Graceful Independence

Psalm 18:30 -- "As for God, His way is perfect: The Lord's Word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him."

Image: BBC Earth

Tumbling through the air at a speed almost too fast for the human eye to catch, is a deadly large wasp. Not able to control his direction, he spins head over thorax, disoriented and confused. His meal should have been easy. The little tadpoles were ripe for the picking, squirming defenseless in their little opaque eggs. Or so thought the wasp. 

In fact, the little would-be glass frogs were nestled snugly and safely on the back of a broad leaf, right next to their fit and fierce Dad. Landing on the leaf ready to dig in, the wasp didn't see the "black belt" move made by Glass Frog Dad and was suddenly hurled into the air from a kick so perfectly placed that the wasp really had no chance of defending itself. 

The tadpoles remain safe. Sleeping. Squirming. Growing. They have a mighty defender in their father. And though the wasp appears almost as large as Glass Frog Dad - it has no chance to feast on the tender little froggies-in-the-making. 

This sounds familiar does it not?

We have an amazing and wonderful Father defending us, as well. We can grow. We can share. We can thrive - independent of fear. Of defeat. Of any threat to us - so long as we remain in the shelter of our Lord. We may face a bumpy road from time to time. We may face pain or sorrow, but we KNOW in the end, we have victory. REAL victory. Because Jesus died on the cross for us - his blood washing away our sin.

This week, many of us here in the U.S. of A. took a day to celebrate our nation's independence. We filled the air with smoke and noise as we shot off fireworks, lit up sparklers, and wore the red, white, and blue of our country's flag to demonstrate our pride. Our independence was fought for. It is fiercely defended by amazing men and women - just as the little Glass Frog tadpoles are fiercely defended. 

Along with our own nation of which to be so proud - we can celebrate our independence from sin. We can [and should] celebrate the grace given us, the shelter provided us, the love so freely granted.

I know I will.

The Timberdoodle

II Peter 3:9 -- "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Image: © Gerrit Vyn

Watching the Timberdoodle  [aka The American Woodcock] at Dawn or at Dusk might make one wonder why they are on the list of the top ten slowest animals. They certainly move faster than the snail or the Koala [also on the list]. So what makes them qualify?

During the spring time, like most male birds flirting with the thought of procreation, these little coastal forest dwellers put a wonderful little dance. Almost human-like they take a few slow steps while bobbing up and down. Put to music, this little show becomes hilarious as it really would seem that these little guys are grooving down to some unheard beat. Compared to other bird displays of courtship - the Timberdoodle is quite slow. And while I can't help but smile while watching YouTube videos featuring this little feathered Casanova, his painstaking little footwork IS very intentional. He simply will NOT be rushed. Every single little bob up and down is quite deliberate.

Even taking to the air they seem to be taking their time. Instead of dive bombing the females or making quick darts to the ground, they kind of zig-zag their way down, much like a feather floating on the breeze. 

It's the same while they forage for worms and other tasty little insects on the damp floor of pocket forests along the coast. The slowly bob up and down, probing the earth, now and then pulling out a tasty little treat. Watching them at work, its a wonder they are able to evade predators.

To the human eye it would seem that these birds only have one gear ... slow. But really, they are moving about in the exact way they were created to. WE might think them slow, but what do WE really know of slowness? We aren't a Timberdoodle. 

When I came across II Peter 3:9 today I thought of this little bird on the top ten slowest animals list. We humans have a pretty closed-minded interpretation of movement. We think in terms of slow and fast - but perhaps, like the little Timberdoodle, it's all about being patient. Each timid little step he takes while he bee-bops along puts him one step closer to his goal of a female, or food. He's patient in his movement. He knows it takes a certain style to get him what he wants. 

What about us? As we have become a smaller and smaller world due to lightning fast communications and social media, we might thing our Father is moving quite slowly. When will our Lord return? When will the misery, the hunger, the sadness, and war mongering stop? Why does our Father take soooooo loooooong to grant us peace? Return to us, dear Jesus so the turmoil can end ..... 

II Peter tells us why: The Lord isn't moving slowly as we think of slowness. Instead, He's moving patiently. He very truly doesn't want to lose a single one of us and so - is offering us the very precious gift of time. 

Maybe I shouldn't complain about that.

Falling Flat

Revelation 3:16 -- "So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

The big bold drops of cold condensation dripping from the side of the bottle made the anticipation of that first punch of sharp crisp flavor all the more great as I popped the top on my soda. The hiss made by the bottle cap as it came off was all part of the experience.

It was movie night at the Dalton house. Nothing says movie night like my fresh stove-top popped popcorn [hold the butter] and a cold soft drink to go with it. There is nostalgia oozing from the lightly salted snack followed by the tingle of cold cola. 

Immediately, Steven's face scrunched up in a strange and unhappy expression as he tilted his head back and took a big gulp from his bottle. A fraction of a second later, mine did the same. Imagine the shear disappointment of the moment as our eager taste buds came to the startling realization that the pop part of our soda-pop was missing. Ick. Just .... ick.

I managed to swallow mine but Steven took his mouth full of very flat soda to the sink where he deposited it into the drain, chasing it down with the remaining contents of his bottle. 

"I'm not drinking that." he declared. "THAT is terrible."

"Yeah, I'm not drinking mine, either." I answered. 

How can an entire six pack of just purchased soda be flat? I will probably never find out the answer, but it most certainly REALLY, really was very, very flat. 

Resigning ourselves to drink anything else with our popcorn we sat back down on the sofa to resume our movie. Enjoyable as it was, it just wasn't the same. 

The experience left me thinking of Revelation 3:16. The soda was palatable, I guess. I mean, it didn't make us gag or anything - but it was NOT good. So, while it wasn't so awful that - if we were left on a desert island and that was all we had to drink we would die of thirst - it certainly wasn't something I would dash right out to buy again. In fact, I wanted my three bucks back.

Maybe that's what the writer of this passage in Revelation meant. To the church, he wanted to express that he recognized a lack of pop. A lack of sizzle. It's not that the congregation was terrible. But they certainly weren't on fire. 

The daughter of two very incredible people who've demonstrated all that comes with growing a very strong marriage, I've learned that passion in a union requires attention. It requires cultivation - even work sometimes. Our relationship with Jesus isn't any different. Our growth in our Lord and the deeds that fruit from it aren't going to blossom brilliantly if we don't put some time into it. We can make it a hot relationship or even a cold one. But perhaps it isn't really a GREAT one, unless we maintain it's fizz. We don't want to be spit out like a very flat soda. 

I really, really don't want to be spit out.

One of the things that strikes me about this verse is the fact that it says: "I'm about to .... spit you out." It doesn't say I'm going to. Or I have already decided to. It makes me think we have the opportunity to change the outcome of the situation. We CAN choose to be different. To make a difference. We can choose to be HOT. Enjoyable. Sustainable. Pleasant. 

We can cling to the word of our Lord. We can decide NOT to be fall flat.

Like Lightning

Romans 5:3b -- "And we boast in the hope of the glory of God."

In the dim light of our master bedroom I could see that outside, the night would light up each time a crack of thunder escorted lightning through the boiling clouds. The winds picked up, and now then, I could hear debris hit the glass on our windows.

No question about it - I do love a good rain storm. But -- more than two weeks into a wet holding pattern of sub-tropical weather and I'll admit that I'm ready for a peek of sunshine. I try not to complain because I remember that the Okefenokee needs this down pour. The Florida water table needs this down pour. And our formerly very dry Florida wet lands need this down pour.

Okefenokee Image: Wikipedia.org [images.fws.gov]

And then it hit me - it never rains forever. I can smile and enjoy the light show because I know that when the next low pressure system gets pushed over by a high pressure system [or vice versa], the rains will dissipate and the sun will again pop out from behind the clouds. When it does - everything will be lush and green.

One of my all time favorite song writer/singers, Michael W Smith, said: into every life a little rain must fall. And isn't that the truth?! I know that there are times when each of us is faced with a little more rain than we think we need. A family member falls ill ... AGAIN. The check book doesn't quite balance ... AGAIN ... or we have car trouble ... AGAIN.  Maybe it's work, or church, or school ... but there will be moments when we feel like throwing up our hands in despair or crying out in utter frustration.

When my very favorite pair of Sketchers air walks soaks through because the car is parked next to a puddle with more than an inch of cold rain water ... believe me, I feel the weight and semi-gloom due to so much rain. When my phone makes that really loud alert because we are under yet another flood warning I begin to wonder if this isn't more rain that we really need.

But ... God REALLY IS in complete control of the weather. The stuff both outside my windows and in my life.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge - Image: © Chris Cami Photography

In his book Lightning, Dean Koontz wrote: In tragedy and despair, when an endless night seems to have fallen, hope can be found in the realization that the companion of night is not another night, that the companion of night is day, that darkness always gives way to light, and that death rules only half of creation, life the other half.

And ya know what? That's the honest truth of it. We really CAN boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Because -- we KNOW that the battle to end all storms has already been won. The companion of night is NOT another night. It's the dawn when the sun comes up and gives bright pink sun rises with fog that burns off in the glorious warmth if day break.

So THERE! Take that darkness. Take that night gloom and doom. Jesus died on the cross for man. We have been ushered into grace never ending.

Neener neener boo boo to you!

Blue Dragons

Philippians 2:1-2 -- "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." 

Wide, wonderful, and weird is our blue planet and all the marvelous things God created to inhabit it. In fact, so vast is the blue part of this amazing place in which we live that we have yet to discover much of it. We know so very little of the ocean's depths and churning waters. It astounds me, really.

Wriggling to the top of my own "weird and wonderful" charts is the beautiful but lethal Blue Dragon. A Nudibranch - the behaviors of which are only just now being studied. In fact, this amazing sea slug is a relative new comer to the scientific community. It was only recently discovered that even more astonishing than it's seemingly delicate anatomy is the Blue Dragon's ruthless ability to stalk and feed on another blue but deadly beauty - the Blue Bottle jellyfish [aka: the Portuguese Man of War].

This little angelic looking and smallish sea slug stings if the conditions are right. And man, does it pack a punch! In fact, when an Australian woman was stung during a competitive swimming event, it was thought that the culprit was the Blue Bottle jellyfish. None could be found, however. Not anywhere. After hours and hours of searching for the hazard to the biathletes, a tiny floating blue and white creature was discovered - and the race to learn more about the Blue Dragon began.

Where did it live? How did it feed? How did it sting? Did it produce it's own venom and if so - how did it so closely resemble that of the infamous Portuguese Man of War?

Photos by Scott and Jeanette Johnson, from Kwajalein Underwater

So like The Portuguese Man of War is the Blue Dragon sting that the look and feel of them are very hard to distinguish from one another! And the treatment of such stings on a person's body is exactly the same.

And now we know why.

As it turns out, the Blue Dragon steals the sting of the Blue Bottle jellyfish as it feeds upon it, taking the little needle-like protrusions for its own defense. Pretty clever!


Which made me think ... how cool would it be if I were so Christ-like that people would find my actions and spirit difficult to distinguish from those of my Lord and Savior? The little Blue Dragon has exactly the right idea, does it not? Perhaps I can feed on the words of Jesus so much that I "leak" them out in my behavior. In my words. In my deeds. And even in my thoughts.

What an inspiration are you, little Blue Dragon. How mighty an example from so tiny a thing.

Controlled Burn

2 Samuel 7:28  -- “Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.”

Thick with smoke from the Okefenokee fires, when the sun came up from the East, the sky glowed a weird shade of mauve. My morning ritual of coffee at the back door windows to watch the show of playful squirrels and flirty feathered friends took on a strange rose-colored hue. Almost unsettling, even though I knew the source of the colors.

 Image: The Nature Conservancy

While the squirrels and birds seemed oblivious to the pink tinted atmosphere, I couldn't help but think of the fire fighters, the wild life, and the miles and miles of devastation. All because of one well-placed lightning strike. Florida is no stranger to wild fires. After all, we are known to be one of the most prone of the United States to storms with cloud to ground lightning.  ...Which is why, every single year great pains are taken to conduct controlled burns when the weather gets a little too dry. The burn ban goes into affect and fire fighters don their gear to set small little pockets of flame that go a long way to clearing out the dry and fire-prone under brush. These controlled and well- monitored measures prevent larger more furious fires from spawning during our frequent thunder storms.

Even when diligent effort is taken however, there are times when the forests are just too dry and a sudden bolt of molten electricity from roiling skies ignites a monster that leaves acres and acres of once lush wet lowland resigned to smoldering ash. When a fire storm takes hold of the crunchy understory, it's virtually kindling. Dry and ready to ignite. Resources to fight such beasts are then stretched so thin that weeks can go by with no hope of putting the fires out.

Imagine what fires would rage if a controlled burn policy weren't in place? It's almost UNimaginable.

That thought made me think of how very cluttered our spiritual lives can be at times. Within how many pots do we find our limited resources of time, attention, and prayer? Can it be that we attempt to put too much of our own control into our lives and welfare? If I attend that function or if I put my kids in this program or if I volunteer for such in such ... do I have better control over my own fulfillment/happiness? Am I trying to prove something or be something that needs notice? Or am I proving something to myself? Does all of our busy-ness deplete what time we would put into devotion and praise with our Lord - leaving our spiritual underbrush cluttered with bits and pieces of dry and crumbling kindling? Would a life-storm leave us with the giant soul crushing flames of a wildfire that seems to run out of control?  Maybe we need to implement a controlled burn.

All of us need to serve our Lord in what manner He has called of us - but we need to give God control over what that service entails. Running ourselves ragged or spreading ourselves too thin aren't ways to really serve Him.  All we manage to do then, is stay busy. Like busy work from a substitute teacher - it doesn't serve any purpose other than to keep the student busy.

In other words - maybe we need to thin out some of the underbrush. Remove some of the things that take away from our service to and our relationship with God. In 2Samual I am reminded that God's covenant is trustworthy. I love the way this is phrased because it's not only pointing out that God is sufficient, a Provider, and Holy. But that He is trustworthy. I don't have to rely on myself for fulfillment, completion and happiness. I can trust that what things God has given me to accomplish are enough. God has promised good things to His servant. I can trust Him. His word is TRUSTWORTHY.

Isn't that absolutely wonderful? 

Dig Deep

Psalm 107:8 -- "Let us give thanks to the Lord for His loving kindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men."

Image: youtube.com/oursurroundings

Soft clops and splatters -- rain falling from the roof and onto to the thick carpet of leaves just outside my window creates a somewhat magical peace that should have lulled me to sleep. But I lay awake listening. I watch the windows for dancing leaves caught in quick strobes that light up the night as lightning flashes across a moisture laden sky. I count the seconds that tick by before I hear the thunder that follows.

Nestled here in the green haven of a vast canopy dense with Spanish moss and playful squirrels, I smile as I curl up with pen and journal. The house sleeps. My heart is full. My mind at peace. My soul at rest. I am reminded of the words written by the 17th century poet, George Herbert;

      Thou hast given so much to me -- give me one thing more;
      A grateful heart.

It isn't always easy to find reasons for which to give God thanks. Sometimes there is anger, sorrow, loss. During those times we have to dig deep in order to tease out the grace hidden within the turmoil.  It IS there, though. God is ALWAYS good and ever faithful.

Vicki, a beautiful soul with whom I am joyfully acquainted, has recently suffered the loss of her husband to a long and drawn out battle with cancer. The battle - like all wars waged - was riddled with tough and painful moments. But in the same sentences with which she announced that her life-mate and close friend had gone home to be with our Lord, she offered up thanks to God. In fact, during the entire time I've known Vicki no matter her circumstance, she's never failed to thank God. I marvel at this woman. I am humbled by her. I know there are times when she's had to dig deep, deep and deeper still in order to find a tiny shred of thankfulness. But she doesn't complain. She simply reaches out and finds it. She clings stubbornly to God's amazing grace and thanks our Lord. What a beautiful and amazing gift she is!

During my next uphill climb, battle, or sorrow I hope I remember to dig deep and offer thanks. I long to be like Vicki.

Father, Thou hast given so very much to me -- give me one thing more; a grateful heart.

Responsible Release

Psalm 13:6 -- "I will sing to the lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me."

Horns blaring, sun blazing, and feet tapping - there can be nothing but a smile one one's face when the rhythm picks up as the funeral procession rounds the black topped Bourbon Street of New Orleans in Live And Let Die. Not a favorite James Bond film of mine, but certainly one I've seen over and over as "Bond Week" plays through [yet again] at the Dalton house.

Live and Let Die (1973) Eon Productions

It might seem strange to dance and celebrate while on the way to inter a loved one at the cemetery, but in this unique New Orleans tradition - it's kind of a beautiful way to let go. There was a time for the tears. The melancholy dirge slowly leaking out of the band instruments just prior to the segue into an upbeat and dance-worthy rhythm gave us our much needed moments to shed tears. We were provided a sad bar or two of slow music through which to feel the deep loss of someone near and dear to our heart. But, life [or the music in this case] must go on. Our loved one would want us to celebrate the living moments we were able to share together. True, to some it might seem a tad unrealistic for us to attempt to encapsulate the many stages of grief and such deep emotion into the span of just one song. But a real old fashioned New Orleans funeral does remind us that there is a rhythm and flow to each life event. Even the sad ones. After all - April showers really do bring about May flowers, and the most beautiful rainbows really do form after the most horrific of storms.

But come on. Dancing? At a funeral?

Indeed.

Would you believe that King David worshiped after he'd been informed that his first son by Bathsheba was dead?

Tis true. For days just prior to his son's death David wept. Fasted. Moaned. Begged. But when the baby actually died David got up and changed his clothes. Cleaned himself up and ate a good hot meal.

Now doesn't that just beat all?

When asked about his apparent strange behavior David explained that while the infant was still living he could hope for change - a different outcome than the inevitable. But once his son had breathed his last breath, there was no going backward. No amount of sadness or deep emotion would bring the baby back to him.

And here is the amazing part - after such devastating loss, David made himself presentable to God and worshiped Him. He didn't storm about pouting or raise a fist up toward heaven and shout at God in boiling anger. We know, just as David did, that God could have saved the tiny baby. But when He didn't, David let it go. He let his tiny baby boy go.

I'm just amazed by this. I have the horrible habit of hanging on -- to EVERYTHING, it sometimes seems. Old greeting cards, old books, old cameras - and yes, old hurt and old anger, too.

We shouldn't ignore our pain. We shouldn't even ignore our anger for then, we might not learn anything - but neither should we let these things rot and fester deep within us. There IS a time be responsible and release it all into God's more than capable and much stronger hands.

There really is a great deal to be said of the musical switch from the sadness to the gladness we witness in the New Orleans jazz funeral procession. I'll never look at Live And Let Die the same way again.

NOTE: wanna know more about New Orleans jazz funerals? Check out http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/multicultural/multiculturaltraditions/jazzfuneral.html

Lost In The Glare

I Thessalonians 5:16 -- "Be joyful always."

Image: Kelly Babb Dalton

When at first I read this verse in I Thessalonians I thought that perhaps, it had been misquoted. I had just put a few delicate embellishments on one of the 44 little uplifting Colorful Blessings note cards published by Christian Art Gifts and found myself smiling on the inside. I love these little cards.

On the outside of the box it says: "Colorful messages to bless a heart, soothe the soul, and clam the mind."  Truer words were never spoken. These little things are wonderful. They come in a pretty little box with a matching lid that slides right off and back on. Open it up to reveal delightfully detailed little "blessings" that one may color, paint, or pencil in - whichever method suits one's fancy. The box also says the note cards are to color and share, but so far I've tucked each completed message back into it's delightful little box just as soon as the ink and paint are dry. Adult coloring, I have recently come to re-discover, is very therapeutic.

However, as my eyes glanced at the scripture reference listed just below the quote; I thought that surly, this particular note card had only a paraphrase or a small portion of an entire verse printed in beautiful, fun block letters. Determined to prove just that, I turned my Bible to I Thessalonians and began frantically flipping through chapters until I came across the verse in question. . . .

Image: Kelly Babb Dalton

Holy moly! - it really DOES say "be joyful always." And it's not part of a verse or a portion of a sentiment. The statement encapsulates the entirety of chapter 5 verse 16.

But HOW? How are we to be joyful ALWAYS? As a woman who has suffered from clinical depression her entire life I found this challenge next to impossible! Especially lately. And I freely admit I have qualms with this verse in spite of the gratitude journal I've taken to writing in lately.

[See, the idea is to pen an entry in my gratitude journal every single day - ESPECIALLY on the days that the battle with depression seems to get the better of me. This way I am constantly reminded of the many, many things for which I truly should be grateful.]

And so - this verse popped into my subconscious whilst attempting to alleviate some stress by happily inking a Colorful Blessing with my brand new gel pens and I found myself snickering out loud.

ALWAYS?! Joyful? .... HOW?

Then I remembered something I'd seen while watching History Channel's "The Universe". The woman on the television was talking about how the mechanics behind a complete solar eclipse can help scientists discover new planets. You see, until a planet comes between our lenses and its star we are unable to see it because the planet gets lost in the glare of its brilliant sun. The shadow of the planet allows we humans to see in spite of a sun's intense light. I think if that logic is applicable - then the opposite should be true. Perhaps the brilliance of an amazing light can overcome a dismal shadow. So much, in fact, that the darkness of the shadow can't be seen at all.

I NEED to get lost in the glare. I want the light of Jesus Christ to shine so brightly from me that my own depression can't be found. THERE is my joy! In the brilliant light of my Savior! Fill me completely, dear Jesus - so that I may no longer harbor anything other than your precious and amazing light!

I have been saved by grace un-ending. Boundless and beautiful and brilliant! I DO have reason to be joyful always!