A Garden Metaphor

At work on Monday I spent the day killing. I looked like a Dan Akroyd from the Ghostbusters outfitted with a big plastic backpack some gloves and a hose. But instead of fighting ghosts I was battling weeds.

The battle is going to rage on because my garden, that was severely ravaged by a rabbit, is now full of weeds. I didn't take the precautions to guard the plants and now I'm paying for it. I didn't till the soil so now weeds have taken over. What is even more troubling is that I have a hard time distinguishing between the weeds and the plants in my garden. (Which doesn't bode well for my work!) My plants that survived are difficult to tell apart from the weeds because they are so small and undefined.

So right now I have a weed garden (in the non-drug sense). They are so easy to grow because you have to do absolutely nothing. The weeds sprout and flourish without me even touching them. They are so easy to maintain because they grow on their own. But they are completely useless and worthless and vicious.

The good things, the plants, that are so life giving require effort, time and care. I know you have been waiting for it, of course there is a spiritual metaphor here I'm going to draw out.

The things that are detrimental (sin) seem to sprout up when we are lethargic and forgetful. It seems to me, the things worth having in life (friends, joy, love, goodness, peace, fulfillment) require effort, time, and care.

What's the best Trilogy?

I was thinking about how good things come in threes. The Three Amigos, the number of times I've been pulled over by the police, the Holy Trinity. Eventually it got me thinking about the Turtles, Home Alone, the Matrix, and the Lord of the Rings. Feel free to vote!

Back From Georgia

I'm back from Georgia. It's hard to describe a two week cultural immersion in words. I could briefly say that our group traveled all around the country meeting with the local Baptist churches. We visited orphanages, refugee villages, the tourist traps, Turkey (kinda, we got stuck between the two countries, long story), played soccer, and scaled the Caucus mountains, chilled in Amsterdam during our layover, and drank a lot, a lot, a lot of wine.

The most amazing thing to me was the hospitality of the people. It was ridiculous. Families with next to nothing were everything out their kitchens to serve us food. They were sleeping on chairs so we could have their beds. They were buying us gifts, ironing our clothes, giving us their homemade wine, and literally waiting on our every move.

If I had a stranger that I couldn't speak to and didn't know come into my apartment to stay I would give them my couch, not my bed. I would offer some cereal, not eggs and bacon. I would watch my valuables, not give them to be used. I would protect my space, not open it up.

What color's your dreamcoat?

There’s a story about a man who owed his king a debt he couldn’t possibly repay. He pleaded with the king to be patient as he repaid what he could. In pity the king cancelled the man’s entire debt. On his way home, the man ran into his neighbor who owed him a small debt. His neighbor pleaded with him to be patient as he would repay it in full. The man demanded the debt immediately, then had his neighbor jailed for failing to pay. When the king heard about this from his servants, he was furious.

You can imagine how the story ended.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
- Abraham Lincoln

The real test of character is how you treat someone who has no possibility of doing you any good.
- George Orwell

Hello Mr. Terkel

This is what I've been working on. You'll see it on store shelves in mid-September.

Leaving

I'm heading to the Republic of Georgia tomorrow morning with some classmates from Northern Baptist Seminary. Any prayers would be appreciated. Blessings and I'll try to post on the experience later.

Mike

Mission Possible (Get it? It's a Pun! Hahahaha)

I really like to be in control of things. With my work schedule I am in control of nothing. I have about 5-6 random jobs to bring income. In a way it's like I'm Ethan Hunt for Mission Impossible. Every morning I wait for that elusive, mysterious phone call with the words, "this is your mission, should you choose to accept it." Ok, not quite. Here is the brief rundown of what will be on my tax return for employment.

-Ropes Course Facilitator-I work when groups schedule
-Conference Center Laborer- Again when groups randomly schedule
-Gutter Cleaning-When my friend calls me
-Landscaping-Whenever the owner calls me
-Drywall/Home Improvement-Whenver my friend calls me
-Substitute Teaching-Done for summer but also whenever the phone rang

I like the variety but I hate the uncertainty. Am I going to work this week? How am I going to make money? How should I work out my schedule? Should I make plans in advance?

In midst of me trying to control and manage and maintain my life there is God. I have never been left wanting, or waiting, or needing.

Yes, I will work this week. Yes, I will make money. Don't worry about your schedule. Go ahead and make plans.

God is faithful and even if I have a week where I don't work a single minute God is still faithful. All my coordinating and worrying will not change what is ahead. I trust that God is in control and I can rest in that promise.