When Acting Crazy is Part of the Plan

We all know someone who is a little off. Chances are they might be family members, neighbors, or even fellow employees. Or you.

I live in a place known as the Antelope Valley and, to be kind, there are many, um, flavorful people here. There are those who might wear tinfoil upon their heads, to make sure that the government cannot read their minds, while there are some who dress in such a way that could only be described as "People-of-WalMart-Worthy". (For more info on that, please visit www.peopleofwalmart.com).

This desert has a tendency to breed crazy. That being said, there are thousands of wonderful, good-natured, folk who live here as well. It's just that they have learned to stay indoors where it's not so crazy and, thus, are not seen around town that much. 

But sometimes, and this is just sometimes, acting crazy might be the appropriate plan of action. King David did this once when he was escaping from King Saul by going to see King Achish of the land of Gath. Once there, the people of Gath warned the King that David was one who is esteemed even more than Saul. (Saul and the people of Gath did not get along too well). This freaked David out and he chose a simple escape plan: he acted nuts.

Here is the story from 1 Samuel 21:

10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances:

   “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

 12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. 13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

 14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”

David acted crazy so as to escape death. Smart. When I was in high school, I escaped the wrath of certain bullies by using humor to calm them down. I think all of us have a few tricks we've learned to curtail the malicious intent of others. But, on a much smaller scale, what tricks do we employ to escape getting in trouble when we're late, forgot to do something, or simply failed? Do we lie, make excuses, or play dumb? Or do we own up to it and take it? 

Some of us are really good at owning up to our junk while some of us, um, not so much. Where do you find yourself on this scale? 

Wow.

My family and I have just become part of a great church. It's called Journey Church and it is located in the Antelope Valley. 

I've never, in nearly 20 years of ministry, received such a wonderful and warm welcome into a new church family. It's humbling. 

Cup Cake Bar .... Gift Cards ... Wow. 

To our new church family, THANK YOU!! You have truly blessed us beyond our wildest expectations. We cannot wait for all that the Lord has in store for us as we partner together in ministry, friendship, and life.  

Thanks Again,

The Grundy Clan

 

Drama on a Vacation

Our family, along with the Schultz clan and half of the Bartram tribe, are experiencing a wonderful vacation up here in the snow covered community that is Mammoth. But this beautiful experience encountered a bump in the road that caught all of us by surprise. 

We are staying in a wonderful three story condo surrounded by snow. Our children have been running around and frolicking in the icy mirth and forgetting, quite well, that they soon have to return to the desert. 

Anyway, the manager appeared and informed us that our children are not allowed to play in the snow. (Sad, but such is life). As this was going on, however, a lady came out from her condo and informed us that she hates our children. 

?!?!?

That's about all I'm going to say about this adventure. What would you do in this situation? Unfortunately, I missed the entire ordeal for I was finishing reading the Hunger Games. If you could imagine, things had the ingredients to become very explosive. 

 

 

Forgiveness is a Thing of the Past

We all know that there are different levels of forgiveness. Some of it is not that hard to do. Especially, over minor offenses that are coupled with an apologetic perpetrator who desperately wishes to correct any wrong they committed. Then there's the jerks on the freeway who cut you off and apply discouraging finger gestures toward your person. There's a special place in the afterlife for them. I'm not sure where it is. But I've been told it's very hot all times of the year. 

Anyway, ... 

If you've read enough about healing and forgiveness, then you probably know that it is a healthy thing to forgive people even when they don't ask to be forgiven. But where's the fun in that? I know, I know, ... we are to forgive the sins of others so our Heavenly Father will forgive us of our sins. I got that. Heck, I've even preached that. 

Forgiving others just so we can move on in life is a healthy and beneficial discipline that all of us need to embrace. However, the one aspect of forgiveness that people tend to share with me that I don't always agree with is when they expect me to contact the person who has wronged me in order to share with them that I forgive them. 

What?

I mean, there are some extreme cases where I believe that is an appropriate path of action. However, when the other person doesn't have the strength of character to approach the one they've wronged and ask to work it out, I don't believe it's always necessary to be the "strong" or more "mature" one and lead the way toward freedom, reconciliation, etc. by calling them up on the phone and letting them know that you forgive them. (Unless, of course, God tells you to do just that). 

But when do we know it is the appropriate thing to do? Such an action could come across as smug or even lead to a new realm of anger or fighting. 

Imagine being on the receiving end of that phone call: 

"Hey, Bob, I'm just calling to tell you that I forgive you for being such a jerk. I know you were wrong and hurt me but I'm being the bigger person by letting you know that I ... yes I ... have thus chosen to forgive you of all wrong doing toward my person. So go and sin no more."

Here is my conclusion on the matter: If you wish to set someone free then go for it. If you believe it doesn't really matter one way or the other then I would still lend toward the setting of their persons free. However, if that person is a leader of others then I would not be so gungho on contacting them. I believe that such action needs to be prayerfully considered. For example, calling them up and letting them know that you do forgive them may, in fact, be the answer to their prayer. All of us feel awkward when it comes to reconciliation. And they may just not know how to bridge that gap. Yet, I believe there are times when calling them up and setting them free does not help them to grow. Consider the possiblity that they are the ones who, if they so desire to be set free or work things out, need to be the ones who call. They must "cowboy/cowgirl up." It's like many things in life that we just have to do ourselves. Like asking someone out on a date. Don't have your friends do it for you. You have to.  

Regardless, in all things, seek God for direction as well as those around you who know when you're just being stubborn. 

 

 

A typical "footprints in the sand" sort of thing

Throughout this last year my family and I have gone through quite a bit of stress. We're not the only ones. It seems as if stress and worry have eroded the joy and happiness of many of our friends and family. 

I've heard from many people during this last season of life how God will not give us more than we can handle. My response has been that it is not God with whom I am worried about giving me more than my family can handle: it's all the junk and dysfunction that others bring my way (plus my own shortcomings) that brings me concern. 

There's a lot of hurt, angry, and mean people out there. And, as we've seen on may bumper stickers, hurt people hurt people. And mean people, well, ... you know. 

The Apostle Paul has the gift of causing all of us to realize that we do not have it that bad. During his time on earth, Paul was persecuted, beaten, shipwrecked, jailed, despised, and a plethora of other things that brought him sorrow after sorrow, but, after so many difficulties, he was able to say that: 

"8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4)

Life with God and without God is filled with both difficulties and joys. Yet, for those of us who follow our Lord, we know first hand that He will be with us through all things and will never forsake us. In that we can find hope, trust, and, though it may seem absurd, joy. 

Even as I sit here writing this I find myself swamped with wanting to share so many insights and experiences we have endured throughout the 2010 to 2012 bumps in the road. Yet, I can agree with Paul on this: we may be pushed to places we will find extremely difficult and painful. But we will make it to the other side and see that God was with us through every step of the way.