RIP to the Humpty Dance Man. He passed a while back and he just popped into my head when I wrote the title.
My ADHD sparkles are nothin man. The sparkles that come from each breath God provides are beyond measure. You wanna know where he has shined brightest in my life? Through my mistakes.
This is a fresh real-life example of what I am talking about. Before I write each morning, I pray to help me with the words. Somedays I can’t type or write fast enough. I type in bursts, think and process, then barf the words onto the page. On other days it is the complete opposite. I get stuck. It could be a thought or an idea I want to articulate. Distractions and ‘urgencies’ usually have my attention. The struggle is real. We are not perfect, and never will be and we make mistakes too.
My real-life example may seem small to you but it was huge to someone dear to me.
Yesterday’s post included a quote I made up, so I cited myself and dated it. Hashtag nerd alert.
Last night I received a message from a dear friend I hadn’t spoken to in quite some time. The funny thing is I think of him and his family often. His message was to reach out as he saw we had some loss around us. It was so kind. He went on to share, the reason he contacted me was because of the ‘Date’ in my quote. He read me the date and I thought to myself “That’s funny, I am not sure where I would have written that date.” His message continued, that was the day he lost his father and he is still grieving. I felt his pain. I can’t wait til we sit face to face so I can listen.
This is where God’s sparkles are what drive everything in my world, whether I am noticing it or not.
The date he referred to is a TYPO on my part. I made a mistake. The month was supposed to be 11, not 2.
How bout that? Where my heart and head are, I am like whoa! A simple, effective example of how God works things out and how He connects us.
Through my mistake, my friend was touched and now we are reconnected. Amen. That is God’s grace and mercy in real-time.
I sent him a little message because it struck me joyfully. One, I messed up and he still used it. He is not hovering over us condemning us for our mistakes. He showed me, love, through my mistake, and more importantly, He showed my friend love and grace. I was around my friends’ father a few times. Man did he have a Bright Light shining in him. I said to my friend, “I think your pops had some influence in this. He said God can you please make BURKE (my friend and his family call me BURKE) mess up so my boy can see that I am better than OK. I am with him still, along with you and we are carrying you through this storm.”
That’s my story and I am sticking to it.
If you would like to enrich your soul, on your adventure to PEACE – don’t be shy. Read on friends.
What I am sharing here goes much deeper than a TYPO.
I think it’s a good story, because who canat wrilate to a typo?
Dave Burke
Bible Truths, Shared with Love with my friends as I continue to learn as a student of Jesus.
Like Paul says in Romans
15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
The student in me breaks things down like this:
V 15. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
Ex. I do what I am not supposed to do, in fact I do things that I hate. I can get ramped up on politics which turns me into the opposite of who I am.
V16. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.
Ex. Since I am aware of this, I agree with the command “Love your neighbor as yourself.” I want to obey this but it is really, really hard
V17. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
Ex. This struggle of mine to want to lash out and only fuel the flames IS NOT ME. Whatever struggle you have IS NOT YOU. We tend to make our identity in the struggle, not by choice as it chooses us.
Remember this when you are weary my friend. You are so much more than your struggle.
V18. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
Ex. This is good storytelling in two sentences. Our hearts are messy. There is a constant battle between good and evil going on. We can try within all of our power to NOT give in to the struggle and we still fail. His power overcomes it. This is why we need him.
We only want to do right and be free from it, but we can’t. I write these words often, to myself. I need the reminder knowing this is what NORMAL is. There’s no perfection in being a Christian. I use the term lightly because I struggle to identify with that cookie-cutter version that is smeared and rightly so. I love Jesus and He is God, and there is where I find peace. Peace fuels joy. Joy is long-lasting, and happiness is fleeting.
V19. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
Ex. Paul purposely reiterates this. His words are just as true today as they were 2,000 years ago. I should tell you that Paul, St. Paul….. His name was Saul. His nickname was ‘THE BUTCHER’. He murdered many, many Christians. Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. At that moment, he became Paul and began sharing the Gospel. God uses everybody. Every person He uses in the Bible has afflictions, and struggles (Sin is the Bible’s word for all of these). He uses us in the midst of the deepest struggles. Look up, Paul.
V20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
Ex. For the third time, it is not US doing the wrong, it is the SIN within us. That is not who we are. Jesus came to set us free FROM that sin. It’s gone, man. Every single one from this day forward and everyone behind you. This does not mean easy sailing. Consequences are a part of it. Trusting in Him, we are to have no fear as He is with us.
Friends – I have faced consequences for bad decisions. I am just as susceptible to making the same or worse decision today. We are all on the edge of disaster, as the next decision’s consequences could be catastrophic. I constantly pray to help me and those whom I have hurt through words and actions. I can’t stay in guilt or I could never help anyone else. I did that lifelong self-abuse. He has freed me from this. I know that is not me, it is the sin within me. It is not a cop-out. It is straight out of the Bible. I will keep following God asking for his guidance, wisdom, patience, and most of all endurance. My road has been long and weary and joyful. I have been able to pay it forward and will never tire of this. Lord keep me true to these words. I never want to tire of doing good, in Your Name. Amen.
Long and weary my road has been.
Chris Cornell, Audioslave: I am the Highway
Peace, Love, Empathy, Prayers
Dave