Overton 110

I didn’t know of Richard Overton before this past week. Military Appreciation night at the Spurs game couldn’t get better than this! At halftime, donned with a USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor cap, Mr. Overton was wheeled out to center court. It wasn’t until we heard that Mr. Overton was 110 years old, the oldest living veteran, that the crowd went wild. Neither team took the huddle for their time out, but instead just stood and clapped, along with every other person in the stands. For this brief moment, basketball didn’t matter. When Mr. Overton received a special personalized Spurs Jersey with “Overton 110” on it, I think I saw him wipe back a tear. A magical moment!

I can’t imagine all the “life” that Mr. Overton has lived in his 110 years! The stories he could tell! Would Mr. Overton tell us that life went by so fast? What advice would he give to the twenty or thirty somethings? To middle agers? To those retired?

Life has it’s way of flying by. It seems like just yesterday I had graduated from college and moved to Dallas from the midwest. A flurry of life has happened since those days. How did it go so quickly? Maybe you feel the same way. It’s a reminder to me that in the Bible, our lifespan in this body isn’t very long at all.

“Today-at the latest, tomorrow- we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.” James 4:13-15, The Message

Your tomorrow is not guaranteed. If the Master wills it and we’re still alive. Wow. Those words remind me of the sacredness of life. I want to lasso life, hold on to it, live gratefully and joy-filled. I don’t want to waste ONE day. I want to make my life count...and make a difference.

What have you been putting off that really matters to you? Where are you serving in this world, providing restoration, redemption and advocacy to those in need? How are you getting outside yourself to live and serve? What’s bugging you that’s not at all bug-worthy? Who do you need to initiate with that might be hurting? Where should you be spending your money that makes a lasting difference? Who do you need to forgive and simple let go of? I think it’s worthy to stop and consider those questions today.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Playing Possum

Last night, Zoe, our English Springer Spaniel, notified us of backyard marsupials that had invaded her personal territory, otherwise known as Zoe's backyard. We weren't surprised at what we found.

Just last week, Zoe had also given a similar alert, that time, in the middle of the night. That night, Ben went out to find an over-sized momma possum sitting on top of the fence. It was, WAIT FOR IT- playing possum. She couldn't seem to make a decision about which way to go, so she did nothing.

Possums tend to be peaceful creatures that avoid confrontation at all costs. They tend to avoid a fight if at all possible. Possums, when fearing imminent attack, will "play dead." The stress of the confrontation facing the possum causes him to go into shock.

I think we humans can often find ourselves playing possum. What might that look like? We avoid conflict. We retreat from anything that smells like confrontation. We act like everything's all right, even though everything's not all right. We. Play. Possum. We may fool people around us for some time, but we can't fool God.

God sees everything. With God, there is no playing possum. You can't pretend with him. God is in all places at all times. We can never hide from His presence. He is omnipresent.

If you feel that God is distant from you, perhaps you're the one who moved. Often, our view of God is shaped way back in childhood. Church experiences that left us questioning God. Christian people acting un-Christian. Bad things that happened that left you doubting God exists. Please know that no matter how you treat or view God, His love for you remains. He longs for a relationship with you.

I urge you to get off the fence. Get to know the God. He knows all, even if you've tried to hide from Him. As you start your day, consider these verses from God's Word:

"For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps." Job 34:21

"Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me." Psalm 139:7-10

"Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far way? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:23-24

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Giving Up Stuff

This past week, I heard a lot of people talking about the things they are giving up for Lent. It appears there's a record amount of people participating in “giving up stuff” for Lent. Common “give up” items are chocolate, alcohol, facebook, twitter, meat, sweets, coffee, soft drinks and social networking.

I really like the idea of giving up something for Lent that I’m not going to miss. That would work quite well. Like, brussel sprouts. Yes, I could go 40 days without eating a brussel sprout. I could actually go a lifetime and never touch those ugly green things. I’m going to also give up bull riding. It pays to stay off those big angry creatures. Yes, I could do that for 40 days. All kidding aside, I have been thinking about how I personally respond to Lent.

Lent commemorates the beginning of Jesus’ 40 day fasting and temptation in the desert. I’m sure it was tough for Jesus to give up food for 40 days in the desert. I can’t imagine the temptations He faced from Satan at such a vulnerable time. But, He did it, because Jesus loved and obeyed His Father. He knew God was with Him and would carry Him through each day.

I don’t want an ordinary Lenten season, do you? My focus on “giving up stuff” can become the focus, not Jesus Himself. As I fast on something in my day to day life, I want to focus on Jesus. What He’s done for me. How He lived His life. His humility. His compassion. His love. His sacrifice. Honestly, I don’t want to stop there. I want to become more Christ-like on this journey. Don't you? So, let’s start this day with a prayer as we seek to make this Lenten season an amazing, life-changing journey.

Dear Lord, I really want this Lenten season to be different. May my small sacrifice in fasting be a way to see you more clearly in my life. May my longing for the thing I’m fasting from help me to draw near to You. Show me where I sin against you. Show me when I live in un-forgiveness. Show me when I’m negative, irritated and less then loving. Free me from the temptation to judge others or place myself above others. Let me be less and less absorbed with myself and more and more consumed with You. Yes, Lord, I want to be transformed on this journey. Changed for the better. I need your help and guidance. Let your love shine through me as I prepare for Easter. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.