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~~DONKEY TRACKS" ~~
from: The White Donkey Society
December 14, 2004
~TRAILS OF LIVING~
SUFFERING IS A RESPONSE TO PAIN
"Suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some direction. It is an indication that the individual is out of harmony with himself, with the law of his being." - As A Man Thinketh Most people associate suffering with pain, be it physical, mental or spiritual. They assume suffering to be an automatic result of all pain. However, suffering is not a result of pain, it's a RESPONSE to pain. Pain is an unpleasant signal that is warning you that something is wrong. Suffering, on the other hand, results from our wrong thinking about the pain. And, in fact, many people experience suffering who have no pain at all (hypochondria is an example of this). I remember seeing Christopher Reeve (he was Superman in the movies) being interviewed by Larry King. In May 1995 the one-time "man of steel" was in a riding accident that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down and dependent on a ventilator. It was obvious in watching him, with a drawn face and tense speech, that he has endured and continues to endure an incredible amount of pain. However, his response to this pain has been anything but suffering from it. He has instead devoted his life to helping others, especially those with paralysis. And his accomplishments have been extraordinary. While Christopher has experienced the pain of physical paralysis, many of us have experienced the pain of divorce, layoffs, financial disaster, self-doubt, fear and a host of other ills. But like Reeve, we do not have to "suffer" from our pain --- it's our choice. And we don't have to be Superman or Superwoman to deal with it. Deepak Chopra defines suffering as "that which threatens to make life meaningless." Life is meaningless when we don't have direction, a goal, or a vision. That's when we are inviting suffering into our life. Christopher Reeve says, "My feeling is you have to deal with the reality as it is, but not accept it as permanent. I'm sorry, but I just don't believe there is any reason to give up. The goal is a cure. The goal is to get up and out of the wheelchair. And in the meantime, you deal with reality. But if you don't have a vision, nothing happens." And that's worth thinking about. --- Vic Johnson
~TRAILS of LIFE~
Get Over Yourself
by Max Lucado
Ever wonder why churches are powerful in one generation but empty the next? Perhaps the answer is found in Proverbs 15:25: "The LORD will tear down the house of the proud" (NASB).
God hates arrogance. He hates arrogance because we haven't done anything to be arrogant about. Do art critics give awards to the canvas? Is there a Pulitzer for ink? Can you imagine a scalpel growing smug after a successful heart transplant? Of course not. They are only tools, so they get no credit for the accomplishments.
And the message of the Twenty-third Psalm is that we have nothing to be proud about either. We have rest, salvation, blessings, and a home in heaven-and we did nothing to earn any of it. Who did? Who did the work?
The answer threads through the psalm like a silk thread through pearls.
"He makes me ..."
"He leads me ..."
"He restores my soul ..."
"You are with me ..."
"Your rod and Your staff ... comfort me ..."
"You prepare a table ..."
"You anoint my head ..."
We may be the canvas, the paper, or the scalpel, but we are not the ones who deserve the applause. And just to make sure we get the point, right smack-dab in the middle of the poem, David declares who does. The shepherd leads his sheep, not for our names' sake, but "for His name's sake." Why does God have anything to do with us? For his name's sake. No other name on the marquee. No other name up in lights. No other name on the front page. This is all done for God's glory.
~TRAILS of SCRIPTURE~
While [Joseph and Mary] were [in Bethlehem], the time came for
the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a
son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
--Luke 2:6-7 New International Version
I've always been amazed at how God chose to place his Son
into our world. He could have done it any way he wanted. But
he chose this way -- to enter the world in difficult times
under difficult circumstances as a helpless infant who must be
cared for by parents who were vulnerable to so many frailties.
Yet in spite of the challenges that lay ahead and the
bewildering mystery that confronted them: Joseph and Mary,
along with everyone around them, were caught up in the great
joy this new child gave.
~TRAILS of PRAYER~
Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson
~TRAILS of a RIDER of GRACE~
I just received news that a close friend of mine, died yesterday. Her name was Kathie Troquille from Shreveport, Louisiana. She was a quadriplegic, "spinal cord injury" like myself. She was injured in an automobile accident in 1972. My regret is not being able to have been with her more. She was truly an inspirational Christian lady. I will truly miss her. She was a buddy in the true sense. She will be missed by all her friends. She was truly an outstanding person. I thank God for the opportunity of knowing her. We agreed on just about everything together. I pray to God that I can me more like her. Thank God for the life of Kathie Troquille.
http://www.youens.com/mccoy/
"The White Donkey Society"
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