BAD RECEPTION

Have you ever been tested by someone (like a wife) to see if you are paying attention to what is being said? I have. Yesterday Kristi and I went for a Sunday evening drive and while I daydreamed of things from deep in the realm of “Jeff’s world”, Kristi was saying things like “look at that and what do you think about this” and what-not. There is usually a lot of “what-not.” She later mentioned that at one point while she was talking to me she said “do you see that monkey on the swing?” I replied “yes”. I was caught in the act of not listening to her she said. If this had been a serious matter I would have taken it to court with a plea innocent on grounds of entrapment! Fortunately for me I am a sufferer of A.D.D., a self-diagnosed fact I might say. If that doesn’t work then I guess I will play the “safety in numbers” card that all men have poor reception when their wife is transmitting (a few bars shy of a good signal). It would be much better if women had a squelch knob like CB radios do so we could control the background noise and hear only the important stuff. That’s what a friend once told me anyway. I of course do not necessarily agree with that. I would settle for just a volume control-JUST KIDDING! This isn’t what my post was inspired by but it does somewhat provide an example of everyday breakdowns in communication in a relationship and how its health is dependent on our being intentional about listening.

This morning after my bike ride, Kristi and I were out on the deck (the dreaded backyard deck-yes). She said she was trying to get WMBI radio tuned in but the reception was bad. She explained that as she drew closer to the antenna, the reception got better and when she grabbed hold of it, it was even better yet and very clear. She went on that as she let go of the antenna it became difficult to hear the radio station and as she backed away farther, reception got progressively worse and back to the way it was before she first drew close. She said “that’s a lot like being in a relationship with Jesus.” She didn’t have to explain any more to me. Been there-done that. It amazes me that even in these modern times we are surrounded by parables and I truly believe that if a man meditates on even a blade of grass God can speak one into his heart to learn from. My eyes are welling up at the thought of just how spectacular He is right now.

You know I think some people are reluctant to get too close to God because when that happens there is expectation and accountability. Fear of those things however prevents many Christians from becoming “followers.” That fear will most certainly keep a person from becoming all that God has planned. Keeping God at a distance denies the opportunity to truly experience Him. God is speaking but He isn’t going to speak so loud that no body knows who He is talking to. Keeping your distance increases the chance that you will miss what He has in store for you because you will be overwhelmed with background noise. That background noise is all of the elements, influences and behavior that aim to keep you right where you are at so listen closely-God will meet you right where you are at-right now, and here is the best part; He will not leave you the way He found you! As the saying goes “sit down, shut up and hold on!” Listen, and allow Him to move you toward becoming the person He created you to be and complete the work He has started in you. Nobody is perfect and it’s only by his grace that we are even moveable. I find at times I’m so stubborn and set in my own ways that you would think by now I’ve learned that His way is always the better way so He lets me fall now and then to remind me Who is in charge. It may not have been His will for me to fall but I do believe it is His will to extend a hand and lift me back up every time I do. That is grace.

As for the monkey on the swing, dear wife; I in fact did see a monkey and I challenge you to prove otherwise!

The Front Porch

"Go outside and make some new friends!" My mom used to yell that at me a lot when I was a kid. I spent my best childhood years in a humble dwelling situated at 212 E. Park street in Plano, IL. As a kid, making new friends was easy. All I had to do was look for a football game or baseball game (hardball) in a small empty residential lot. There was one lot in particular that was right across the street that had a line of brush in the back (which made it hard to find a baseball I might add) and beyond that a long shed with broken windows...caused by foul balls of course! I remember hiding in the bushes with friends and smoking homemade cigarettes I fashioned from corn silk, rolled in brown sack paper. These smokes were kind of harsh by the way and as a result we didn't do this often but it made us feel "big" when we did.

A couple of weeks ago while vacationing, I was on one of my early morning bike rides and was reflecting on 212 E. Park street. The thing that was on my mind was the front porch. Not many houses these days are built with front porches and the sad thing is, most people really don't care. Right around 1980 a new "thing" took root in home renovation. This "thing" was called a deck. Oh to have a deck in the back yard was the thing to do so decks began to spring up everywhere. Society had taken another evolutionary step from "community" to "isolation". It was now possible to sit outside and not be bothered by people walking by on the side walk or have them wave as they drove by. It was now possible to never get to know a neighbor 2-doors down. Instead if you look 2-decks down and wave hello they might think you've been snooping at their wife laying on the deck sun bathing or something-so we isolate ourselves.

Those of us old enough are fortunate enough to have known the "good ol' days" when we didn't have back yard decks. Back then my parents probably would have rejected the idea anyway. Growing up in the 60's was a gift-it truly was. People back then seemed to enjoy the opportunity to be friendly, to wave at a passing car whether you knew them or not. People would stop on the sidewalk as they went by to say hi to mom and dad and they did the same. The front porch is where a neighbor would drop off a freshly baked rhubarb pie. We sat and watched several thunderstorms from the front porch. Mom often yelled my name from the front porch when I was out making friends while a storm was passing. After supper time was followed by a sit on the porch like Andy and Barney from Mayberry did but Andy smoked a better cigarette than the kind I made as a 10-year old.

Last night after my bike ride, at about 8 p.m. I wound-down with a sit on my front porch...something I don't do often enough. People I don't know waved as they walked by, said hello, smiled and I did the same. It's interesting that where I live now, there is significant separation between homes, hardly any front porches and zero sidewalks. That is Lake Holiday. Isolation-living by design you could say. My most precious memories of "community" will always be of a time when I was a kid growing up at 212 E. Park street which made me later fall in love with a front porch and hate a back yard deck.