• Remove term: faith faith – Healing with Joy

What Bangs your Shutters?

Joy Le Page Smith — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 16:59:35 +0000

By Chaplain Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

We want extraordinary things to happen in life. Sometimes these come through a quick story or a
timely joke. Truth be known, when our emotions move into that sweet range of joy, hope, even
surprise it changes our body chemistry. For instance, the other day Bill Gates read one of my
website blogs and responded. My first thought was “right!” That’s going to happen! Bill Gates,
reading me?

Yet, whoever this particular “Bill Gates” is, he is a person who intelligently ponders big
questions, making reference to "things that can have global expansion, bringing frustration." He

ended with “I’ll be around soon to check out your response”—after raising a question. Hmmm.
Now I’m thinking “maybe” Bill Gates, as my website outreach has widened. (I need to use
“Google translate,” now, to understand messages from other countries.)

My follow-up thought: What does it matter who this is! He might be an average guy named “Bill
Gates, who invests himself more than most in “what could make a better world.”

Every person on the globe has innate value and deserves to be cared about and respected.
Everybody has a story even if it doesn’t rock the world digitally, or shake the boat we tie up by
the lake. I decided to write a blog addressing this person’s inquiry.

First, I need to decide which direction to go as I covered a lot in the column, titled, “My dream
for the New Year,” to which Mr. Gates responded. I decided this person picked up on something
from a poem by William Wordsworth, an English poet (1770-1850), in the column to which he
read and responded.

“I heard a thousand blended notes,

while in a grove I sat reclined, in that sweet mood when

pleasant thoughts bring sad thoughts to the mind.

“To her fair works did Nature link the human soul

that through me ran; and much it grieved my

heart to think what man has made of man.”

For sure it is great to enjoy the good things we make happen—to build families, and/or put our
talents to work. Still, alongside that we must think about what we have done to one another—and
to our earth that shouts “Let’s revisit this! Let’s make amends.”

We humans struggle when two contradictory ideas exist together. The most immanent
contradiction is that God is permanently sustaining and present in this world. Yet, equally
present is a truth that for some creates frustration and even fear: the entire ecosphere seems to be
“going to hell in a handbasket”—given all the shootings and the chaos here at home and
worldwide. “Wars and rumors of wars,” is what Scripture prophecies for the “last days,” while
also telling us why this is true.

Mental, emotional and spiritual maturity comes as we find the answers are in “the Book.” Two
quick examples, Psalms 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God . . . I will be exalted in the
earth!” (Psalms 46:10). So Good wins in the end through the light that is, here, within the
darkness, through the working of His people. And, we are directed in Colossians 3:2, “Set your
mind on things above, not on things on the earth . . . .” Here is the key to good mental health.
What God really wants of us is to, “love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul
and your neighbor as yourself.” This would be the ultimate in maturity. No frustration, here, Mr.
Gates, for those advanced enough to see this truth and to live it out.

There is only one possibility in which Jesus’ teachings (which He called “the way”) could bring
frustration within society. That can happen when people claim to follow Christ’s teachings, yet
fail to let God’s inerrant assurance change their lives. Clearly, it is an individual’s choice. Each
can decide whether to follow his or her egocentric behaviors and philosophies allowing these to
hold sway, or dedicate oneself to living by God’s Word.

It is this belief in God and the Bible (His Word) that holds the power to change lives and bring
the maturity we as human beings so badly need. These tenets, when lived out, serve to
powerfully motivate us, creating the actions needed to eliminate what underlies human
sufferings: hatred, addictions, poverty, tyranny and war (at home and globally.)

The ultimate in peace and good will certainly will be ours when Jesus Christ returns to the earth
fulfilling His promise to come a second time—as vividly described in Scripture. For those who
want to understand . . . and be ready for that great event, start reading Scripture. Hint: 2 nd Peter
3:3-9, tells something about the timeframe of His coming and why Jesus is delaying His return.

Salty people—our unsung heroes?

Joy Le Page Smith — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 00:51:02 +0000

While working in a big city, a good option came for taking a bus. This bus was crowded. I observed a well-dressed woman who I would guess to be between 40 and 50 years old. She also stood, along with many of us, for several miles on this overcrowded bus. Finally, the passenger near her requested a stop, leaving an empty seat. She settled onto the cushions, off her extra-high- healed feet. I could feel her relief.

At the next stop a young woman with a newborn baby climbed onto the bus, leading a toddler beside her. No one moved to give a seat, so she stood with the rest of us. The baby’s body bounced about in rhythm with the bus, with no protective hand about its head. The recently seated woman looked at the young mother, then away. She looked rather nonplussed, and I surmised an inward struggle. Two or three minutes later, she looked back at the young mother and found her voice, “Would you take my seat?” In a moment they exchanged places.

Did I imagine a hush that pervaded the bus?

A few miles down the road. A priest swung up the stairwell with a briefcase in hand. By then, transfers allowed me to be seated by a teenage boy. We traveled several blocks when the young man jumped up suddenly, saying, “Here, take this,” to the priest, before finding a resting spot on the rail.

Living at a time when words are ubiquitous—ever bombarding our eyes and ears—it seems actions have “come into their own,” with great potential for notice.

The young are asking, “Where’s the action?” Mind you, they are not looking for the kind witnessed on the bus, but yet they are not apt to miss it either, when it happens.

Another case in point affects two adults—namely, my husband Gary and I. We love the beauty of the earth and would not consider littering, yet neither of us has thought much of picking up after others along the highways and byways of life. That is until “Phoenix,” and all because of too little ladies.

Early in the mornings, between 6:30 and 7:30, this pair can be seen in Olive Grove Park, wearing gloves, picking up trash left by the public of the previous day. We have come to think of them as the “unsung heroes,” admiring their selfless diligence.

One morning while talking with them, we learned this volunteer “garbage detail” has gone on for two years. They claim to enjoy the exercise, citing the walking and bending keeps them flexible. “It’s sort of ‘paying our dues to the club,’” said Elda with a disarming smile.

The change in us was subtle, but after watching these women for three months, we are not so apt to step over an aluminum can on the path or candy wrappers in stairways. We stooped more, now, influenced by that every day, quiet example. (Albeit, more care exists within the current pandemic.)

Most of us are more conscious of our actions or lack of them when we see others portraying exemplary choices. But, how much more enriched the corner of our world could be were we to carry throughout the year deeds that silently speak. Almost always someone is watching. It has been said that our lives are often the only Bible read, the only sermon heard. Pantomimed.

As an adult, we can and do affect one another. But, mostly I think of the young. Many words have crossed their wires; they have few heroes. Good observers, they recognize what is good and what is right when it is acted out before their eyes. The world is their theatre. They seem “on stage.” But all the time, they are really watching us.

Perhaps the greatest gift we can give to ourselves is encouragement to believe in the art of being salt . . . humble, lowly, having great preserving power. Seasoning, serving to beacon earth’s children—large and small wandering forked paths. The people of flavor, offering up the essence of ourselves for the betterment of all—living out the way of Christ, portrayed in the best possible taste.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house,” (Matthew 5:13-15).