Yard Sale Meditations

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’                Matthew 25:37-40

I can’t stand the clutter in my house, so I decided to have a yard sale. Since the purpose of the yard sale is to de-clutter my house, of course it made sense to have the yard sale at a different location.  One of my sisters in law graciously allowed me to invite myself to use her yard, and I spent two of the warmest July mornings of my entire life in the United States manning this yard sale.-A disclaimer here, we don’t have yard sales in Panama, where I come from, so I am still baffled and a bit awestruck by some of the nuisance of the whole yard-selling-enterprise.-  Regardless, I have to say that I enjoyed it quite a bit.  I got to spend time with my sisters in law, my Mother in Law and some of my nephews and nieces.  My boys loved it too because they were able to play to their hearts content with their cousins.  So it was a hot, yes, but at least it wasn’t snowing! 

As the hours went by, I watched “customers” come and go.  Some would browse lightly and leave with polite smiles that screamed:  “there’s nothing but junk in here!”  Others would spend time in careful consideration, examining exquisite pieces of fine mass-produced-trinkets, to then put it back on the table to move on to the next equally un-impressive item to finally come to the conclusion that they were not what they thought they were.  There would also be the “expert” looker who is always looking for the items we don’t have, like for instance the gentleman who wanted World War II memorabilia. 

Occasionally, I would see the sincere-hard-core-yard- selling enthusiast who seeks a weekly thrill as he or she peruses through unexpected treasures with a twinkle in the eye.  This, of course, is my favorite kind of “customer,” because I know this one will buy something.  He or she never went to a yard sale where he/she couldn’t find something to purchase.  Sure, he/she would bargain, offering less than what the colorfully marked price suggested, but to him/her I joyfully replied “yes, it’s yours!”  This fellow knows that there is good all around us.  There is always something that someone else can use.  He or she usually not only makes purchases for his or her own use.  These consummate yard-sale-shoppers always have others in mind too.  “This scooter would be perfect for little Johnny!”  “This chair is what my daughter needs in her patio.”  “My friend could use this TV in her camper.”  “This tree swing is great for my neighbor’s grandson.” 

It sure is a joy to appreciate the keen eye of those who love to uncover treasures in unexpected places, while having fun doing it.  Many expert yard-sellers approach the art as a way to fulfill their calling.  They were called to serve others by supplying their material needs.  And they do so by yard-selling.  I saw teachers shopping for supplies that would supplement their standard curriculum.    I saw church members shopping for items for their church’s VBS and other children’s programs.  I saw parents shopping for furniture for their children’s first apartment.  I saw neighbors buying household items to help out neighbors in need.  On, and on, many people stopped at our humble yard sale, hoping to find the things that will make someone else’s life a little brighter, more comfortable, easier, or a bit more bearable. 

In their own unique way, they are fulfilling the calling to love our neighbors with a cheerful heart.  Many of these shoppers are doing it for the “least” of their brothers in a very special way.  The command is not to do it in a grand, spectacular or extravagant way.  The command is to do it!  And it is “you” who has to do it.  It is “I” who has to do it.  It is not the government through its many good-intentioned-but-fully-flawed programs.  It is “you” and “me” who has to do it, whichever way we can.  The reward will be reaped in heaven, when we hear from the lips of the Father, “well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23a)

After we wrapped up the sale on Saturday afternoon, we were exhausted.  It was, however, worth the while, at least to me.  We laughed, we talked, we played, we complained, we shared time together as a family, a rare treat anymore, and we made enough money to buy lunch.  I think I’ll do it again next year.  

When We Are At A Loss For Words...

As I am sure, parents all around the world know, there comes a moment in the life of a child when he/she steps beyond the boundaries of the permissible into the realm of what is commonly known as “smart-mouth” territory.  Dylan is getting dangerously close to that boundary.  Therefore, Dan and I have begun to express our discontent with his behavior and have started to offer words of advice to him.  Such words are nothing profound or transcendental.  They include the usual, “watch your mouth,” “be careful with your words,” “think before you speak,” and the iconic, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” 

I think our words of wisdom may be having some kind of impact on restraining Dylan from stepping out of line on the matter of speaking his mind too…freely.  The reason I believe that is because during the last few days, I’ve been noticing that whenever faced with an uncertain situation that requires him to voice his thoughts, Dylan is becoming increasingly hesitant and careful regarding what to say and how to say it.  

More and more we are noticing that Dylan has found a phrase that is certain to provide him with a smooth sailing into a safe harbor.  No matter, really, what the situation is, my young son, when pressed for a comment on an uncertain topic, is becoming very fond of replying, “I love my Mama,” to then quickly maneuver out of the subject into safety.

Dylan’s little getaway utterance has made me think about how sometimes, while we are also maneuvering or attempting to, out of the storms of life, we find ourselves at a loss for words.  Often I have heard myself saying, “I don’t know what to or how to pray, Lord…”  Paul reminds me, however, how I am not alone in this predicament.  In Romans 8:26-27, the Apostle tells us how, “in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

The Spirit comes to our aide always, particularly at those times, when our weakness of the mind, body and soul leave us wondering what to say.  At those times, the Spirit –inspired groans serve as our act of worship for He, the LORD, our King and Father, understands the unintelligible and deciphers the utterances of our hurting hearts.  Dylan’s little safe phrase, however, also makes me think that we too have a similar phrase which will take us to the safety of our Savior’s arms all the time.  

In those moments of total despair, confusion, fear, disillusion, sadness, trial, and worry, we can always steer clear into His safe harbor with a simple and heart-felt “I love you Jesus.”  There is power in His name.  There is power in our love for Him. Combine the two and we got victory over our circumstances and over the plotting of the enemy.

Just like hearing Dylan saying, “I love my Mama” puts a smile in my face and a song in my heart, I can only hope and dream that the sound of my voice speaking from the depth of my desolation may have a similar effect in my Savior’s heart.

I love my Jesus…I love my Lord.

 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

   and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

   to the glory of God the Father… (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV)

The Hand That Is Always Reaching Out

It was going to be a beautiful early June weekend, so in a spur-of-the-moment decision, I took 3 boys and one Grandma to an amusement/water park on Saturday.  It was perfect!  They boys were very excited and of course, it being 80 degrees and all, their favorite part was the water park.  Once we hit the Soak Zone, the boys headed straight for the “Wave Pool.”  This pool has a restriction for kids who are 48 inches tall and under.  They have to wear a life vest and be accompanied by an adult the entire time they are in there.  The adult must be at arm’s length of the child at all times. 

Dylan is just 46 inches tall, so we got the vest and in we went.  As you may know, the way “Wave Pools” work is that there are periods of total calm followed by a period of powerful, man-made waves.  When Dylan and I walked into the pool, it was calmed.  We played and enjoyed some much needed coolness.  We sat in the shallow end and let the refreshing caress of the water relax our tense muscles.  Then, as soon as the whistled blew announcing the beginning of the waves, I realized the reason for the strict enforcement of the rule regarding young kids at the entrance. 

Dylan got tossed and turned and jerked around like the laundry in the spin cycle!  The mighty waves were too strong for my little one, whom I had to keep rescuing by grabbing him with both hands to lift him out of the powerful waters.  We moved to the side where it seemed tamer, but still, he could not stand without been tossed about.  He got braver and his legs steadier as he journeyed through the waves several rounds and as he realized that I was there with him all the time. 

He became more confident because he knew my hand was permanently reached out to him.  Every time he needed to pull himself out of the water and couldn’t do it by himself, he sought my hand which he found faithfully every time.  He also realized that even when he couldn’t or didn’t have the strength to reach out to grab my hand, that I would not wait and with precise timing, both my hands would hold him by his side and pull him out into safety so he could breathe again. 

Hmm…yes, that’s exactly right.  Though dim, this was a pretty good reflection of our lives with the Lord our God.  As we toss and turn in the middle of violent waves that threaten to tear us apart limb by limb, the Almighty God we serve stands right next to us, unmovable, unshakable, and unchangeable. 

Dylan’s experience at the “Wave Pool” resembles our walk with the Lord.  Periods of calm, when we playfully wade in the water or just sit and enjoy the peace, followed by seasons when we can barely seem to be able to catch our breath.  Periods when we have time to relax and soak in the wonders of our Great God, followed by moments of confusion when the only thing that saves us is reaching out our hand to His which is always extended to us.  Periods of evident joy when everything seems just right, followed by times when we are too weak, too lost, too beat up to even raise our hand to grab the hand that is reaching out to save us.

As I drove a car full of exhausted little boys (and one Grandma), I took time to praise Him for who He is.  I am so glad that our God is mighty to save and loving enough to do it all the time.  I praise Him for “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us.  On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us,” as we know He will.  (2 Corinthians 1: 10)  After all, we know that He is “my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

2 Corinthians 1:10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

Psalm 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?