Good Hair

Few weeks ago... Mama out for hours. Mary Elizabeth wanted a pony tail. Big one. In the back. Yet proper preschool hairstyling is not in the Daddy Manual & Daddy seems to have missed Mama's ponytail lessons. What's a Daddy to do?

Grab ponytail holder. Pull back hair. Gently. Make a loop. Gently. And another. Gently. And a third. But can't. Quite. Get. Long. Auburn. Hair. Through. Third. Time.

Big brown eyes look knowingly at Daddy. He's struggling. She's sympathetic. What's a Daddy to do?

Daddy idea. Long hair. Not ponytailed. But pulled up. Don't know what to call it, but this Daddy gambles and as prestigiously as proud Papa possible pronounces, "Mary Elizabeth, you look like Sarah Palin."

Moment of truth. Big brown eyes look into the mirror. Head turns left. Looking. Then right. Satisfied smile spreads across preschool cheeks. Relieved smile spreads across Daddy cheeks.

Forward to last night... Prayer time. Daddy mentions elections. Tongue tip response of Mary Elizabeth, "I wanna vote for the Girl President with good hair. The one who Daddy made my hair look like."

If only good hair or a good personality made a good person or a good politician. A good politician is an oxymoron good for who? A good person is a reality good through Jesus. Heaven help our nation on this day of decision.

The Difference

Oh, the difference a week makes. You've heard the cliche.

Is there truth to it?

Last Sunday I committed to give a certain amount of money to my church. Monday I was convicted to give this money to another with a need greater than my own. From the Spirit I heard, "Choose to respond in faith, Aaron, & not by what you think is reasonable." My reasoning can get me in trouble. What did I do last Monday?

I chose faith.

Tuesday a large anonymous gift was given to more-than-cover all my commitment to the church. The graciousness of our God & the loving generosity of others is amazing! Since then God has provided further "evidence" for my ever-reasonable mind to walk by faith & not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

The situation is still tenuous. I still feel some guilty responsibility. Yet I am strengthened in my faith that The One I trust is in absolute control.

On Thursday another guest arrived impolite & certainly without invitation. A dear brother I love & respect received a diagnosis of cancer. How do I respond?

Maybe the answer I need is in a change to the cliche...

Oh, the difference faith makes.

The righteous will live by faith. Galatians 3:11b

woulda-coulda-shoulda

The Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Monster came calling recently.

I would've thought...

I could've done...

I should've said...

Second-guessing. Hurting. Grieving. Asking the "if" question in every way conceivable. Wishing I'd have known or done or been better.

The Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Monster can beat a guy up. Have you been there? Did he leave a mark? Can you show me the scars?

My shortcomings are long. My fallibilities are infinite. My needs are... do I even know them all?

Lord Jesus, you have promised. I will trust. Lead. I will follow. Speak. I will listen. That Monster represents the past. I'll take those lumps. Learn those lessons. Not miss those steps again. I will walk on, humbled, as your follower. I trust my future to you, Jesus.

How is it?

How is that God uses me? A weak vessel. Prone to wander. Distracted by the lesser. Tempted by evil. Willing to question. Admittedly sinful.

How is it that the Creator, Sustainer, Lover, Redeemer, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God of the whole universe would choose to use the likes of any of us at all? Failed. Flawed. Selfish. Sinful. Misgiving. Humanity. To accomplish His will on Earth?

Immediately. As I sit & ponder. Wondering what to write. How to answer myself. The Spirit reminds that the Father already has.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world, and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is our righteousness, holiness & redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:27-30

He chose.

Humbled?

Where do I put my trust?

You know the feeling. Bopping along through life. All is going well. Maybe even great. You're trusting the Lord. But you have no big challenges. You're comfortable. And then...

Something comes along to knock you off balance. Pull the rug out. Tip your apple cart. Fill-the-blank with your own cliche. But you know the feeling, right?

And, as it may seem, the creators of disequilibrium tend to bring a stationwagon load of their unexpected cousins along for the visit too. Before you know it you're on the existential elevator rapidly heading south.

"Whoa! Where have I put my trust? What have I allowed to become my security? Where has my dependence relocated all-the-while me unaware that it moved out?"

Where do I really put my trust? Or, more appropriately, who do I put my trust in?

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

Do I put my trust in the created (myself & others) or in the Creator?

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Galatians 3:3

"Oh, Lord my God, keep me from foolish, human dependence. May my trust be firmly, only in You."