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