Uplifted in a Broken Down World

Many, many years ago, my Nani taught me how to drive his “machine”. So proudly, he took me for my driver’s license test. I failed. Nani had taught me how to drive — not park! I was totally clueless when asked to parallel park Nani’s “machine”. When the test administrator asked which tire was to be into the curb if I parked on the upside of a hill and which on the downside of a hill, I really demonstrated my ignorance. My reply was that there weren’t any hills in Chicago, so how should I know.

Nani was absolutely dishonored when the test facilitator announced I failed. His old school Italian pride was disgraced. To this day I can hear Nani firmly informing the judge, who questioned my lack of talent, that it was a DRIVING test not a PARKING test.

For a week Nani and I lived at the local Sears parking lot. He set up barrels to mark where I was to park. After a couple of days, I stopped treating them as bowling pins and somehow wiggled Nani’s “machine” into the space between them.

On day seven, Nani declared our family name was ready to be restored. He drove me up to the designated area, where those to be tested were to meet their evaluator. I slowly popped out of the passenger’s seat and crept around to the driver’s side. (Nani seemed far more confident than I.) As I was getting into the “machine”, I noticed Nani had placed a ten-dollar bill on the passenger’s seat, where my umpire would call my fate. May I simply say the year was 1963, and a “sawbuck” was BIG money. I snatched that bribe off that seat! My name was not going to be labeled illegal kick backer!

After I demonstrated my newly acquired parking skills, I categorically declared (before the question was even asked) parking uphill, back tire into curb; parking downhill, front tire into curb.

When the verdict was in, I passed!!! Having been decreed driver’s license qualified, Nani shook the official’s hand. I’m quite sure the man was caught off guard and wondered why Nani winked at him.

Once back inside the car, I handed Nani his “Alexander Hamilton” and told him I might have failed my driver’s test the first time; but the moral code he helped instill in me, I was determined to try and never fail. Nani remorsefully added that he’d never again fail me either. With great love in my heart, I told Nani he had to remember he taught me much more than how to drive his “machine”. He had instilled deep in my heart that neither he, nor anyone else, could give me my dreams. I, ‘soul’y, had to work and fight for them. We hugged, stopped for a celebratory ice cream cone and then Nani drove his “machine” and me back home.

My Nani was a towering figure in my life. From the time I was a chubby little girl, he continually encouraged me to always follow my dreams. Whenever I shared my dreams with my Nani, he’d always ask if they would make me happy. With all my heart and soul, I’d answer a great big YES; and he’d instruct me then to believe and work, work, work, and then work some more to make my dreams come true.

Now more than six decades later, I still love and appreciate my Nani. He taught me so much more than how to drive. He engraved in me the truth that everyone makes mistakes; but they can be rectified, forgiven and never repeated. Above all, my dreams are to be pursued — not given to me. Most importantly, when my dreams come true, they should make me happy on the inside over rich on the outside.

I truly believe one of the greatest threats of the 21st Century is that the vast majority of children do not have a Nani in their lives. They have fancy and fast cars to drive but simply no Nani to teach them how to steer their journey up the mountains and down through the valleys of life.

Nani, his “machine” and my driving license saga taught me early on about life’s greatest blessings. That day, on which I took my first driver’s test, did not teach me about failing. Its lesson was what it takes to succeed.

Faith is not a diamond accessory that sparkles when under a spotlight. Faith is a flashlight that guides and sustains your heart and soul when your body is lost amidst the darkest of perilous nights. Faith is but an advertisement when the sun is shining in one’s life. Faith becomes your inner recipe when life is an uphill (or downward tumbling) struggle, and your chosen lifesaver is grasping on to the Saviour SON.

When life is fairytale happy, professing Faith is by assumption. Only when life is a nightmare is Faith proven to be one’s genuine reality. Faith is often, on the outside, proclaimed. Less seldom is it, on the inside, personified.

There is a sole way to glean if your soul truly possesses Faith. When down to nothing at all, do you know that God is enough? If so, then Faith runs through your veins and is your breath of life.

The creed of Faith is not believing in God when you are whole. The creed of Faith is clinging to God when you are broken.

Why did the holes in Christ’s hands remain after the Resurrection? His body was restored and made whole. Why not His hands? Could there be a lesson from God in this gospel truth? For me, there is. What if the holes in Christ’s hands are to symbolically represent the gaping wounds in our lives. Both human beings and human events scar us with lasting fissures. We long for these sufferings to be sealed and healed; but is this always God’s will? Maybe not. Perhaps, mankind wants the holes in us to be filled up; but might not God’s desire be for Him to flow through them?

Our holes are our lesions from worldly attack, loss, pain and suffering. When more can we lead others to faith in, hope through and love for God than when our lives bear holes; and we don’t camouflage or hide them, but rather, bear them and humbly let God flow through them? At moments such as these, don’t we, Christians, confirm to all 21st Century doubting Thomases that our God is eternal; and regardless of our imperfections, His promises do not die or ever disappear?

Let’s ponder being a whole person versus a hole person. Truth is worldly life has inflicted the scars of holes in all our beings. We will only be whole again in heaven. This is God’s promise. Till then our calling from our Heavenly Father is to let Him flow through our holes. The people in whom we see the most reflection of God’s presence, peace and inspiration are, also, the brothers and sisters of Christ enduring the most holes. These are the children of God who aren’t obsessed with thinking their holes need to be filled full in order to be happy. They believe in, and trust, God and His Word. They have chosen to be fulfilled, not filled full.

Having reflected on my personal thoughts of why Christ’s hands remained pierced after His resurrection, I chuckled as my eyes gazed heavenward and chatted with God. I got it, Lord. Guess, as testimony of your every flowing mercy, grace and forgiveness, You crafted life on earth to be Swiss cheese, not a hard block of parmesan!!

How they got there was obvious. The white band hugging their wrists announced to all that a blood cancer pushed them over the threshold. This, of itself, was gut wrenching; but another stand out affliction encapsulated these three women. All other white banded patients were supported, in some cases literally, by an accompanying heart who cared. Each of these three women stood solo.

Three individual sets of arms struggled to secure orders scrawled on paper, manila folders harboring their statistics (both past and present, with no future being guaranteed), plastic bags with who knows what paraphernalia inside and Styrofoam cups of water to keep them hydrated.

My heart broke as I realized how alone each truly was. Where was family? Where was friend? Where was even an enemy whose gut could at least pity?

A Bone Marrow Transplant Unit is not a one-time visit. Months, even years, find many return visits. How many times had these three women come alone, left alone and felt alone? How many more times are yet to come?

After asking God to hug these children of His so tightly they could physically feel His presence, I thanked God for surrounding my brother, not only, with our earthly family but also Him, his Heavenly Father. My soul was grateful my brother would not take even a single step without loved ones beside him, but it cried for the miles and miles these three ladies trudge by themselves.

Some visions in life you can’t unsee. This is one such scene. It instilled in the eyes of my heart and soul what I believe an irreparable feeling of mankind’s failure. However, God was not about to let this collapse of the Golden Rule fester in my being. Instead, He opened my eyes to a reconstruction of the word alone.

Before God crossed my path with these three, heroic women, I read the word defining “having no one else present” as alone. Now God has convicted me that as His daughter I am challenged to change my past understanding of the word and begin seeing it as AL-ONE. God calls me to choose to see those three women and I are AL-ONE, over them being alone. As a child of God, I am baptized to stand, sit, walk and even crawl beside hearts and souls in need of a helping hand. What about you?

“…’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’.” Matthew 25:40 (ESV)

Looking at the world, I see our leaders not trying to head our guidance but to behead anyone they feel might impose on their reigning supreme. How despicably sad this is. Only our Creator God is supreme. No matter which of God’s creations any human is, he is not God, nor will he ever be. This is plain and simple, factual truth. There is no way to get around this, under this or over this. So why do mankind’s leaders of today ignore this fact and assume they can outmaneuver God and assume a reign on His throne? Sheer idolatry of themselves is my only conclusion.

There’s another sickening trend amongst today’s leaders. Doesn’t matter what forte or forefront one is qualified to lead, another, in a totally different field with no relevant tools in his belt, seeks to usurp this person’s qualified authority, as proof the intruder is all supreme. Again, I remind all that God, and God alone, is universally supreme. Our charge is to bow a knee to God as our Supreme Ruler, not kick the leg out from under any human (besides ourselves) who is deemed a competent leader in one specific playing field. Leaders are supposed to use their precise expertise to work together for the common good. However, on the contrary, bickering and dissension pours forth over teamwork being enacted for constituents needs. If the unique, God planted, fortes of all leaders would humbly collaborate with each other, America would be living from our Constitution, instead of dying from abandoning it. Talk about the irony of leaders, themselves, destroying law and order in our land, this is it.

So, are we mortals just to assume God forgot presenting us an example of how power among leaders is to be enacted, positively and peacefully? Nope, I don’t think so. My belief is God set forth the greatest of examples, but we have failed to recognize it – let alone heed it. I’m referring to God’s overlooked horizontal attribute. Personally, I positively believe our God is a Trinity not by accident but as our Supreme Creator’s witness for all of us lesser creations to have a foundational and fundamental blueprint for earthly leaders to emulate.

There is not even one single inuendo in God’s Word that, for even a split second, any conflict amongst the Father, Son and Holy Spirit ever existed. Each has a role of purpose to fulfill, and it took (and still takes) each carrying out their specific contribution for us to be created, redeemed and instilled with the enlightenment of how to glorify God. In this regard, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are not a vertical power. None tries to be above the other. They horizontally, and unitedly, share power that is supreme by working side by side for the wellbeing of all their subordinate human creations. Wow, isn’t that a novel show of power!! America’s leaders, wake up!! Stop trying to be an idol god. Start, in humility, asking the one and only true God, upon whom our land is founded, to grace you with His will and His way, not yours.

My entire core shudders as I see America’s trilogy, the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of our government, be the complete antithesis of the Divine Trinity of God. Our Country was founded on one Nation under God. Today it is capsized by idol gods of human nature, whose haughty pride attempts to reign over all, including God. Thus, in currently seeing not one leader under God, my prayer has become, “Lord, we don’t have a man of God, or under God, to lead America; but could you at least send a Peter.”.

To be continued —

At times, it is good to see whimsical reminders of God, even in small insignificant ways. These seemingly trite eyeing of our Lord confirm GOD IS EVERYWHERE. Join me in one such trivial, yet delightful, encounter of God’s Bible always at my fingertips, if only my hands will open it.

Oh, the joy of having my three-year-old grandson spending a couple of days at GaGa’s house. This ‘ol grammy garnered much wisdom from his visit — the greatest of which was “The Bible and a Tube of Toothpaste”. As you’ve probably guessed, my grandson loves a tube of toothpaste. Most little ones do; but let’s ponder the lesson squeezed within this universal favorite of children everywhere.

First and foremost, the purpose of toothpaste is to prevent decay and destruction of the tool/means by which we are to chew on the food that nourishes our physical lives. In a child’s mind, can he get too much toothpaste? Absolutely not!! In fact, the child is not at all focused on what toothpaste is meant to do/prevent but only on how yummy it tastes.

Let’s parallel toothpaste to the Bible. Is not God’s Word the antidote for keeping our lives free from decay and destruction? What’s more, as a child craves toothpaste in overdose amounts, are we not called to do the same by hungering for the fruits of the Bible in overflow?

Have you ever tried to assist a youngster in squeezing out the toothpaste from the tube? In no way does that munchkin want anyone else to do it for him. He can, and does, want to do it on his own. Yes, it takes his strong squeeze to reap the sweet taste of toothpaste, but the inconvenience never stops the child’s pursuit or reward. What about us in our search for maintaining the sweet joy of Jesus in our lives? Are we willing to squeeze out time in our daily schedules to read the road map of God’s written words — thereby, arriving at the destination of our Heavenly Father power brushing the breath of our being with His direction and peace? May we all not forget that just as a squeeze is needed to get the toothpaste out of its tube, we also have to, even at our busiest, prioritize squeezing the Bible into our daily routine.

There is another, not so whimsical, comparison between the tube of toothpaste and the Bible. A child often refuses to brush his teeth just once. If not stopped, he scores double digit repetition both morning and night. However, upon leaving toddlerhood, the words, “don’t forget to brush your teeth”, often need to be reminded him. Sadly, the same is true for many seasoned Believers. As baby Christians, they hunger for the taste of their Savior. They can’t get enough of God’s Word. Yet, as they mature, they often forget the need to continually feast on the Bible to prevent decay and destruction from crumbling their core.

A tube of toothpaste has become the reminder that for God’s Word to penetrate my life, I must, daily, delight in squeezing its content into my life. God’s Words are packed tightly between the casings of the Bible; but for them to shine in my life, I must squeeze their message from the printed page and into my heart and soul.

As for me, after the blessing of caring for my grandson, I’ll never look at a tube of toothpaste the same. And yes, after his teeth were brushed, we picked up his children’s Bible. Grammy explained to him that just as he loves the taste of toothpaste, he, also, must daily reach for his Bible and brush his life with the sweet taste of God’s Words.

‘Twas a great day of celebration in heaven. Annie was coming home. God, Himself, stood front and center at Heaven’s gate to welcome Annie into eternity. Throngs of Angels were on tippy-toe trying to peer over their kindred crowd to catch first sight of this petite in height, yet a zenith in Christian stature, lady of God. The cherub choir stood ready to raise their voices as soon as Annie crossed Heaven’s threshold. However, once inside Heaven’s portal, Annie’s soul spoke first, silencing the throngs — including her Heavenly Father

Annie was not concerned with being hailed a superstar child of God. She was totally immersed in loving concern for Hiroko — her family, twin musketeer. Thus, before God could say well done, Annie; welcome home, Annie spoke to God. She seized the moment not as a gift for herself but as a bequest for Hiroko. From Heaven, her soul needed to send Faith, Hope and Love to Hiroko. Like so many times before, Annie needed God’s help. God approached Annie and, as always, assured her that His hands were ready and willing to carry both hers and Hiroko’s needs.

Annie’s eyes then caught a glimpse of the angel wardrobe awaiting her. Her gaze locked upon the dazzling Dancing Shoes. Turning to God, Annie beseeched Him to let her share her Dancing Shoes with Hiroko. One of the last earthly events they dreamed of doing was to kick up a leg and dance. Now, Annie longed to send Hiroko the symbolic message that Dancing Shoes, forever, bonded their lives and their love.

With understanding in His heart and a slight tone of laughter in His voice, God inquired, “You want to send Hiroko one of your angelic Dancing Shoes?”. Annie sweetly replied, “Yes and please, may I embellish the shoe with more dazzle of symbolic meaning?”. God nodded in loving agreement and questioned, “How are you wishing to transform the Dancing Shoe?”.

Annie lost not even a moment before sharing her vision. “Hiroko must remember that I am only physically away, ‘and now these three remain — Faith, Hope and Love — but the greatest of these is Love.’ This message will always live within Hiroko’s and my hearts. Thus, I ask it to be added inside the Dancing Shoe.”

Respectfully Annie shared, “Hiroko will miss hearing our conversations, but the Word of God we spoke to each other (and many others) will forever echo in our ears and hearts. Nothing can silence the sound of God’s words. They bring direction whenever we feel deafening silence. A Bible must adorn the Dancing Shoe.”.

Annie’s monologue went on, “Christ took up His Cross and suffered worldly death so all God’s children could live eternally, beyond our physical passing. I am not dead but alive and waiting in Heaven for Hiroko. I desire to attach a Cross to the Dancing Shoe, so Hiroko never forgets this truth.”.

With concern, Annie uttered, “Hiroko feels lost and wonders how she will continue onward without my constant encouragement and rare kick in the butt, keep going push. The Dancing Shoe must carry the message that ‘With God, All Things Are Possible.”.

Without taking a breath, Annie shared, “Family trees don’t wither and die when one member goes home to Heaven. When roots are deep in God’s will, God’s way and God’s timing, a branch does not break off when entering Heaven, but rather, stretches up into eternity, keeping the family still joined in its ancestral trunk. This symbol, too, must grace the Dancing Shoe.”.

Annie’s next request articulated, “This moment Hiroko’s sky seems so very, very dark. She must never forget I’ll always be her guiding star, illuminating for her that the way through all darkness is found by following the SON’s light. May a star, also, find its place upon the Dancing Shoe.”.

Annie’s words turned technical as she explained, “All shoes come with an insole. The Dancing Shoe I share with Hiroko must, instead, possess the presence of ‘Praying Inner Souls’. May this symbolically represent the Circle of Praying Grandmothers, who faithfully promised me that Hiroko will never be without a sisterhood of caring and sharing.”.

Finally, Annie implored, “”Just one last request, my Father. I choose to send Hiroko my right Dancing Shoe. I cannot send her the left one, in fear she might interpret it as my implying she is being left behind. Instead, I send her the right one to represent Your will, Your way and Your timing are always right.”.

Annie, having said her all, thought every need had been spoken and fulfilled. God knew otherwise. With great love, He added His own wisdom to complete the message and meaning of the Dancing Shoe to be given Hiroko. God declared, “Annie, two other adornments must be added to the Dancing Shoe. First, an angel, symbolizing You, needs to shine upon the Dancing Shoe.”. God, Himself, secured the angel in position. Next, above the angel, He then buckled the Dancing Shoe with a brilliant halo.

Annie was confused and asked God, “Since the angel representing me already has a halo, why did You add a second to the Dancing Shoe?”. God affectionately explained, “The second halo exemplifies the halo awaiting My precious daughter, Hiroko, when My will, My way and My timing will re-unite in heaven you, Hiroko and your shared pair of Dancing Shoes.”.

Have you ever wondered why, when God created mankind, He put our hearts on our left side? Off and on for many a year, I have. I totally believe God never did, nor does, anything by accident or randomly. I’m firmly convinced if God’s purpose for doing as He does is not obvious, then His intent is to challenge me to think deeply to decipher both His physical message and His spiritual meaning. I’ve come to understand that all which comes from God overflows with both His message and meaning. God placing our hearts on the left side of our bodies is one such conviction.

Our heart is, arguably speaking, our most vital organ. We cannot live, if it does not beat. Scientific fact states a heart pumps life into our body. Human emotion declares love, also, flows from our heart and gives us life. There is truth in both. It’s ABC simplicity for me to know God’s message that scientifically our heart was created to breathe life into our body. However, I had not even a glimpse into the meaning of why God put our heart on the left side of our being. Me being me, I took my lack of understanding to God, Himself.

Being a great day for both a walk and a talk, this morning I set out to physically accumulate steps and to spiritually ask and listen to God share meaning I longed to understand and holdfast. God’s enlightenment was as follows.

First, God revealed the message that I already knew. Scientifically, the heart could have been placed on either side of His child’s body. It made no difference. The left side was chosen for our emotional spirituality, not our physiology. I urged God to keep divulging understanding. I was, point blankly, still in complete darkness.

God continued that one of mankind’s greatest deficits is the practice of over relying on our heart for direction, when our true compass should be, and needs to be, our soul. Our wise, Heavenly Father, then bluntly informed me that our heart is not always right. Only our soul constitutes our unfailing source of what is right to: do, be, attain, embrace and hold tight.

With a chuckle in His words, God continued, My child, with your wide-open heart, if I placed it on the right side of your being, do you really think your human mind wouldn’t symbolically deduce your heart is always right? It isn’t. Your heart is human. It makes mistakes, misjudges and can lead you astray from My will and way. Only your soul can overcome human shortcoming and lead you where I am calling. At times, your heart is not right, but wrong, and must break for Me to bless you with My greatest protection, gifts and purpose. Your heart’s location was placed, as it is, for a reminder that you are left with My greatest strength and direction in your soul, when your heart is not right.

Looking up to the heavens, I smiled in understanding and exclaimed in gratitude and joy, “Thank you, Father. My heart is, finally, left understanding and celebrating how right is its placement and how great is your heart-filled wisdom, grace, guidance and love.”

My daughter, you need to let go of the suitcase before you can hold on to the steering wheel. Ouch!! No way around it, these words, delivered directly to me by God, stung my core. Talk about salt-in-the-wound wisdom. Truly, this was God’s double helping of deeply needed seasoning for my meat and potatoes, heart and soul current “tripping” through life.

Yep, as I struggled to move forward and get beyond the wreck of my week, my hands weren’t folded in prayer, but rather, clutching a very heavy, burden-filled suitcase. In honesty, my suitcase was not luggage but baggage. It wasn’t transporting the necessities and treasures luggage holds. It was stuffed full of hurt, anger and resentment, best defined as weighed down baggage. Be it luggage or baggage, for us to steer our lives toward where God designates our future rests, both luggage and baggage must be stored for the journey. The difference is luggage goes into the trunk attached to our journey’s vehicle. Baggage must be heaved into a detached dumpster headed for burial in the toxic waste section of a landfill.

Only with our hands free from all suitcases are we able to grab the wheel and allow God to steer our course. Plain and Simple, we can’t find our future, if we are clinging to our past. We can’t reach new gains, if we are clasping previous losses. We can’t find yet to come successes, if we are holding onto over and done with failures. Above all, we can’t be filled with God’s love, if we are glued to Satan’s hurts.

Like the sun penetrating storm clouds with rays of SONlight revealing the path ahead, my hands, once free of the suitcase, grabbed hold of that steering wheel and joyfully sang out — I’m ready, Lord. Lead me. I’m suitcase free and willing to embark for wherever You next steer my heart and soul. Let the journey to begin!!

My day was jammed pack, so my walking shoes laced up early. Thus, neither the usual school buses nor customary people crossed my path. However, as I approached a straight away segment of my route, I discerned a man in the distance. For some reason, I was locked on his gait. It seemed unusual. My initial reaction wondered if it was the old professional coach coming out in me. There I was trying to analyze his awkward form, when I sensed the Lord telling me to forget technique and stare down message and meaning. Woah!! My assessment needed a shift to discernment.

Since becoming the recipient of one total knee and two total hips, speed is not an adjective defining my daily hikes. However, I did charge up my afterburners to gain proximity to the lesson God was sending. I knew closing the gap was needed for me to receive, and perceive, this heaven-sent wisdom.

As I closed the separation between us, I deciphered the gent’s hands were not empty. His right one held what I presumed to be a walking stick, and his left was lugging a bag. My guess was he wasn’t a spry chicken; but he, also, wasn’t an ancient rooster. I placed God’s messenger in the 65 to 70 age range. At this point, my conjecture was twofold. The man, who was leading me to God’s message, was unusual in that he was carrying around a bag on a walk, and he definitely needed more skill in how to use a walking stick. That thing was moving all over the place and certainly not affording him the balance and support intended for its use.

I needed to completely close the gap. Since my anatomy lacks wings, I used the one superpower I possess. I prayed. Lord, get me closer.

Just as the object of my attention was turning towards the entry gates to his home subdivision, I reached proximity to clearly observe God’s message. The walking stick was not the run of the mill. It was white, designating the child of God holding it was blind. The bag clutched in this messenger’s hand was an oxygen carrier.

Though caught off guard at that moment, I realized God’s message was delivered. A blind man, struggling to breathe on his own, was capable of (and did, indeed) reach the gate surrounding his home destination. Deciphering the meaning, now, became the mystery challenge. Instantly, God directed my thoughts from the man, himself, to all of Christain humanity — especially, myself.

In today’s Sodom and Gomorrah world, I (we) walk blindly through the darkness. Only inner light, the Holy Spirit illuminating my (our) soul, directs my (our) course. I (we) depend not on the oxygen of a polluted planet’s air, but the breath of the Holy Spirit alone to saturate my (our) being with life. Clutching onto God as my (our) lifeline is not baggage I (we) lug around but the coffer of my (our) life’s Saviour, whom I (we) choose never to let go of.

My (our) Heavenly Father sent a blind man to help me (us) see that by relying on the Holy Spirit to be my (our) breath of life and grasping God’s hand as my (our) walking stick, the way to Heaven’s gate is navigated by faithfully walking through all worldly darkness.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’.” John 8:12 (ESV)