, “God knows who it was.”

Then, there was silence, continued stillness, and awkward shuffling of feet.

Who speaks next, they wondered?

One person sidled up to me after this party, seeking me out for friendship. I had reminded her of something important, something she knew inherently but had forgotten for a while. Something her soul knew, deep down, it would be important to remember in future.

And that’s how I made a new friend that day.

And it’s good to have another friend who will sail over to help you get out of a bind when you are in a sailing race, for example, so you don’t perish at sea.

And there was the time when I was 8 years old, the 12-year-old said, “Give me all your candy!” And I gave it to him, of course. He was ABLE to win, but SHOULD he still do it? All of us know the answer to this question.

And then this week, in the news he said, “Let’s destroy our friend’s economy, an economy built on the pillar of trust in friendship because if we do it, we can win.” And yes, they CAN do it. And, yes, they CAN win.

But having another friend who will come and find you when you are overturned in a boat and imminent danger of perishing has some sort of value, too.

I hope you aren’t caught feeling ashamed on the day when our souls leave our bodies, and we meet God face to face, stripped of all the earthy medals we’ve won.

I’ve been pondering the trade war, started this week between our friends, The Americans, and us Canadians.

Yup, you CAN win.

But what SHOULD you do?

Is it RIGHT?

Thankfully, I don’t need to know the answer to that question.

(That’s between you and God.)

If you are considering exchanging a trophy or two for the kind that last a bit longer consider pondering this statement:

you let [your goods] go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure

The Message

What is your “real treasure”?

Maybe being an (unconventional) loser sometimes has its perks.

For detailed advice on winning the races that matter and thus learning to grow into an even bigger loser, click HERE, HERE and HERE.

You’re welcome!

Good luck!

Footnotes

*Canadian Larry Lemieux

Photo credit: Trophy by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

Thanks for reading Restoring Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.