getting all sore...

I have mad skills at falling down. Really. I think I go above and beyond many people when it comes to clumsiness. Last night after visiting with a couple for pre-marriage counselling, I walked outside in the snow, stepped carefully around the front of my car, took one step a little less carefully and...

BANG!!!

My feet had gone out from under me faster than I knew what was going on. I came down hard right on my tailbone. I laid there next to my car on my side for half a minute, semi-numbed from the waste (lol! "waist"- not "waste") down and thinking of the irony that the gal just inside is a paramedic.

I was way too embarrassed to want to have drawn any attention to myself and I was glad the door was shut and they didn't see anything - or hear anything.

Don't ask my guardian angel if the first thing that came out was pastorly or not.  I am still a little grumpy towards him anyways. ;)

Okay, not really - it could have been worse - a lot worse - it could have been a case of banarma (the explanation is on the link - not that I believe in karma, but that's a link you really should read. Darned funny in a way..)  At least I landed where there was some cushioning - my son would tell you that there's plenty of cushioning...funny guy.

So I managed to get up and into the car and drive home. I was concerned that shifting gears would be uncomfortable but it was okay. I was hurting but only 10 minutes from home. When I got home I told my wife of my failed attempt to fly and she expressed sympathy and kindly offered to look after me.

But (pardon the pun) what do we do when we are hurt? What should our reaction be? We can milk it for all it's worth - complain and agonize over it - or we can admit that it hurts, try not to focus on it and carry on with life. I am trying to do just that - to try to be a grown up about it. If you know me, you will realize that takes effort. :D

The Lion King (Disney Special Platinum Edition)

What if it's our feelings that are hurt?  Maybe we need to be grown-ups there too. I love the "wisdom" of Pumba in the Lion King where he says: "It's like my buddy Timon always says, you've got to put your behind in your past." 

Too often we carry around these hurts and milk them for all they're worth - bringing them up time and time again. Maybe it's time to let them go and "leave our behind in our past" or as Timon really meant: "leave our past behind." Not the past that makes us who we are, but the past hurts that can only be healed when we let them go.

In the Bible we are commanded to get "rid of all bitterness..." (Eph. 4:31, NIV) It's funny that the best thing sometimes for aches and pains is to work through them and not to favour them. In the same way when we stop favouring these old emotional hurts, not only is it better for everyone else, it's healthier for us too!

you were marked...

Sometimes I get attacked by my kids.  I usually see it coming by a twinkle of mischief in the eye just before it happens, but once in a while I get attacked with no warning - kinda like Hobbes leaping on Calvin...

The other night, after my daughter had attacked, she decided that the weapon of choice would be the markers lying nearby in her pencil case.

Vainly attempting to defend myself (amid gales of laughter) I got the marker from her for long enough to "tattoo" her arm with a nice big happy face. At the same time she grabbed another, wrote a quick "Hi!" on my hand and then proceeded to "decorate" my face.  After the battle was done, I didn't worry about cleaning it off right away - I wasn't all that concerned since I figured it would wash off in the shower the next morning.  Hmm....WRONG!!!




The Essential Calvin and Hobbes

Much to my dismay, although the marker had faded it was still quite visible.  So regardless of the state of my face, I still needed to head out to the church for office hours, and prepare for Sunday and youth group.  Shortly after I arrived people started coming in for Bible study and by that time I had forgotten about my "new look."

I was talking with one of the ladies as they were getting settled in for Bible study - just merrily chatting away - totally forgetting the marker on my face. A look of mild amusement came to her eyes after she pointed out that I had something on my face and I in turn explained where it came from.  I had totally forgotten to hide in my office until this had faded. Oh well... :s

In the Bible - the letter to the Ephesians - we see another indelible mark...

"When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..." (Ephesians 1:13b)

The author was speaking to some Christians who had heard the gospel message and reminding them that God had marked them too. God placed the Holy Spirit in the believer as a seal - a sign of us belonging to Him.

I was marked by something that will fade with time, but the mark that God places in us will never fade away. His presence guarantees us of things to come - our inheritance as His adopted children.