Some common things in life make me chuckle. They are things maybe you’ve never given a second thought to when you see them every day. Let me assure you. You’ve seen them. They are in small towns, large cities, along  rural roads and speeding highways. What are these mysterious “things”? Signs. They come in all sizes, some new and many worn from standing through every change of the seasons for years on end (no pun intended) And they never cease to make me chuckle. Why? Let me list a few that are among my favorites:

• Food Like Mom Makes
• Cleanest Bathrooms in Town
• Cold Beer
• Hot Coffee
• Best Food Around
• Voted America’s Best _____(fill in the blank)
• Clean Rooms
• My Kid Can Beat Up Your Honor Student

Do you see why I chuckle every time I encounter one of these signs in my travels? Think about it. 

• What if your mom was a horrible cook? What memories does that sign conjure up on your taste buds?
• Who would advertise “our bathrooms are the filthiest in town–come on in to relieve yourself! A few spiders in cobwebs and dirty towels on the floor never bothered anyone.
• Enjoy a warm beer! Well, maybe in another country where that’s the custom but last I checked most Americans want their brew to be cold and frothy.
• Ok, on Hot Coffee, I’ll relax a bit. With the onset of cold brews available at fast food restaurants and retail stores, I admit I actually enjoy a cold one occasionally (I still want my beer cold though)
• How does the restaurant owner know his food is the BEST around? Did he/she hold a contest to find out? Isn’t this the theme of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives?
• Voted America’s Best = there are SO many possible answers. Again, who’s holding all these contests and why haven’t I seen where to enter? I like winning a prize. Sheesh.
• Who would advertise Dirty Rooms? Goodness, I know from personal experience that I HAVE stayed in places where I questioned how thorough the housekeeping staff performed their duties. When I arrive at a hotel I DO expect a clean room and I appreciate the folks who make that possible for me.
• Ok–other than a fair fight, when did it become remotely humorous to brag that your kid is a bully, one who can beat up another student. Is this bumper sticker an indication of the slippery slope of bad parenting that has slid into some of our homes?

Ya. I’ve been wanting to write about signs for a while. Quite honestly, every time I saw one I said it out loud to my husband. ‘I NEED TO BLOG ABOUT THE IRONY OF SIGNS”. So, today I have done that.  I know that as soon as I click publish on my site, I’ll think of another sign that makes me chuckle. Every time. Seriously, it never gets old, seeing these well intentioned signs advertising what to me is common sense. Oh well, our world needs more laughter, less dirty rooms and more opportunities to vote for who’s got the best __________ (fill in the blank).

In case you’re wondering, my mom WAS an excellent cook so when I see Food Like Mom Makes…I get a bit sentimental. It’s a memory that tickles my taste buds and fills me with a warm feeling all over. Kinda like enjoying a cup of good, hot black coffee. On a clean table of course!

According to my oldest brother David, I took my “first” steps while our dad was installing hardwood flooring in the living room of our family home he built in 1954. David said I was sitting on a stack of the hardwood, stood up, walked from the living room through the kitchen and around through my bedroom back to where dad was working, and he added, I didn’t stop….my first steps were successful and now some 67 years later my feet and legs, though aged, still keep me going whether I’m doing errands or out for a long walk or run.

Besides taking my first steps walking, I’ve had other firsts in my life. Many are the same as most people–first day of school *first time riding a two wheeled bike *first time driving a car *first kiss *first job *first loss…..you see the pattern. Life is full of many “firsts” and all begin with “a next step…”

Last week one of my devotional readings asked this very question: What is the next step you need to take? The question followed a teaching on Psalm 37:5: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this….” As I listened to the teaching I honed in when Brad took time to instruct the listener on the Hebrew word for commit. As he illustrated walking through a hiking trail in a wooded area, he laid out a word picture of being on a path and how Christians often think we are walking our own path, asking God to bless where we are treading. But, in Hebrew, the definition of “commit” is more, it’s actually asking God to “rollover” on the path we are on, thus joining WITH Him as we move along. Hearing that teaching was a lightbulb moment for me! In my years of being a Christian I had never heard this definition of the word commit. Furthermore, I’ve been quite satisfied to lay out my own desires or directions to take–sometimes selfishly or in pride–and asked God to bless my steps! I realize now how foolish my behavior has been.

I’m not sitting on a stack of hardwood flooring right now. Rather, I’m sitting at a crossroads in life. More specifically, it involves leadership, mentoring, learning, teaching….last week I wrote about my good friend, Tom, who died. He was not only a pastor in our church, he was the ministry leader of our Celebrate Recovery Ministry and I was his assistant. He was mentoring me. With the loss of Tom, I’ve been advanced to his role. Although I know much of the nuts and bolts to run the weekly meetings, there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff I hadn’t quite mastered. There are aspects to being a leader I’ve not tapped into, the path that I thought was fairly easy with no bumps or obstacles has suddenly changed to one that may be a winding trail, one that will require me to commit, trust…in Him and not in myself. There may even be some schooling I pursue–not by requirement but out of personal satisfaction in order to lead well. 

Tom leaves a big void. The path he walked is not my path although both are under that “rollover” protection and guidance of the God we both serve. Tom’s shoes are bigger than mine but not superior because in humility we both strived to lead others well, always pointing folks to Jesus, taking all focus off us. Yes, my feet are on my path. My eyes are on Jesus. As I make my strides along my path, establishing a healthy pace, every once in a while I will look up, down, or around me to make sure I’m staying the intended course. I’m excited. I’m scared. I’m confident. I’m apprehensive. I’m no longer a tiny girl sitting on a stack of wood, I’m older, and having found a “new” path to explore, I’m taking my “first steps”….

Sunday was not a day that I wanted to come around. Today is not a day that I wanted to write. Today is not the time that I want to talk about–just yet–all that he meant to me. Today is not a desire to begin living Sundays and Tuesdays without him–or any other day of the week encounter that may occur. Today is not my best day, but it is reality for me and for my dear friend Tom. Tom’s reality is that at 3:55 pm on Sunday, August 15 he entered the glorious place we Christians call heaven. My reality is that I miss him, I will miss him, and my life will eventually be redefined–already has–with his absence.

Tom was a friend, one of my dear pastors for the past few years, and a mentor in ministry. He loved Jesus and wasn’t afraid to tell anyone he met of his love and devotion to a savior who rescued him from the gutter of life (recommended reading: “From Gutter to Grace” by Pastor Thomas Tarpley, available on Amazon) I will let his book give justice and testimony to the man that I had grown to know and love, especially while serving alongside him in Celebrate Recovery.

Who else is Tom? If you had a chance to hear about how he came to Fowlerville MI you’d love the story. He was a black man, serving in the United Methodist Church, and Fowlerville’s UMC needed a pastor. They called Tom to the position. “Do you know who you’re talking to?!” he asked his superintendent. He was moved to a predominantly white community to serve in a church made up of all white folks. In his own words “it was the best assignment I ever had”.

After officially retiring from the UMC, Tom’s plans to move south were interrupted by God and he agreed to join the staff of Fowlerville United Brethren in Christ as its care pastor and quickly took the overseer and lead position in Celebrate Recovery, a 12 step program for adults. Tom was familiar with the 12 steps. Up until his death, he had celebrated 32 years of sobriety from alcohol and drugs. Everywhere he went he was usually wearing his CR shirt and telling people about two things–Jesus and CR!

I met Tom when he was the lead pastor at the Fowlerville UMC. I’d heard him preach at community worship services and loved the messages he gave, powerful scripture based words that flowed from his barrel chest, sometimes with or without a microphone. Tom never let an obstacle stop him from preaching. In fact, the last time he was scheduled to preach at our church he woke that morning to broken dentures. “Never mind” he messaged our operations manager..”if I have to super glue them together, I will. Guess ‘someone’ doesn’t want me giving this message this morning…” that was Tom. He was unstoppable, stubborn, a man doing kingdom work up until age 78. You see, part of Tom’s philosophy in life is that a Christian never retires. There’s always something to do and someone who needs to hear about Jesus’ saving grace. One of his best sermon lines was “if you were the only person alive on earth, Jesus would have died for you.”

Tom’s eulogy and other accomplishments will be honored at his funeral service. I’ll leave that obligation to those serving him that day. He didn’t like being the center of attention even though he easily took command of situations needing a leader. He LOVED worshipping God, singing at the top of his lungs and clapping his hands while shuffling and swaying to the music. I’m most certain he’s doing that right now, from the moment he arrived. Hopefully the heavenly worship band will play and sing “No Longer Slaves” (Zach Williams).

Tom attended the National Celebrate Recovery Summit in July 2020. He came home and developed a cold which turned out to be symptoms of the covid virus which escalated to pneumonia. The sickness was too much for his body and in the hospital on Sunday, after being there a week, he died. Wishing I could have been a fly on the wall, I like to believe that before heavy sedation was necessary to give him the rest his weary body needed, those doctors and nurses attending him heard about Jesus. Somehow I hope they knew that they had one of God’s mighty warriors in their care.

My last conversation with Tom was on the very subject matter of covid. We both agreed that “if I (meaning himself or me) get covid and die, I win, I’m with Jesus. If I get covid and live, I win, I’m with family and friends until my time comes.” We had that conversation, bathed in complete confidence and peace because of our shared faith and hope in Christ and a home prepared for us, for all believers in Heaven.

So, today, is not a favorite day but it remains a good day. Ministry is moving forward and yes, without our beloved brother and leader with us, but going forth. We–I–am doing so because it’s the right thing to do as I remember Tom. It’s what Tom preached and what he would insist upon.

I’m not ready to totally use all “past presence” grammar when referring to my friend. In fact, it I’m totally honest, I don’t have to. You see, Tom’s body has died. It served its purpose. Tom’s soul and spirit are now in Heaven where he IS living for eternity. So, I can smile and refer to Tom as “he is……” not “he was….” He WAS a lot of good things, flaws and all that drove him to substance abuse at a very young age and eventually drew him into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and a journey of healing with his 12 step programs. Some writers might say “if you want to know more about this man Tom”. Nope! Tom would have THiS friend and writer say “if you want to know more about this man JESUS, let’s talk.” Better yet. Find a Bible believing church this Sunday and go! If you’re trapped in addiction, deep hurt or nasty habits, find a Celebrate Recovery. I guarantee you that both places may have its band play and sing “No Longer Slaves”. If they do, you’ll soon be swaying, clapping and singing the very words that exemplifies my friend, Tom.

This morning I chose to read Psalm 3. For what reason? Well, quite often I like to read the Psalm that corresponds to the date on the calendar. Pretty simple approach isn’t it? I like to think so, but always at no surprise to me, SOMETHING from the reading will hit me with an “aha!” Today was no exception.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, 2020 was dominated by Covid 19 and here we are in August 2021 and every news outlet or social media platform is STILL making this virus the headliner in current events. Admittedly, I am over the depth of concern covid has imposed on me. I am not in control regarding its spread or conflicting opinions at every turn in TV, radio, social media reporting. I’m saddened how family and friendships have been torn apart or destroyed due to ONE virus. I could easily compare other death tolls that have accrued due to other illnesses, but I won’t. I could research and tell you how many children have been aborted out of selfishness, but I won’t. I could also look into deaths caused by drunks, people texting while driving, but I won’t. Why? When 2020 brought lockdowns and masks, arguments and unknowns, I turned and remained steadfast with my eyes fixed on Jesus whether it meant reading Scripture or talking to Him audibly or through my journaling. In 2020 I devoured a psalm a day, found one or two truths in each one and shared them on my social media page. By doing so, I built up my hope and confidence in Him as well as finding out what I was sharing brought strength, courage, and renewed hope to others. I couldn’t ask for anything more, other than bringing new people into God’s Kingdom, but that’s an entirely different blog post.

So, back to Psalm 3 and today. The verse that I gleaned in today’s quiet reading was 6: “I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.” How does that apply to me, having survived 2020 and finding myself midway through 2021? 

With each directive, I’ve done the mask thing. With each confirmed exposure, I’ve done the quarantine thing. I’ve washed my hands. I’ve taken my temperature when requested.  I’ve been socially distanced. I’ve used the disinfected shopping carts. I’ve stayed home if I didn’t feel well. What I didn’t do was take fear off the clothes hanger in a closet filled of unknowns and wear it. Fear is one of Satan’s primary weapons to keep a Christian from fully trusting in God; it’s a garment he carefully crafts hoping people will crave to wear and make a permanent part of their wardrobe. Fear is a state of mind that is easily composed in the minds of the wrong people who accessorize it with control and manipulation. It’s a driving force among throngs of people as evidenced by daily news reports driven by statistics and experts who sit among the “tens of thousands” trying to make me feel afraid. I’m not doing it. I will be smart, but more so I will be wise. I say I will listen to directives, but I will question. My questions won’t be directed at a person but rather addressed to God in prayer. I will pursue health. I will pursue being informed. I will pursue God. In that order? No. I will chase after God FIRST. Everything else I need will fall in line behind Him. 

If anything, 2020 was a year that drove me to ask more questions. Evaluate priorities. Take comfort in quiet times and unknown times, to see the folly of men and women trying to orchestrate continued chaos tied to a virus. While I certainly don’t ignore anyone’s  grief due to deaths connected to this illness, I am offering my voice as one contrary to the effects of living in constant fear and hardship. My bottom line in 2020 and to this day is a montra I’ve coined: “If I get covid and die, I win, for I am with Jesus. If I get covid and live, I win, for I am here with family and friends until He DOES call me Home.” Whatever scenario, you won’t catch me wearing a garment of fear. You’ll see me living each day to its fullest. I’ll continue going about my day to day activities, my weekly commitments, and being out in my community shopping or joining in a social event. My TV and radio will be turned off for the majority of my waking hours; the pages of my Bible will remain open, especially to the Psalms. “I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me”. (verse 3) Who or what is sustaining you? Is it time to update your wardrobe?