I'm Just An Alien

Do you remember the “Hee-Haw” skit song “...If it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all! Gloom despair and agony on me.” I know everybody’s been in that sort of posture at least once in their life. Most of the time we allow life’s little negatives to set us for disappointment or mega worries that only make matters worse. Then there’s the fact that probably more than half of what we read and hear is of a negative nature skewing our thoughts and responses to become the same. I’m reminded of the “Baldo” comic strip a few weeks back when Baldo and Tia Carmen are watching the TV news. The headline news was all negative, as usual; “A new study shows your front yard is more dangerous than a six lane freeway!” and, “Bacteria in your kitchen and bath are more hazardous than you think!” and, “Bedbugs ...are they cute critters or disease-carrying killers?” Baldo asks, “Why are we sitting here watching this stuff?” Tia Carmen replies, “Are you crazy?! The couch in front of the TV is the safest place in the house!” I was all geared up for surgery last week when a notice came that my pre-op EKG was abnormal. That’s the sort of slap up side the head I didn’t want, but I didn’t let it consume my thoughts either. I went to a heart specialist and found I had no problem. The machine misinterpreted its findings and set off an alarm. No big deal for me, but for those worried for me, the stress meter kind of peaked for a few days. So, my surgery is on again, vocal cords, third time, same as seven years ago. I know I have many praying for me and I ask you not pray for a miracle, rather that I hold true to my faith and accept whatever God has laid out before me. Accepting God’s will is not a negative for me.
Herb came home from work after what seemed like the longest day of his life. Nothing seemed to go right, beginning with the absence of his secretary, leaving him totally lost in his own office. He couldn’t figure out how to use the fax machine and the highlight of his day was when the copier jammed catching the paper on fire. His supervisor called him in on the carpet, scolding him for failing to meet his quota the past month. Arriving home he shared it all with his wife. She didn’t know exactly how to go about delivering more bad news to her husband so simply stated, “Well, I have some good news for you. Three out of four of your children didn’t break an arm today.”
[2 Corinthians 4: 16-18] Life isn’t fair at times and I’ll be the first to hold up that banner, but that’s no excuse to not giving life a purpose. Benjamin Franklin said, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” Worry and speculation are a waste of time. Although a remote possibility, I don’t plan on dying or completely losing my voice, but I’m prepared for either. Years before my illness showed up, I found purpose in my life through God’s Word and the hope found in the resurrection of Jesus. The apostle James rhetorically asked, “...What is your life?”, then answered, “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4: 14) Look at yourself and look at your surroundings. You and everything around you are marvelously made. We’re sharing in only a glimpse of the wonders of God the creator. Look in the mirror; straight in the eye. Tell me there’s no spirit living within you. We’re aliens in this world, living in a fragile tent of flesh and bones that will not last forever. Stop fretting about the obvious. Get to know God and His plan for your return home.