Stop and Think

Job 37:14 NIRV
"Job, listen to me. Stop and think about the wonderful things God does.
What a simple request for me today. How difficult it is just to find some solitude and comfort from my own thinking. My desires I have let wander and my affections are always on the wrong things. My time is spend securing the things that I  need and whats left is given away grudgingly.
How great it is to stop and take it all in. My life is a whirl wind with a toddler then all of a sudden he slows down with you and those intimate embraces are the best. I wish I could live a million years in the embrace of my one and a half year old. The last diaper that I change will be a heart breaker because those days will never be again. Its "those days" that
I always want to live in but I am finding out with my son is that "those days" are now in the present. They are best celebrated slowly.

Moved by God

                Men run from your arguments about God, they will not listen to your elaborate explanations; but when you tell them what life was without God, and then tell them what it is with Him, their hearts,              as John Wesley said, are “ strangely warmed," and their minds also are strangely persuaded. . .        . Then Jesus gave them His answer to John. . . . He just gathered up in a cascade of living words the living deeds He and        they had been seeing, and said, “Go your way and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised , to the poor the gospel is preached”. It was proof by evidence. They had seen these people themselves.

                                                Sam Shoemaker, National Awakening, p. 28.

The friendship and communication that I experience with our brothers and sisters of Able Church require that things be easy or concrete. That's so great because I need that basic teaching more than anyone else. The basics is where its at. I am drilled by my friends in recovery a message of pragmatism, is what your doing working. The message is quite urgent because if what I do does not work then I take that huge leap in front of that old freight train called death.
I think that daily I am looking for that small little touch that will take me from my flesh or satisify my mind so that I can move in the right direction. The direction into Gods will. Its refreshing when simplicity match concrete practical action. In my life that happens when I open up my heart to a person with a disability. So in your travels today look for that situation and at that moment you will experience a little nudge from the maker himself Jesus Christ.

Important Stuff

Here goes another blog. I have the privilege of being with my family this week. They came from Montana with a missionary team from my church and my nephew. Healing and change was brought to the Bury family even sent ripples of healing through the generations. My father experienced what I have given my life to do. He was thrilled but agreed that it was tough work. I think my mother has settled deeper in the acceptance of disability as Gods divine plan and not a mistake, punishment or sin. Her friendship with Jesus is more clear than before. The interaction with the campers at Camp Daniel and sharing her life with her grandson at camp as a councilor has given her freedom and joy.

                     .Matthew 6:33 NIRV
But put Gods kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do.. Then all of those things will also be given to you.

Thought I needed to do a blog today. Nothing but communication and friendship. I always wanted to blog like I was talking with an old friend or an uncle maybe even loaded with my own hyperbole. That's great maybe even my own dialect or just pure me. Whats been going on in my head lately, well great amounts of stuff. Life is packed with raising a child and communicating with my wife on new levels. The ministry is huge more to do than I can handle. I am always being stretched doing things than I would not rather be doing. Have been hiding the word in my heart or meditation. Problem is that the mind sputters and is undisciplined, I have an obese mind. The mediation has been on II Corinthians 10:3-5. The great thing is my life is what I signed up for today full of challenges heartaches. My task is to stay thankful.

Grow, Expectation, or Counselor Meeting

The title for this blog could be any of those three. This blog post is way overdue. These are my thoughts and what I learned from last summer’s camp season.

At our counselor meetings each week, Little Tony asks what we are going through and what we are learning. With a 6-week-old baby, I did not get to many meetings, but I did get to some. At the last meeting of the last camp I had planned out in my head what I would share. However, it ended up being one of those long meetings where everyone wanted to share. When Tony asked if there was anyone else that wanted to share, I didn’t share in order to let others share and keep the night from going on forever.

Our camp theme for the summer was “Grow”.  So, for four weeks I meditated on that theme and the Lord taught me some things about growth.

This camp was a different camp for me having a 6-week-old baby. Everything was new for me and a bit difficult, too. Our boy, MJ, had what people call Colic. Call it whatever, he was fussy, always wanting to be held and bounced.  MJ also wanted me to stand when I held him; I could never sit. I was exhausted. People supported me as much as possible and would tell me, “Hang in there, Jen.” Then I found myself responding and saying, “He’ll grow out of it.”

That phrase “He’ll grow out of it” lingered in my head for quite awhile, seeing how “Grow” was the theme of the summer. I thought about some of the campers that had some pretty irritating behaviors. I thought about their families and others that are with them daily. Those that don’t get a break with behaviors that never seems to change. I began to understand how they might feel.

Soon, I began to wonder why my boy will “grow out of ” his exhausting and irritating behaviors and why it seems so many people with intellectual disabilities do not. The word “Expectation” came to mind. One reason babies and kids go through phases and grow out of them is because we Expect them to. At some point, they are expected to sleep though the night, wean off the bottle, get rid of their blankets or dolls, stop their whining, etc. If given a choice and nobody expected us to change, we probably all would still engage in those things.

I think people often don’t expect those with intellectual disabilities to grow and change. People will say, “They can’t help it. It’s their disability. They are not capable.” They will let them continue in an inappropriate behavior. They will continue to pick up after them, fix the broken pieces, and let them get away with wrong. They will excuse a behavior and not expect anything different. 

Now, expectation is not the only thing needed to grow and change. My boy did not stop being colicky, simply because I expected him to. I continued to support him and give him the things he needed. I helped remove the things that irritated him. I helped give him the tools he needed to deal with his circumstance. I believe that is another huge piece that is often missing for people with intellectual disabilities. A lot of their emotional, physical and spiritual needs are not met. They are not given the tools needed to deal with life and to grow. They are not expected to grow or change.

So, what I learned was that we all need a community of people around us who can support us, give us the tools we need, be patient with us and EXPECT us to change and grow. 

A NEW ATTITUDE

The new year is upon us. I have already enguaged the housecleaning of my physical home, throwing out those cloths that are worn or do not fit. Looking at those  projects that never got attended to in 2012. The shelves that never got put up, the firewood that got wet from the winter snow or the lawn equiptment that has to endure another winter uncovered. I then looked inside myself to see the status of my relationships. The brother that seems so distant because I don't want to enguage in the tough work of mending disagreements from the past, looking at resentments from childish misunderstandings or having enough courage to start on fresh ground of forgiveness. The great thing about new beginings is the freshness and the joy of discovery. That joy is not for just me but to be shared, shared in community. The last place this new year has brought me is to my inner thought life. I asked myself a few questions. What attitudes are realy working for me? Am I pretending to be someone that I am not? Do I allways want what others have? How usefull am I to my spouse, family or church? What does my service to others or comminity realy look like? What do I do to get relief from the pressures of life? Who do I place myself accountable to? How real am I in those realtionships? Well I guess that I still have work to do but I think that what I really am looking for at the begining of a new year is a new or fresh attitude like a blank piece of canvas awaiting to be worked upon. That new canvas is found in Ephesians 4. Specifically Ephesians 4:23,24 (Nirv) "You were taught to be made new in your thinking. You were taught to start living a new life. It is created to be truly  good and holy, just as God is." Good luck friends I hope you will uncover some insights as I have to start the year on the right or left foot.

CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL

   

You were like sheep who were wandering away. But now you have returned to the Shepherd. He is the Leader of your souls.  (I PETER 2:25 NIRV)
The leader of my soul. What is my soul and where does it start and end? That which makes me me. I like to think of that place that I go when things get confusing, painful and sometimes just right after some really good news. That place that I think is only mine. This place is where I like to think I stand eye to eye with my creator. I go to this place to relax and wind down. Out of this place comes my reactions to life. I love and hate this place but the most important thing is that this place has a leader and its not me. I just keep the place as clean as I can. How wonderful it is to understand that I really can give up ownership of this place knowing that its best for all.
My life has been full of responsibilities. My new duties as a father , missionary and house parent bring responsibilities that I cannot bear alone. Its nice to know that I have  been given a community that will guide me through the process. Best of all I have the person of CHRIST who is the Captain of my soul.