Someday

Once there was an elderly professor and one evening he was taking his usual walk. He was enjoying the crisp night air and the wind blowing gently. But suddenly he heard a voice crying out, "Help me! Help me!" The man looked around and saw no one and so he continued his walk. Again he heard a tiny voice, "Help me, help me!" This time he looked down and he saw a small frog. He gently lifted up the frog and looked at it intently. The frog spoke, "I am really a very beautiful princess. If you will kiss me, I will turn back into a princess and I will hug you and kiss you and love you forever." The man thought for a moment, placed the frog in his top pocket, and continued walking. The little frog looked up out of the pocket and asked, "Why don’t you kiss me?" Our wise professor responded: "Frankly, at this stage of my life, I’d rather have a talking frog."

To transform ourselves from what we are to what we choose takes more than kissing a frog. In my ministry of healing and teaching, my main goal is to help people transform their lives. From fractured memories to peace filled souls is a tall order. However, I don’t believe it is a fantasy to be able to transform our lives and our world into a peaceful, joyful spaces. Any change on a personal level is challenging because so much energy is spent on things that don’t really matter very much. We make a big deal out of what cell phone or cable provider to buy than we do addressing what it is about ourselves that matters most.

Some things people desire to change include weight, work, relationships and financial situations. But how much time do we spend each week with our creative spirit giving energy to these important aspects of our lives? I believe we sabotage transformations that would create more joy and peace in our lives. We scan the net, spend money on QBC, watch mindless reality shows, drink, talk on the cell while driving, text message to strangers or simply stay extremely busy doing everything that has nothing to do with our dreams. What’s sad is that if we stay busy long enough we don’t have time to dream anymore. The only place our dreams linger is deep down inside us. When they peek out we just set them aside for "someday."

If you want to be healthier it is important to be aware of what would make us so. Our nutrition habits, our lack of spiritual exercise, our work and relationships are indicators of how healthy we are. When any of these areas is not contributing to our well being, I suggest a "Sabbatical " to reflect and choose differently. We might call this our "mental health break."

No one but the individual can change their own life. We think others control our destiny because of the choices we have made in the past. Every day we have the opportunity to choose differently, Trust in God means to surrender your busyness and live your dream so that your "someday" becomes now.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that the miracle of Your love for each of us will not go unnoticed. Let us stop worrying about what we don’t have and focus on being grateful for all the wonderful people You have brought into our life. May your mental health plans be filled with "someday" dreams that bring your heart and soul God’s rest and peace.

You Are Living Water

Today I would like you to develop a mental picture of water gushing from a rock. Last summer, I hiked the Green Mountains in Vermont and searched to find Warren waterfall. I followed the stream through the woods and then climbed some cliffs and climbed farther, until I came to a rock, and there it was. A waterfall gushing full forced out of the rock. Do you have the image? Can you see it, water gushing out of a rock? The water flowed out of the rock, silently, peacefully, flowing from beneath the moss and it was simply stunning.

Once Moses was out in the wilderness and struck a rock and water came gushing out of it. The Feast of the Tabernacles remembered that event. One day, Jesus was watching the priest bend down and dip the water that was bubbling out of the rock, that living, cold, fresh water. Jesus said: "When the Holy Spirit comes and lives in you, out of your heart shall flow rivers of living water."

And immediately, my mind flashes. I see the water coming out of the rock at Warren waterfall. I can still feel the icy water on my barefoot as I climbed from one riverbank to the other to get a better shot of the waterfall. Again I hear Jesus’ words and understand: "Out of the mountain shall flow rivers of living water."

What is this living water? The living water is the Spirit of God, the love of God, God’s compassion and tenderness and mercy and kindness and gentleness for all people. It is the love of God that is flowing out of you. Out of your mouth. Out of your lips. Out of your hands. Out of your eyes. The living, love of God, flowing out from you.

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are like little rivulets running through their family and community. They are the cooks who bring meals to students and shut-ins, They are the hands who change the bed of the sick. They are the chauffeur who lifts the wheelchair into the trunk and brings a neighbor to church. They are the volunteer at the hospital, nursing home and hospice care. The spouse who cares for their beloved fallen by a stroke or Alzheimer’s. All these people riverbanks are green, plush green, verdant green, living green, loving green. When the Holy Spirit lives in you, out of your heart shall flow rivers of living water.