Living Hazzardously

Little pieces of our journey with Jesus

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Stop Kicking the Goads… You are only hurting yourself!

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Are you as stubborn as a mule? Are you as determined as a donkey? Are you as cantankerous as a cat? Are you as bearish as a bull? Are you as grumpy as a goat?

Why? 

This week I was observing somebody that continues to “kick against the Goads”, day after day, pushing, fighting every rule, blaming every problem on someone else… Even though they are the one causing the pain, discomfort and trouble… 

Goad: A board with spikes strategically placed behind the legs of an ox to prevent kicking and backing up. A long pole with a spike on the end used to direct oxen. 

The words of the wise are like goads…Ecc 12:11 

And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Acts 26:14

This reminded me of one of my all time favorite skits, from Bob Newhart:

STOP IT!

Look it up for a good laugh, (Im not allowed to post the link I guess).

Is this normal? Does everyone try to push against the simplest of rules? Why do we make our lives so painful by always pushing against simple rules? I thought “perhaps it’s a lack of self control?” or perhaps someone protected them from consequences in the formative years? Or maybe they just like to feel pain and discomfort? I for one, do not keep pushing against a goad, or do I? I mean think about it, are we the author to our own pain and trouble?… probably, I guess… 

As I get older, I realize the pain I inflict on myself because I have my fierce independence!! It is truly a ridiculous cause… When my oldest son Chris was about 3-4, able to speak, able to understand, able to talk… I told him “Don’t touch the fireplace, HOT!” and he agreed it would be a bad Idea… I walked out of the room, and seconds later I heard the whale of a small boy as he left his index finger print permanently on the glass door of the fireplace… WHY?

Imagine if he had listened, imagine if he had never stretched out that right hand and disobeyed Pops? Imagine if I had protected him from ever falling down, getting burnt and never let him have his BB gun in the house to shoot out the window… perhaps he would have become a mid forties man, kicking at the goad, causing his own discomfort and pain… never to understand if he just stopped kickin, just stopped rebelling, just stopped fighting everyone that cares… life could actually be wonderful!

How often do we keep kicking against the goads? How often do we just fight everyone that cares… why?

I challenge you and myself to this: As the week progresses, decide to stop fighting that one thing that you know you should or shouldn’t be doing… Here are some ideas:

Follow the stupid rules that you keep getting in trouble for.

When your spouse says that one thing, just to push your button, let it go.

When the paper is delivered to that bottom step, say thank you to God that it’s delivered.

When your mom calls you and starts to nag you again, tell God thank you that she cares.

When your daughter makes that mistake, Thank God she still speaks to you.

When your son calls at 2 am, thank God it’s not THE SHERIFF.

A simple change like this can and will change your life. Tomorrow, just don’t kick one time and think about how much better that feels, then the next day, do it twice. I’ve heard it said “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed”

in other words, start with something you can do, and tomorrow, maybe tackle something you thought you couldn’t do…

When you go nowhere, nothing happens. If you know you need to change, just start.

C

Best of the worst times

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As I look at the world, I cant help but to feel how this past week reminded me of an old song by Styx, where the best of times end and the worst of times begin…

I know you feel these are the worst of times
I do believe it’s true
When people lock their doors and hide inside
Rumor has it it’s the end of Paradise

But as a Christian, the week reminded me that our Lord is in control and no matter how bad the times get, we serve a God thats bigger, stronger and he is in control.

Its been a few weeks now that Jess and I left Marcell Community Church, its hard to walk away and start attending a new church… God has walked with us on this trip… The church is not in a buiding, its outside the “church building”. ECC chapter 8, God reminds us there is a time for every season, under heaven… and the close of that book reminds us that without God, all is futile… we are part of Gods family, regardless of our worship center.

I was told once, being a church member means that those in that congregation can vouch for the faith of another member, I believe that is heracy, as we can only know them by thier fruit, not memberships.

Today I pray your fruit is evident and you walk in the will of God. Go and spread LIGHT .

C

Gravel in a bucket

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This morning after breakfast, Jess looks at me with her peaceful eyes and asks, “Can you roll your shoulders like this?” as she rolls her shoulders, I mimicked her motions with a simple “Yup, sure can!” then she asked “When you do it, does it make any popping?” I just looked at her and giggled “Oh I wish it was just popping, for me its like gravel shaken in a bucket”

I have more work than I can get accomplished up here, I haven’t been able to catch up for months and I still can’t seem to get to regular check-ups on furnaces… this week? Same old thing, calling customers and telling them “Thank you for being patient, but I won’t be able to get to you this week, again…”

I had a Dr appointment this past Friday, after a long week of working, and I knew what I would hear… “Yup, you still need a knee replacement” to which I say, “Is there anything we can do to delay the inevitable?” With Jess by my side we decided to move forward on “the sandwich” as he put it… an injection of steroids followed by chicken gel and then another steroid injection… 

As we talked, we discussed what the future will bring and why I should have never had the previous two knee scopes, and how those scopes have destroyed my knee. We talked about how long I will be unable to perform my work and what the future will hold for us. And as a “one man shop” how I need to find help that doesn’t really exist in the north woods… Getting a knee replacement now would pretty much end Spring Lake Heating and Air, as I would be laid up for 6 months, and perhaps a year before I can do my job in a half way decent manner…Maybe even longer before I can not crawl around on my knees. 

When I hit 40, my eyes no longer worked as I thought they should, but I adapted with the use of modern technology called the “magnifier app” on my phone. At 45, I noticed my shoulders started to ache when I used the 36’ pipe wrenches. At 50 I had a big party, and could no longer bend down to tie my shoes. At 51 I noticed I needed to use my arms to stand up from kneeling… At 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57… THE SCOPE… 2 knee operations and carpel tunnel surgery on both hands. 58? well that’s today, I’m hoping to hit 60 before a knee replacement and praying I don’t destroy my other knee from overuse… life is funny, or is it hard?

So on my hunt for the right younger man to mentor into HVAC begins. I’ve learned so much as I was just another “tool” for corporate America. I know how to not destroy my body from overuse, I know corporate America only cares about what you can give them and I’ve learned that family needs to be valued more in our culture. But I have also learned that the work ethics of the GEN-X have indeed been replaced, the new focus seems to be on “self” rather than serving… serving family, serving spouse, serving children, serving those in need. I don’t want to bang the gong of “the new generation is so much worse than my generation” but on the flip side, the new generations generally don’t seem to have that same self motivation to accomplish whatever it takes to be a success… maybe I am misguided and wrong?

So where does this leave me? What was my point? Well, I guess I just want to end with this… Friday we went to the DR, Jess is so awesome as she asks great questions and records all the details. I stated what our goals are and the Dr gives us what options may work best, “TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK”… After the Dr we stop for a quick lunch on our 2.5 hour drive home. My knee is aching from the injection, we arrive at Sam’s Place to prepare a room for the new guy that we are picking up on Saturday. Saturday we drove down to find “the new guy”.

“Ok, we are looking for a small wooden shed” and right on que, there it is. As he stands with his 4 bags, we can see he is ready to depart the small wooden shed with no insulation, no kitchen, no water or plumbing. Winter is closing in fast, minus 40 is just around the corner… after we set him up in his new room, finish the hours of paperwork and jump in the van to head home…

I pick up the work phone & dial a phone number… “Hi John? Charlie here, I know it’s getting late but I have all the parts we need and I know you need to pack up the cabin for the winter, so I am headed your way tonight still, I kind of got delayed… no, I’m still coming, I should be there by 6 pm, ohh it’s no problem at all, see you soon!”

After I wrap up my last bit of work for the night, Jess and I reflect on the last two days and decide… It’s all worth it! Tomorrow is Sunday and God always provides for us. He sustains us and gives us everything we need. I just wish I didn’t have so many cars and trucks that require my attention. Did I mention winter is coming and the plow truck isn’t running? Well, I guess I can run the bobcat until I can fix the truck. Now, ask me next week if it’s all worth it? All I have to do is see the hope, the relief from “shed life” a safe clean home with meals, and a gentle word from one of our residents “thanks” and I will say to Jess again, “its definitely worth it”

Lev 25:35 ‘Now in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means among you falter, then you are to sustain him, like a stranger or a resident, so that he may live with you.

Have a blessed day, C