The story:
I am currently sitting on a very uncomfortable bench at a nearby park; a park that I grew up around and spent so much of my childhood playing and growing with my friends. I have with me a collection of comic books, a Bible and my notebook. I am enjoying the light breeze as I read through my comic books. From the distance I can hear a small child’s bike approaching along with the footsteps of other kids and parents. I love when parks are utilized for their express purpose. I remain engaged to my books when the child rides by on his bike, his training wheels keeping the bike from teetering off balance. “Hello,” The child said politely as he stopped his bike in front of me. “Hey, how are you?” I smiled at the child and returned to the open pages of my book. Immediately the boy’s mothers called to him and requested that he move his bike and not bother me. The boy obeyed his mother and moved his bike to the same bench where his mother was placing her stuff. My Observations: While this situation began to unravel before me, I kept my attention toward my comics and remained silent about the mother’s request; but I’d be lying if I said that my mind wasn’t running various ideas and observations through my mind. I actually thought quite intently about the implications of the situation while I eyed the Batman collection. The mother seemed scared. Without a second thought the mother became very protective. Why? Is our world become that fearful of danger that we live our lives in constant worry of threat? Was I posing a threat to the children at this park by sitting quietly, reading and writing? If so, what was so threatening? Now, I understand that traditionally we try to teach our children about various forms of stranger danger. Also, with the numerous advances that we have in today’s society, there are more stranger danger worries than ever before; I still do not believe that it benefits our society to live every moment in fear. It doesn’t help us to create a society where we are unable to meet and talk with new people. A better time: Through stories, movies, and television shows I have been given a pretty good idea of a time that has long since disappeared; a time where people were generally caring and considerate people. A time where being friendly was something to be valued and treasured. This is a time way before my time. The only proof that I have of this wonderful time period is what media has depicted over the years and what I have heard from parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Although I did not get the opportunity to live in this wonderful era of kindness and friendliness, my heart rejoices over the evidence that this time existed. In today’s world judgment blankets our choices and re-directs our actions. We fill our minds with hypothetical “what ifs” and “maybes” that prevent us from truly connecting with a real person. Instead of offering a genuine smile to a stranger and a friendly “hello” we hide in our houses and in our bubble of comfort, hoping no one tries to intrude. As you may have noticed today’s encounter made me feel a bit awkward and outcast just a bit. I felt that this parent saw a young man and in their mind’s eye I was a no good person looking for trouble. Due to their judgment of me they took the steps to ensure that their child was safe, which I don’t blame them, if I was up to no good. Since I was just minding my own business, I see no reason why the parent should be cautious of me. Retrospective thoughts: While I sat there working in the light breeze I continued to think through this situation a bit more. How often does this happen? I can count of a handful of times that it’s happened to me throughout my life. Out of all of the times that it has happened, how many of those times were unnecessary? I believe that most of the times that this type of thing happens it can be determined as unnecessary and unwanted, Lastly, I thought; have I been guilty of this type of judgment in my daily life? I thought about this deeply, hoping that I know better to judge an individual before I take the opportunity to get to know that person. Now, I must ask those who are reading this; if you think through your days and you notice that you were either a victim to this behavior or an offender to this behavior I ask that you would correct your behavior and ask for guidance to adjust your mindset. Let’s create a society that is free from this judgment, which allows our kids to live in a society that is more like the community-based society that we have so sadly left behind over the last few decades.
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Get out of the shade, enjoy the sunshine!
Definition: *From Dictionary.com Sunshine-noun 1. The shining of the sun; direct light of the sun. 2. Brightness or radiance; cheerfulness or happiness. 3. A source of cheer or happiness. Shade-noun 1. The comparative darkness caused by the interception or screening of rays of light from an object, place, or area. 2. A place or an area of comparative darkness, as one sheltered from the sun. “10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 3:10-4:3 The Context: Jonah was sent from his comfortable living to Tarshish, a very wicked place that Jonah despised deeply. Due to the fact that he loathed this place so intently along with the people that lived there, he ran away; leaving God’s plan to show grace to the Tarshish people behind. After a few life-threatening events and some time to think, Jonah revisited his calling from God and traveled to Tarshish to spread the message that was given to him. Although Jonah’s expectation was not so high, he continued with the plan. After sharing the message, Jonah awaited God’s judgment on the wickedness of Tarshish. When God relented, or held back, his anger due to the Tarshish people asking for forgiveness, Jonah was not happy. That is what we see in Jonah chapter 3:10 to chapter 4:3. The message: As I look though this passage I see perfect examples of darkness and light. Reading through this passage, I understand the implications and effects that darkness and light have on our lives. I also understand that you need both of them to grow closer to God with an intentionally deeper relationship. Yesterday morning I woke up and went for a walk. With my headphones on I choose a selection of songs and began my descent down the road. The first few songs that I listened to were a bit dark in context, leaving a heavy effect on my mindset. I realized that my thought process and my emotions were being set into motion from the message of those songs. So, If I had continued to listen to song with a more negative and heavy emotional message to them, I would have had a heavier and more displeasing day. Opposite that, if I begin my day with up tempo, upbeat music with a positive message; my day would be more cherish and pleasant. I continued my walk with Christ-centered music and prayer and it was truly different. What does this antidote have to the passage in Jonah? The shade: We see in the context that in the beginning of Jonah there is a darkness of thought surrounding Jonah. This darkness magnifies the last bad experience that Jonah had with the people of Tarshish and uses it to warp and bend his belief in the goodness of God. Due to the previous experience that Jonah had with the people of Tarshish (whatever that experience was we are not sure) Jonah already had an opinion on whether they deserved God’s grace and forgiveness. In many cases our upcoming day is determined by something from our past, typically the 24 hours prior. I know from experience that if I had a bad day one day I usually carried that emotion for the next 24 hours, which caused rift of bad vibes to ripple into the day, or days, to come. As a teacher I noticed this way too often. I would have a rotten day one day and because I would carry those toxic feelings the next day I was already setting myself up to have a rotten for the days to come. I was allowing my past events to dictate my future days. The second thing that we notice is that the shade shielding Jonah’s vision allowed the darkness of his to try to use God’s goodness towards others and warp it into something wicked. In chapter 4 it says this, “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” Jonah speaks this after admitting that he fled from fulfilling God’s word because he wanted to forestall, or prevent God saving the Tarshish people. The foul opinion of the Tarshish people clouded Jonah’s mind so much that he passed judgment on the people that he was called to preach to. In addition, Jonah was calling God out on his word saying that he knew that God wouldn’t punish the Tarshish people for their sins. Basically, Jonah was calling God soft. When we are living with a dark cloud looming over our heads, whether that be sin or a cloud of bad attitudes and warped mindsets, anytime we see living or demonstrating correct manners or behavior we tend to see it as weak or soft. For example, if you have build the habit of filling our mind and mouth with foul language that tears people down and demeans them, anytime that you see someone who is polite and used their words to build individuals up you will typically see that as pathetic and feeble. Our mind has been distorted to believe that we are the manly ones or the tough ones. When, in actuality, we are showing ourselves as the one who is weak and in need of fixing. The final area of darkness that we see in this passage is in chapter 4 verse 3. “3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” This darkness created such a hatred for the Tarshish people that when God forgave them and allowed them to live, Jonah became irrational and dramatic. He declared that he would rather die hating the people of Tarshish than see them live. Due to the darkness that filled his heart and clouded his mind, Jonah did not see that value that God saw when it came to these chosen people. His distorted mindset saw them as unworthy, vile and disgusting human beings who deserved the eternal separation from God the father. The sunshine: Throughout this passage we see one example of sunshine. Although there is only one, it truthfully triumphs over the three examples of the shade that we see. In chapter 3 verse 10 it says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.” Despite his disagreement, Jonah delivered the message that God gave him to the people of Tarshish and they grabbed on to it firmly. They believed in the warning turned their lives and their hearts to God. When God saw the hearts of these people whom he loved dearly change before His eyes I could only imagine that He was filled with an extraordinary amount of joy. So much so that he showed them grace instead of punishment and He gave them a new life to live. Although we don’t know what it is, we know that many of the Tarshish people live under the shady reach of sin. A sin that clouded their minds and possibly filled their hearts with the same hatred that filled Jonah’s, but because of the grace and mercy of a loving and compassionate God, they were freed from that umbrella of sin and allowed to live in the sunshine of the Heavenly Father. Take away: We may have dark cloud looming over us that directly effects our day or our attitude. This cloud may cause us emotional damage or scarring over time, but it doesn’t have to last forever. We are able to walk away from the covering of that cloud and see the world in the vibrant light of the Heavenly Father’s grace and mercy. This grace and mercy allows us to see the beauty in the world regardless of the evidence of the fallen world that we live in. Through the message of the gospel and the cross of Christ we can live in glorious days that are filled with the love and compassion of God, a very caring father. We do not need to let the darkness of our past experiences or our foul attitude dictate how beautiful the day will be. What kind of day will you have? Will you continue to live in the shade or will you enjoy the sunshine? . “It was a dark and stormy night.”
These words rang through his thoughts as he silently sits in the stillness of his own mind. He thought intently on the words as he glared at the poster that hung before him. The same poster that hung in the quiet office for years! The words burrowed deep into the catacombs of his mind. Each moment brought a new sense of clarity as well as confusion. Why did the story have to begin in the darkness? He thought to himself. His eyes squinted at the poster one more time as if he was even absorbing the words into the softness of his heart. “Why did my story have to start in the darkness?” He thought to himself aloud. He thought of her. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He thought of their meeting at work. He thought of the countless lunches they shared in her classroom. His mind filled with lovely dinners and movie nights filled with warm embraces. He recalled her head resting on his shoulder as they relaxed on a park bench. The kids playfully passed back and forth around them. Daily they bonded, they knew each other. They became inseparable……Until something separated them. Love! Now, He sat remorseful in this quiet office, looking at the words, “It was a dark and stormy night.” With each passing memory his eyes filled with emotion that he fought to control. “I never wanted to lose you.” He whispered to himself. He could still see her as if she were standing right beside him. “At the end of it all, all I can say is I loved you.” His mind filled with the darkest memories of the previous months; the critical moments that he realized that he has lost her. These moments plagued him! They tortured the core of him too often, leaving him in a heap of broken piece to sweep off of the floor and reassemble. “Too often I feel this way. I allow a singular thought of you heave me into the pits of my own personal darkness, leaving me to ask the question: Why did my story have to start in the darkness?” He spoke to himself as he strolled through the little room. Every few steps or so he would pivot his head to the poster, re-read the words and ponder upon them further. “I was supposed to start here, in this darkness. These thoughts were meant to enter my mind and infest my every contemplation. I start here. The darkness surrounds me and in many cases consumes me, but the darkness has yet to kill me.” He smiled for a moment. He smiled a smile of hope, a smile of strength. “You see, I fell into this pit of darkness for the sole purpose of overcoming the grim circumstance. It was never going to kill me. This covering of darkness was placed over me to make me stronger.” As he sat back at his desk, he looked in front of him, where he had a yellow legal pad and an open Bible laying on the large oak desk. He picked up a nearby pen and penned his final thought. “This whole story may have started in the storm. It may have started in the darkness, but it will not end there. I will not end there. I will rise out of this storm!” He thought of her. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He thought of their meeting. His mind filled with lovely dinners and movie nights filled with warm embraces. He recalled her head resting on his shoulder as they relaxed on a park bench. The kids playfully passed back and forth around them. He thought of the sunshine that he would soon see again. He smiled. “The story starts in the storm. It will not end there. Remember, the beginning of the story is only the beginning.” Service notes: "God's got your back!" Genesis 41:37-46 Background: -Joseph the son of Jacob. One of 12 kids. -Joseph had dreams that upset brothers and dad. -Joseph's dreams showed his family bowing down to him. -Brothers plot to kill Joseph out of hate and envy. -brothers sold Joseph onto slavery and moved to Egypt. -Joseph was offered sex by his master's wife. In order to honor God, Joseph left. -Joseph was thrown into prison due to wife's story. Genesis 41:37-46 -Has anybody every ever been hurt or broken by family? What kind of hate would that cause in you? -Could you image being removed from family, friends, loved ones? -At the young age of 17, Joseph lost all plans for his future due to slavery. -He dealt with loneliness and abandonment. -What would that raise up in you? Anger? Pain? Loneliness? Definitions: Preparation-getting ready. Promotion- advancing. Are you preparing for your promotion? 1. Joseph didn't allow his past to hold him hostage. (Philippians 3:13, Isaiah 43:18-19) -If you need help it is okay! Get the help you need! -God can and will meet your need! 2. Joseph didn't complain about everything, he lived a life of high expectation and quality. (Proverbs 17:27, Daniel 6:3) -Whatever Joseph did if put his hands on prospered! -Are we being excellent at our job and lives? 3. Joseph didn't yield to temptation. He kept his focus on pleasing God. (Luke 4:1-14, 1 Corinthians 10:13) -What are you weapons of warfare? Are we using them during times of temptation? -Our weapons are community, prayer, word of God, Holy Spirit, church. 4. Joseph maintained an unquestionable work ethic. (Proverbs 14:23) -In all labor there is profit! -It's not always what we do, but it's how we react to what's done to us! -During the process of work, our skill should increase. 5. Joseph was able to forgive! (Genesis 45. Ephesians 4:32. Mark 11:25) -could we do that without any left over emotions attached? -We have to walk in love! "If opportunity isn't knocking, build a door." YOU'VE GOT A PURPOSE ON YOUR LIFE! Don't just sit back waiting for something to happen. DO SOMETHING! |
Anthony K. GiesickI grew up loving stories and quickly found myself loving writing poetry, stories, songs! Here is a sample of what Beautiful Feet Writings is all about!. Categories |