Tag: spirituality

Gloria (Polyester, Not Cotton; Part 2)

In a previous post, I related the lesson I learned about surviving on the streets of Washington, D.C. at night sleeping on the Metro grates: You’ll freeze to death if you wear cotton (it absorbs the hot, moist air rising from the Metro and then freezes). You have to wear polyester. A whack to the side of the head as I am all bundled up in wool, sipping my hot chocolate, and well rested from sleeping in a comfortable bed. Lesson enough until I met Gloria.

Gloria is an older woman, obviously homeless, who I have seen on occasion on the streets of D.C., ofter in the same locations. She doesn’t overtly ask for anything but, yes, I have stopped and given her some money. After one or two times of this, she asked me my name. I told her it was Ted. She gave me a big hug and said, “Ted, Jesus loves you!” I asked her name and she said Gloria. Another whack to the side of the head! Gloria is my mom’s name. She passed away 6 years ago.

All day I was putting my mom in the place of Gloria trying to simply survive on the streets of D.C., day in and day out. It’s inconceivable. Yet, here is this always cheery homeless woman giving praise to Jesus. Now the other Gloria in my life.

It’s tough to say anything else. I’m humbled and feeling like I have way too much. I need to do more to help others. Day in and day out. We all need to do more.

Polyester, not cotton. Gloria.

Enjoy the weekend!!!

Is God a Democrat or a Republican?

Obviously, neither. God is God and we are His children, who—in spite of what we do—loves us unconditionally. We are the ones who love to label ourselves—Democrat, Republican, progressive, liberal, conservative, etc, etc, etc. And all the labels do is divide us. God commands us to do one thing and one thing only—LOVE! And we manage to do one thing and one thing only—divide (and then even hate).

Yes, we can all have different views. The diversity of humanity is its calling card. It’s a strength that is also a weakness when we forget our common bond—God. We spend so much time disagreeing that we get lost in the disagreement. We lose focus of our responsibility to pick one another up and make us all better.

I spend way too much time for work in Washington, DC and, in particular, on Capitol Hill. Right is getting father than ever from left, and vice versa. More energy is spent on promoting political parties that we are not promoting people.

You and I can change this, one person at a time. We can smile, lend a hand, buy a coffee, and, yes, love. Not just family but one another. We can look at what we have common, not what makes us different. We can have different views and politics but we can disagree respectfully. And we can always focus on what binds us. God. Made in His image and likeness.

Have a SPECTACULAR day! Today, try and look at others through a different lens. The lens of God and love!

It Never Fails!!!

The other day I wrote about every day being a GREAT day, no matter the circumstances. As always happens, my writing hits home personally. This time two days later when I wake up and it’s a horrible day, not the greatest day! It’s OK to be cheery and give advice but what happens when you can’t, or don’t, take you own advice?

What I did was reread my post about every day being the GREATEST day, no matter how you feel or what your situation is. I even went down the path of questioning if every day was the greatest day for Jesus. Did He ever just want to roll over, not listen to Satan yelling in His ear, and wallow in sorrow where His life was headed?

It took some time and thinking, sprinkled with some Bible reading, to come to the conclusion—and feeling—that it was indeed the greatest day ever. I was alive, I have the love of family and friends, but, most importantly, God loves me unconditionally, as He does you. I have been saved by the Cross, as have you. How can’t it be the greatest day ever?

Another great day today and another to come tomorrow. Remember: whatever happens on this earth is a blip on the dial of eternity. The promise of that eternity makes every day the greatest day!

Greatest Day There Ever Was!

Today. The greatest day there ever was. Why? Because it just is. Every day should be the greatest day, no matter what happens. I learned the hard way that life is way too short. This life on earth can be wiped out in an instant. So, treat today as the greatest day ever. And tomorrow the same. And the day after tomorrow. All the greatest days.

I wrote earlier this week about the husband of a friend and work colleague who ran out to the store for some cream. He never returned home. He was in a very freak car accident and died. A life wiped out in a nanosecond. But now he’s in God’s home.

We take this life for granted in so many ways. But this life is a gift followed by the bliss of eternity—if we live this life right. And that starts by thanking God every day for this life. Thanking Jesus for laying down His life for our sins to be wiped away. Thanking the Holy Spirit who is always there to guide, encourage, and empower us. No matter what our situation, we have so much to be thankful for in this life AND for the promise of eternity in blissful peace.

Have a FANTASTIC day and make it the GREATEST ever!!!

Hug a Loved One Today!!! (Don’t Put It Off!)

Imagine if a spouse or friend went out to the supermarket and never returned because they were in a freak car accident and died? Well, that reality hit home to a very close colleague and friend of mine this week. Her husband ran a simple errand, ended up in the hospital, and died shortly thereafter. Needless to say, my friend is beyond devastated.

These things happen. Life is so fragile that we take it for granted. So, don’t take anything for granted. Hug a loved one(s) today. Make every moment count. You never know when the light of life gets blown out.

It’s times like these when we ask God, “What gives???” “What’s the sense of a senseless accident that takes a loved one away.”

Our sense is not God’s sense. He doesn’t micro-manage the ebbs and flows of life. His is the big picture of life, an eternal life with Him. This life is just a momentary blip on the timeline of eternity. In fact, eternity is the absence of time as we know it. It just is.

I know this sounds like more religious “mumbo-jumbo” to rationalize why someone dies on the way back from running a simple errand. It’s not. It’s simply the belief that there’s a better, eternal life waiting for us. If you don’t believe in that then nothing in this life at all makes sense. Nothing!!!

Hug a loved one(s) today!!!

There’s Always a New You in You!

Happy New Year!  It’s that time for resolutions, diets, and promises to hit the gym every day. But whether it takes a new year to get you thinking about you, there is always a new you in you. A you that builds on whatever has happened in the past, regardless of what has happened. A better you, a stronger you, a more promising you.

A lot of people get dragged down by their past like an anchor. They focus on what they did, and shouldn’t have done, and failed to do. They don’t look ahead at all the possibilities, regardless of the past.

Whatever has happened in the past is just that. It’s the past. And you can’t change the past. But you can shape the future by finding a new you in you. You can always reinvent yourself.

Jesus held down a job in obscurity for 30 years. Then, for 3 years he did something totally different—and changed the world in the process. There was a new Him in Him.

Don’t just make resolutions. Find the new you in you. Or simply build on you. You can do anything, be anyone. God is in you. The only one holding you back is you!

I wish you the very best and blessings of peace and joy in this new year!!!

Every Day is Christmas

It’s over. The decorations will come down. The bells will stop ringing. Blink and stores will start selling Easter candy. Christmas is over. Or is it?

Wade through all the commercialism of Christmas and there is only one thing Christmas is about: celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. If you focus on the true meaning of Christmas, then that’s all it’s about. That tiny child coming into the world, living as a tradesman in obscurity, until around 30 years old started a 3-year or so mission that changed the world forever. And will change us is we bring Jesus into our minds, hearts, and souls!

Every day should be Christmas! We should wake up celebrating Jesus coming into the world, coming into our lives every day. And it’s a celebration like none other!

It’s the 26th of December, the day after the “official” celebration of Christmas. But celebrate Christmas today, tomorrow, and every next day forever. Every day should be Christmas! That’s the real beauty of celebrating Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!! I pray for peace and joy in your life this day and every day to come!

Judge or Judged?

Are you a judge? I have news for you—there is only one judge and He is God. And we are all equally judged by the One Judge. In this day of social media, almost everyone is a judge. It’s easy to send out tweets left and right, or blog to your heart’s desire, judging this person or that. Heck, the news today is all about judging. It’s easy to judge. But what’s REALLY hard is looking at ourselves and thinking about how God must be judging us. Ouch!

The good thing is that God doesn’t judge as we judge. He doesn’t sit all high and mighty like we do looking down on others. God loves us equally and unconditionally. So his “judging” is out of love helping us to find our way. We “negative” judge. God judges “positive.” It’s a hard concept to wrap your head around but it makes sense if you think about it.

If you want to go on judging others, then expect to be judged in the same way. Jesus instructs us all too well in this as He says…

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,’” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

That’s a big WOW to think about. Look at the plank in your eye before trying to remove a speck from someone else’s.

I’m going to try and look inward today at the big plank in my eye. And thinking about what God is thinking about that.

Have a GREAT day as we approach that AMAZING day when Jesus is born in our lives and hearts!

Shine Your Light!!!

If there is ever a time of year to let your light shine—and brightly—it’s the Christmas season. A bright light in the sky showed the way to the birth of Jesus, who brought light into this world. And each one of us has a light that we need to let shine on others—and brightly!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭

I’m not talking in riddles or religious mumbo-gumbo. I’m talking about the light of goodness, kindness, charity, and all that is good shining forth from you. And actions speak way louder than words!

We live in a world that seems to be getting darker by the day. Just look at the headlines.

If every one of us let our inner lights really shine—smile, pay it forward, give to a homeless person and/or a charity, sing, whatever—one by one we would make the world a brighter place.

If there ever is a time to let your light shine it’s this season!!! 

What Are the Secrets to Life?

I have found 7 Secrets to Life, which is why I started this blog. I simply wanted to share what has helped me. The Secrets to Life are simple. LISTEN, READ, LOVE, FIGHT, BELIEVE, LIVE & PRAY. Simple. Then again, God means life to be simple. And they’re “secrets” because if everyone knew them they wouldn’t be secrets. That’s the utter simplicity of all of this—of life!

LISTEN because God is calling to and for you. Yes, you. God is calling to each one of us. We simply don’t choose to listen.

READ the Bible because it is simply (that “simple” word again!) the handbook on life. God’s handbook for all of us.

LOVE simply because God commands it. The one (simple) command we have from God.

FIGHT the devil because it is real and is truly prowling the earth whispering doubt and temptation in all our ears. I know—the thought of a real devil creeps people out. But it is real—trust me.

BELIEVE in God because God is in you. He hardwired you. You can do anything if you simply BELIEVE.

LIVE your life walking the straight path to God. What’s that path? LISTEN.

And PRAY because prayer is simply communication with God. Communication as in 2-way—you listen, then talk.

These 7 simple Secrets to Life have helped me. I hope they help you. If I can help one person that’s a start.

Have a GREAT evening and a SUPER tomorrow!