Driving Miss Daisy

As I was aimlessly flipping the remote (a significant benefit of a single woman) last night, I came across the 1989 Pulitzer winning flick, "Driving Miss Daisy". I remember being intrigued the first time I saw it now 20 years ago when I was in my early adult life. I experienced some different things than I did back then.

I could imagine how people over the years have seen me as a Miss Daisy (Jessica Tandy) characterized as a strong willed, Southern gal with a stiff upper lip. In her earlier years, she had little time for relationship or the simple things in life. She was quite focused with the things she could control and single handily change.

She was silently blessed with a black chauffeur named Hoke (Morgan Freeman) whose diversity and lifestyle made the two quite unlikely to develop much more than a working pleasantry with each other. Twenty five years and loss changed Miss Daisy and Hoke's priorities. They were not only drawn to accept each other's differences but were drawn to develop a meaningful relationship with each other. Miss Daisy eventually began to rely heavily on driving conversations with Hoke to provide meaning, joy and direction in her life. Eventually the stiff upper lip became a gentle smile and then erupted to full blown laughter with Hoke.

My take away from Driving Miss Daisy was different last night than it had been twenty years ago. I, like Miss Daisy, have realized that God's gift to us is not fulfilling in solitude, and if we are patient and open meaningful relationships are blessings that come from highly unlikely places and at times we least expect them. It reminds me of a saying I think of often... Life's a journey not a destination, so don't forget to enjoy the drive.

Simple as "Simon Says"

Sunday I had the opportunity to spend time with my grandchildren, Taylor (5) and Mason (1). It is always a good day when I get to do this because things get really simple when I interact at their level. I love to digress to my own childhood and remember how much fun I had before I went off to kindergarten. From my perspective, kindergarten is a time when you release your children for the first time to the care and wisdom of other adults as well as expose them to the diversity of many other lifestyles of children in a daily way (that's a subject for a different day though).

Taylor's creative mind moved us to a hybrid game of "Simon Says" that she called "Teacher". Obviously the competitive blood as the first born in a competitive family made her the "Teacher". The game worked like this, as the Teacher she could tell us what to do or not to do and we would do exactly what she told us or we would be "out". As you can imagine, us grandparents don't respond quite as precisely or as quickly as our Teacher expected. It produced more laughter and fun than I have had in quite awhile. She was a great teacher at age 5. She kept the instructions short and simple. It made the game fast paced and fun. At times, the instructions required teamwork or two to accomplish. She kept everyone engaged and the time flew as her success was reaffirmed by a proud grandma.

I will not forget the simpleness of that time we had together this Sunday. It made me wonder if we adults have made life more complicated than it needs to be sometimes-- turning games to contests, innocent fun to a challenge, or teamwork into competition. It made me wonder if we really just took our ULTIMATE TEACHER literally how simple and fun life could really get for all people. I am thankful for my granddaughter who's simple fun loving joy has me thinking how I can apply what I learned on Sunday to where I am in life.

The Pause Button

What would have happened if the 3000 people who witnessed the crucifixion had hit the "pause button" on Good Friday. It seemed clear that Jesus was gone. He had died on the cross. The disciples and all the people who had witnessed the crucifixion had been disappointed in the tragic ending. Not a single person had any hope that Jesus would rise on the third day, and the God they had hope in remained still and silent. People in despair went quietly to their homes to regroup and mourn some angry how Jesus had disappointed them and left them without hope.

Can you imagine the outcome of the Christian faith if the followers had not listened to Peter as he spoke of the significance of the Risen Lord and the end of the story would have been written on Good Friday? Did you ever think about the countless people today who believe the story did end on Good Friday? They pattern their lives without faith or hope aimlessly. You read on the front page of the newspaper and magazines (Newsweek's most recent cover - "The Decline and Fall of the Christian Faith"). What circumstances today mirror the disappointment and feeling of hopelessness that the followers of Jesus felt to the extent people have hit the "pause button" and ended the story before we have given God the chance to do HIS work in our lives?

There was and is no pause button in this story-- Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed. The third day came and the promise of the Father was delivered. All debts have been paid and the celebration is available for all who seek Him. (Acts 2:32-33,37-39) God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses to this fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. "Brother and sisters what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Rocky Moment

I have to admit I haven't seen all of the Rocky movies but was a fan especially of the first few releases. One of my favorite scenes was seeing Rocky running up the steep steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum during a period of his most intense training. The music to this scene was permanently imprinted in my mind from the first time I heard it. It is the motivational scene that I have used to inspire and encourage myself when I am facing challenging times or significant events. It rousts a spirit of perseverance and air of confidence in me.

This weekend for the first time, I got to live the moment. As we approached the museum a huge statue of Rocky reminded me of my inspiration. We paused for a moment to look ahead at a steep climb of close to 100 steps. My mind moved to the movie and felt the rush of living the Rocky moment. Before we made the climb, we turned about face to see the beauty of the City of Brotherly Love. Then hand and in hand we trotted up the first steep series of steps laughing out loud about living the moment I had played out in my head dozens of times. I could almost hear the music playing it was such a vivid recollection. The brisk head wind had us mid lifers pausing on the first landing out of breath. It was a moment I'll never forget. A Rocky Moment.

What if God Doesn't Show Up?

The days and hours before the Crucifixion, the disciples were on an unprecedented high. Their Savior had provided visible proof of His Power. Numerous miracles were witnessed, yet at the Last Supper Jesus prepared the disciples for the unpredictable and unexpected outcomes of the week. I have to wonder what the people who had so faithfully followed Him and witnessed Him were thinking as the arrest and betrayal started. Their demeanor of joy and celebration within a few days turned to betrayal and disbelief. As the Acts of God fell silent, the faith of the people turned to acts of violence. Despite the pleas of Jesus, God remained silent in the midst of taunting to prove Himself. The people yelled crucify Him. God did not destroy the Temple or deliver as Jesus had predicted. They concluded He is not the Son of God. The people must have been thinking... Does this God truly exist? It seemed to the people who were witnessing Jesus that God's silence was a reflection that He was not present, not capable of delivering, or not real.

I reflected on the events leading up to the crucifixion this morning Palm Sunday, as David Ashcraft, Sr Pastor of LCBC in Lancaster suggested that the greatest things that God ever does are during times of the greatest darkness, the times of silence, the biggest messes of life and the times we think he is not going to show up. We let these doubts creep into our thinking. Life's uncertainty result in lack of personal peace and reduce our impact as people who trust and love God.

As I apply that to life today for myself, I confess that I can identify with thoughts of uncertainty and I have also wondered: where is He? What will happen if He doesn't show up? Where was He when we were sacrificing and evil was prevailing? Life is hard. Why do I have to do this alone? What will happen if He doesn't show up in Somerset County to provide truth and justice? What if I lose my job? What if the economy totally collapses? What if...? What if....?

My conclusion is the "what if" was proven unequivocally on the cross. Life is uncertain. God is not. It is true that in the midst of our darkest times when God seems silent or absent, He is doing His best work for us. I have experienced it many times in my own life. He will always show up and He will act for His Will and timing not ours. It is a reminder that God is in control and we can have peace even in the midst of violent storms. In fact we can celebrate because these are the times that those who love Him are closest to Him and can wait in silence for Him to do His work. Romans 8:28 We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him.