Known By Words

(by Lorie Codispoti)

January 18th is... 

     National Thesaurus Day
     National Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
     National Winnie the Pooh Day

What do these three, seemingly unrelated, “national days” have in common? Words! 

We all use words to express what’s in our hearts.  

There’s a lesser known commonality found among the three people represented by these national days. Each of their contributions were the result of enduring intense hardship.

Peter Mark Roget began collecting words & making lists as a young boy. Throughout his life they served as therapeutic solace for the mental illnesses that plagued his family life. It wasn’t until Roget was in his 70’s & retired from his medical career, however, that his great work, Roget’s Thesaurus, was published.

Most Americans are familiar with the life & work of Marin Luther King, Jr., born Michael King, Jr. Once again we see a man whose incredible contributions come to us on the heels of great suffering. From the time he was a young man it is noted that his voice & gift for persuasive speech were evident. His favorite hymn to sing was I Want To Be More & More Like Jesus, & he often used his words to stymie the physical altercations he encountered in his neighborhood.

Given our current state, this seems an appropriate MLK quote… I still believe that standing up for the truth of God is the greatest thing in the world. This is the end of life. The end of life is not to be happy. The end of life is not to achieve pleasure and avoid pain. The end of life is to do the will of God, come what may. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Alan Alexander Milne miraculously survived WW1, but suffered severely with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This led to him relocating his family to a calm, countryside setting. It was there that he would take long, therapeutic walks through the surrounding woodland (Hundred Acre Wood) with his son, Christopher Robin. The stories that bonded father & son revolved around Robin’s favorite toys (Pooh, Piglet, Eyeore, Kanga, Roo, & Tigger) & became the inspiration for the words penned in one of the most beloved children’s series of all time. 

  ...even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude. (Winnie the Pooh)

May the hardships we endure in this life serve to fuel our words with the encouragement we need to share with others. Let’s make every word count!

Every Quagmire Needs A Guide

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Have you ever stepped into quicksand? I have.

We were not allowed to play in the marshes behind our grandparent’s house, but the curious explorer in me couldn’t help but wonder what kind of treasures lay hidden in the tall grass. My day of discovery came when curiosity got the best of me & I ventured into the quagmire. I was absolutely convinced that what I was about to discover would far outweigh the consequences of disobedience. I was wrong!

I knew the moment I stepped off the path I was in trouble. The mud was like a living creature who showed no mercy in grabbing my foot & sucking me into the dark, muddy abyss. With much effort I managed to escape, but not before the monster confiscated my shoes & claimed them for himself. To this very day they remain entombed in a watery grave. Legend has it that as the tide recedes you can hear the daily cry of empty shoes calling out for the feet that once filled them. I know, it’s pretty sad!

BEWARE THE TRAP

There’s something very energizing about an enthusiastic visionary, but without a Guide to help them traverse the maze of an uncharted mire, they will, at some point along the way, fall victim to the mud monster.

When someone assumes a position of authority (large or small) there are three critical things they need if they desire to lead well … (1) discernment (developed with experience), (2) self discipline (rooted in conviction), & (3) the integrity needed to stand firm in the face of adversity. Even the most sincere leader can be seduced by the promise of fame, fortune & power.

But it doesn’t have to be that way!

HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE

“When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will GUIDE you into all truth…” (Jn.16:13)

Like me, you may not have had the benefit of a godly mentor to help you navigate your way as a spouse or parent. You may have lacked the assistance you needed when you assumed a position of leadership… in your church, your volunteer work, or at your place of employment. You simply had a vision & enthusiastically set out into uncharted territory. No one warned you of the monster in the mud.

Quicksand is scary because, at first glance, it appears solid & safe. But if you step on it the ground immediately liquifies under your feet. To avoid contact, an experienced Guide will teach you how to… 1) eye the terrain & recognize the danger zones, & 2) use a walking stick to tap the ground & test before you step.

What a beautiful picture of how the Holy Spirit operates in our lives. He goes before us, both protecting & training us on how to avoid the traps set by our enemy.

King David prayed, “Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers.” (Psa.141:1)

THE WAY OF ESCAPE

Most of us are familiar with Holywood’s interpretations of quicksand. Think about that horrific scene in The Princess Bride, when our hero Wesley rescues Princess Buttercup from one of the three terrors of the Fire Swamp - quicksand! (Every time I watch that scene I hold my breath until they return to the surface safely.)

The interesting thing that most people don’t know about quicksand is that it won’t swallow you whole; you’ll only sink up to your waist. Nevertheless, one must take certain steps to escape its grip, steps that correlate nicely with those we need to escape Satan’s traps:

- Eliminate excess weight. (“…let us throw off everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles.” (Heb.12:1))

- Backstep to solid ground. (“He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, & set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” (Psa.40:2))

- Keep your head & arms above the surface. (“… he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’” (Mtt.14:30))

- Use your resources. (“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…” (2Pet.1:3))

- And, the one that requires the most faith - Relax, let go, lay on your back & breathe deep. (“…faith apart from works is useless.” (Jms.2:20))

“Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For you are my rock and my fortress; & for your name's sake you lead me and GUIDE me.” (Psa.31:2-3)

Our enemy would have us believe there is no escape once we step into his territory, but he’s a liar! No one - even a fallen leader - is beyond God’s reach when they cry out for help.

“Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.” (Psa.119:133)

THE BEAUTY OF MUD

Can anything good come out of a mud pit? Yes, a thousand times yes! People pay big bucks for mud baths. Their benefits range from drawing out impurities to relaxing & relieving the body of pain.

Much of this life requires navigating your way through a quagmire of unknowns. While it’s important to avoid the quicksand, there are times we step in & begin to sink. The good news is that God doesn’t leave us there. Not only will He rescue us from what our enemy means for evil, but He uses the mud to draw out the impurities that weigh us down.

So the next time the mud monster has you in his grip, let him have your shoes. Jesus paid the price for you to have a beautiful, new wardrobe - & it’s stain resistant!

Trumpet List

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Because I am a natural goal setter, & find immense pleasure in compiling & working off a list, the concept of creating a “Bucket List” is appealing. However, the more I think about it the more superficial the idea becomes. It limits both the scope of the vision & the subsequent rewards.

In his book, Weight Of Glory, C.S. Lewis wrote,

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

If my bucket list is comprised of all the places I’d like to visit, all the things I’d like to do, & everything I’d like to acquire before I “kick the bucket” then it feels more like a race to make as many mud pies as I can before the rain comes & washes it all away.

In light of this, I propose a different kind of list - a list whose scope is broadened by each entry & whose rewards are endless. I call it my “Trumpet List.” (1Cor.15:51-53, 1Thess.4:16) The main objective is to “love God with all our heart, soul, mind & strength” so everything on the list reflects that goal.

God’s word houses most of the entries so it’s more like something you sign up for rather than something you compile. For example, I added Psalm 71:17-18 to my Trumpet List when I became a mother (& it remains as a grandmother) … “O God, You have taught me from my youth; & to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old & grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.”

Am I trying to discourage you from having a bucket list? No! (I still want to go to Alaska one day.) I want to encourage you to go beyond the superficial. Buckets are temporary containers that hold mud pies in comparison to the eternal rewards that await & follow long past the sound of the trumpet. Don’t let the fleeting pleasures you obtain in the “slum” keep you from enjoying the “holiday at the sea” God has planned.