Paradise Part 2

The sound of another soul walking between the cubicles brought RB to his present reality.  Who was this guy anyway and how did he get my number? 

When RB took over the job of handling complaints for the company executives, he learned from one of the people whom he replaced names and phone numbers get posted on the internet.  After logging in, he typed his name and company title into a Google search.  There were no new hits.  The only one was someone from Africa who posted a letter received from RB.  It just happened this person in Africa had a magazine and used the letter for one of his articles.  Africa, RB thought.  Memories of a long, drawn out deal came to mind.  There was a flight cancellation in Dakar, Senegal.  The hotel normally used to house passengers overnight was full.  Unfortunately, no one was happy with the alternate lodging.  There were concerns for passenger safety as well as comfort.  Consequently, a large group of people joined together in a scathing letter about the circumstances of their trip.  They were led by a lawyer.  RB didn’t mind letters from lawyers. 

Typically, they wrote forceful letters and were full of bravado.  RB knew as long as he admitted nothing, he and the company would be fine.  Besides, for all the blustering in the letters from lawyers, they normally didn’t know airline law.  Consequently, most of the things they demanded, they had no legal grounds.  This deal was different but not due to legal grounds for a lawsuit.  Based on pictures of lodging facilities that were sent in the letter, RB felt there was a grave mishandling.  The more he dug into the circumstances, the more he had concerns for future issues.  What should he do for these people?  How could the company avoid something similar in the future?

A voice called out, “Do I hear you typing away over there RB?” 

“Yes, Sandra, it’s me.  You are here early.  What’s up with that?”

“I had to go home early yesterday since my daughter was sick.  You never really get time off here.  You know that.”

“Too true!  I’m sorry to hear that.  How is your daughter?”

“She is better.  Just a little stomach problem.  I think it she stresses over tests too much.  Some nights she doesn’t sleep.  Sometimes, she cries.  I don’t know what I’m going to do with her.”

“Yeah my youngest is like that.  I just try to calm her.  Sadly, there are some things in life you just can’t protect your kids from.”

RB opened a desk drawer and took out a coffee mug.  Then he walked to Sandra’s desk and leaned against the wall at the opening of her cubicle.  He asked, “You ready for coffee?  I’m going to start some.”

“I will be by the time it’s ready.  I can make it.”

“No, I got it.  I don’t really feel like working right now.  Some idiot left a voice mail that just pisses me off.”

“Really, what happened?”

RB went on to explain the highlights of the voicemail.  Just the thought of having to call the man back caused his stomach to ache.  He hated this part of the job.  There was always negativity tied to his work.  Virtually every letter he handled was negative.  Someone wasn’t happy about something.  There were times he wondered if his company ever did anything right.  He remembered one of the first letters he replied to in class.  The person complained the flight left 5 minutes late.  Of course, no mention was made it still arrived only one minute late. 

 

Slavery and Abortion

I recently read a post by Rich Maffeo titled Gun Control and the Elephant in the Room.  Rich brings up good points and has made me consider the possibility we are paying the price for the deaths of unborn babies.  Perhaps we are.  Maybe not.  I recommend you read Rich’s post.  I would like to share some thoughts his article brought to my mind. 

Throughout the US Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln reflected on God’s role in the events of the nation.  People in the North and South believed they had God on their side.  People on both sides used the bible to argue for or against the institution of slavery.  Lincoln understood how people on both sides felt but believed it more important that he be on God’s side. 

In his second inaugural address, Lincoln remarked, “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.”

He went on to say, “Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’"

Maybe abortion is the scourge that slavery once was in this country.  I am not saying we need to picket abortion clinics.  Frankly, I believe it has more of a contrary affect.  Believers should be praying for the people associated with these clinics.  We should be praying for the women who are even considering going to one.  Meanwhile, we need to provide alternatives and a safe haven for those in need.  We must be willing to extend ourselves in order to further the kingdom. 

Rich finishes his argument by saying we, as a nation, need to repent.  I agree with that fact.  Nevertheless, I can’t help but wonder if chastisement isn’t coming anyway.  Will every death caused by an abortion be paid by another drawn by an act of terrorism?  Whether it will or not, “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

Let me finish the way Lincoln finished his second inaugural: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

 

 

Understand Weather, Understand World Events

I recently was blessed to do an in depth, but short, study of weather.   For those whose only knowledge of weather is what you see on TV, there is more to it than meets the eye.  For me, one of the main things to remember is that weather does not happen in a vacuum.  For every action, there is a reaction close by.  Next to a high is a low.  Low pressure causes air to rise.  High pressure causes air to descend.  When air vacates an area, air from another area will eventually replace the space that was emptied. 

You may have noticed weather typically moves from east to west.  If you see a line of storms on a weather map west of where you live, you can normally expect to see the storms cross your area.  However, you cannot focus on what is west of you.  People who live in Florida know the most severe weather of concern comes from the east.  Low pressure systems begin off the west coast of Africa and gain strength as they cross the Atlantic.  Once they reach the warmth of the Caribbean, they grow in power and can become very destructive. 

My point here is that you must look at all parts of weather in order to understand what is going to happen.  Even then, there are no guarantees forecasts will be accurate.  Nevertheless, you can more accurately understand what is happening and what will happen. 
What about the world events of today?  I won’t pretend to know what is going on and why. However, like weather, we much understand much of what we see in news does not happen in a vacuum.  What we see is rooted in events from decades and even centuries old.  When you factor in friction between Muslim/Jews/Christians you can go back millennia.  Some people understand history repeats itself.  I have recently seen comparisons with the current refugee crises to similar pre World War II events. 

I believe we should view actions of world leaders based on the history of their respective countries and even their own childhoods.  Does this mean we can accurately predict future actions?  No, but like weather, we probably will be closer to actual events.  I would also venture to say simple human nature factors in when trying to determine what will happen.  As much as we want to believe humans are basically good, we’ve had too many periods throughout human history where evil reigned.  I guess by this last statement, I am expressing my pessimism in human nature.

Nevertheless, I believe in a God who transcends time and history.  When we think of events in the past, He is there.  When I ponder the future, He is there.  What happens on earth does not surprise Him.  He is alive and active in every facet of our lives, past, present and future.  This is His creation and He loves it.  In spite of our arrogance and selfishness, He is patient and wants all to return to Him

Paradise: Part 1

RB thought back to the early days in the Customer Care Department.  RB knew he could write.  He also had plenty of experience in customer service.  This was different.  He would have the final say for the corporation.  His job was to respond to customer correspondence.  He would either keep a customer or lose one.  He didn’t like losing any.

There were ten people in the training class.  He sat next to a young lady whom he found very attractive.  She was married but periodically during the day, he found himself wanting to look at her.  RB was married himself but it stop him from appreciating a masterpiece when he saw one

How did I get here?” he wondered.  RB did not like confrontation.  His natural impulse was to avoid it.  He once met someone who liked to work in baggage service at the airline where they worked.  This person loved it.  RB said, “I would never work there.”

“Why not?”

“Because any time someone walks through the door, you know they aren’t happy?”

Now he was embarking on a journey that would require him to deal with unhappy people.  In reality, RB was good with people and never let an irate customer get the best of him.  Actually, RB liked the challenge to making people smile when they were angry.  His internal trouble with confrontation was when he could see it coming.  When it merely happened, he was fine.  He was anxious on the inside but you would never know it.

That seemed so long ago.  Now, he was handling deals for the company executives.  The manner in which he got that job is a story all in itself.  He had handled every type of complaint the office received.  He started working the basic stuff but you never knew what a letter would say until you read it.  He had a mentor when class was finished and he was to start writing letters for real.  Darla was a gem but she was tough.  RB once asked her if she invested in a red ink company since she used so much of it when she proofed his letters. 

It hurt RB’s pride for Darla to find so much wrong with his letters.  While he realized he wasn’t a perfect  writer, was he really THAT bad?  He buckled down, trying to write in a manner that was acceptable.  It was a full week before she accepted a letter that met her standards.  RB was proud.  He hated the process but knew he was a better writer. 

Paradise

"Coffee equals energy" was the thought that went through RB's mind as he walked down a row of cubicles.  It was an early Tuesday morning but it was RB's Monday since he did some charity work for the company on Monday.  RB stood for Robert Baxter.  A friend in grade school started calling him RB and it stuck with him ever since. 

RB felt good about his participation the previous day.  The company started a charity for employees who find themselves in unexpected financial situations.  For instance, the husband of an employee from another department died. Shortly thereafter, this woman, who was nearing retirement, was having trouble financially and her power was shut off.  This new charity was able to get the power on that day, get her utilities up to date and put some groceries in the refrigerator.  Who wouldn't want to be part of something like that, RB thought?  We are taking care of our own.

He turned a corner and walked into his office.  The light was illuminated on his phone so he knew he had at least one voice mail.  RB turned the light on, sat down, and started the computer.  He contemplated starting the coffee right away but decided to listen to his voice mails first. 

He mindlessly tapped in the numbers on the phone keypad and got paper and pen ready.  The message said, "Yes, Mr. Baxter I'm sorry you aren't there to take my call.  What are you doing when you should be at the office?  I suppose you are too good to take care of customers on a Monday.  Let me tell you that I am not a happy customer and you not being there doesn't make me any happier.  Call me back 555 555 5555 if you dare." 

A bit of anger and nervousness welled up in RB's stomach.  What do you say to someone like this?  "You want me to call you back you prick?  I'll call you a prick.  How do you like that, jackass?  God, when am I ever going to get out of this place?"

RB had worked in customer service for several years and he was tired of it.  His personality was one that wished to avoid conflict.  He originally decided to take the job believing it was a stepping stone to something better.  That's what he was told at the time.  It was a good stepping stone and he should only be there a year or two.  Now, nearly 9 years later, there he still was.  A profound weariness and sadness shadowed his heart.  8 hours a day, 5 days a week of negativity wore down his soul but no other jobs were to be found.  He truly believed in his heart that dying or retiring would be the only way to leave that job since he didn't want to leave the company.  Though he felt stuck he resolved in his heart to make it through another day.  

"Another day in paradise." he grumbled.

Thoughts from James Chapter 1

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

It has been a while since I last read James.  There is a lot of gold in this book.  I think back to the first time I tried to look at trials in the manner in which he recommends.  I was on my own for the first time.  The single life, without my parents to shield or help me, wasn’t as easy as I thought.  I know now that at that point in my life I was focused on the pleasure principle:  seek pleasure and avoid pain.  Still, it wasn’t until many years later that I even noticed the part about the testing of our faith produces perseverance.  God wants us to not lack in anything.  Therefore, He will let the fires of trial burn away the parts of our personality that will ultimately not yield any spiritual fruit. 

It is only now that I am older that I am beginning to understand that difficulties are an important part of our growth.  I remember reading that when butterflies emerge from the cocoon, their struggle to break free is vital to the development of their wings.  If they are assisted in any way, their wings are useless and they will quickly die. 

I now believe we are meant to struggle and push ourselves.  It is proven that we can minimize dementia and/or Alzheimer’s by doing puzzles or even doing everyday things with the other hand.  We aid in our health by exercise and eating right.  Is any of this easy?  It isn’t hard but if we seek the path of least resistance we will believe it hard.  

I know this is getting to be a sermon so let me finish with this thought:  When we start seeking the easy life we start to die.  I believe God wants us to be open to His will and it will be out of our comfort zone.  By regularly going outside our comfort zone, we will continually grow as individuals.  However, of greater importance, we will exercise our faith muscles and they will be strong. 

 

James and Ephesians

The following are my thoughts for a study I was given:
James 2:1-14, 14-26 and Ephesians 2:8-9

Verses from James:

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

God doesn’t play favorites so we should not either.  I’d like to think I don’t play favorites but I know there are times I do.  However, in situations where there is a rich and poor person, my personality is such where I would give more attention to the poor person.  I know the reason is due to struggles I have with a poor self image. I tend to think the rich person would not want me around.  Outwardly, it would appear I am doing the “right” thing but if I give more attention to the poor than the rich am I not still playing favorites?    

Therefore, for me anyway, I have to be willing to whatever God wants me to do.  Maybe it is to be with the poor, maybe with the rich.  I know in my heart there are also times I would want to shun the poor.  There is a point to where I feel uncomfortable around the poor.  I met such people in Costa Rica during mission trips I have done.  I am reminded of some episodes from “Call the Midwife.”  The nurses and midwives visit women in an area of poverty in England.  I don’t know how I would act/react if it were me visiting these people.  Then again, if I, as the body of Christ, do not meet them where they are, how will they be reached?

This brings me to another issue I have.  In times past, I had (or still have) a messiah complex.  I want to save the world.  Therefore, while I fully agree that faith without works is dead, in my past, I used works as a spiritual ladder to get acceptance from God.  This is a huge subject for me but in the interest of brevity, let me simply say that I prefer to do less works so I don’t overdo it. 

Verses from Ephesians:

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Finally, for the verses from Ephesians, I can say this:  It is a contrast to what is mentioned in James.  However, works are not the means to the end.  It is the evidence of salvation.  Jesus talked about people who were forgiven their debts and asked who was the most grateful.  The answer was the one who had the greatest debt forgiven.  Partially due to my dealing with my messiah complex, I have come to have a greater understanding of what God did for us when He sent His Son to die for us.  Not only that, God continually works to make us His sons and daughters.  When you view where we were and compare it to where we stand once you accept His gift of salvation, can you actually boast about anything you have done?