Tuesday, October 18, 2005

A New Day With New Challenges

This day is a new day. I've never lived this day before and I'm excited about it. Life is good and it's nice to know, after all the years that have passed from the day of creation, that there is still a lot to look forward to, live for, and be challenged by.

The poet Les Murray said, "Impossibility is the only door that opens." I love it when people put unthinkable simplicity into words.

Grace and peace,
Johnny

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Face Down on the Road

Last night I had a dream that a man was beaten for his watch. He didn’t die, but he was completely paralyzed and unable to hold up his head. An investigator or police officer tickled his neck, and the man laughed so hard that he fell over in his wheelchair and landed on his face in the middle of the street. The officer picked him up by carefully balancing his head in one hand, while using his other hand to pick up the wheelchair.

I’m not sure what the dream meant or if it even has a meaning. I also find it ironic that this dream has inspired me to blog today after my last blog, “Emotional Wheelchair.”

In life, we often find ourselves unable to understand our dreams. We also find real life to be just as surreal, and confusing.

Lately life has taken me around sharp turns and deep valleys. I’m not sure what makes me look for the least paved track. As one writer said, “If you find yourself on a clear path, you’re probably on someone else’s.” I don’t want to be on someone else’s path.

God made me who I am in order to do what He is calling me to do. Paths can be painful places to clear out—briars, snakes, poison ivy, et cetera. But that’s ok, if the goal is to get to the other side of the woods, where God’s words are waiting… “Well done!” You can finish the Scripture.

I’m not sure why life gets so confusing and can even appear to be without rational meaning. But I do know that we all need friends to help pick us up when we're face down in the road or the path we're clearing needs a couple extra machete slingers.