Month: August 2014

On the Road of Life

 

Kayaking in Germany a long, long time ago
Kayaking in Germany a long, long time ago

At first, I saw God as my observer,

my judge,

keeping track of the things I did wrong,

so as to know whether I merited heaven

or hell when I die.

He was out there sort of like a president.

I recognized His picture when I saw it,

but I really didn’t know Him.

But later on

when I met Christ,

it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,

but it was a tandem bike,

and I noticed that Christ

was in back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was

that He suggested we change places,

but life has not bee the same since.

When I had control,

I knew the way.

It was rather boring,

but predictable…

It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead,

He knew delightful long cuts,

up mountains,

and through rocky places

at breakneck speeds,

it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness,

He said, “Pedal!”

I worried and was anxious

and asked,

“Where are you taking me?”

He laughed and didn’t answer,

and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life

and entered into the adventure.

And when I’d say, “I’m scared,”

He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed,

gifts of healing,

acceptance

and joy.

They gave me gifts to take on my journey,

my Lord’s and mine.

And we were off again.

He said, “Gift the gifts away;

they’re extra baggage, too much weight.”

So I did,

to the people we met,

and I found that in giving I received,

and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him,

at first,

in control of my life.

I thought He’d wreck it;

but He knows bike secrets,

knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,

knows how to jump to clear high rocks,

knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up

and pedal

in the strangest places,

and I’m beginning to enjoy the view

and the cool breeze on my face

with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I’m sure I just can’t do anymore,

He just smiles and says … “Pedal.”

–Author Unknown.

Hans the Tailor

Hans the tailor had an excellent reputation so it came as no surprise that an important young executive chose Hans

to make him a custom, tailored suit. After the fittings, when the young man went to pick up the suit, he discovered

one sleeve was shorter than the other. One shoulder caved in and the other bunched out. In fact, the suit was a

grotesque disaster but the young man was rather timid and rather than protest, contorted himself into the suit and

wore the thing home on the bus.

On the ride home a man kept staring at him and finally asked, “Did Hans the tailor make that suit?”

“Why yes,” the young man replied.

“Wow. I knew Hans was a good tailor but I had no idea he could make a suit to fit someone so deformed as you!”

For years people have been trying to squeeze Christians into odd‐shaped moulds. So what do people expect Christians to be like? In one word: “Irrelevant,” but Christianity may be more relevant than they think. For example, have you ever considered the impact of faith on your health? Christianity Today reported the following findings:

  • Christians live longer.
  • Christians have lower incidences of heart attacks, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure and hypertension.
  • Christians are less likely to abuse alcohol and are far less likely to use illicit drugs.
  • Prison inmates who make a religious commitment are less likely than their counterparts to return to jail.
  • Marital satisfaction and overall well‐being tend to increase with regular Church attendance.
  • In fact, a Redbook Magazine survey reported that married couples who were religious had a whole lot more fun in bed than those who were not.

So don’t let anyone squeeze you into a suit made by Hans and just smile politely when someone tells you your faith is

“irrelevant.”