Bill and I were doing a bit of fall cleanup and I got thinking about my first blog, Grass or Weed, written September 8, 2006.  Today, enjoy a shortened version of my first blog.

Friday, September 08, 2006

INTRODUCTION

Mary’s Moments started at a church committee meeting. If you just emitted a groan, I know you are a committee member.  At this particular meeting, it was brought to our attention that the weekly church paper could use some articles.  The next question was, “Who would be willing to help?”

If you are a true committee member, you know how many hands went up.  Did you guess zero? Bingo!  Everyone looked up to the ceiling or doodled on any available paper.  Would no one step up?

Someone said, “Okay. Okay. I will write a monthly article. I will write Mary’s Moments.  Will that help?”  All of a sudden I realized the someone who just spoke up was me.  Mary’s Moments was born.

My goal is to give you encouragement in your faith, help for each day and the realization that we all have shared experiences.  I also hope to give you a smile and will make you feel better about this world and the people in it.

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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.        James 1:12

GRASS OR WEED?

As I stood looking out at Bill mowing off the weeds, I got to thinking about the dry brown grass and the tall green weeds.  Which would I rather be:  Grass or weeds?  The grass, when we have rain, is so green and soft under foot.  Everybody likes grass.  It is just right for wiggling toes in or laying a baby on while they nap.  Now it is dry.  And brown.  And does not feel good to bare toes.  When the rain comes, it will turn green again.  It is just waiting to be nourished.

The weeds seem to be doing just fine without the much-needed rain.  They are still growing.  They are still green.  No one likes weeds, but there they are.  In the flowerbed.  In the yard.  In the garden.  In the corn and soybeans.  Why do they do so well when everything else seems to suffer in the heat and drought?

Guess the grass and weeds are a lot like people.  Some people face hard times like the grass.  They do not have a reserve of strength or strong roots to support them.  Some people just wait for trouble to blow over.  They wait for the “rain” to come to them.

Other people are like the weeds.  They are strong in the good times, when they are well fed and watered.  BUT – they are also strong when the times are hard.  They find an inner strength to stand up to the heat and they have roots to reach down for the water.

Yes, I think I want to be a weed.  I want a faith that keeps me strong when times are good.  BUT -- more importantly, I want a faith that can stand up to the heat and a faith with roots that will draw up the help I need when my body or soul may be dry.

TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT

TRICKLE-DOWN: 

• a situation in which something that starts in the high parts of a system spreads to the whole of the system
• relating to or being an effect caused gradually by remote or indirect influences

Oh my, mention trickle-down and you can start one really big political argument.  This is not a political post, but I want to look at a recent movie using the trickle-down effect.

I love the Kendrick brother’s movies.  It all started at the Sherwood Baptist Church, in Albany, Georgia.  Two brothers wanted to make movies.  The church said, “Sure.”  The rest is history, as they produced Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, War Room, and their current movie, Overcomer. 

DISCLAIMER:  If you plan on seeing Overcomer, please stop reading now.  Go to the movie and then read the rest.

Trickle-down

• Major employer closes its doors -- therefore
• People start moving to other locations for jobs -- therefore
• Students move out of the school district -- therefore
• There are less jobs and teachers take a pay cut -- therefore
• Stores close -- therefore
• The main character is a coach and no longer has a basketball team – therefore

Trickle-up

• He agrees to coach cross country -- and
• Only one girl shows up -- and
• She meets her father – she had been told he was dead -- and
• She becomes a believer -- and
• She wins the state race (of course) -- and
• Goes on to influence others with her faith

I believe there is a trickle-down effect in our lives.  Some we have no control over and the effects ripple out into the community – sometimes, even into the world.  In the movie, an employer closing their doors forced the community to redefine itself.  Friends moved away taking their children out of the school system.  A community that gathered every Friday for football or basketball, no longer had anything to cheer about.  Income drops and stores close.

I also believe there is a trickle-up effect in our lives.  One man agrees to coach one girl.  One girl learns she was lied to, but also learns she has a Heavenly Father that never leaves her and never lies to her.  She accepts being forgiven and then forgives others.  And the ripple begins.  Once more, a community gathers and they cheer as one girl crosses the finish line.  And one girl goes to college and shares her story and her faith.  The ripple spreads further.

All this made me think.  The way I live my life – Do my actions have a trickle-down effect or a trickle-up effect? 

GO

God says go.

• Noah, go take the animals and your family for a boat ride.
• Abram, go away from your homeland, because I have big plans for you.
• Moses, go take a very long walk and do not worry about the Red Sea.  I have you covered.
• Jonah, go to Nineveh and be careful or you will end up in the belly of a big fish.

Even today God is telling people to go.  Go to Haiti or Africa or China or America.  And sometimes God says, “Go to those young girls.”

Our daughter and I were standing outside Cleveland Clinic waiting for the shuttle back to our hotel.  The weather was good and it is always fun to people watch.  Then I saw them -- two young girls talking quietly, tears in their eyes, and making phone calls. 

We continued to observe people, talk about the controlled chaos of picking up/dropping off patients, and watch the fountain.  And glance at the girls.

Then, the one girl put her phone down and began to cry.  And God said, “Go.”

“Are you okay?” 

“No.  Our friend from our dorm is here and she has no family close.  Her mother called us to see if we could sit with her.”

“How is she?”

“She was found in a pond and has not regained consciousness.  We don’t know.  We are not family.  And we are missing classes, but will worry about that later.”

They continued, “There is nothing we can do but be here and pray.”

“I am sure her mother is very thankful you are here.  Her daughter is not alone.”

After they talked a bit longer, I asked, “May I pray with you?”

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Have you ever had the thought, “I should call ___?___?”

Or, “I should pray for ___?___?”

Have you ever passed a stranger and wanted to tell them everything would be okay?

Did you do it?  If you are like me, the thought or urge passes and is quickly forgotten.  Except this time.

The thought or urge passes and is quickly forgotten -- except this time --- and, know what?  It was easy!  I was not self-conscious.  I am not the best prayer in the world, but the words came. 

We talked.  I prayed.  I went back to waiting on the shuttle.  The girls went back inside.  And I wonder what happened. 

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What happened is up to God.  I only had to comfort and pray.  But what if I had not?

Sooooo – The next time you get a feeling you should call a friend, call them.  Or pray for them, pray.  Or tell that stranger everything will be okay, do it.  Because, what if you don’t?