I Ain’t Forgot

I know you’re probably wondering what’s happened with Morning Devotions the past few weeks, or month.  Well, to give you a ‘Cliff Notes’ version of what’s been going on, here it is in haiku (A poetry minute, brought to you by the Morning Devotions Blog):

 

Wind, rain, hurricane
Sandy made trees building crash
Time for rebuilding.

Darkness everywhere (no power for two weeks!!)
A minor inconvenience
But still, it’s freezing!

Regain normalcy,
But then, what is normalcy
Time for Thanksgiving.

Class presentations
Papers, too many papers
Fifteen credits, ouch!

Family, old friends come
Catching up, children playing
Broken clavicle.

Thank you, I’m here every Monday and Thursday!!

And here we are on the doorsteps of yet another Advent season.  What is Advent?  It’s a time to prepare ourselves.  For what?  Well, simply put, for a New Life!!  “Behold, old thing have passed away, all things have become NEW!!”  How is this possible?  The coming King brings new hopes, new joys, new opportunities, new challenges, new forgiveness, new ideas, new thinking, new vision.  In other words, you CANNOT remain the same in the light of God.  It is not an option.  You cannot come to Christ and hope to live the same ol’ life you’re accustomed to living.  If you’re living the same ol’ life you used to live, then you don’t have God in your life, nor do you need or want God in your life.

Every new encounter, every new meaningful relationship changes us in some way.  If there is no significant change of some measure in your life after meeting Christ, then… you do the math.  Advent is more than about getting ready for Christmas morning.  In fact that’s the least of it.  What Advent is TRULY about is YOU.  How will you change as you receive the coming King into your life, in the Christ light?  That’s where it’s at bro.

Let’s not all be shmucks
Instead, let’s look at our lives
Christ light change us now

I’m getting so good at this.  It’s scary.
(Send me your haikus!!)

Greetings From The Dark, Frozen Tundra of Neptune, NJ!!

Boy, it sure seems like the frozen tundra!!  We’ve been without power for a week now.  Sleeping in the cold is getting old.  But in a weird sort of way, I’m getting used to it.  Hurricane Sandy dealt a blow for sure, but I’m happy to report that through all this ‘suffering’ I’ve actually lost 5 lbs. and gained 12 lbs. of lean muscle!!!  Isn’t that incredible???

Naw, I was kidding, I didn’t gain 12 lbs. of lean muscle.  But methinks I did lose my sanity in the cold.  But life goes on!!  As soon as I regain power and internet I will be resuming the devotions.  In the meantime, please be patient.  How am I sending this to you now you ask?  I had to journey far, to a wondrous place with warmth and many books, to a place they call ‘The Alexander Library at Rutgers’ to send this post out to you, my friends.

Through all of this, please be reminded that, life is more than what we eat or drink or wear, more than about heat and cold.  While Sandy was destructive, it was also a reality check for all of us.  I am hoping that we’ve all learned what it means to be in need if nothing else.  I hope we all learned how truly vulnerable we really are, but are told never to admit, to our shame!  Already slogans are popping up everywhere in the aftermath of this hurricane that go something like this: “Regain, Rebuild, Recover.”  How about ‘Reflect, Reconnect, Reestablish’?

Homes can be rebuilt for sure and towns reconstructed.  But broken lives and relationships are harder work than putting up a roof or mending a broken fence.  Reflecting upon our vulnerability, reconnecting with each other, while we reestablish our trust in God, is a worthy exercise in the storms and trials of life.  The whole purpose of faith is to give us tools by which we can do these things.  So build up your lives for greater storms than Sandy that may or may not come.  Either way, you’ll be ready.

Peace