We've been enjoying the work of getting the Christmas lights up on my house.  Advent has now begun and the "Season of Joy and Light" is in full swing.  Beth has been helping me "test the lights" by letting me "light her up" with each string.  She is a good helper and also seems to enjoy helping me with this project.  This season can bring joy in so many ways.  For many though, this "season of joy" is also a "season of grief."  Over the past year (or past several years) many have lost loved ones and the sense of loss is especially strong as they try to navigate through Christmas traditions and family gatherings.  The question that's on their mind is, "How will I find joy in the Christmas season when my grief is so real?" The question is a complex one and a specific answer is unique to each individual, but I believe there are some helpful truths that we can all think about...

Last week our neighbor was frantic - a little bird had gotten itself caught in one of her outdoor "insect glue traps."  In an effort to free itself the little bird became more "trapped" and had glue all over his feathers and feet.  Very carefully, Kristi and Phylis (our neighbor) pulled the bird loose from the trap.  Still, the bird could not fly; his feathers were too "gummed up" from the glue.  The question now became, "How do you safely remove glue from feathers?"  Kristi took the bird to two local Vets who told her to first wash the bird in Canola oil and then with Dawn dish soap and water.  With a little tinder love and care, Kristi soon had the bird "cleaned up" - but, he still didn't seem able to fly.  We decided his feathers were still too heavy and wet.  So Kristi placed him in a shady place in the back yard (with our cat locked in the bed room) and allowed him to "air dry."  Before long he "took to the air" and rejoined his friends.  Now this may not sound like a lengthy process, but in fact, Kristi spent almost 1/2 of a day "lending a hand" to this little bird.  I think there are several lessons for us all...

Recently my wife was very upset.  She was working in our guest bedroom and while taking off her sweater she felt an ear ring come loose from her ear and she heard a "click" as it fell - somewhere!  She immediately began to look but in the shag carpet she couldn't find it  This ear ring was very special to her - it had been a gift to her from her mother many years ago.  She looked and looked, and I looked and looked, but it seemed to be nowhere.  After several days she was just about to give up hope (we needed to vacuum as company was coming) but then she decided to pray one more time.  Then God showed up...

Sometimes the quest for mental health is a complex and arduous pursuit.  There are times when trauma, stress, affliction, illness, and complex family issues make the attainment of mental balance a challenge.  But there are also times when our mental health and perspective can be greatly effected by a very simple discipline:  having a daily "quiet time"...

My grandson is running "cross country" this year.  In his very first race he ran two miles in 14 minutes and 21 seconds. He didn't come in first but he finished in the top 20 (in a field of 100).  We (parents and grandparents) were very pleased with his first performance and glad to see him taking on a new discipline.  His effort also reminded me that the Bible has much to say about "running" and the lessons this discipline teaches us about life...

I received a phone call from my wife the other day; she was upset.  She told me that she had been involved in a traffic accident.  My first question was:  "Are you hurt?"  Fortunately the answer was no.  My second question was:  "Was anyone in the other car injured?"  Fortunately, again the answer was no.  Beyond that the only thing to say is, "Thank you Lord!"...

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.  It is no secret that there has been a sharp increase in the number of cases of depression, anxiety, stress, family conflict, domestic violence (and the list goes on and on).  The fact is that we are living in stressful times and many are having difficulty coping.  While there are numerous strategies for dealing with mental/relational distress (and different approaches are meaningful to different people) one thing I would recommend is the simple act of:  "Hanging Out With Friends."  For me, an evening with a good friend can significantly help to reduce my anxiety and lift my spirits.  I actually have several thoughts regarding this...

Wednesday, April 19, was a wonderful day in the life of Sapulpa 1st Methodist Church as we celebrated the 100 birthday of Jackie Robertson.  Jackie has been a "professing member" of our church since 1931 (her chronological member number is "5"!) and her contribution to the life of the church (and the Sapulpa community) has been beyond measure.  At a dinner in her honor, she was joined by some 40 family members, over 100 members of our church, and many special guests and friends.  Highlights of the evening included Jackie being awarded a certificate recognizing her as an official member of the Oklahoma Centenarian Society.  She was also honored by letters from state representatives, officials of the Cherokee Nation, and the singing of the National Anthem (in Cherokee) by one of her grandsons.  A very special moment was when she rose to address those who were gathered.  

Sometimes we fail to recognize it, but each of us find great resources from the legacy and heritage of special people who have gone before us.  For each of us there are people who have:  inspired us, taught us, encouraged us, and have been role models for us of what it means to live life well.  Most of our Heritage members are people who have faced numerous trials and struggles in their life and they have done so with fortitude and grace.  They are, for us, a true example of how we should live.

​So, if you are facing a life challenge or trial, remember people like Jackie.  Give thanks to God for the resources of faith that were planted in your life by people who have gone before you.  Draw upon their wisdom, be inspired by their example, and be strengthened by the knowledge that God walks with us just as he has walked with so many who have gone before us.

Years ago I heard the Christian author/pastor, Charles Swindoll, tell the story of asking his adult son what "times" he remembers most from his childhood.  The son told him one of his most memorable occasions was a day when he was playing football in the cold, wind, and rain.  His team was way behind (no chance of catching up) and most of the "stands" were empty.  But he said he looked up and there was his mom and dad, still in the "stands" cheering him on.  This, the son said, was indeed a special moment.  Well this past month my son and his mom had a similar experience...