Bug

I pierce the vein that carries the memory.

Although years old, it still flows fresh, and I feel exposed.

Yet, I watch the ink bleed onto this page. I feel the dark. I see the cold.

I pray the memory doesn’t haunt her. It doesn’t haunt me. I smile at the thought of her – now.

She sleeps over a thousand miles away, in peace. She is the subject of this letter to you. I call her Bug.

If I give you her number and you give her a call, she’ll talk until her phone goes dead. I know she will – because I do – and she does. She’ll fill you in with all that’s happening, between her and her best Friend. Like a school girl and her first love she’ll go on. She’ll tell you how He’s changed her life, and how she can’t imagine anyone living without Him. She’ll shine – like a lightning bug in the night.  She’s my daughter.

Have you ever felt stuck? Have you found yourself in life’s dark alley – surrounded by demons with no way out? She has. And she found a way out.

If ever I think things can’t change – I think of her. If ever I’m tempted that God can’t – I think of her. And know He can.

You see; it wasn’t always sugar and spice and everything nice. The memory that bled – and then led – to this letter is this:

“I hate you! Stay the h*!% out of my f@*#$% life.”

“I’m sorry to hear you say that, but I love you too much to do that. And you’re not leaving.”

“You can’t stop me.”

“I will.”

Before the sun set on the situation, she was in lock-up. My back, left elbow and head, ached, but mostly my heart.

Drugs and booze and sex and parties – the place where demons please the senses dull. The place you hate to be, but can’t seem to leave. She was stuck. She was delivered. She was set free. My daughter was set free by the Son. And who the Son sets free is free indeed. And she, who is forgiven much, loves much.

Aglow with His glory – like a lightning bug in the night – she shines. And her life has influenced mine.

God bless you Bug – keep shining. Love you, dad.

~

Time for Greater Works

Christ is Risen.  He is risen indeed. 

Perhaps you greeted someone with this ancient greeting of our faith this weekend.  These are powerful words.  These are meaningful words.  They are words that declare the most important fact of our faith.  Christ rose from the dead.

I am never at a loss for thoughts.  I have a very fertile mind.  There are so many ways I could express my thoughts and feelings two days after Easter 2011.  I had a strange Easter.  It has been years since the family actually gathered to celebrate the day.  Some of us celebrated the holiness of Easter at the Easter Vigil at Saint Ann’s RC Church.  You can read a bit of my thoughts about that night here.

On Resurrection Sunday we celebrated the gift of family.  It was a beautiful day.

But Easter is over for this year.  Like David my thoughts are turning to the days following.  While we express jubilance at the Resurrection, I wonder about those first disciples.  They all had questions.  Not just Thomas who expressed his doubts.  They all wondered what was next.  They were hiding behind locked doors. 

During the days after Jesus resurrection he appeared to many.  He eased Thomas’ doubts.  He offered restoration to Peter.  He told His disciples to go and make disciples.  He told them to baptize the new disciples in the name of the Father, and name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). 

Jesus had told His disciples that they would do greater works (John 14:12).  I’ve pondered that greater works many times.  I know the discussion in Christianity over works and grace.  While I can’t earn my salvation, I am called to do greater works and to make disciples.   

I’m heading to the upper room with David.  I’ve baptized a few people in my life.  I want to baptize more disciples.  I want to do the greater works that Jesus told us we would do.  I want a fresh Pentecost.

I’ve been praying for some people who have deep need.  I am sobered by the needs of my friends.  As I go to the upper room with my own plea for more of God, I also go for them.  I pray for them.  As I pray I am reminded of Paul’s words about the Spirit of the resurrection: 

If the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's! (Romans 8:11 The Message)