GOING SUBTERRANEAN
My blog has been silent since mid-November.
I went silent because of a major lifestyle change that came about when Darryl and I remodeled and moved back into the townhome we lived in (and still own) before our three year hiatus at the Optima Camelview Village.
Also, in November I reached a milestone of 100 blogs. As I crossed that finish line, I felt like it was a good time to breathe a little and give myself space to refresh, reflect and refocus as a reward.
With that being said, however, there is an even more significant reason for taking a break. I promised myself that I would never write anything without humbly waiting on inspiration from God first. So as the noise in my head increased with the chaos of moving and retooling my lifestyle, the ability to hear God's still, small voice decreased dramatically. God took me at my word and kept me sitting in His waiting room until the noise subsided.
I guess here is where you could make a good analogy between the children of Israel struggling with being guided by a pillar of cloud/fire in the Old Testament and my desire to wait on God for His insight before I write. My flesh cries out to push ahead, meet my own goals, do my own thing - but frankly, without His insight, there is really nothing of consequence to write about!
In essence, a stop sign popped up before me in mid-November. Looking back, my assignment was to "run silent" - dredging up a word picture from an old 1958 movie by the name of "Run Silent, Run Deep." The name refers to "silent running" - a submarine stealth tactic. As I contemplated orders to "Run Silent" I also heard a faint echo immediately following to "Run Deep" - perhaps even subterranean - if that was what God determined for me.
What came of plumbing the silent depths? I bow in humble adoration before the greatness of God's works and the unsearchable depths of His purpose which directs His works. From sunlit shallows or murky abyss, God's graciousness and goodness shines forth and I am entranced. I choose to trust again.
My new focus? Steady as she goes! Another colorful seaworthy phrase about finding equilibrium once again - moving out slowly - purposefully - quietly - into this new season. I am reveling in surviving the extremes of the last few months. I am finding the perfectly poised middle of equilibrium once again and it feels so good!
Why quietly? So I can hear inspiration when it comes and give utterance to all God puts in and on my heart. To revel in the adventure of following God's mysterious leading sometimes into the wee hours. Waking is better than sleeping! O happy day!
How great are Thy works, O Lord!
Thy thoughts are very deep.
Psalm 92:5
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Thursday, November 24, 2011
I've been thinking about design...
PURELY CONJECTURE, BUT STILL A DIVINE DESIGN
Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple and the man who transformed consumer technology, died on October 5, 2011 at the age of 56. The story of his final moments is positively revelatory, especially in light of what his sister, Mona Simpson, revealed in his eulogy. As we know now, Steve's final words were monosyllables, repeated three times, "Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!"
Many have speculated about what Jobs saw in his final moments that caused him to speak out in this way. I know I have spent time contemplating his last words, which given the circumstance, are laden with meaning - especially in light of a few clues he left behind.
Steve Jobs' appreciation of design is legendary - meaning he passionately loved the whole process of conceiving, planning and arranging all of the elements required to produce a perfect result.
We know he had a great love for some material objects, especially those that were finely designed and crafted, such as Porsche and Mercedes cars, Henckels knives and Braun appliances, BMW motorcycles and Ansel Adams prints, Bosendorfer pianos and Bang & Olufsen audio equipment. (Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, p. 105.)
We have heard, even sedated, how he ripped off an oxygen mask because he hated the design: "He ordered them to bring five different options for the mask and he would pick the design he liked." (He Knew He Was Right. The strange, sad, triumphant life of Steve Jobs by Lev Grossman, TIME, November 7, 2011, p. 53)
Again, Mona Simpson enlightens from his eulogy, "Before embarking, he'd looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life's partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them, before saying his final words."
My conjecture - I am wondering if because of his love of design, he was actually viewing it in the scene set before him as he was breathing his last.
In her eulogy, Mona Simpson also spoke about how love was the focus of Steve Jobs' final days. "Love was his supreme virtue, his god of gods. He tracked and worried about the romantic lives of the people working with him."
Conjecture #2 - I am wondering if in his focus on love, Jobs was able to follow the thread all the way back to its source and originator - God.
Job's primary test for recruiting people in the spring of 1981 to be part of his merry band of pirates was making sure they had a passion for the product. He would sometimes bring candidates into a room where a prototype of the Mac was covered by a cloth, dramatically unveil it, and watch. "If their eyes lit up, if they went right for the mouse and started pointing and clicking, Steve would smile and hire them," recalled Andrea Cunningham. "He wanted them to say, 'Wow!'" (Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, p. 114)
Conjecture #3 - Could it be that the designer of everything, even the afterlife, was waiting to see how Steve Jobs would respond to seeing a perfect design right before his eyes - something hidden from him in life but now revealed? Was he given a final opportunity to respond to his Creator as he took his final breath?
These conjectures are purely guesswork on my part but something I believe is worthy of God and His love for His creation. I believe He loved Steve Jobs to his last dying breath and He sought a relationship with him as he passed from this life to the next. Oh, wow!
Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple and the man who transformed consumer technology, died on October 5, 2011 at the age of 56. The story of his final moments is positively revelatory, especially in light of what his sister, Mona Simpson, revealed in his eulogy. As we know now, Steve's final words were monosyllables, repeated three times, "Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!"
Many have speculated about what Jobs saw in his final moments that caused him to speak out in this way. I know I have spent time contemplating his last words, which given the circumstance, are laden with meaning - especially in light of a few clues he left behind.
Steve Jobs' appreciation of design is legendary - meaning he passionately loved the whole process of conceiving, planning and arranging all of the elements required to produce a perfect result.
We know he had a great love for some material objects, especially those that were finely designed and crafted, such as Porsche and Mercedes cars, Henckels knives and Braun appliances, BMW motorcycles and Ansel Adams prints, Bosendorfer pianos and Bang & Olufsen audio equipment. (Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, p. 105.)
We have heard, even sedated, how he ripped off an oxygen mask because he hated the design: "He ordered them to bring five different options for the mask and he would pick the design he liked." (He Knew He Was Right. The strange, sad, triumphant life of Steve Jobs by Lev Grossman, TIME, November 7, 2011, p. 53)
Again, Mona Simpson enlightens from his eulogy, "Before embarking, he'd looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life's partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them, before saying his final words."
My conjecture - I am wondering if because of his love of design, he was actually viewing it in the scene set before him as he was breathing his last.
In her eulogy, Mona Simpson also spoke about how love was the focus of Steve Jobs' final days. "Love was his supreme virtue, his god of gods. He tracked and worried about the romantic lives of the people working with him."
Conjecture #2 - I am wondering if in his focus on love, Jobs was able to follow the thread all the way back to its source and originator - God.
Job's primary test for recruiting people in the spring of 1981 to be part of his merry band of pirates was making sure they had a passion for the product. He would sometimes bring candidates into a room where a prototype of the Mac was covered by a cloth, dramatically unveil it, and watch. "If their eyes lit up, if they went right for the mouse and started pointing and clicking, Steve would smile and hire them," recalled Andrea Cunningham. "He wanted them to say, 'Wow!'" (Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, p. 114)
Conjecture #3 - Could it be that the designer of everything, even the afterlife, was waiting to see how Steve Jobs would respond to seeing a perfect design right before his eyes - something hidden from him in life but now revealed? Was he given a final opportunity to respond to his Creator as he took his final breath?
These conjectures are purely guesswork on my part but something I believe is worthy of God and His love for His creation. I believe He loved Steve Jobs to his last dying breath and He sought a relationship with him as he passed from this life to the next. Oh, wow!
Friday, November 4, 2011
I've been thinking about breaches...
PARDON MY TONE!
A friend e-mailed a helpful article to me about resolving breaches in relationships. The writer of the article confessed that during a confrontation, a colleague was unable to display empathy toward him because of the tone he was using.
How interesting that the writer took full responsibility for his offensive tone over defending the strength of his position. The article went on to say that intuitive perception is a person's reality no matter if it is true or false and whatever is perceived dictates the response.
When the perception is negative - meaning if a person perceives an indifferent or dishonoring tone - it is nearly impossible for that person to overlook the offense long enough to embrace the logic of the position.
This situation then becomes an issue of what I value more - my position or the relationship. This is a good time to ask myself, is this a hill to die on? If I choose to value the relationship, then I have work to do to repair the breach. The writer of the article goes on to say that humility is the pathway to resolving a relational breach of this kind.
Recently I found myself taking issue with two individuals I care about. With the first, I chose wisely - meaning I was able to focus on honoring the person and achieving a good outcome. The happy result was a preserved relationship. But with the second, I chose poorly - meaning my passion overwhelmed me and my tone blocked out what I was attempting to say. The unhappy result was a breach in the relationship.
When a relationship suffers a breach - and over time most all will - then I must do deeds of repentance to repair it. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom (James 3:13 ESV).
Deeds of repentance are actions that express humble, regretful sorrow for an offense. In my case, my offensive tone did not reflect value for the person or the relationship. Therefore, I could, in good conscience, admit that the perception was my responsibility and that it represented a sin against the person involved.
Wonderfully, God knows we are dust and His Word provides an excellent way to repair breaches. It is called making amends! To make amends means to put something right. In this case, I made amends by extending a sincere apology with a request for gracious forgiveness. My amends made it possible for the relationship to be restored.
It is a happy day when a breach is repaired, when a rough patch is smoothed and when fellowship is restored with a person I highly value!
Humility begins to repair,
Amends clear offending debris,
Forgiveness heals a relational breach
Between my friend and me!
A friend e-mailed a helpful article to me about resolving breaches in relationships. The writer of the article confessed that during a confrontation, a colleague was unable to display empathy toward him because of the tone he was using.
How interesting that the writer took full responsibility for his offensive tone over defending the strength of his position. The article went on to say that intuitive perception is a person's reality no matter if it is true or false and whatever is perceived dictates the response.
When the perception is negative - meaning if a person perceives an indifferent or dishonoring tone - it is nearly impossible for that person to overlook the offense long enough to embrace the logic of the position.
This situation then becomes an issue of what I value more - my position or the relationship. This is a good time to ask myself, is this a hill to die on? If I choose to value the relationship, then I have work to do to repair the breach. The writer of the article goes on to say that humility is the pathway to resolving a relational breach of this kind.
Recently I found myself taking issue with two individuals I care about. With the first, I chose wisely - meaning I was able to focus on honoring the person and achieving a good outcome. The happy result was a preserved relationship. But with the second, I chose poorly - meaning my passion overwhelmed me and my tone blocked out what I was attempting to say. The unhappy result was a breach in the relationship.
When a relationship suffers a breach - and over time most all will - then I must do deeds of repentance to repair it. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom (James 3:13 ESV).
Deeds of repentance are actions that express humble, regretful sorrow for an offense. In my case, my offensive tone did not reflect value for the person or the relationship. Therefore, I could, in good conscience, admit that the perception was my responsibility and that it represented a sin against the person involved.
Wonderfully, God knows we are dust and His Word provides an excellent way to repair breaches. It is called making amends! To make amends means to put something right. In this case, I made amends by extending a sincere apology with a request for gracious forgiveness. My amends made it possible for the relationship to be restored.
It is a happy day when a breach is repaired, when a rough patch is smoothed and when fellowship is restored with a person I highly value!
Humility begins to repair,
Amends clear offending debris,
Forgiveness heals a relational breach
Between my friend and me!
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