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{Straight From the Heart} *Faith is not for Wimps* 5/23/00
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FAITH IS NOT FOR WIMPS
By: Joe Walker
Jon is only 8 years old, but already our son has worn out a legion of
guardian angels.
There was the time when he was 3 that he climbed up our van and onto the
open garage door. Anita peeked into the garage and noticed that the door
was open and was about to push the button to close it automatically when
she heard Jon's cheery, "Hi Mommy!" from up above. If she had closed
that door with the little boy on top of it . . . well, it makes me
shudder to even think about it. Not to mention what it must have done to
his guardian angel.
Then there was the time about two years later when he and a friend
somehow found their way into the trunk of our car and closed themselves
up in it. To this day, we're not exactly sure how long the two boys were
in there. Jon told us he prayed and asked God to send someone to help
them, which explains why Jon's big brother suddenly began to worry about
what the boys were doing and started looking for them -- inexplicably
anxiously. They were sweaty, red-eyed and hoarse from calling for help
when we finally found them.
That probably goes double for their guardian angels.
Then there was the incident that took place just a couple of weeks ago
during a church service. I won't go into detail -- years from now he may
be looking for work or running for president, and I don't want this to be
dredged up and used against him. Let's just say Jon's mother had an
experience with him that brought to mind Bill Cosby's parental axiom: "I
brought you into this world, I can take you out of it!"
Angel, or no angel.
Now, I'm not exactly sure how this guardian angel thing works. I don't
know if it's an assignment for only the most trusted and worthy of the
heavenly hosts, or if it's penance for those who need a little fine
tuning before they're ready for their eternal reward (I'm thinking the
Jon gig has to fit into the latter category). Whatever it is, my family
seems to have been blessed with the finest flock of angels ever assembled
-- for which I am profoundly grateful.
But I don't understand the inconsistency of the system. Why is it that
Jon seems to be so carefully and conscientiously protected, while other
children put themselves in the exact same situations with disastrous
consequences?
Please don't misunderstand -- I'm not complaining. I'm grateful beyond
words for the life, health and safety of my youngest son. Every night
when I tuck him into bed, I stroke his hair, touch his face and thank God
for the privilege of being able to do so. But I also feel a little
guilty knowing that there are other parents who are tucking their
children into hospital beds, or who must contend with the sorrow of empty
beds. And I can't help but wonder what happened to those guardian
angels. Were they busy? Distracted? Not paying attention? Or just not
very good at their jobs?
God only knows.
And I guess that's sort of where we have to leave it -- in His hands.
Sometimes it's hard to embrace God's will and trust His answers --
especially when His answers just bring up more questions. But faith is
not for wimps. Although there is great power in faith as a causative
force in our lives and in the world around us, perhaps its greatest
manifestation is the courage it gives us to cope with life's vicissitudes
and apparent inequities.
Including the odd inattentive guardian angel.
Joe Walker
Valuesguy@netscape.net
Email Joe and let him know what you thought of his story!
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A little bit about Joe:
Joe Walker has been writing professionally since 1980, when he left
college to join the staff of a daily metropolitan newspaper. For 10
years -- including six as the paper's TV columnist and critic -- he was
part of the mainstream media, and was painfully aware of the
overwhelming negativity of contemporary journalism. Joe says, "Nobody
was looking for real solutions to the problems society was facing; they
were just looking for someone or something to blame the problems on." So
in 1990 Joe began writing ValueSpeak, a weekly syndicated column that
attempts to look at contemporary issues from the perspective of
traditional values. Joe and his wife wife, Anita, are parents of five
children, with their first grandchild due shortly.
You'll love his new book, "How Can you Mend a Broken
Spleen!"
Ordering is simple and fast at the following Amazon address:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573453005/heart
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Thought For The Day:
"Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes."
(Parkes Robinson)
Verse for the Day:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for men."
Colossians 3:23
Kid's Thought for the day:
"Remember who gives wet kisses, and the next time you see them, wave
from across the room."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"When I was a boy of fourteen my father was so ignorant I could hardly
stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one I
was astounded at how much the old man learned in seven years."
(Mark Twain)
Coach's Thought For The Day
"You can be harsh to your players and still coach, but it is easier
if you are kind to them."
(John Kessel)
Deep Thought For The Day:
"If all those psychics know the winning lottery numbers, why are they
all still working?"
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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