Life's Expectations

Met with some friends recently we had not seen for some time. It was a typical reunion with lots of back-and-forth questions.

Now that you’ve downsized, how do you like your “tiny” house? Do your kids and grandkids call you? How was your Christmas holiday?

When I retired from full time ministry and my wife from full-time teaching, we made a decision to simplify lives and buy a smaller, more manageable house. As we age one must face realties … houses do not get easier to manage. The house-hunting objective became no monster two-storied homes, small yards, and low maintenance.

Too many people I know opt to fulfill unachieved life expectations by buying the dream home they never owned (which is typically oversized). They justify the purchase on the premise that family and kids will have a place to stay when they visit. Alas, that does not easily happen with 50-hour work-weeks, minimal vacation time, and tight available funds for airline tickets.

So what’s a family to do if you want to maintain communications? Sitting by your phone waiting for a call from loved ones is not realistic. You may be waiting a long time!

The answer is simple. Learn how to text. Try Skyping. Get on Facebook. Send a friend request to your grandkids. They may ignore their parent's “friends” request, but they are more apt to accept a grandparent especially if they want their next birthday present. They will “lol” at all of our mistakes and continuous “geek-squad” questions.

Most important, do not focus solely on your life expectations. It’s okay to yearn for the better things of life, but let’s not forget what life is all about _ it is Christ being proclaimed.

In Philippians 1:18 – 20, the apostle Paul sums it up.

Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Robert Parlante
January 2016

The Trash We Leave Behind

I have come to the conclusion there are at least two types of people in this world. There are those who go through life leaving a trail of debris behind. And then there those who come after them and pick up the trash.

There is a senior couple I frequently encounter when we drive to our daughter’s house. The two can be seen traipsing along a stretch of country road. The man is carrying a trash bag while the woman uses a long reach pick-up tool to grab pieces of litter along the roadside, depositing the trash into the garbage bag. I have encountered this couple too many times to count. Each time I see them I wonder what motivates this couple to be so concerned about someone else’s trash.

One way to view this scenario is that some people are messy and throw litter out of their car window indiscriminately. The other scenario is some people are neat freaks and dislike things out of place. I can understand this. In the gym I attend, I frequently encounter a sink strewn with shaving cream and beard clippings when I go to wash my hands. I have been tempted to install a sign saying: Clean up after yourself; your mother doesn’t work here!

With the New Year just beginning and the typical round of resolutions we consider, think about the following. Sometimes people leave emotional trash and consequences behind because of their lifestyle. Sometimes people are called to pick up the pieces and help someone get back on their spiritual track. Scripture reminds us there is a time for this and a time for that; a time for every purpose under heaven. Have an open mind to where the Lord calls or pushes you. Be ready to provide a helping hand. But before we take that first step as servant-encourager, we need to look within our own heart.

A good place to start your New Year resolutions is Psalm 51.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Robert Parlante

January 2016