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Do You See That?

I was “sketching” with graphite pencils a few weeks ago (while on vacation) when I realized that the anchor lines were white! “Drawing” white is somewhat difficult when “sketching” because you represent white by not shading! In the final picture you know the anchor line is there because of what the artist left out! Is God revealing Himself in similar ways? Is it possible that, like the anchor lines, we see God at work but “miss” Him at the same time?

Aid to the Enemy?

Last week Paula and I watched a PBS “Mystery” which involved (among others) two English nuns who had given medical help to a downed Nazi pilot during World War II. The national news in recent weeks has included the validity of the “enemy combatant” designation of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay. Closer to home, last year a 23 year old in Lodi was convicted to participating in a terrorist training camp in Pakistan and lying to authorities. There are two sides (at least) in every conflict.

You Want to What?

Last week I bought a few items at the Rite Aide in Costa Mesa. The lady at the checkout was new and had a hard time entering the $40 cash amount I gave her in payment; after a few tries and some frustration she asked her coworker for help. She gave me change and we walked out the door. Justin (our 21 year old son) looked at the receipt, saw from it that she had entered $4.00 and $0.40 before her coworker entered $40. As a result I had $4.40 too much in change. I went back in and, fortunately, they were willing to allow me to pay the proper amount. Honesty has a price; dishonesty has a higher price!

Get Real!

Have you ever expressed some hope or dream with someone, and received the “Get Real!” response? Sometimes even those who claim to have ‘faith’ rely on the way things appear as if those appearances are all of reality. Faith is often against appearance.

Not the right time.

Have you ever been to a building with a “revolving” front door, where you had to “time” your entry to the revolution? Your step into the doorway must be at the “right time”. All of us have had a similar experience over when to enter an ongoing conversation, or of raising an important point, and wanting to do so at “the right time”.