The godly walk with integrity;
    blessed are their children who follow them.                                                                   Proverbs 20:7

While I was cutting the grass the other day, I began o think about my dad and his adventures cutting the grass at our old house in Cincinnati, Ohio. This was the house I grew up in, one whose grass my brother and I had cut for many years- by hand with a reel type mower. If you do not know what that is, well, you are fortunate that you never had to use one.

At this stage of the game, in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when my dad was in his eighties, he continued to cut the grass by himself- no hiring out that difficult chore to a young lad in the neighborhood! Fortunately, he had by then purchased a power mower, long after my brother and I had been relieved of mowing duties by virtue of having moved onto our own lives as married men, with our own lawns to mow. We did wish Pop had bought that power mower for us to use, but that is another story.

Now my dad, (many of my readers realize was called Pop by the family), was a hard worker. He grew up in the 1920’s, was married and trying to make a living during the Depression, and he only knew hard work. Yet, despite that ethic, he also had a very calm temperament, and very little seemed to perturb him. He took life as it came, accepting people as they were, and living peaceably with about anyone as far as I could tell. He totally lived life in the present. What a gift!

The stories go, (and I cannot verify these stories, but they are delightful to retell) that dad, when cutting the grass would get tired, and right in the middle of mowing, he would simply lie down in the grass and rest. Pop simply lay down where he was and rested until he could finish the job. Indeed, our back yard then was a long, hilly slope that ended by a driveway for apartments that had been built some years before. So, Pop’s mowing ventures were able to be seen by any of the apartment dwellers that happened to be out.

The stories go that some of these apartment dwellers noticed Pop on the ground, were worried for his safety, and called 9-1-1. Upon seeing that Pop was just fine, the crisis was averted, and Pop continued to cut the grass. It is uncertain of my mom’s response, but I am sure Pop heard about mom’s displeasure!

I tell this story for several reasons. One, I love Pop stories, so thank you for your indulgence. Second, it speaks to my dad’s work ethic and unwillingness to give in to age or a weakening body. He would work as long as he needed to and he could take care of himself, thank you very much. Finally, it speaks to Pop’s lack of concern for what others may think of his plan to rest right where he was. He was not inhibited by the potential judgment of other people.

So, there you are. Another Pop story, and I hope you have enjoyed it. Pop was a wonderful man who loved God, loved his family, and accepted people right where they were.

 What a great legacy…

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for wonderful loving parents who loved and cared for us, and taught us to love you as well, Amen

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.                        II Corinthians 4:7

Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack, a crack in everything that’s how the light gets in. That’s how the light gets in, that’s how the light gets in.                                                                 From the poem by Leonard Cohen “Anthem”

In the past, I have discussed the idea of being perfect- rather, the impossibility of being perfect. We can relate to imperfect, because we are. All of us. However, the idea of being imperfect, like the crack in the Liberty Bell, becomes a symbol for us. It is a reminder that brokenness is an opportunity to be real and transparent. No one will ever try to mend that Liberty Bell crack. It reminds us that the broken can still be celebrated, and it stands as a symbol of our strength in imperfection. It is the opportunity to look for the healing that we all need in this broken and imperfect world.

Our American experience is imperfect. Yet, we have survived those failures, and we are committed to a better America. Without the recent pain we have endured, there would not be the attention to addressing and mending those failures.

I really liked the way that Leonard Cohen put it in his poem- the crack is how the light gets in. If we are not broken, we do not feel a need for anything beyond ourselves. What a tragedy to think that we are self-sufficient, in need of nothing outside of ourselves.  

Paul said that we are like “fragile clay jars”, containing a great treasure. Unless that jar is broken, the treasure is not revealed. So, our imperfection is the opportunity to recognize the need for a power greater than ourselves. In the lexicon of the 12 Steps, that is the first step- the humility step, which allows us to get the help we need to solve the problems we cannot solve on our own.

For addicts, that is an addiction that has baffled and overcome them. For all of us, that is a problem of sin that we cannot solve on our own. Christians confess and believe that Jesus is the answer to that problem.

So, imperfection is our lot. But staying in the broken places is not. We learn from the pain, and we seek the remedies. Thankfully, we have a God who has provided all we need.

Prayer: Thank you for meeting us at the place of need. Jesus is the friend we need and count on, Amen.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters                                                                                                                                               Colossians 3:23

Today is Labor Day as celebrated in the United States and Canada. Many countries celebrate the dignity of labor on May first (Mayday). Whatever day we celebrate the dignity of labor, it is well deserved.

Somehow in the Genesis story, some people seem to have been confused that the need for humankind to work is the result of the original sin. I disagree. God ordained work for humans to help us appreciate the capacities that He gave us to explore and create good in our environment. I think our view of work depends solely on our attitude toward it. Is it a necessary evil, or is it the opportunity to build in us a sense of accomplishment and worth?

I am grateful that God has given us a platform, no matter what our profession or gifts, to honor him with giving back what he has given to us. God has bestowed upon all of us many talents and gifts, interests and passions, that can be worked out through our work.

Yes, work is a necessity in order to earn a living for ourselves and our family, but isn’t that also quite a gift that we are enabled to give to those whom we love?

Prayer: We give you praise Lord for the gift of expressing ourselves through our work, Amen

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
 God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
 God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.
 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
    for they will be satisfied                                                                                                                  Matthew 5:3-6 (NLT)

When we begin to read the Sermon on the Mount, we get a feeling for the audience Jesus wanted to reach. He was speaking to those whom the world had “left behind” so to speak. The message of Jesus always resonates with people who do not have power. Indeed, speaking truth to power was the wheelhouse of Jesus. His Kingdom, unlike that of the Roman Empire, was to encompass all those who had been crushed by the Roman juggernaut.

There had been empires before Rome, and there have been many since. The message of Jesus will always transcend the power of empire, even if it was misunderstood in those times, and often is now.

Prayer: Lord, help us not to miss the message of hope and love for those left behind by governments and empires, Amen

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility     Proverbs 15:33

I suppose it is obvious that the closer we get to the mirror, the more we can see our blemishes or imperfections. The better the light near the mirror, the better we can see those imperfections.  Yikes!

The metaphor here is that as we get closer to the light, and we are willing to see ourselves clearly in the mirror, the more we will see our imperfections. Not just physical defects, but character defects as well. No, we do not like to take that close a look very often, but it is a necessary function for emotionally healthy people.

Seeing ourselves in the light means seeing ourselves in the mirror, not another person to whom we compare ourselves in a relative sense. You know, “gosh, I’m not perfect, but compared to that guy, I’m a real saint!” Well, that might be true, but it is not relevant when we are trying to take a clear and honest look at ourselves.

The 4^th step of Alcoholics Anonymous says to Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This is a key step in addiction recovery, but truly, it is a step of moral responsibility for everyone.

So, periodically, get closer to that mirror, make sure the light is good, and take inventory. Most importantly, don’t get into despair. The paradoxical result of a close look at our faults is that we come to understand that it takes humility and courage to do so. The more we exercise courage and humility, and the more we see truth, the better we feel about ourselves. We can accept our shortcomings, work on resolutions as best we can, and take heart that we are on a journey of integrity!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us to see ourselves in light of your love, Amen.

O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips     Psalm 17:1

I was recently speaking to a client about dealing with panic attacks. As we discussed behaviors that she could consider in her “anxiety tool kit” that we were developing, she mentioned that when she was a young girl, her grandmother would often take her into a church. When in church, she would light votive candles and pray for another person who might need prayer at that time.

We talked about how she could employ that strategy now in her own home. She takes a votive candle and lights it when she is feeling a panic attack building. She then begins to pray for someone who could use prayer at the time. She does not necessarily pray for herself, but does intercessory prayer for someone else.

I think this strategy is great for several reasons. First, it brings back pleasant and soothing memories from her childhood, which has a calming effect. Second, she performs an action – lighting the candle- which is a visible, sensory action. Finally, she is praying for someone else, taking attention away from her own worries and trying to help another person. In so doing, she is redeeming a negative, her panic attack, into a positive action for another person.  

We need to be innovative in ways that we deal with anxiety and stress, and this client has found a powerful and effective way to deal with hers.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord for the plan to intercede for one another, and thereby helping ourselves as well. Amen

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?                                                        Matthew 6:27

I often tell my clients that I have both good news and bad news for them regarding their anxiety. The bad news is that anxiety is not simply going to vanish away. Anxiety is a part of the human condition. Some people have a little, some people have a lot, everybody has some.

The good news is that, while anxiety will not simply vanish from their life, they can learn ways to manage it. They will have the tools, and therefore the control that is a necessary component of dealing with anxiety.

Having control is a crucial need for people who struggle with anxiety. Control is not a bad thing. We all want to control as much as we can around us. Control can give us comfort, predictability, and reassurance in times of uncertainty. Trying to control other people or situations, however, can be a bad thing, because we only have control over of our own feelings, attitudes, and behaviors.

So, anxiety will not simply vanish away. Clients can be disheartened to hear that statement until I tell them that the good news is, learning how to control anxiety is the key thing. It is not a matter of if anxiety will creep up, it is a matter of when it will. When it does appear, they can have the confidence that there is something that they can DO about it. Worry about upcoming worries means that we are always vigilant for those anxious moments. In other words, we can start to worry about worrying. Having what I call the “anxiety tool kit”, becomes a source of confidence, and yes, control. They are then not victims of anxiety, they can become masters of it in their life.  

Prayer: Lord, help us to see that you have given us what we need to face life’s troubles, Amen

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed                                                   II Corinthians 4:8-9

His name is Rocky. Some of my readers may recall a story I wrote a week or so ago when I wrote about a plucky squirrel who injured himself in my back yard after an unfortunate fall from the bird feeder he was raiding. I was just watching him drag himself forward to the field of sunflower seeds that have fallen from my bird feeder. It now is likely his only source of food. He cannot climb trees now- I watched him try and fail a few days ago. He has found solace in cover under tree in my yard, and just a few yards from that, he goes to a thicket that leads to a drainage ditch that supplies him with water.

He is named Rocky because of two venerable “Rockys” that came to mind- Rocky the squirrel from Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon fame, and the tenacious Rocky Balboa, aka Sylvester Stallone. My little guy Rocky is every bit as plucky and clever as Rocket J. Squirrel from Rocky and Bullwinkle, and he is every bit as tenacious as Rocky Balboa.   

Watching Rocky gives me renewed hope every time I see him. I root for him immensely, and I try to guard the treacherous 40 or 50 yards he must traverse from his hiding areas to the food supply. If I see the feral cat, or the hunting mama hawk that roams near the yard, I will chase them off.

Rocky is making the best of a difficult situation. He has learned to move by using his three good legs, and kind of hurling himself forward to get from one place to another. He has actually improved in his locomotion, and I hope he can possibly heal. So far, he is making the best of it.

I have encountered many people over the years who have made heroic efforts in managing to live with significant challenges. On our difficult days, we simply need to recall those who struggle every day. That gives us the perspective we need to practice the virtues of gratitude and empathy. 

Prayer: Lord, bless those who are struggling in managing life’s difficulties at this time, Amen

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
 He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us                                                                                       Psalm 103:8-12

Today is the start of a new month- September. September feels like a fresh start month. School has just begun for the younger set, football season is just starting, and while the temperatures are still very hot around my area, there are a few trees showing signs of starting their rest cycle. Of course, as they do that, they are dropping seeds and leaves that become part of a new growth cycle. New starts all of them.

September is indeed the start of meteorological Fall. So, as we start a fresh new season, what are the things that you would like to start anew? We can take any starting point and renew our efforts at anything. Is it exercise? Better eating habits? Better sleep hygiene? Less screen time? More intentional time with those you love?

The good news is we can choose whatever we want and get a new start on it if we give ourselves permission to do so. God has given us a clean slate of forgiveness, and we need to remind ourselves of that each day.

Prayer: Lord, we are grateful for your unfailing forgiveness, Amen

You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.                                            II Timothy 2:22

I recently had a discussion with a client about the need to reinvent ourself as we go on in our career. I am at the point in my career that I can look back a lot and reflect. Yet, just looking back at the “old days” would not be a very helpful exercise if I did not use it to pass on to others some things I have learned along my journey. Sharing wisdom and experiences gained over our lifetime is not only a privilege, it is a responsibility.

I tell my clients sometimes that we need to spend most of our time looking through the windshield, not the rearview mirror. Looking back through that mirror is helpful, even necessary at times, but if we spend a majority of our time looking backwards, we will be in trouble. We won’t be able to see what is in front of us.

As we age, we need to keep looking forward- to continue reinventing ourselves to remain relevant and viable. We do have much to share with our younger brothers and sisters, but in order to do that, we need to stay current, and engaged with the culture.

Yes, there is a tendency- I have a tendency- to look back wistfully at the past. It is a nice thing to do once in a while, and it is often comforting. But we must remember that we still have a future, no matter what our age, and we owe it to those following us to give as much guidance and direction as we can.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the plan to pass on to others the things we have learned from our journey, Amen