​Something happened to me about 25 years ago that I’ve never told anybody about. Until now.
 
At the time I was working for a company that sold and serviced two-way radios. From time to time some of our customers would come in to pay their bill in person. One day as I was talking with a co-worker at her desk, a man walked by on his way to pay his bill. As he walked by the woman scowled and after he had turned a corner, she turned to me and spoke. In a low voice she said, “That guy always gives me the creeps when he comes in.”
 
“Why?” I asked a bit puzzled.
 
“He was arrested for child abuse.”
 
So, now I understood why she got the creeps.
 
I’m not sure when the next part happened, but it was at least days later. Could have been months or years for that matter. I was in a co-worker’s office in the service area going over some accounting numbers with him. When we were done, I left to go to my office. But coming out I saw the “creepy man”. He was waiting for some help with a radio and was blocking my path out. I stood there transfixed. I didn’t want to interact with him. I looked at him feeling superior and feeling very put out that he was blocking my path. I’m not sure how long I stood there. But then I heard a voice without using my ears.

“If I can forgive him, why can’t you?”
 
It’s pretty easy to figure out that I’d just been given a message from God, who was not pleased with my attitude. I quietly squeezed past the man with an “excuse me”.
 
I feel I should make a distinction here. There is a difference between forgiving and condoning. Even when God forgives us our actions are still a source of sadness.
 
Before you think that about how special I am because God spoke to me, let me remind you that I received a message because I needed more direction. So, if you haven’t been spoken to it might be because you don’t need as much help as me.
 
This was just correction in the moment, but it was also a correction that I needed in my life. I’ve tried to follow the advice I was given. I’ve forgiven people who didn’t deserve it. I’ve forgiven people who didn’t earn their forgiveness. I’ve forgiven people who have hurt me. It’s sometimes hard to forgive and to let things go. Sometimes I can hang onto the hurt, like that little piece of a popcorn kernel that’s stuck between your tooth and your gum and you can’t stop trying to work it free with your tongue. Other times it’s been a blessing to me to be able to let it go and put it in God’s hands. I hope it’s been a blessing to others as well. My hope is that by modeling God’s behavior I’ve given people an example of God’s love for them.
 
I’ve learned that we don’t get to decide who God forgives. We don’t decide who deserves forgiveness. We don’t decide who’s earned forgiveness. Those decisions are made by God, who forgives because of love. God doesn’t give forgiveness to those who earn it or to those who deserve it. God gives it to everyone. It’s up to you to accept forgiveness.
 
Next time you’re feeling superior or put out because of something someone has done, remember forgiveness. God loves that person and can forgive them, so why can’t you.
 
And next time you’re feeling inferior or down on yourself because of something you’ve done or something that’s happened to you, remember forgiveness. God loves you and can forgive you, so why don’t you.
 

I don’t remember the source of what I’m about to tell you about. I remember reading it in a magazine in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s. Also, the numbers might have been different, but the point remains the same. With those caveats, I’ll write about what I remember.
 
There was a study done in a manufacturing plant. It found that if two workers, one who could read at a fifth grade level and one who could read at a sixth grade level, working together would be able to understand instructions written at a ninth grade reading level.
 
This has stuck with me over the years. It’s a good proof that we can accomplish more working together than we can on our own. Each person brings their own strengths and talents that complement the others. Different viewpoints have value and need to be listened to. None of us is perfect.
 
Now picture those same two workers, but now they are both sure they are the ultimate authority and everything the other says is wrong. I think their combined reading level would actually drop.
 
I think the reason this came to mind to me as I was thinking about what to write is because we’re in an election year and I want us to end up at an upper level.

​There was a time in my life when I asked myself if my life were a prayer what would it be. With a laugh I realized the answer was, “Help me.”
 
Well, one thing led to another and soon I was saying, “Help me Jesus” as a prayer. After that came singing it in the shower to the tune of the Beach Boys’ song “Help Me Rhonda.” Both of my children would laugh at that, because they know I could never actually sing on tune. While I enjoy listening to music, I have no talent. So, while in my head I was singing to the tune of “Help Me Rhonda” what was coming out of my mouth was nowhere close to that. Luckily the only one listening was God, who fortunately has a good sense of humor.
 
My singing consisted of a lot of help me’s. Mostly because I didn’t know the full words to the song by heart. But, even if I did know all the words, my ability to sing and count the number of help me’s is rather dubious.
 
 Eventually, I pulled the full lyrics off the internet and wrote the full prayer and I have included it below.
 
The Beach Boys Prayer
(to the tune of Help Me Rhonda)
                   
          
Well since life put me down I've been out doin' in my head
Come in late at night and in the mornin' I just lay in bed
 
 
Well, Jesus you look so fine (look so fine)
And I know it wouldn't take much time
For you to help me Jesus
Help me get you into my heart
 
 
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus now
Get you into my heart
 
 
It was gonna be my life
And I was doin’ what I can
But life set a problem right down before me
And it ruined my plan
 
 
Well, Jesus you caught my eye (caught my eye)
And I can give you lotsa reasons why
You gotta help me Jesus
Help me get you into my heart
 
 
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus now
Get you into my heart
 
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus now
Get you into my heart
 
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus
Help me Jesus
Help, help me Jesus

​Easter should bring thoughts of resurrection and new life. This year it brought church fires and bombings.
 
I read about the bombings in Sri Lanka and all the deaths and I try to comprehend the pain I felt after Debbie died multiplied by hundreds.
 
I read about a landmark in Paris that I have visited nearly destroyed by fire and I remember landmarks in New York destroyed.
 
I read about a man arrested for burning black churches in Louisiana and I wonder how someone could be bitter enough to deliberately burn a church.
 
I think about those who worship money, power, fame and hate; and I despair.
 
I read about donations for rebuilding the black churches in Louisiana going up after the Notre Dame donations were publicized and I find encouragement.
 
I walk my dog and find that in spite of everything, beauty still exists in this world and I see the hand of the Creator.
 
I think about the people in my life and I feel grateful and blessed.
 
And maybe that’s enough to know. 

​Today was a day where I was able to feel some affinity for the Pastor that I wrote about in my past post (https://www.timkwrites.com/blog/learning-about-life-in-mexico) about our family trip to Mexico. The Pastor was having a day where nothing went as planned. “You know”, he said, “there is a technical term for this. When you have everything planned out and nothing works the way it should.  It’s a little word, only four letters.  It’s called life.”
 
I was planning on writing more about my minor league baseball trip today, but life intervened. I took my dog, Lucy, for a walk this morning when it was only misting as opposed to raining. Near the end of our walk, she took off after a squirrel and ended up in some bushes. When she came out one side of her was totally covered with burrs. I tried picking them out and then eventually switched to using a scissors and cutting them out along with her fur. Which sounds easy, until you remember that I was dealing with a dog. All told, it was about two and a half hours. So, nothing got done this morning.
 
No problem, I had a Board meeting at church tonight. So, I figured I’d be able to write after that. No such luck. While I was in the meeting I was called/texted by Alicia who was having car problems. I spent most of the night waiting for a tow truck with her. We had a nice chat. We had a few delays in the ETA of the tow truck. Then we noticed the app that was showing us where the tow truck was showed it moving away from us. We decided to call it a night and figure things out in the morning.
 
Life. 

​I’ll be voting this Tuesday; there is a primary election in Minnesota. If you’re reading this I would urge you to exercise your responsibility as a citizen and vote.
 
When I started blogging, I made the decision that I would not use my blog for political writings. That’s evolved into not taking a side as I’ve had two instances where I talked about politics. In one case I wrote about how our Presidential election was looked at from a Tanzanian perspective. (https://www.timkwrites.com/blog/the-election-as-seen-from-tanzania) In another I made a one sentence comment. (I don’t remember what post it was, sorry.)
 
The reason I decided not to write without taking sides was because I felt that if I were to start making partisan political commentary some people would stop reading because they would disagree with me. And that’s sad that we’ve become that way.
 
Friendships fail, respect recedes, and wars are waged in comments. Our leaders feel their agenda is the equivalent of “our size fits all” with the emphasis on the ALL. Working together and compromising are disdained. While each feels that their positions will lead to a better country what’s happening is weakening us.
 
Take a bit of time and think of the most interesting conversations you’ve ever had. Ok, got it. Now, how in how many of those conversations were you talking to yourself. How many times have you been in a class or a meeting and someone else has asked a question that you didn’t think of, but you wanted to hear the answer. One person can’t know all the answers and yet when it comes to discussing politics some want to allow only one point of view.
 
I saw an article years ago where a study had been done in a manufacturing company. I don’t remember the exact details, but the stat that stood out for me was that if a person who could read at a sixth-grade reading level worked with a person who could read at an eighth-grade reading level together they could understand directions that were written at an eleventh-grade level. (I’m sorry I can’t remember where I saw the article; I’d like to give them proper credit.)
 
It’s pretty clear that having more than one point of view is a good thing. I think that’s part of why the people who founded our country set up different branches of government with checks and balances.
 
As we go into another election cycle, it’s my wish that we can be civil and respectful to each other, open to hearing other viewpoints, and enjoy some healthy debates. If you get into a debate that’s healthy make sure to thank everybody involved. Remember, friends can disagree with each other and they can even, gasp, belong to different political parties. 

​We’ve all seen it in a movie or on TV. Or maybe it was in a book you read. Someone is facing dire circumstances; there’s no way to get out of this situation. Death and disaster are looming. The person’s reaction to the threat is to pray the prayer of the desperate.
 
They pray, “God, if you’re there, can you help me. Sorry to bother you, could you please help me out. Just this once. If you help me, I won’t ask for anything ever again. I won’t bother you with anything else.”
 
It’s present in real life, too. Out of curiosity, I Googled “miracle prayer” to see how many hits it would give me. Slightly over thirty million. Then I noticed the related searches at the bottom of the page. The first one listed was “instant miracle prayer.”
 
I sometimes wonder what God thinks of these prayers. The promised incentive of not asking for anything again seems to be the opposite of what God wants. There are many Bible passages about God wanting a relationship with us. But, I can’t think of one that says to ask for just one thing and then don’t bother God anymore.
 
If one of my children asked me for help and told me if I gave them what they wanted they would never bother me again, I’d be disappointed. I love my kids. I want to be a part of their lives. I imagine God feeling the same way.
 
God wants us to make him a part of our lives and cares about each and every one of us individually. God wants to be bothered. It’s ok to pray, even when it’s not a life and death circumstance.
 
Try an experiment. For the next month whenever you take a car trip, before you start look at the driver’s side mirrors and pray, “God please protect everybody on the road during this trip.” Then look at the rear-view mirror and pray, “Please help… and name someone who needs help. Finally, look at the passenger side mirror and pray, “Thank you God.”
 
Will this solve all your problems and make you always happy. Sorry, no it won’t. But, if you begin to develop a closer relationship with God, that’s a miracle right there.

​This will be my last post before Easter. I know this from looking at the calendar. There is supposedly a formula that is used to calculate when Easter is. However, I believe that the calendar companies all get together and, in a secret meeting, pick the date they want to use.
 
Easter morning, I’ll be at my church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. At some point I’ll be sitting in the service looking the big cross that hangs in our sanctuary. The way the lights above are arranged the cross casts two shadows on the wall behind it. 

​It always reminds me of the story of the two men who were crucified with Jesus. Both were criminals. One of them demanded a miracle from Jesus, telling him to prove that he was the Messiah by saving them. The other told him to stop and then asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus answers him by telling him he will be with him in heaven. (Luke 23:40-43)
 
A sinner is saved. I’ve always thought of this as Jesus’ last mortal miracle. An unworthy man professes his belief in Jesus and is saved. And there is rejoicing in heaven, as we were told when Jesus explained the parable of the lost sheep.
 
Why rejoicing? Because God wanted this man to get into heaven. Even though he was unworthy, God loved him. When he believed, the miracle occurred, and he changed from unworthy to worthy.
 
We all feel unworthy at times. That same miracle is available to everyone because God loves each and every one of us. God wants as many of us to get into heaven as possible.
 
Live your miracle! Make God rejoice!

Have you ever had a little piece of popcorn stuck in your teeth? Most of the time you’re in the middle of doing something when you first notice it. No matter how hard you try to forget it and focus on the task at hand, your tongue keeps going back to it.
 
George Lucas couldn’t leave Star Wars alone. He had to reissue the original trilogy with changes and fixes for things that didn’t bother most fans. He just couldn’t leave well enough alone.
 
An artist gazing at her beautiful painting sees all the things she did wrong.
 
I look at a post that’s 7 months old and worry about an error. (I fixed it.)
 
We focus on problems and can’t stop ourselves.
 
I took a writing class at the Loft and had to critique another student’s work. I read it through once and didn’t like it at all. There were too many grammar errors. The instructions for critiquing were to talk about the good things in the piece. Ahh, what to do? So, I reread the piece to find something good to say about it. This time I decided to ignore anything bad and just focus on what was good. To my surprise I found myself liking it that time.
 
What if we looked for the positives of our focus on problems? Is there anything positive about that? And if you look for the positive you can find it. That focus is what drives us to improve. Many of the things we depend on in our lives came from someone solving a problem. People who couldn’t leave well enough alone are responsible for most of the great inventions.
 
As in all things in life there are good parts and bad parts. Which one we focus on is up to us.​

​Shepherd of the Hills has had an intern pastor this year. As part of a project she did she put together a daily devotional for Lent. She put together a book called How to Pray that was full of devotionals written by members of Shepherd. I was asked to write a devotional for the book. I thought I would reprint that for my blog post this week.
 
Luke 6:12
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
 
I have several fond memories of spending time around a campfire talking into the night with whoever was there – people I had known for a long time or sometimes people I had just met. As we would talk we would grow in our understanding of each other; learning what they thought about various issues or some of their past experiences. Were they a stargazer, did they like to poke at the fire, or were they just content to talk.
 
Luke 6:12 reminds me of those memories. Jesus spends all night on a mountain in prayer to God. I imagine that he wasn’t spending the whole night praying the Our Father over and over again. But that it was more of a conversational prayer. Sometimes I picture my prayers as if I’m spending time with God around a campfire talking into the night helping me to understand.
 
I don’t spend all night in prayer. My favorite time to pray is when I drive my car. It’s time alone with just me and God. I always start off with a prayer to protect the other people on the road. After that I can pray for my family, requests, gratitude, guidance and other things. But it turns out to be developing a relationship with God.
 
Having that relationship with God helps when we go through the storms of life. After I was married we had several miscarriages before my son was born. I was driving to work one morning grieving and questioning why this happened. I realized that it was because I had developed a relationship with God that I was able to ask that instead of asking if there was a God if something like that could happen.
 
That’s why one of my favorite prayers is to ask to develop a closer relationship to God for myself or people I know. My other favorites are to ask God to guide my prayers and to sing “Help me Jesus” to the tune of the Beach Boys “Help Me Rhonda”. (At least in my mind it’s to that tune, anybody who has heard me sing knows it’s horribly off key.)
 
What you pray doesn’t matter so much as spending time with God developing your relationship. So, have a seat at your campfire and talk with God.
 
Lord, help us to have a closer relationship with you so that we can walk with you, we can converse with you, and so that we can feel your love for us. Amen