For some reason this week I have had this song going through my head.  So I thought I would share it, maybe someone out there needs to hear it.

Have a great, musical Friday!

Image provided by compassionfayetteville.wordpress.com

Over this past weekend I had the privilege of watching some young adults demonstrate compassion for others.  I watched as they helped guide a person and ensure that the individual felt a part of what they were doing.  They demonstrated patience and understanding.  They provided support and encouragement.  They mentored the individual so that the person had confidence.  This was truly a role model for other youth and many adults.

Compassion is one item which the world seems to be lacking in serious ways. There appears to me to be a great abundance of violence and hatred in the world.  This is definitely not a new situation.  Humans seem to have always leaned more toward the violent side than the compassionate side.  Some would argue that this was evident in one of the earliest accounts of humans known as the Cain and Abel story.

As a person of faith, I find that Jesus definitely showed great compassion.  Jesus even reminded all humans of the great need for compassion when he said:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

(Matthew 25:34-40, NIV)

May we all learn from others who demonstrate compassion.  I was reminded of it through the actions of some young adults.

I know that it is not Friday but I felt that today called for a music video any way.  I have had some recent conversations which has reminded me of the importance of identifying individuals in life who can be there during difficult times.  There are a few people who I know are going through such times right now.  So I want to remind us all that one of the greatest gifts that we can be given is to have other people in our lives to lean on.

We all need somebody to lean on!

This seemed like an appropriate song for Good Friday:

Today, I ran across this song and decided to share it with you:

As I prepare to go on vacation, I wanted to wish all of you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I want to leave you with a reminder about what the focus of Christmas should be for us.

I will see you in 2015.

As I reflected back on this week, or maybe weeks, this song came to my mind.  It is important to just keep moving down the road.

Today as I look out my office window and see the falling leaves scattered on the ground, I was reminded of this song from my childhood.  It reminds me that we all need someone in our lives.

When we are young, we quickly begin the battles for our own independence in life.  Two and three-year-olds quickly learn to tell parents and caregivers, “I do it!”  From that point forward, each child strives to create more and more independence from their parents and other authority figures.  That independence grows when they reach the age which allows them to drive and especially when they obtain their first vehicle.  The next major step of independence occurs when the individual moves out of their parent’s home.  With each step toward personal independence, there is an increase in pride and self-worth.

Then there is the other side of life.  As a person ages, he/she loses some of their ability to care for their own needs.  There may be some memory loss or other mental changes that impact the person’s abilities.  The physical changes which occur can impact their mobility and/or their steadiness in movement.  When these changes begin to accumulate, there is a need to adjust living arrangements, driving, and other day-to-day tasks.  Each adjustment leads to a reduction of independence on the individual’s part.  This reduction can cause a person to question their worth and often can lead to depression.  Much like a young child, they may even rebel against those who they perceive are trying to reduce their independence.  These times can be very difficult.

Recently, I have been dealing with this other side of life in regards to my father.  I struggle with watching a very independent and strong-willed individual lose that independence.  I struggle with how the changes in his life are impacting his sense of being and his view of the future.  I try to listen and be supportive but know that the answers which I can provide are not the answers he wishes to hear.

So I am reminded of the importance that we place upon personal independence.  I am ever more mindful of those who struggle with the loss of their independence.  I find myself taking my own independence a little less for granted.

Image provided by peacelovefree.com

This morning during my devotional time, I read the story of a Taiwanese man who felt he was being called into the ministry.  However, his father, who was a businessman, wanted him to go into a more practical direction and join him in business.  The young man majored in accounting in college and struggled with his school work.  He made the statement, “my heart just wasn’t in it.”  After completing his mandatory year of military service, his father told him to take the seminary entrance exam which he did and successfully enrolled in seminary.

The key for the young man in the story was the opportunity to follow his heart.  I find this as something that is always a challenge for me since I have generally always been a practical person.  There is value in being practical.  However, like the young man in the story, I can name times when in taking the practical road I struggled because my heart just was not in it.  There is something to be said regarding having the passion for whatever you are doing.  Being passionate about aspects of life goes a long ways in creating peace and happiness in your life.

So from my devotion today, and reflecting on that story, I would encourage all of you to follow your heart.  Find your passion for this time in your life and strive to take that path, even if it may appear impractical at the time.