Why Asking Questions and Embracing Uncertainty Is Good for You...Part 1

This is taken from an interview with Todd Kashdan, author of "Curious?
Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life"



by: Jennifer S. Holland
from: AARP Bulletin
June 3, 2010______________________________________________________________________

Why Asking Questions and Embracing Uncertainty

Is Good for You

Here is a guide to breathing new oxygen into life with a strategy that seems impossibly simple. Be curious. Embrace uncertainty. And be mindful in your day-to-day life. Instead of seeking that singular, fleeting thing called happiness, open yourself up to novelty. By doing so, you’ll catch happiness, and a lot of other good things, along the way, says author Todd Kashdan, clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at George Mason University.

He relates an example of an artist who stuck his finger into a swollen spot in his yard and out came a big stink from the ground—an apt analogy for what Kashdan advocates. Stick a finger into new places, regardless of what might come out. Of course, such curiosity isn’t always a doorway to pleasurable outcome. As Kashdan points out, there’s no warm, fuzzy feeling as you wonder about the rattling noise in your car or the new mole growing on your face. But being open to ambiguity builds knowledge, assists us in resolving conflicts and helps keep the brain in tiptop shape.

Kashdan practices what he preaches, fighting passivity and seeking novelty in the everyday. He spoke to the AARP Bulletin about how big an impact this little-studied desire can have in our lives.

Q. How do you push yourself to find the fresh and new?

A. Like dieting or exercise, it’s a lifetime endeavor. Except in cases where survival or the possibility of passing on genes is at stake, your brain wants to put forth as little effort as possible. We’re saving up for that life-threatening situation. Just like we have to make time to exercise to build up our bodies, we need to make the effort to retrain our brains to be curious and thoughtful.

Q. But it’s hard work, agreed?

A. It’s hard in the beginning because you are changing your mindset. Instead of relying on what we already know, we are looking for the new, and we’re trying to grow by focusing on what we don’t know. Ask yourself: What in this situation can add something new to my thinking? But after the initial work of training yourself to think differently, you start to get more dividends and rewards than the effort you have to put in.

Q. So it becomes natural?

A. It’ll seem so. It feels effortless because it’s energizing. It makes us feel creative, more committed. A challenge may provoke anxiety, but research shows clearly that the positive effects are more intense and last longer than the negative ones.

Q. What’s a good example?

A. Here’s a great one. When people are asked if they would want to meet the person who is donating a kidney to them, they invariably say yes. They would want to go on the news and shake the person’s hand, marvel together that part of one is inside the other and hug for the photo. But if the recipients never know who the donor is, they can’t habituate to the kindness of the act. And how do you get a handle on this newly benevolent, compassionate world where someone donated part of his or her body—and could care less about being appreciated for it? You never get over the positivity that comes from that; your thought process about humanity changes. And that’s a good thing.

Q. Not knowing the donor is better?

A. In the big picture, yes. Yet amazingly, we think and act exactly the opposite. We want to know who it is, get all the information, eliminating all the surprises and novelty of the experience—even though the research says anonymous donors have a more positive, bigger, longer-lasting impact on recipients.

Q. Some uncertainty keeps things fresh.

A. Right. Experiences that leave you wondering are dog-eared in your brain, bolded and italicized.

Shared by Corinne...Part 2 Next week!

CERTAIN MOMENTS

Conversation for May 30, 2011

Written by Lynda Kinnard

There are certain moments in our lives that become imbedded into our minds, hearts and souls. Childhood events, meeting someone who allows us to improve ourselves, or just hearing and seeing things that alter our view of this world and our place in it forever. The moment we invite The Lord into our hearts. And, the instant that we realize that the “still, small voice” truly is God, speaking directly into us.

Knowing God’s will and faithfully submitting every day, is challenging at best and feels impossible at times. Thankfully, He allows us to see and experience things that prove His power and love for us.

May 15, 2011 -- Twain Harte CA

Waking to a hush that let me know that the world outside the cabin windows had been transformed overnight. Speechless, still and awestruck by the power that has taken us from Friday’s warm and easy sunshine that carried the promise of summer to this delicate purity of new-fallen snow that is a beginning and an end unto itself.

Slipping momentarily back into my childhood, I wanted to tuck my yarn-tied pigtails into the hood of the jacket that I’d loved when I was twelve years old, so I could go out to play. But this is forty years and 3,000 miles away from then. This here and now is the Sunday morning of our retreat and time for us to gather for worship.

Window blinds raised and candles lit to allow us to maneuver in the sudden loss of power, we prepared to do what we needed, in spite of the darkness. We could see what mattered, and would not be dismayed.

So we worshipped as our mothers’ grandmothers’ must have done. In rooms that were made sacred because God was known to be there. Sharing the symbols of sacrifice through communion; we were carried back to the time that changed humankind through many generations to each of us.

We sang the worship songs that we all knew, and then moved as one outside to the porch. We stood under the eaves and sang to The One Who Loves Us Best. Our voices are all different, like the snowflakes that continued to fall. It was as if the angels from heaven were whispering in harmony with us.

Then, we stopped, silently caught in the powerful vision of the glory that awaits us all. Knowing that one day we would share a place far beyond the beauty that we felt in this moment. One by one, our worship began again. But this time, no one led and no one followed. One by one, we spoke or sang to the Lord according to our hearts. Our individual praise was as unique as the snowflakes, but our voices intertwined into the language of the angels.

We stood side by side in our faith, each alone in our time with The Lord. And in the silence that followed; the Small Voice of the melting snow began a change of season once again.

Added to by Corinne Mustafa 

We could have had a sunny day that Sunday or even a rainy day. Either of those would have been ordinary. This special Sunday in the middle of May it was snowing, and that made the day extraordinary. It was as described by Lynda. As I stood out on the front deck worshiping with my friends I believed that I got a message from the Lord. As I looked at the white blanket of snow on the trees I realized something. I know by faith that God is always near. He may be as near as a face to face encounter but we do not actually see him. On that spectacular Sunday I felt that the snow on the trees was a physical manefestation that God was nearby in a visible way. I was totally touched by His graciousness!

THE BATTLE

Conversation for week of 5/1/11

 

The wind became silent and the tall pine trees stood in respect, as the two spirits stood face to face. Both spirits were sure that what they held in their minds to be of truth. One dressed in a white robe that glowed as if made of star light, revealing all that is pure. The other dressed in black. No light came from this spirit, only darkness that cast an eerie feeling of despair.

The battle had begun.

As the golden sun made its appearance over the Eastern sky,

the spirit of light cried, “Holy is the Creator most high”.

With a tongue as if it were a flaming sword, the spirit dressed in black made his challenge known. For the one that could prove how all creation sprung forth into existence would be declared the winner.

The battle had begun.

Everything that had breath seemed to become frozen, not making a sound, not wanting to miss what was about to take place. Both spirits took their turn, first the one of darkness and then the one of light.

Each spirit proclaimed its own belief to be truth.

The battle had begun.

The dark spirit stood with an evil grin upon its face.

As the spirit of light stepped aside and waited patiently for his turn to speak.

He said,

“Millions of years ago, as matter turned faster and faster

A tiny speck exploded creating this disaster.

From underneath a rock did climb,

Our ancestors once made of slime.

Upon the land they did slither and crawl,

These slippery creatures were related to us alll.

From belly to upright without missing a beat,

Underneath the creature limbs sprung forth feet.

High into the trees they swung from branch to branch,

From a creator you say? Heck, it was all by chance!

Down from the tree and into the cave.

There is no eternal life; you just go to the grave.

Believe in Neanderthal man, that is the way….

This is how humans became what they are today.

Keep living a life that is pleasing to you,

It really doesn't matter what you say or do.

Building up chromosomes one by one,

This is how becoming a god is done.”

With head held high the dark spirit stepped aside, sure that he had won.

Without hesitation the spirit of light stood tall and firm,

speaking words of truth that rang across the land like a sweet melody.

He said,

“Not long ago, the one true God from above.

Spoke this world into existence with much love.

The trees and the sea were all part of His plan,

Right down to every detail which also included man.

A garden of paradise was a place He called home,

With all of God’s creation this man was to roam.

To finish the plan asleep man did lay,

A rib from his side God did take away.

With a command from the Creator woman appeared,

Protected by God there was nothing they feared.

All was theirs to enjoy except the forbidding tree,

But they broke God’s one rule and sin entered thee.

The world which was once filled with peace and joy,

The enemy began to tarnish and destroy.

It was easy you see, for Satan to do…

With man’s lustful desires and prideful heart too.

God should have destroyed us all with His mighty right hand;

But He gave us another chance when Noah took a stand.

A great flood came that covered the land,

Noah and his family was spared because they followed God's plan.

A rainbow was placed in the sky up above,

A promise from God that was sealed with great love.

Man was forgiven and the Earth began to heal,

But evidence that sin remained became very real.

Once again our Creator caught us when we started to fall,

By sending His only Son to die on the cross for us all.

Now we must live according to His plan,

Then and only then will He heal this Great land.

Accept what He did on the cross and you shall be set free,

Once again man will live in paradise for eternity.”

The spirit of light stretched forth his hands toward the Heavens, giving thanks to the Creator above. As the spirit of darkness hung his head down low, knowing he had been defeated. All of creation broke the silence with a song that echoed across the land. The trees began to dance with the wind as if celebrating. Good had overcome evil, light had conquered darkness, and victory had been won.

The battle has been won.

  

shared writing from
Storm Hendrickson
written

October, 2002

Matthew 28...He has Risen from the Dead

Conversation for the week of April 24, 2011

After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God's angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn't move.

The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.

"Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' That's the message."

The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. "Good morning!" he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, "You're holding on to me for dear life! Don't be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I'll meet them there."

Meanwhile, the guards had scattered, but a few of them went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened. They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers, bribing them to say, "His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping." They assured them, "If the governor hears about your sleeping on duty, we will make sure you don't get blamed." The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told. That story, cooked up in the Jewish High Council, is still going around.

Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Yes...HE IS RISEN INDEED!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Z3najg_eY&feature=related

Passion Week...Palm Sunday Till the Friday Jesus Died For Us

Conversation for week of 4/17 - 4/23/11

Jesus Rides into Jerusalem as a King

And, a Week Later, Walks to a Humiliating Death

The last week of Jesus' life was crammed with events, as we follow him from his glorious entry into Jerusalem on Sunday until his death on Friday. In the days in between, he preached, taught, presided over the Passover supper, stood trial, and was condemned to death. This week we call Holy Week.

Palm Sunday

Luke 19: 28 - 46

Matthew 21: 1 - 17

Mark 11: 1 - 11

John 12: 12 - 50

John 2: 13 - 15

On Palm Sunday we study two sets of lessons.

The first set is about Jesus' ride into Jerusalem on a colt, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9: 9. The people greeted him as though he were an earthly king; they were sure he would end the Roman occupation and Jerusalem would again be a Jewish city. They shouted, "Hosanna," which means "save us," and comes from Psalm 118: 26. And the second set are a detailed look at what happened in the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. We also read the Psalms which form a foundation for the events of Holy Week.

The color of Palm Sunday is red.The time in the Gospel writers' accounts may be compressed. Their story is about being overwhelmed by the presence of Jesus, not an historical account of places or dates.

Jesus Teaches and Preaches

Luke 21: 31 - 38

After his warm welcome into Jerusalem, Jesus taught in the Temple for a few days. Luke places many of Jesus' stories or parables during this time. We study many of these stories during Lent.

Jesus' Enemies Conspire Against Him

Luke 22: 1 - 2

Matthew 26: 1 - 5

Mark 14: 1 - 2

John 11: 47 - 53

Pontius Pilate and his soldiers went from Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast inland to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover. They were afraid that so many Jews gathered together from all of Palestine would start riots against the Roman government.

The Jewish Sanhedrin, the council of elders, played on Pilate's fears, because they were afraid that Jesus would start a religious revolution against them. They thought that if the people would follow his new ways of teaching and healing, they would no longer be in charge of the Temple.

A Woman Washes Jesus' Feet and Dries Them with her Hair

Luke 7: 36 - 50

Matthew 26: 6 - 13

Mark 14: 3 - 9

John 12: 1 - 22

This story is told several times, taking place in different locations. John places it firmly in Holy Week, with Mary, the sister of Martha and of Lazarus, as the woman. Mark includes the story in Holy Week, two days before the Feast of the Passover, but Mark says it took place at the home of Simon, the leper, and he does not name the woman. Lazarus and his sisters were very close to Jesus. He and his disciples stayed with them often in Bethany, and because raising Lazarus from the dead was the great miracle of Jesus that the people of Jerusalem knew about, the high priests and elders wanted to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus.

Judas Betrays Jesus

Luke 22: 3 - 6

Matthew 26: 14 - 16

Mark 14: 10 - 11

John 18: 2 - 5

Judas told the Temple guards how to find and arrest Jesus in a quiet place at night; they were afraid there would be riots if they arrested him in the daytime in the city. Because the Gospel writers were so angry at Judas for his participation in Jesus' death, we do not have a clear picture of who Judas was. He was called Judas Iscariot, or Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, which may mean that his whole family belonged to a radical political group. He was chosen by Jesus to be one of the original twelve disciples. Judas was the treasurer for the disciples, even though Matthew the tax collector also knew about money and finances. And we know that he was so devastated by the part he played in Jesus' death that he killed himself, either by hanging or by disembowelment in the Roman fashion (somewhat like Japanese hara-kiri).

Jesus Prepares for the Last Supper and Washes the Feet of His Disciples

Luke 22: 7 - 13

Matthew 26: 17 - 19

Mark 14: 12 - 16

John 13: 1 - 20

Passover lasts for eight days, and the preparation for it is like the preparation for Christmas - it isn't all done in one day. All leaven (yeast, baking powder, baking soda) must be removed from the house, and the house must be cleaned thoroughly to make sure no bread or cookie crumbs remain. Special foods are eaten for the entire eight days (no leaven is allowed back into the house), beginning with the Seder supper on the first night of Passover. In Jesus' day, each family would sacrifice a lamb at the Temple, bringing part of the lamb home for their Seder supper.

Jesus Identifies His Betrayer

Luke 22: 14, 21 - 23

Matthew 26: 2 - 25

Mark 14: 17 - 21

John 13: 21 - 30

Jesus knew who would betray him to the Temple guards, but he also knew that the prophecies must come true, and he must accept what would be done to him. With no death, there could be no resurrection.

Jesus Presides over the Passover Supper

Luke 22: 14 - 20

Matthew 26: 26 - 29

Mark 14: 22 - 25

There is some disagreement between the Gospel writers on when this meal took place. For Luke, it is a true Passover meal, with the blessing of the wine before the bread. For the others it may be a pre-Passover meal with the two Jewish blessings, one for the bread and one for the wine.  John's imagery encourages us to see Jesus as the true Lamb of God, sacrificed at exactly the same time the lambs were slaughtered in the Temple for the Passover meals. Whichever meal this was, it took place during the time of the Passover, when Jews remember that God freed them from slavery in Egypt, and it is the meal where Jesus asked us to remember that he freed us from our slavery to sin. Christians participate in this meal in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Jesus Knows Peter Will Pretend He Doesn't Know Him

Luke 22: 21 - 38

Matthew 26: 31 - 35

Mark 14: 27 - 31

John 13: 36 - 38

Peter of the changing enthusiasms was so sure that if Jesus died, he would die too. But Jesus knew otherwise, telling Peter that he would deny knowing him three times before the rooster crowed at sunrise the next morning.

Jesus Prays while His Disciples Sleep

Luke 22: 31 - 33

Matthew 26: 36 - 46

Mark 14: 32 - 42

John 18: 1

Jesus knew what was in store for him that night (Thursday) and on Friday as well. So he took his disciples to a quiet place to pray, the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. The disciples fell asleep while he prayed, Luke says, "because of grief". In their own way, they, too, were preparing for the terrible times to come.

The Temple Police Arrest Jesus

Luke 22: 47 - 53

Matthew 26: 47 - 56

Mark 14: 43 - 52

John 18: 2 - 12, 20

Three distinct groups of guards or soldiers play a part in this story. Both Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas had their own troops, and troops (probably Pilate's) were garrisoned in Jerusalem, even though Pilate's official residence was in Caesarea, on the Mediterranean coast (Jerusalem is inland.) The first troops to appear, however, are called guards or temple police. They took direction from Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest, and the Jewish council of elders. They were the guards who arrested Jesus. The Roman soldiers appeared later.

Peter Doesn't Know Who Jesus Is

Luke 22: 54 - 62

Matthew 25: 69 - 75

Mark 14: 66 - 72

John 18: 15 - 18, 25 - 27

Even though Peter said he would follow Jesus to his death, before the rooster crowed at sunrise on Friday morning, Peter said three times that he did not know Jesus or any of his friends. And even though it was obvious from his accent that he was a Galilleean, he said he did not come from Galilee.

Jesus Is Teased, Slapped, and Beaten

Luke 22: 63 - 65

Matthew 26: 67 - 68

Mark 14: 65

The temple guards, the followers of the Jewish council of elders, and perhaps even the elders themselves taunted and slapped Jesus after they arrested him. They finished their torment with a beating, and then took him to the house of Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest.

Jesus Stands before the Council

Luke 22: 66 - 71

Matthew 26: 57 - 68

Mark 14: 61 - 64

John 18: 12 - 14, 19 -24

The Sanhedrin, or council of elders, charged Jesus with blasphemy, which means to talk to or about God with disrespect. Considering the Jewish belief in the One God, it was disrespectful of Jesus to say that he was God's son, or to call him "Abba," which means Daddy. The Romans believed their Emperor was a god living on earth, so they understood the Jewish belief, and in Palestine, respected it some of the time. Christians, of course, believe that Jesus was exactly right, that he was the Son of the Living God, and that he was resurrected as the second person of the Triune God as they state in the Apostles' Creed.

Jesus Answers Pilate

Luke 23: 1 - 5

Matthew 27: 1 - 2, 11 - 14

Mark 15: 1 - 5

John 18: 28 - 38

Pontius Pilate was a Roman citizen, sent by the emperor of Rome to be the procurator or governor of Palestine. He had his own army and presided over his own courts of law. Pilate was the man who called Jesus, King of the Jews.

Jesus Stands Silent before Herod

Luke 23: 6 - 12

Herod Antipas was the son of King Herod the Great whom the three Wise Men visited when they were searching for the Baby Jesus. Herod Antipas had previously told his soldiers to cut off John the Baptist's head. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod because Herod was the tetrarch (or ruler of one-fourth of Palestine) of Galilee, the area in the north of Palestine where Nazareth is, where Jesus grew up. Herod held less power and territory than Pilate, so it would be easy for Pilate to blame him if things went badly.

Pilate Releases an Innocent Man

Luke 23: 17 - 25

Matthew 27: 15 - 26

Mark 15: 6 - 15

John 18: 38 - 40

John 19: 4 - 16

Pilate believed Jesus was innocent, but because he was afraid that the crowds might riot, he allowed the Jewish court of elders to make the decision to execute Jesus. The crucifixion, however, was done by Pilate's soldiers, because the Temple guards who reported to Caiaphas did not have the power to put anyone to death by crucifixion.

The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus

Matthew 27: 27 - 31

Mark 15: 16 - 20

John 19: 1 - 3

The Roman soldiers took Jesus to their quarters and made fun of him in a "king for a day" ritual that they may have performed on Roman holidays. The soldiers crowned him with thorns and put a purple cloak on him. Choosing a make-believe king and tormenting him may have been a way of letting go of their anger at cruel rulers.

Jesus Walks to His Death on Golgotha

Luke 23: 26 - 43

Matthew 27: 32 - 44

Mark 15: 21 - 32

John 19: 17 - 24

Increasingly aware that he was fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, Jesus walked quietly to his death, after making the firm, strong speech to the crowd we find in the Luke passage. The Romans had several methods of executing criminals. Crucifixion, in which people slowly suffocated from the burden of their own weight on their chests, was both the most painful and the most humiliating. Other Roman methods of execution included garroting (strangling with a special cord or wire) or beheading (cutting off the criminal's head with a sword). Both these methods were considered more dignified than crucifixion, as well as being much quicker and much less painful. The two criminals (or bandits) who were executed with Jesus are nameless. They may have been highway robbers: simple theft may not have been a serious enough crime to demand crucifixion as the means of death. Only in the passage in Luke do the two men enter into conversation with Jesus.

The Sky Turns Black and the Curtain Is Torn

Luke 23: 44 - 56

Matthew 27: 45 - 61

Mark 15: 33 - 47

John 19: 25 - 42

Jesus spoke from the cross to his family and followers. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me," is the first line of Psalm 22, a beautiful hymn of praise to God. His mother, Mary, and Mary Magdalene were present, as well as some other women followers.

The Temple Guards Watch Jesus' Tomb

Matthew 27: 62 - 66

The Temple guards took their position late Friday afternoon, because they were afraid that Jesus' friends would steal his body from the grave and pretend that he had risen from the dead.

BUT THE TRIUMPH WILL COME
IN THE MORNING OF NEXT SUNDAY...
ONE WEEK FROM TODAY WHEN WE CELEBRATE

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

AND OUR SALVATION!!!

A true bona fide miracle!!!!

CONVERSATION FOR APRIL 11, 2011

I have been doing a Bible Study using John Brevere's book entitled EXTRAORDINARY. I would like to recommend this book to you for starters. One of the concepts in this book is that we get to grace through faith. Not too new! However, another concept in this book is very empowering.  If we can pray without doubt for what we need...that means no doubt in our hearts, that we will receive it because we believed we would. 

I just wanted to give you a background of where I am coming from in this writing. I have had a hard time with it because I am always plagued with the idea that God will answer my prayer if it is in His will. And this is true as well. Still it is necessary for me to believe with no doubt in my heart that he will grant what I pray for...a kind of conundrum for me because I always wonder how to bar doubt from said heart.

Anyway, that being said, I want to share a story of what happened to me last Friday as I was driving my husband to San Francisco airport to catch a flight to England.  My chauffeur part of his trip took place during rush hour on a Friday afternoon in the San Francisco Bay Area.  As I was headed for the airport I said a quick prayer with all the built-in, doubt removed, believed that it would be answered. "Heavenly Father, you know that I'm under a lot of stress about tomorrow's yard sale.  I still have things to do to be completely ready, and I need to get home quickly.  Father, I ask you to let this night be a night of easy traffic and a quick return to Livermore.  Father I thank you in advance for what you will do about this, and I love you.  Amen."

With this I became a relaxed person, drove to the airport, had nice conversation with my husband, and kissed him goodbye at the door of United Airlines.  I headed back to live more fully confident that it would not take 2 hours.  After all, I had prayed.  I was all set, and I would be home in Livermore by 6 PM.

I was right on track and only 3 exits from Livermore when the unexpected happened.  The traffic was not moving at speed limit, and the cars were pretty close to each other, but still traffic was moving in a reasonable speed.  I had already thank God several times for his answer to my prayer.  Suddenly, the unexpected happened.  The traffic in front of me, and the driver right in front of me had slammed on her brakes because the truck in front of her had slammed on his brakes.  I slammed on my brakes as well and smacked right into that car, pushing her into the truck in front of her.

I have had a little fender bender a couple of weeks ago in that very same car.  It was scheduled to go for repair on the following Monday, to the tune of 600+ dollars.  As I sat there in the seconds before I would have to do something.  I was wondering how could I possibly tell my husband in England that I have had yet another accident.  Then I had to get out of the car.  You have to realize that we were in the lane next to the fast Lane and were standing on the freeway trying to figure out what to do.  Each of us was saying are you okay; are you hurt?  Everyone seemed to be fine, and we all decided that we needed to cross the fast Lane to get into the area near the freeway divider before we all ended up dead.  So we signaled and crossed the fast Lane with no further consequences.

In that area we would be protected by our cars...if only no one hit our cars and pushed them into us.  As God would have it, nobody got crushed.

However, God had more for the 3 of us.  When we get out of our cars the 2nd time there were more questions asking if everyone was okay, and we were!  I, of course, was heartsick worrying about having to tell him stuff her about yet another accident. The truck driver, 1st in line, looked at his truck and saw no damage.  The middle car, which should have had damage on the front and the back, had no damage.  My front end ALSO HAD NOT DAMAGE!!! I am sure that I hit that car going at least 5 to 10 miles an hour.. enough to push her into the truck. All 3 cars had no damage.  We all laugh each other once again, are you okay; did you hurt yourself ?  Everyone was okay.  We did not exchange any information about who we were, or are licenses, or anything.  We climbed into our cars and drove away.  I will never see this man on this woman again, but I will pray for them whenever they come to my mind.

I had prayed for a quick trip home.  I wanted to get there quickly and I had asked God for that.  God knew that the traffic of rush hour would not be a problem, so it is my belief that God applied my prayer to the place where the real problem would be.  We all should have had terrible damage to our vehicles, but none of them had any damage.  That was God's answer to my prayer, He just applied it to win than the really was.

A bona fide miracle of God!!!

What could've been...
and what was!!!!!!!

A TRUE AND BONA FIDE MIRACLE OF GOD

Light of the World

Devotional for 4/5/11

I am come a light into the world,

that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not:

for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

John 12: 46-47

==============================================================

Our Lord publicly proclaimed, that every one who believed on him, as his true disciple, did not believe on him only, but on the Father who sent him. Beholding in Jesus the glory of the Father, we learn to obey, love, and trust in him. By daily looking to Him, who came a Light into the world, we are more and more freed from the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery; we learn that the command of God our Savior is everlasting life. But the same word will seal the condemnation of all who despise it, or neglect it.

submitted by Annie

Inspirational Friendship Story - Who Packs Your Parachute?

Conversation for week of April 3, 2011

This friendship story asks an important question: So who packs your parachute? Who are the ones who are in the backstage, making sure that you are safe and happy? Read this inspirational friendship story about a man who survived the war because of a special someone.

Charles Plumb was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!

How in the world did you know that? asked Plumb. I packed your parachute, the man replied.

Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, I guess it worked!

Plumb assured him, It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today.

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor. Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, Who's packing your parachute? Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

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