Traveling the Rock Road

Personally, I believe one of the hardest things a child learns to cope with is that their norm is not the same as everyone else around them; in my case it was the lack of a father. Where other children around had a mom, dad and siblings, my family nucleus mom, myself and a great-aunt and great-uncle. Early on the thought of a father never crossed my mind; it wasn’t until I started school and kids would ask me where my dad was, and I really didn’t know. I had heard Ma (as I called her) tell different stories to others that contradicted each other; he had died, they were divorced, he lived somewhere else due to work. When we were alone and I asked her where dad was she would answer, “When you get old enough to understand, I’ll tell you.” That wasn’t much comfort and even added to my confusion, but I would wait and ask again and again and again. But always the same answer, “When you get old enough to understand, I’ll tell you. As I grew into my teen years this became a point of dissension between ma and I, and not only her but other people that I was close to would not give me the answer I so desperately desired; not even the person I trusted and revered more than anyone else in the world. “Johnny, I plan to tell you someday, but as long as your ma doesn’t want you to know, I can’t say a word.” So, the mystery continued and for a time I grew angry, dark spirited and withdrawn. If I didn’t have to talk about it, I wouldn’t have to answer any questions, nor put up with the ridicule and teasing from bully types. I did all I could to convince myself it wasn’t important anyway and it didn’t bother me. But it did, and deep inside, it was like a dull pain that wouldn’t go away.

By the time I was sixteen I was pretty much living on my own, playing music and showing up for school just enough to keep from being tossed out. During this period a police officer who I had some run ins with but saw that I wasn’t a bad kid, went out of his way to keep me out of trouble did me the biggest favor he could have ever imagined. After one of my stupid shenanigans that he bailed me out of, I had to meet once a week to give him a report on what I was doing. It was over coffee at a local dime store that I asked him one day, “You’ve known my family since we came here; do you know what ever happened to my dad?” It seemed forever he stared into his coffee cup before questioning on why I was asking him. After a half hour of giving my reasons and assuring him I’d never say who told me nor speak harshly to my mother on the subject, he began a story. A story of a young woman who was highly impressionable who also had physical, emotional and social limitations and the older man who took advantage of that. That is, until she became pregnant, he then left town and returned to his own wife and children. I suppose the normal reaction for many would have been anger, betrayal or sadness. For me it was like a hundred pound pack has fallen from my shoulders with the dark hole of my life now filled and it was okay.

It took a while before I approached mom to let her know my discovery, and that it was okay that I knew, and that I loved her just as much. But being careful and gentle telling her didn’t matter; she turned walked out of the room and refused to talk about it for many years.

A young unwed mother back in the early 50s carried a larger black mark than it does in today’s society. This stigma combined with other problems made the situation worse for my beloved mother and she would spend a great deal of her life hiding what happened. When the time came that we would talk, I learned more than I realized, not about my father, but about Ma. For me knowing the truth was liberating, but for her the shame cast in ignorance by some was like a cage; what I was franticly running toward, she was desperately running away from. When mom realized my love for her was untainted at the revelation of this deep kept secret, she too finally felt a release, a freeing of sorts of her soul that condemnation did not exist with me and especially no longer in her.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learn about my Lord is that He realizes first and foremost that we all have dealt with problems that taint our lives to some degree. That’s exactly why He let us know it’s okay, we’re not or capable of living perfect lives, totally impossible in a sinful world. That’s where His love takes over.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

The world will look and declare a mistake has happened. God says “You bring that to me and I’ll show you what I can make out of it, because of how much I love you.”

John Bunyan said, “No child of God sins to that degree as to make him incapable of forgiveness.”

I’ve shared this with you today not to tell a deep dark secret of my past as well as my mother’s. I’ve shared to let you know that hiding, covering over or denying past mistakes will never bring peace. My belief is that healing will only come when you release all that weighs you down to the God that’s able to forgive and start you anew.

Ephesians 1:7-8 – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding”

I like what Chuck Swindoll says, “When God is involved, anything can happen.  Be open. Stay that way. God has a beautiful way of bringing good vibrations out of broken chords.”

As mentioned before, it took mom a while to get used to me knowing the truth. But as time went on she was so glad to have someone to talk to about it, someone who understood, someone who saw her as the greatest mom he could have had in life.

When Ma’s days of “Traveling the Rock Road” were finished, she went from holding my hand, to the arms of her Savior.

“Hey Ma, where’s Dad?” Right where He should be, high and lifted up, seated on the Throne, and loving each and every one of His children, like only a Father could.

See ya next time.

It wasn’t long after my Lady and I married that we made the decision to move from Ohio and start afresh in Indiana. It wasn’t easy for a couple of 20 year- olds, not even married a full year, to pull up stakes from our home, families and friends and start our lives someplace where we didn’t know anyone or what to expect with me working part-time plus going to college and Cathy taking a job in a bank. Yes it was a bit rough but slowly we got adjusted to the new routine, the area and even made some new friends. The one thing that probably kept us going most was a promise we made to each other that as soon as I finished school we’d return to Ohio.

As the years unfolded it became apparent I wasn’t going to finish school, at least not where I first started and not in 4 years. But we had fallen in love with the little community of Warsaw/Winona Lake with all it had to offer and began making plans for a permanent home to raise our family. There was just so much it had to offer with the beauty of the lakes, churches to attend and many good jobs to choose from, plus a small-town atmosphere that is quite progressive with arts and entertainment. This was becoming home now and we were happy with our decision to stay. We felt we had everything we wanted and needed, but occasionally there was a missing piece that actually did weigh me down and I missed dearly. A quick phone and a 2 ½ hour drive through the night would soon alleviate that nagging dark feeling.

I had known Lynn since the 7^th grade and Don from about our sophomore year; as the years rolled on they became closer than just school years’ friends, brothers. We knew more about each other than others would begin to know. Cathy was my life mate and a day has not gone by that I haven’t thanked God for her being there for me, but occasionally a moment came when I had to just talk to someone else who knew me well. Now I had made many new friends, but it just wasn’t the same; we had no history where we had walked the same path together. So once in a while I’d make a call to one or the other around 9 or 10 in the evening, then set off in the direction of Fremont, Ohio or Grand Rapids, Michigan for an important engagement of sitting around a living room strumming guitars and singing old songs, maybe going down somewhere to catch a band performing, but often just sitting in a coffee shop laughing and talking about the old times and what life was handing us now. After several hours, it was back in the car and home just as day was breaking. In one aspect, it was exhausting driving so far for what most would see as nothing important. But to me it was new life pumped back in my soul, just spending a little time with ones who I knew, would always care and be there for me.

C.S. Lewis sums up friendship like this, “Friendship is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others.”

When you have a friendship where each one can take turns telling all that’s on their heart while the other does nothing more than listen, you have something special, something in this man’s thinking as a gift from God. That’s what bonds you, that’s what gives you that love for the one who has “Traveled the Rock Road” with you, and both were glad they were there for each other.

I see Jesus in the same light, as not only my Savior, but my friend; not because I say it, but because He does.

John 15:15 “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

God has surely blessed me with wonderful friends; my Lady, Donnie, Lynn, and of course Christ himself.

Proverbs 18:14 “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

We don’t see each other the way we used to; those all-night get-togethers are a few years back down the road. But I know at any time I can pick up the phone and our connection, our bond doesn’t start again, it merely picks up where we left off, just like when I pray to the Lord. That’s a love closer than a brother.

Who knows, now that we’re older perhaps we’ll all end up someday in the same nursing home, that is until they kick us out for getting all the other patients rockin out to little CCR and Steppenwolf.

“Get your motor running!!”

See ya next time.

I don’t know a time when my Lady and I had felt so heartsick, so desperate that this wasn’t really happening, and so betrayed.

For the first six years of our marriage we had no children. It’s wasn’t for not trying or not wanting especially Cathy, but it seemed like we’d never have our own family. We both saw medical professionals in hopes of finding out the problem and correcting it, but we both checked out perfectly. It began to weigh on us that perhaps God didn’t want us to have children, or possibly biological ones. So in our fourth year we began to explore adoption and every agency we could find that dealt in the process. For a time that proved to fruitless also, as many organizations were flooded with requests for children and the waiting list, if you even got on it, was years long. We finally came across a very large church (this was in the days before they were called mega-churches) who took our application and set up an appointment right away. During the interview we were asked many questions and then assigned a case worker to come to our home for an inspection and more interviews. The gentleman we met with that day let us know we’d be under a microscope for the next three months and if they chose not to place a child with us they would let us know early in the process.

We were a bit nervous on the first visit from the man assigned our case, but it seemed to go well. He asked questions on our growing up years and the families we came from, then our marriage, friends, occupations, education, church affiliation. He also asked about our outlooks on life and our relationship to God; all questions we answered honestly and what we felt positively. During five different visits, we were barraged with these and many more questions, and our responses were more at ease and we could tell the caseworker was feeling comfortable spending time with us. After the fifth he told us he’d be back in two weeks for the final meeting. Our hearts nearly jumped out of our chests. Others had told us if you get it to the last interview you’ve made it; we were going to have a baby!!

His words on that day still ring in my ears, and the feeling that came over us was terribly numbing beyond description. “I’m sorry, but your spiritual life is not where we feel comfortable in placing one of our babies with you; I wish you well.”

Darkness flooded us like a tidal wave that we were sure to drown in. It was difficult to comfort Cathy when I felt none myself. “God, I don’t understand! Why would you let this happen?! Are we truly not good enough to be trusted with children?!!”

Healing was long in coming, but it did. For me, whether the assessment was fair or not it made look hard at my spiritual life, my commitment to the one I called Lord. Had I turned everything over to Him? Truthfully the answer was no. One of my passages from that moment, and still today is “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I didn’t understand what happened but I knew I had to trust in God no matter what the outcome, even it meant being childless. A saying I heard goes like this; “Those to learn to leave everything in God’s hand will eventually see God’s hand in everything.” So, I learned to give it over to my Lord, and I felt peace.

For my Lady, it was more about waiting on God’s timetable and not her own. Psalm 37:7a “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” And this is her verse for this 2017. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know, I am God.” It was hard for Cathy, like me, and the peace was slow in coming. But the peace came; this is, until two years later when she woke up with an unusual “Morning Sickness!!” Six years into our marriage Jamie Melissa was born, 20 months later Jeremy David, and 20 months after that Justin Michael. Since those days with the additions of the kid’s spouses and grandchildren these two “Travelers of the Rock Road” who grew up as only children now have a family totalling 15.

To date there’s still that lingering question of the problem the adoption people had with us. I have my own ideas but there not worth going into. All I can say is perhaps God had to use them to wake us up to trusting and waiting completely on His will and timing?

Maybe, just maybe, He’s waiting on the same from you. Just a thought.

See ya next time.

When I was a child and we moved out of West Virginia to settle in Ohio, the home we found was on the lower east side of town near the river. It was a diverse group of people that lived there–black, white, Latin and a spattering of Germans that had immigrated to the U.S. There were a good many, that like us, had moved there from Appalachia in search of work. What I liked about it was there were lots of kids to play with whenever I ventured out into the neighborhood. My great-uncle and his temper were a deterrent to having friends over so I would head over to someone else’s house as often as possible. I particularly liked homes that had lots of kids; it was almost fascinating to see how a large group functioned in a small home with little if any chaos. So with that many youngsters around it was easy to get together a game of tag, baseball, football, snowball fights or whatever. Quite often yelling or fist fights would break out because someone didn’t play fair and the game would be over; but the next day, without adult intervention, professional counseling or a 12 step program, we’d all be back playing again. Looking back I can see it as one of the few places I felt comfortable–safe I suppose would be a better word. At school I got picked on a lot, but someone didn’t dare come into the neighborhood to start trouble with one of us; you might have a group from 4 to 14 jumping on your back! Yeah, it was a great place to be a kid; you could go down a block to the river to fish, get a baseball game up at this old field across from a trailer park, and in the summer there was a little park that everyone congregated at next to the old East-Side Fire Station. I think we felt we had it all when we were young, carefree and together. It helped shield us of the stigma that others had; that the lower east side was one of the poor sections of town.

Most of the homes were well kept but older, cheaper to rent or buy. Nearly all the parents worked factory jobs and whatever else they could find to support a family. Cars were older, clothes were hand-me-downs and I’m told that the school dropout rate was nearly twice that of any place else in the community. But as children we didn’t know or care about any of that, that is until we got older and moved into new groups of friends outside our circle. I guess you start to see things in a different light when you reach adolescence, you notice your surroundings more and that of others that you now associate with and you become more self-conscious. I would see some who left the neighborhood at the high-school, but they would hardly speak especially if they were with their new friends; I’m guessing they wanted nothing to do with association of that place and time. I was guilty of the same thing; when we moved out I hardly went over to the old haunts and seldom would I speak to anyone from there.

So what happened? Was I now too good for any of those memories? I realized later that yes, I and my situation had changed, but I was still who God made me.

I once read these words: “Let your past make you better, not bitter.” Perhaps if my mom could have afforded it, we would have lived in a better section of town, but she couldn’t, so her and my Aunt Pearl made the best home possible, just like everyone around us which is what added to our happiness. The cares of the world or what others thought was meaningless; we had love, our families and each other. For a while I forgot where I came from and treated people in a way that I never liked to be treated myself. But God reminded who I was and what I should do with this:

John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as “I” have loved you.

This “Traveler of the Rock Road” that the Lord put in a place as a child to feel secure, to be happy, to have friends, to learn, love and live wouldn’t trade it to have lived in Beverly Hills!

I moved from my adopted home before I was 21 but go back to visit from time to time. On occasion I’ve driven over to the old neighborhood and walked around. It’s very run down now and I’m told never go over there at night, which is why my visits have been in the early mornings. But as I walk the streets, I listen to the sounds of the past. I hear children playing, fighting, and playing some more. I see my first hero, Bill, the big kid that lived next door. I see the other Bill down the street, my very first friend, and others like Russell, Victor, Danny, Eddie and Edgar. I can still envision the prettiest girls in town: Damaris, Dinah, Nadine, Marchelle and Maggie. This all brings a smile to my face in the early morn. Then I think of the people that live there now, all the kids and do they come out to play like we did; are they shielded from the coldness that the world can be like we were. I don’t know any of that, but I do know this; each and every one is a good person. Oh, not because I say so, but because I have a God that says it, that we’re all worth something.

Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

With that kind of love, no matter who you are, “If you’re good enough for God, you’re good enough for me!

See ya next time.

Many have heard me say that other than the birth of my children the 80s it was a decade I’d just as soon forget. We all, from time to time, fall on rough road that makes us wonder if we’re going to live through it. But this traumatic moment seemed to drag on and even get worse with each passing day; I never became suicidal but frankly I would have welcomed death had it come.

It all started with a real-estate venture I invested in with hopes of riches beyond what my family and I would ever need.  Unfortunately, that would soon prove to be the worst money pit I ever fell in; there was constantly more cash going out than coming in. The upkeep, mortgage payments and loss of revenue from renters not paying or moving out leaving an apartment in shambles was staggering. I was going all over the state borrowing money from every lending institution that would deal with me, just to keep everything afloat. The real crushing blow came when the IRS froze all my assets and placed heavy fines for not filing taxes properly, and then I was accused of embezzling funds by the partnership. Not exactly the way I dreamed my rise as real-estate mogul was going to be. Sheesh!!

Also during the 80s two other heartbreaks came home to roost. The first was the loss of my beloved Great Aunt Pearl in a car accident; the loss of this dear lady and mentor sent me into a depression that lasted some seven years. Finally, to top off the cake while traveling to Ohio for Christmas I slid through a stop on an icy road causing me collide with another vehicle; this nearly took the life of another wonderful lady in my life, Cathy my wife.

So as you can see if there was a way I could open up the earth, push all that in and cover it, I would. I didn’t understand why all this was happening, and for the first time in my life as a Christian I began to question, “God where are you when I need you the most?” It just didn’t make sense how He could let so much happen when all I wanted to do was serve Him. So was this then the end? In a word, Nope!

I heard these words recently and believe they can be credited to our pastor; “A bad beginning isn’t the end.” My world was falling apart, but it wasn’t the final chapter in the Gray One’s Legacy. Even though I felt like God had deserted me, a soft voice quietly was saying, “I’m still here.” It first came in prayer where I stopped complaining all the time and began thanking Him that I knew He still loved me. It came reading more of His Word;

Psalm 50:15 “and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

I had to make a decision, are these just words written on paper to make me feel good, or is this truth of God’s love? I praise Him that I chose the latter.

Then of course there were the folks God placed in our path that helped with encouragement and prayers; I shudder to think where I’d be today without their support.

Now I could go on to tell you why I think these things happened as they did, but that’s not really important to me anymore. What is central is that my love for the Lord became stronger, and so did I.

It wasn’t easy or quick but slowly we got through all the problems. I worked extra jobs to pay all that was owed, never giving a thought to filing bankruptcy. We lived on bare minimum where Cathy’s talents at stretching a dollar kept us in our home and food on the table. We drove the best jalopy $200 could buy; then when it broke down we’d take it to the junkyard and buy another. (Little side note here; the kids would often lay on the seats or the floor so no one would see them in dad’s junk-mobile). Perhaps the best that happened to me was realizing as much as I wanted Pearly Mae back I knew she wouldn’t want to be; she was now in Glory with her Lord!

It was slow, hard and long “Traveling the Rock Road” back in the 80s, but when we came out, it proved to be one of the best learning experiences on trusting God I could have ever experienced. “But God, let’s not have any repeats, okay?!!”

Let me leave you today with some verses I have reread constantly, to remind me of those words, “A bad beginning isn’t the end.” Perhaps you’ll find yourself hiding them in your heart as this man has.

Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, Hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Where there’s “Hope,” there’s a new beginning. Awesome!!
See ya next time.

This last Saturday my Lady threw a birthday party for three of our grandchildren, only problem is their birthdays are months away. Still we had cake (okay cupcakes) candles, presents, a trip to the local arcade so they could play games, dinner at one of their favorite restaurants, and finally back home to watch a video. All this was done immersed in fun and laughter. So now that I’ve muddied the waters by saying we had a birthday party but it really wasn’t anyone’s birthday I’m sure there are ones saying “What in the world are you talking about Miller?!!” Truth is it really was a birthday celebration, but not the type where our bodies age each year. This was in honor of each child making a decision to trust Christ as their Savior, one of whom this proud grandpa was privileged to lead to the Lord. Thus, each year Cathy picks a date closest to all of their spiritual birthdays to have a party just like a regular birthday, with a couple of exceptions of course. Yes, we plan a fun day just like you would for any anniversary, but if that was all it is then I’m sure the true meaning of what and why we rejoice would soon be lost. As any of you regular readers know, we hold to the position that eternal life in Heaven comes from believing in Christ as Savior and confessing we have sins that only He can rid us of.

John 3:16 –  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

So we are so happy and proud that these children that we love more than life would make this decision at a young age. But what if we just left it there and nothing more was ever said about this wonderful decision each made; as the years pass, would they then see it as something amazing and important? Would they even remember the moment and the why behind it all? Being the kind and caring grandma my Lady is each year she plans this not only to celebrate but to remind them of what they did and how important it is to their lives. The festivities always begin with that reminder and how happy God is that they trusted Him. She tells them over again how much He loves them and the importance of loving Him back. The video always has a spiritual message to it; perhaps how a missionary gave up much if not everything to tell others about Jesus who might never hear. Or it might be about someone who went through tremendous adversity until they learned the joy of the Lord. And it’s a reminder that God’s love for them never ends, and that He can’t wait to see them in heaven.

Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

So I imagine as long as there’s life in my Lady, this incredible “Traveler of the Rock Road” will continue the celebrations and the reminders for each of our grandchildren. We both realize the day will come when we won’t be there to spur them on to love and trust God for everything, especially when the hard times come. But I’m betting they’ll be alright; after all they’ve had Sunday School and church to teach them, a loving mother that also teaches and prays over them, and an Irish-Mexican Grandmother who will never let them forget how much they’re loved by us and by God.

As Dr. Michael Youssef puts it, “When our children see us clinging to the promises of God, they will grow up trusting in His goodness. If we fail as adults in praying for and praying with the next generation, then they will become spiritually unsure.”
I have a feeling that “Matilda” (as I call my Lady) has got this one covered.

Happy Spiritual Birthday Blaine, Hailey Jo and Madison!

See ya next time.

The other week I had my 8-year-old granddaughter in the car with me and we were discussing our family on such deep topics such as who has the best voice, who’s the smartest, who’s the most serious and so forth. That’s when she looked at me with a mischievous grin and said “But you’re the craziest Grandpa!” She shrilled with laughter when I gave her a little poke mostly from knowing she had just made a funny at my expense. Truthfully though she’s right, I’m the one who usually does or says silly things to bring a bit of levity into almost any situation. You see I don’t believe there’s any more beautiful sound as that of laughter, particularly children’s laughter and the joy that comes with it.  I’m sure that stems from my childhood and the man who had the biggest influence on me back then.

Mom and I lived with my great aunt and uncle and he was a very stern and sober individual. He believed and tried to drill into my head that foolishness was just that and was worthless in a man’s life, unless of course you were using it to make fun and ridicule another person, a practice he seemed to enjoy doing to me constantly and especially in front of others. There were times his hateful and sarcastic remarks were more than I could handle and I just wanted to run as far away as I could get from him and the laughter. So having a indoctrination like that to laughter, it comes as no surprise that as I grew older I put on a hard façade; my way to telling others “You make fun of me and we’re going to have a major problem. Oh, and by the way, it’s okay if I do it to you.”  Funny how that works, without realizing it you can become the person or the attitude that you detest the most.

It wasn’t until caring people took me aside to explain laughter, especially at yourself, isn’t a bad thing and it doesn’t have to mean someone is being hateful to you. Some of the best comedians on TV make themselves the brunt of every joke while at the same time being some of the most caring people you’d ever meet. After becoming a Christian I made an amazing discovery, laughter is an important emotion God has given us as well as part of who I am in Christ.

Luke 6:21 “Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.”

Psalm 126:2-3 “Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said, “The LORD has done spectacular things for them.” The LORD has done spectacular things for us. We are overjoyed.”

Job 8:21 “He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”

Proverbs 15:15 “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.”

You see there was a time I thought that being a Christian meant not having fun, or laughing, or even being silly from time to time, when actually we’re called to be joyous and happy in Christ. That’s not to say life is always rosy as a believer, we all know that’s not the way it works. But Jesus wants us to look at the big picture and see no matter what, He’s there for us.  And when this run we call life is over there’s more joy than we can ever imagine waiting for us.

Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

So as Travelers of the Rock Road, learn to be joyful, laugh, even be a bit silly!

Two of my favorite Max Lucado quotes:

“Be a child again. Flirt. Giggle. Dip your cookies in your milk. Take a nap. Say you’re sorry if you hurt someone. Chase a butterfly. Be a child again.”

“I Choose Joy…I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.”

So I gladly accept and wear proudly the title “Silliest of the Family.” If it can show even one person, the joy that comes in Christ, then it’s all worth it.

Besides, if you’re in Christ, aren’t you called “Peculiar People”?  That’s Titus 2:14. KJV 🙂

See ya next time.

I gotta admit, I didn’t care much for Gus; he was loud, a braggart, and everything that came out of his mouth was laced with profanity. The thing that got to me most was when he’d talk about his tour of duty in Viet Nam. I have friends and family that fought in that war that would never tell the stores Gus did, they either described it like nothing anyone could imagine or they just didn’t talk about. But Gus told tales about going AWOL, sleeping on guard duty and all the girls he got to know in Saigon. If he talked about warfare it would be the craziest story he could come up in an effort to draw as much laughter as he could. Not wanting to hear his nonsense, I’d stay as far away from Gus as I could.  Having coffee with a friend at work, who happened to be a Korean War veteran; I told him how I didn’t care much for Gus and his obnoxious mouth, and how I found his comments on what he did in the war offensive to all that served. I was gently but firmly rebuked with, “You don’t understand Gus, and since you never served you mostly like never will. He saw more than his share of combat and death, telling his jokes and making others laugh is his way of dealing with the misery that he doesn’t talk about; it like a protective wall he’s put up so he doesn’t have to remember or talk about the bad stuff. Gus is okay; had you served you would understand.” I don’t think I totally bought my friend’s explanation of Gus but I never brought him up again. My thought was “If Gus wants to build a wall to hide behind that’s up to him, I’ll just stay on the other side so I don’t have to deal with the jerk!”

I thought I had remedied my problem with “Gassin’ Gus” as I called him when he took a job somewhere else and I didn’t have to see or hear him anymore. That would take care of the problem; or would it?

Some twenty years passed and I had all but forgotten about old Gus, that is until I ran into him at a store last Christmas. He was heavier gray and wrinkled but I knew him as he recognized me the moment our eyes met. I couldn’t help but notice the hat he was wearing, a hat that identified him as a Nam Vet. He told me he got that when he went on the Honor Flight that summer to D.C.  Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. They transport America’s Veterans to Washington, DC to visit those memorials dedicated to honor the service and sacrifices of themselves and their friends. “First time you ever been there?” I asked “Yes it was.” “So what did you think?” Something then happened I’d never saw in Gus before; he became eerily quiet and stared off as if he was seeing something no one else could. “I was alright, until I got to the Viet Nam Memorial Wall and saw how large it was will all the names. I found the locations of men’s names I served with who didn’t make it home, and it all came flooding back in my mind.” His voice had drawn quiet and even cracked a little. “So Gus, are you okay after being there?”  A little smile and then “I don’t think I would have been if it hadn’t been for what happened when we got back to the airport. When we all got off the bus and entered the terminal people had lined up on both walls and applauded loudly as we walked down the aisle, many shook our hands and thanked us for our service. I was still doing pretty well until I saw this little girl smiling at me. I smiled back and went to shake her hand; never got the chance! Before I could take another step she ran up and gave me a hug that literally brought me down on my knees where I cried like a baby while I held that child.” Looking through glassy eyes he finished his story by saying, “I had never been more proud of serving my country than I felt that day.”

AND THE WALL CAME TUMBLING DOWN!

I’m glad our time together was finished, because I barely made it to my car before the tears ran down my face. I said a little prayer, “God thank you for a softened heart; that was Gus. And thank you for pointing out a jerk who needs to be less judgmental about others; that would be me!

Romans 14:13 “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”

I’ve had to wonder since that day what could have happened if I made an attempt to understand and like Gus when I first met him; could I have made a difference in breaking down his wall? I then realized, I had walls of my own that needed to come down.

For my man Gus, it took a memorial wall and a small child with a big hug to tear down the personal wall he hid behind.

For this “Traveler of the Rock Road,” I must remember what it took to break down my walls. For if I leave them up how will anyone see what makes a difference in my life? How can I tell of the child I bow my knee to, the one who can bring me to tears? How can anyone see the love that is in me now because of a “Child in a Manager.”

This season break down your walls.

A Merry and Blessed Christmas, Friends and Family!

See ya next time,

I have a heart for folks who work in stores like department or convenience stores, many of these people work hard for small wages, still I salute their spirit for wanting to work. (Now this isn’t about the debate on minimum wage or anything so stay with me.)  During the Christmas season the load can really get heavy with longer hours on their feet waiting on customers, constantly restocking products and the like. So, I make sure I’m always pleasant to these souls whenever I can. Just the other day I was in one of our local retailers waiting in a long line to get checked out. The gal at the register was working feverishly to get everyone through and out the door. When it was my turn I greeted her with a smile that she acknowledged only for an instant. Then I said, “I just want to say thank you for your diligence and hard work to take care of this mob that comes through here this time of year; you do an awesome job and I really appreciate it.” The girl stopped and now looked me straight in the eye. “You don’t know how much that means to hear those words after all the ones who have yelled or cussed me because they had to wait too long in line or couldn’t find what they were looking for. Thank you so much and Merry Christmas.” Before leaving I stopped in at an in-store café for a cup of coffee; when I came out I looked over at my new friend who was still working just as hard as she could, but was now smiling and making conversation with the customers. And I thought, “Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ bout.” Now please don’t think I’m blowing my horn to say what a nice guy I am, trust me I’ve got my faults. But I wanted to pass on to others how just a small kindness, a Christmas gift if you please, that you can give and it won’t cost you a dime.

Leaving the store and driving home I thought about my encounter with this young lady, and the name “Barnabas” came to mind. This man shows up in the Bible first in the book Acts and later on in some of the epistles as he traveled with the apostle Paul. His given name was Joseph, but because of his heart to help others as well as spread the Good News of Jesus, he was given the name Barnabas which means “son of encouragement.” Not only would he seek out ones in need but he sold land and gave it to the apostles to help the poor. I have feeling with a handle like son of encouragement there was more to his charitable ways than just monetary.  I can’t prove it but I have a feeling he was the type that went out of his way to say an encouraging word to as many with whom he crossed paths.  And I also think that as he walked away perhaps he looked back over his shoulder to see a smiling face where there wasn’t one before; “Son of Encouragement.” Awesome!

Now let’s face it, we’ve all been there; sometime or another we’ve felt downtrodden, disillusioned, maybe even a little worthless because of some situation. Then along comes a person with the right attitude speaking gentle and uplifting words; and suddenly your spirit soars as you realize not only do they see you as special, but that you are special.

Charles Spurgeon once wrote; “I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary.”

So I’m asking, I’m challenging you, would it not increase your feeling of the Christmas Spirit to perhaps make just one person smile and feel special for a moment. You just might be the spark a fellow “Traveler of the Rock Road” needs to remember the true meaning of the season.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Now for me and my Lady there are some extra little things we do to encourage others this time of year, quietly without anyone else knowing what it is or who it came from. Wanna know what it is?

Hey, I told you, it’s a secret!!!

Besides, if you put your heart into it, keeping it just between you and God, you’ll be amazed what you’ll come up with. Even more you’re going to receive the joy of Christmas perhaps in a way you never experienced before; I know I have.

What da ya say, Friends and Family, can we be sons and daughters of encouragement to others?

I’m betting yes!

See you next time.

I’m not posting one of my usual “Traveling the Rock Road” stories, but rather a short film produced by Sainsbury’s and is actually based on a true historical event. It’s a powerful story on humanity, but also one that comes from the birth of a “Child”

Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, “Prince of Peace.”

To all me Dear Friends and Family, A Very Blessed and Merry Christmas.