Observations Made While You Wait

Several years ago I read a book entitled the Art of Being. I don’t recall the author and I can’t say that I recommend it but I found it in the bargain bin. I quickly concluded that it in part it had to do with being in the right place at the right time. After reading the book I came up with an observation as follows. I’ve learned to call it an observation while among certain believers so at to not let imagination get the best of an obvious lesson. I wonder how long Jeremiah sat at the potter’s house watching the potter before the pieces came together. Chapter 18:2 says that there, observing, the Lord would cause Jeremiah to hear His words. I was quiet before the Lord the day I wrote these things in my journal.
When I began my journey with Christ I was given a sheet of paper at the start of the class and given the task of writing my life story. I wasted some time as I looked out the window in wonder. While others got busy with their assignment I looked into the school yard with playtime on my mind. I drooled and scribbled on my work folding it, smudging it and got it wet in a lunchroom staining incident. It became dog eared, crumpled erased and quite undone. Are you sensing my ADD testimony evolving? When it came time to turn it in a creative streak began to appear as I came up with some of my best excuses. When asked to read it to the class I was embarrassed and asked to be excused. Show and Tell didn’t go well that day and now I must reckon with God Almighty. As I stand before Him on that awesome day I will hide my homework behind my back and say that the devil, being the dog he is, ate it. I was assuming I’d do well on the finals as I recalled cheating on several tests before and relied on crib notes in the past. I failed on most all the domestic and social issues and even my understanding of geography is all over the grid. I know I’m not where I should be in the Lord, but I’m not where I was. On the oral portion of the exam I suppose I’ll have some brief statements like; I know in whom I have believed and forgive me Lord I’m a sinner. My personal non-favorite response would be; I wasn’t paying that close attention and I’m just plain guilty!
The art of being spontaneous in a moment like that will produce an honest exhibition and a blue ribbon is not necessarily in the outcome. The wood, hay and stubble of this may be all that remains for some of us in a similar scenario. To make it through those final exams and go to graduate into eternity is the goal of any disciple who studies to show himself approved unto God. To rightly divide the word a student must give his undivided attention to getting right with and staying current with God. Any comparison to any person living or dead is strictly likely so let’s not fool our selves. Because of the cross we are handed the diploma in the end and then only if we endure to the end. I was always watching the clock in school and now at last it is late and the bell is about to ring.

Be blessed. Class dismissed. Timothy LaVigne

The Gospel According to Mr. Potato Head

The Toy Story movies are innocent enough and a pleasant diversion from the responsibilities of adulthood. Having no TV has not cured me of a fun film and I’m still a visual person. The Bible says that without a vision the people perish and since our thoughts are not His thoughts, it’s only natural that we would twist the concept to our own liking. One of the joys of imagination is that it gets away from us to the point of ultimate obsession or fills a void with momentary inspiration. I’ve been blessed with both extremes and I will attempt to put a face on it for you. No pun intended.

It is to the pastime of children, who are learning to craft an expression, a demeanor they might be stuck with all their life, that I present the changing view of the person commonly known as Mr. Potato Head. Now that he is in the Church he prefers to be known as Brother Potato Head; not to be confused with Pastor Potato Head who has a formal background in the study of Potato Hermeneutic Development. That’s what his PHD stands for. In order to stay on track we’ll avoid going into detail about his starchy tuber home life, his sweet potato and the tater tots. This may be a delightful comparison but my theological spin on these particular Spudsters is limited.

Imagine if you will first thing on Sunday morning waking up to a blank expression. With no apparent reflection in the mirror and no clue as to how to put on a reasonable testimony of the truth, we’ll just have to sort through a collection of add on items that should cover the situation until after the benediction. Then we can replace the outward appearance with a more realistic expression of life beyond the church parking lot as we put on an appropriate phony face. The little ears that we had at 10 am are removed and an appropriate large set is put into place to capture the essence of gossip, opinion and a new CD just released by The Dipsy Chips. The drowsy eyes of the post offering sermon is now changed to a big colorful set of attentive peepers that you pop in to watch your favorite Sunday afternoon sports event. The nose that has no capacity to discern between religious flatulence and a fragrant fellowship with God, has been replaced with huge garage sized nostrils that are drawn away to the aroma of a false prophet’s promise. I could go on and on about the replaceable mouth that speaks one thing at the Bible study and another thing at the water cooler and the flexible hands that are raised in the worship service but lowered in the handling of worldly goods and everyday business, but I won’t.

One item that doesn’t come in the box with the Potato Head Disciple is the heart of the apparatus and not something to be toyed with. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jer 17:9-10. Keeping up appearances has always been a challenge and we have all been known to put on a front to cover an inner anxiety or hide a transgression from those around us. We fill the duplicitous orifice with a plastic plug; a convenient nonessential distraction until the day the Holy Spirit or a close friend points out the disguise. You can fool church people most of the time but you can’t fool God at all and as we come to terms with true repentance we will eventually assume a suitable expression that will remain the same in every situation. Until that look is achieved there will always be numerous playful accessories and some assembly required.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Prov 6: 16-19

T. LaVigne
More articles at www.ltmstudios.blogspot.com

The Passing Lane

The view in the driveway looks normal. On a sunny day the notion to take your faith out for a spin becomes a possibility as you imagine a leisurely outing. Perhaps of necessity you leave the comfort of your current understanding of the American Dream and go to work while others are not affected by that inconvenience. Then again you might just sit at home and watch it all go by wishing you had the ambition to go somewhere in this world. Once spontaneity has had its way one is compelled to head out into the unknown. A destination is imagined and the gears are engaged as the wheels turn in the appropriate direction. The side streets are drudgery at first with the children playing ball in the street, that speed limit thing and those annoying four way stops. Once we clear the city limits, we convince ourselves of better days as we can set the cruise control and crank up the radio. Oh the thrill of the passing white lines as the scenery becomes a blur and we accelerate into our destiny ahead. Life is good, things are great and even though we don’t know where we’re going we can see by the speedometer that we are making good time. If you are suspecting that I’m about to take you for another allegorical ride in the country, well you are right.

Once we have been in the faith for a while we are confident about several things pertaining to the Christian life. In the early days of our initiation into the gospel I would have hoped that we all began with the same agenda. I’m finding that that is not the case. Some of us know all about the terminology of the road trip. We know what a map is but like the Bible, actually using one has become almost obsolete with the invention of the GPS and Map Qwest. Today we can rent a used theology expecting that others have done the servicing and the maintenance. Hitchhiking has been outlawed in most states but it’s not uncommon to see a thumb up on an entrance ramp. A free ride is still available for some. For another a bicycle or city transit will suffice in the early days of our travels with God and we all have had to walk from time to time. But today we look into the life of that Christian who has for many years been with the Lord. In one portion of the scripture it is called the Way. Some claim to have been in the Way for many years. My response is that I would rather they get out of the way and let someone else get by. It is in the passing lane that the proverbial rubber meets the road and so often we encounter it without a second thought.

After all the TLC, the waxing, the conditioning and the planning we find ourselves on that eternal highway, moving along in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord. We find a peaceful stretch and without a soul for miles we enjoy the Lord while the sins in the rearview mirror are getting smaller and smaller. Just when we are oblivious to a possible obstacle, what appears in the road ahead is a convoy of trucks that has taken charge of our carefree route. Things change quickly as the brakes are applied to a once patient attitude and it causes a burnt smell on the last nerve. All of the sudden the white lines aren’t a blur anymore and the scenery returns. It takes a few moments to appreciate what has just happened and we can stay behind this all day freight parade or we can begin to maneuver and accelerate into that passing lane. It looks clear for a mile or so at least and we have a choice of getting on with our travels or we can endure this lesson to its fullest. Your choice and opportunity could change the life of the hitchhiker who is about to come into view.

I was on that Arizona highway and I remember all the trucks and I remember you. You invested your time to take me out of your way; you gave me the gospel and a twenty dollar bill. Because you knew someone who knows where I need to be, and you slowed down long enough to acknowledge my existence, I am able to write about it. I can only wonder where I’d be if you had been in the passing lane.

T. LaVigne