Update #160 - Light Blindness

“My soul follows close behind you; your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8

“You word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path…” Psalm 119:105

I was reading through verses I had underlined in Psalms and meditating on them. When I got to “My soul follows close behind you” in Psalm 63 I pictured a huge flame in front of me. Then the verse from Psalm 119 “You word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path…” popped into my mind.

This was an epiphany moment. I had wondered how God could be a light unto my path – especially if he was walking ahead or beside me. I was previously puzzled because it didn’t make sense - when people are in line ahead of you they usually block most of the light and sharing it with someone beside you doesn’t always fully illuminate your surroundings.

God, being the person in front of us, isn’t blocking the light, but IS the light! The flame illuminates our feet, lights our path, and dispels darkness! This causes its own set of difficulties. With the light right in our faces, we can’t see much.

Have you ever looked into a bright light? Ya can’t see anything else! When you do look to the right or the left the contrast has everything appear darker than it really is. Psalm 63 states “my soul follows close behind you” – it is as close to the flame of light as it can get; practically engulfed.

As I ruminated over this I thought to myself, well, why not step back a bit from the flame, save your eyes and get a bit of perspective. Stepping back isn’t going to be a detriment; you will still have the illuminated feet, lighted lane, disintegrating darkness, and you can see a bit for yourself. Why do you have to walk so close?

Then it hit me like a 2X4. Intimacy! It’s all about intimacy. The second half of the verse talks about God’s right hand holding us. If we walk too far away from the flame we miss his gentle leading. And the real problem, I think, is we may be able to see too much and panic. When we are close to the flame we just see it and follow – the distractions to the right and left are in the darkness and un-noticed. When we step back from the intense light we see the distractions – not as they really are, but shades of them. We may think they are harmless but they are actually doing their job of pulling us out of, and away from, God’s blazing brilliance.

Basically, we need to stay close to the flame, blinded and blundering in the brilliancy. The farther we pull away to “see” the things around us the more distracted we become and the more the familiarity with the Father fades.

What distracts you from the brilliancy of God? What causes you to step back from being fully engulfed in him? When is the last time you were completely and fully encompassed, blinded by God’s working in your life? What scares you about the darkness? Can you feel God’s right hand leading you?

Updates:

Travel – In a bit over a week I am off to Hong Kong and Seoul! Brett and Lyn are in Whistler, Canada then to Beijing and finally meeting me in South Korea on the 11th. Gareth and his team are mobilizing and “invade” Chennai the same weekend.

Work – LEMON Leadership Forums abound – here and abroad! The rest of us are trying to keep things running and prep for the next training cycle amidst all the craziness!

Personal – Two cars back at the mechanic this week. I nicknamed Lyn’s car “galloping Gertie” because it felt as if you were riding a horse… problem now solved (my stomach thanks you).

Requests:

Travel – Save travel for me, Brett / Lyn and the Chennai team – especially the guys coming from South Africa who are trying to get visas.

Work – For continued forum bookings, book sales, and for our upcoming January training’s roster to fill; also for new cars.

Personal – I was really blessed by my some of my supporters and was able to get some new work clothes (a suit for 40% off!!!). Thank you!

PS – Happy Birthday to Iris, Kimmy, Jodie, Spencer, Don Smith, and to MY MOM!!!

Update #159 - Road Construction

“Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:14

No construction - just the usual, horrid traffic in Jakarta, Indonesia

Summer and road construction are almost synonymous in the States. The sun comes out and so do the backhoes, hard hats, swivel stop signs and orange-vested people. This also means traffic delays and congestion just about everywhere you want to drive.

I was in Palo Alto on one of the main tributaries trying to make a lunch date. Traffic was stalled, creeping forward at a glacial pace and I knew I was going to be late. I called my girlfriend and told her of the delay and got out the GPS… maybe I could take a side street?

I wasn’t the only one who had considered this alternative. The side streets were just as jammed as the main thoroughfare. Sighing, I merged back into the massive backup and waited for my turn to move forward eighteen inches.

I sat. I waited. I crept forward a foot and a half at a time. As I vacillated between Park and Drive I saw an odd thing occurring; those in line with me lost patience with the process, peeled off, did an illegal U-Turn and went back the way they came. With each one leaving the line I got closer to the stopgap, gained a car length, and picked up time.

Knowing all the side streets were crammed I wondered where they were going. Did they know some other route I, and my trusty GPS, weren’t aware of? Were they wearied by the process, rules, and merging they decided to try another day? Did they just give up?

As I sat there, this verse came to me: “narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Well, if there was ever an illustration this was it… the tributary was definitely narrow (three lanes to one), only a few cars make it through at a time, and, on the other side was “freedom” - an open road free of roadblocks and construction.

I don’t know what was going through the other driver’s thoughts and minds as they left the queue to go back the way they came – weariness, disillusionment, disheartenment, frustration, disappointment, irritation, annoyance, exasperation, aggravation… I wondered if those who come close to knowing God and his Christ feel the same way. If they, in their quest for freedom, encounter a roadblock, hindrances, a delay, become irritated and disillusioned at the process turn back to try another day, if at all.

What would they need to make it successfully through the gate? More importantly, what do I have that could be helpful?

I am still pondering my answer. I know there are a million responses one could give – but I also think each gate seeker needs a unique approach and touch.

What has God asked you to do in your non-believing friends, family and coworkers lives to bring them closer to the gate of his kingdom? What ways are you living your life to be less of a hindrance and more of a help? What obstacles have you removed from your life?

Updates:

Travel – Tickets are in the process of being booked, agenda is being finalized, and visa’s aren’t applicable (whoo hoo)… Seoul, South Korea I’m landing November 10th!

Work – Lots of speaking engagements for Brett, Lyn, and Linh – as well as Gareth and Thomas on the India front.

Personal – Cars are still in need but holding together. It is like they know we are looking for replacements and are intentionally behaving themselves.

Requests:

Travel – Accommodations and agenda to solidify for Seoul, and for the Chennai team to finalize.

Work – For the upcoming international travel and for our team headed to Chennai.

Personal – Reading a great book by James Goll – The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence; challenging, but very good read.

P.S. Happy Birthday Yawnet, Jonah, Jelet WU WU! We love you!