SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Author: J Brad Mitchell

  • The Power

    It’s almost as if the earth shakes beneath me.  The whole room moves for just a moment, but long enough to get my attention.  There is no denying the power, it is electric.  As we approach summer, the hot and humid weather ushers in thunderstorms.  Most any day can be interrupted by the rush of a storm.  Today is no different.  Yet, today, it feels as if the thunder is erupting from where I sit.  The rumble, followed by a series of hard rain showers,  reminds me of the power our earth holds.  Circumstances change in an instant.  

    Our life can change in an instant, too.  One moment, it seems as if everything is moving along so well.  The next moment, a storm of difficulties seem to wash away all of our plans.  The rumble of disruptions can derail us.  What felt like a great plan falls apart way quicker than it took to compose it.  What do we do when the power of the storm seems to overwhelm us?  How do we adjust to the unpredictability of life?  

    Today, I’m thankful for shelter – a strong roof and a solid foundation which protects me, in some way, from the harshness of the storm.  In life, we have those shelters, too.  We have our faith, which reminds us of how we are never alone and just how much we are loved.  Our faith shows us we are children of God and despite the storms, we are held by almighty arms which will never let us go.  This is a strong foundation.  This is the peace which allows us to sit through the rumble of the thunder without fear.  This is the comfort that even when all else collapses, we are held.  

    My prayer is today you feel the protection from the storm, even when it floods your plans.  I pray you feel the comfort of arms extended wide, even when an embrace seems so unlikely.  I pray you feel the peace despite the turmoil which rages all around you.  And I pray you hear your privileged name, Child of the Most High God.  May it begin with me.  Amen. 

  • Highest and Best

    I’ve spent way too much of my life trying to be what everyone expected of me.  I would strive to fit the “mold” of whatever I was doing.  If I am a preacher, I need to look, act, talk…be a preacher.  If I am a baker, this is what bakers do…  If I am a father or husband or friend or whatever…there is a list of what is expected.  The trouble is – I am not ever going to fit the description of any of those things completely.  Here’s the deal – I can only be Brad.  Sometimes that is good.  Sometimes…not so much.  I speak before I think and often say things that are better left unsaid.  If my mouth doesn’t say it, my face definitely will.  I am quiet and loud at the same time. And I throw myself completely into my work and I am extremely dedicated.  

    I’ve learned that as long as I try to fit into someone else’s description, I will not ever do it well – at least not in the long term.  It isn’t sustainable.  I am Brad… not anyone else.  I will never be a minister like Jerry or a gardener like Gabe or a baker like Duff or a father/husband like Mr Cleaver.   And I have to live unapologetically as Brad.  Except, I feel like I should apologize for being Brad most of the time.  It can be a bit much sometimes.  

    So I guess I’m just trying to encourage myself and you… just be you.  The worlds needs you to just be you – your absolute best version of yourself.  I often use the phrase, “highest and best”.  What if we just gave that?  I won’t always but I can sure try.  And If I am the highest and best version of Brad – that has to be enough – it is, after all, all I have to give.  

  • I Opened the Window Today

    I opened the windows today.  It doesn’t sound like such a big deal.  It really doesn’t take that much effort.  But the winter seems to have drug on longer than usual.  The darkness and the cold have blanketed so much of our lives recently.  It is hard to keep going when life feels so heavy.  And it has felt overwhelmingly heavy. There is hope, still.  There really is hope, even when it feels buried and destroyed.  Even when it can’t be felt, it is there.  It might be faint but it doesn’t completely get drown out by the news or the events or circumstances.  It cannot be completely crushed, though I’m sure it has been blown into a million pieces at times.  

    So today, I opened the windows.  It was finally warm enough to do so.  The birds are singing just as they have been taught.  They are proclaiming the goodness of creation regardless of the circumstances.  And so should we.  Except that’s hard sometimes.  I open the windows because being shut up too long begins to feel drab and harmful.  It begins to eat away at me, one nibble at a time.  It becomes a stale and defeating feeling.  But with the windows open, fresh air begins to creep in and hope seems a little more vivid than before.  

    It may not last long and that’s okay.  It may only be for a moment, and that may be all that is needed.  Hope only needs to show up in a glimpse to reignite the spark – it keeps the flames of life going.  Life is hard.  Days can feel begrudgingly brutal.  All can feel dark.  So, maybe we just open the windows a little.  Just crack them a bit.  Maybe a little hope might seep in and console our hearts.  Maybe our spirits get renewed.  Maybe, just maybe, we begin to live again.  

  • Coming Alive (Devotion 2.9)

    Many of the phrases I have studied in the Bible and have heard most of my life come alive when I am in God’s creation.  Studying something on paper is good.  Hearing someone explain how it works is positive.  But having the opportunity to experience it, having the whole page come alive right before your eyes is life changing.  

    For the past few months, I have tried to be very intentional about getting outside as much as possible.  This has been exceptionally challenging given that I am not a fan of heat.  That is probably the ultimate understatement.  Me and heat are not friends at all.  I’m always hot anyway, so then being outside in the blanket of humidity, I am done.  When the sun is up, unless I am under an umbrella on the beach, I am not where I would want to be.  All this to say, what a time to pick to be intentional about being outside.

    It has worked out though.  I have enjoyed some of the most amazing sights and been reminded of just how alive and present God is in his good creation.  It has been powerful.  Today was no exception.  I watched a stream meander through the marshlands and was reminded of Psalm 1, “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked…they are like trees planted by streams of water…”  Psalm 78, “He made streams come out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down like rivers.  As I walked the paths of the trail, I thought of Proverbs 12, “in the path of righteousness there is LIFE…” And of course, Psalm 23, “He leads me in the right paths…” 

    God’s Word has a way of coming alive right before us when we pay close attention.  Sometimes we have to squint to see it.  Often we must stop talking.  Rarely do we notice if we are on our phones.  But when we pay attention, paths of righteousness and streams of mercy seem to come out of nowhere.  May it be so for you today.  

  • Quick Slow Slow (Devotion 2.9)

    Quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger – this is the advice given to us in the Bible in the book of James.  This is a challenging sentence.  Quick to listen is a concept we don’t always embrace.  We sometimes listen to respond.  This means we are listening for just enough that we can come back with what we think.  We don’t actually give the person enough time to finish their thought.  We could be interrupting them so we can talk…we think we have it.  Or we think we have a story which one-ups theirs.  Listening is a skill.  We can hear all day long and never listen.  It is like the teacher on the Charlie Brown cartoons.  It is background noise.  We don’t listen because we aren’t tuned in.  And sometimes, we think we have better things to do.  Listening is an art which too few of us work at.  

    But we can’t listen if we aren’t quiet, and therefore, slow to speak.  We can’t listen to respond in this case.  We don’t need to make comments.  We don’t need to offer our thoughts.  Sometimes, it is best simply to be quiet.  I like to say, if you can’t be kind, be quiet.  Or, if it isn’t your story to tell, keep your mouth shut.  Being slow to speak means we are willing to listen completely.  

    The third part of this trio is to be slow to anger.  Here’s a concept we don’t often consider in our world…there are people with different opinions than our own…and that’s okay.  It doesn’t make them bad people and we can still be friends.  Unfortunately this is an election year.  I say unfortunately not because I take for granted my right to vote.  I say this because people are just mean and they let their mean face show and they are angry.  When someone doesn’t agree, they simply get angry.  This is just more pronounced during this time.  Here’s a thought…we all have brains and if God gives us one, we can use it without having to just take what someone else says.  And if we don’t agree, that’s okay too.  We can still love each other.  

    But let’s be honest…we are in a time of quick to speak, don’t listen, and stay angry with anyone who doesn’t look, think, act, or vote like us.  And this is simply not what we are taught in scripture.  It’s the opposite.  

    Which leads me to some of the other teachings in James.  We are taught that we should guard our tongues and let our actions speak instead.  If we let our actions speak, what we do matters.  Don’t talk about the love of Christ if you aren’t willing to share the love of Christ.  Hatred doesn’t have a place in God’s kingdom.  So we show how we love, especially in times like these.  

    I have to be honest…I don’t really care who you vote for.  I want to know how you live for Jesus.  And how you live for Jesus doesn’t come around every 4 years but is a daily work.  I don’t always get it right and neither does anyone else.  But going around with hatred and anger in our hearts isn’t going to do a thing but fuel fire which is already burning up our overheated world.  

  • The Path (Devotion 2.8)

    Sometimes we choose the path.  Sometimes the path is chosen for us.  Either way, we must travel.  That can be difficult when we just don’t want to.  When we are feeling stuck or beat down, we just want to stop.  We don’t want to proceed.  In running, I have found myself at this point multiple times.  I have been on the path (that may have been chosen for me, but I still showed up on my own free will) and plodding along.  At some point, I have wanted to quit.  I wanted to sit down and call it the end.  That works okay if we are on the road and you have communication and someone can come get you.  It doesn’t work as well if you are on a trail in the middle of nowhere.  Those are the times when you suck it up and keep moving. 

    Life can be like the trail.  There aren’t always folks available to come get you out of your mess.  There are parts where you just want to quit.  And there are majestic and amazing sections you want to camp out forever. But you can’t do any of these things for long.  You must keep moving, even when it hurts.  In life, we experience grief and pain, tragedy and disappointment.  We experience celebration and joys, new opportunities and once-in-a-lifetime moments.  All of these are part of the path.  We just keep moving…one step at a time.  Whether you chose the path or the path was chosen for you, you can do this.  Don’t stop for long, great things still await. 

  • Refreshment (Devotion 2.7)

    We had a “false” fall for a moment.  It was almost a tease since the summer swells come forcefully.  It’s even hot all night long.  It can be hard to run even though the sun is not shining.  The humidity just settles in like a smothering blanket.  A little breeze seems to offer a temporary reprieve, which I welcome each time.  The best, though, are these little cool air pockets that occasionally happen.  They seemingly come out of nowhere.  They are just a puff of coolness on an otherwise brutal run.  It is so refreshing it often takes me by surprise.  

    Could we be that bit of cool air in someone else’s sticky day?  I don’t mean actually air conditioning.  I wonder if we could be a bit of refreshment to others who may find the day oppressive.  What might a kind word do?  How might an encouraging moment change someone’s day?  What about a smile, a kind gesture, a moment of grace?  These all could completely change the trajectory of someone’s difficult moment.  

    It could sound as if this is really overstated.  But our world is often overwhelming and stifling.  It can beat us up with every turn.  Kindness really does make a huge difference.  Grace really does show up.  Friendship can be exactly what someone needs.  If we were all kind, imagine the wave of refreshment which could wash over us?  We won’t know if we don’t try.  Maybe we just find a way to be extra kind this week.  You never know what a difference you could make.  

  • What Was I Thinking? (Devotion 2.6)

    I can’t tell you how many times this question has rolled through my mind…”What was I thinking?”  Sometimes it is prompted by those around me asking me what I was thinking.  And then, I can hear the response now (not from me)… “He wasn’t, that’s the problem.”  (Sometimes it just be like that). 

    There are times when situations happen and they come out of nowhere.  I really did think through things and this is just what happened (what had happened was…).  As much as we try to plan and prepare, things can just go haywire.  And then there are times when I fly by the seat of my pants and everything goes better than expected.  

    Planning is great and needed.  Sometimes quick decisions are called for and vital.  We can find ourselves in situations we didn’t plan or expect either way.  I think this is where wisdom comes in.  When we pay attention to those who offer sage advice, when we take the time to really listen to the stories of others, we can find such guidance in their words.  

    That’s one of the many values of the Bible.  There have been way too many occasions I read the Bible and think… “What were they thinking?!”  They did ridiculous things and made some of the most foolish mistakes.  And then I look in the mirror.  Me too, Israelites, me too.  But we continue to learn and grow.  We listen, we pay attention, we seek guidance, and we also tune into our own experiences.  We often know the answer, even if it is buried deep within.  We learn from mistakes and we keep moving.  We don’t give up.  And we do think.  And we do try.  And we do work hard.  We just keep moving.  

    Don’t let foolishness derail you.  Don’t let bad decisions keep you from seeking what is right and good.  And don’t stop taking chances.  Failure is a powerful teacher.  Wisdom is often costly.  Keep on thinking and reading and listening.  Growth is coming.

  • A Foggy Perspective (Devotion 2.5)

    I am always amazed at how small changes can make such a large impact.  You don’t even notice when it happens.  A perspective change happens in an instant, almost in a stealth and undercover way.  This morning, it happened.

    I was walking the trail and things looked different.  I have spent time on this trail and know it fairly well.  I have spent time walking intentionally, not just hurriedly passing through.  But today, my perspective changed.  The fog had settled in and decided to take a respite in the thick of the trail.  It was still absolutely beautiful as ever. But it seemed like the tide was lower or the marsh had grown substantially all of a sudden.  It was odd and caused me to pause to take it all in.  It was as if I was walking on a different trail.  After a while, I proceeded on.  Once the fog decided it was time for coffee and moved on out, it all returned to what was familiar.  Nothing had actually changed except my perspective.

    When I am walking the trail on a normal day, I look out.  I admire the water and the trees which bank the shores.  I watch the egress search for food.  Minnows swim in schools and seem to grow even more.  But what I was missing was right in front of me.  I was looking beyond the present.  I was looking far off at the joys which the vast river held.  That was not a problem.  But I had missed the marsh right in front of me.  As the fog held close, my distance was obscured, forcing me to see what was right before me.  And it, too, was beautiful.  It was like staring into a new land.  It had been there all the time.

    As I traveled on, I was reminded of how we do this in so many parts of our perspective.  We are so busy worrying about what is far off, what is to come, what may happen, what may be out there, that we miss all that is right before us.  We create anxiety and worry about tomorrow when today holds so many joys and celebrations.  There are so many wonders which fill our vision but we have decided to focus on what is outside of our reach, even when it is good.  A little fog can change it all.  

    Today, the fog changed my perspective and I saw the joy of today.  I saw the beauty right before me.  I saw all of creation which was here and now.  I saw how today is a gift not to be bypassed for tomorrow.  Don’t miss it.  Today’s fog is pointing you to the glory before us.  Thanks be to God for fog.  

  • Day 1…or Monday (Devotion 2.4)

    I’ve lost count on how many times I have had a new day 1.  You know…the times when you will start something new… AGAIN.  Maybe it is a weight loss program or an exercise regimen.  For some, it is stopping old habits like smoking or beginning good things like eating more fruits and vegetables.  At the beginning of the year, people call them New Year’s Resolutions.  During the year, we call them Mondays.  Monday is always the day folks pick for some reason.  Saturday is deep into the weekend, and why ruin that.  Wednesday is middle of the week and its survival mode.  So Monday seems to be the best.  But when Monday comes, we realize we really don’t like Mondays that much so we will begin on Tuesday.  And so the story continues…more times we have a day 1.  

    Yet, in all of this, those are important.  No matter how many you have, the fact that you even attempt a day 1 is beautiful.  Despite past failures, we are willing to try again.  Even though we have had 3,546 other day 1 starts, we are willing to have 3,547.  This time MIGHT be the time.  If we are honest, our health is worth it.  Our mental health is worth it.  Our spiritual health is worth it.  WE ARE WORTH IT.  We are worth pushing through the challenges to find another success, no matter how small.  Maybe we only made it through a few verses of the Bible.  That’s a few more verses than we may have read yesterday.  Maybe we only walked one mile.  That’s still one more mile towards good health.  Maybe we ended up eating only one healthy meal rather than the 3 we had planned.  That’s still one more meal towards our health.  Don’t discount the small wins.  Don’t get discouraged because it hasn’t worked out in the past.  That was the PAST.  

    So, if this is your new Day 1…go get em!  If you are still trying to figure it out, make tomorrow your day 1 (No, Monday doesn’t HAVE to be the day).  The point is, just keep trying.  Just keep moving forward.  Never EVER give up!  Let’s conquer this day 1!