Masks (an extra little bit!)

After this week's posting about masks I was reminded of a Youtube clip shown at church a while ago.  It talks about the masks we put on and ... well ... why don't I just let you see for yourself?

The question left on my mind after watching this again, is not so much about what masks I put on, but whether my actions and attitudes encourage other people to discard their masks?

Do I cultivate a safe environment for them to do so?  

Do I give people time to say how they really are?  

Do I listen attentively and respond accordingly? 

Am I modelling a mask free life wherever possible?

Am I quick to judge?  

Do I try to understand?     

Do I care enough to enter into the hidden lives of people knowing it may be messy, difficult, painful?

Am I willing to let go of my own thoughts and agendas and ask Jesus what he would want me to do?

Am I prepared to show the love of Christ in all circumstances?


Successful and long-lasting discarding of masks involves more than the mask wearer - it requires the time, love, support, encouragement, effort etc of those around them.  Let's not expect action from others without being willing to give ourselves.

The one with the Duck Song

WARNING: Interacting with this post will get into your head and stay there - for a very long time!
Waddle Waddle!!

Last year one of my boys introduced me to Bryant Oden's genius Duck Song.  I say genius because for a short and simple song (with video) first uploaded in 2009 - it has already had a whopping 59,924,170 hits!!  That is some achievement.

What is the appeal?  Well, watch the link below and you will see for yourself .....

 
Cute and catchy eh?  Now, I challenge you to watch it again without singing along - it just can't be done!!

So - that is it, there is no going back!  The Duck Song is well and truly inside your head - and for that I do apologise a little.  However, my hope is, that in sharing this song with you, it will find its way not only into your head, but also you thoughts, your mind and your heart.  You see, I believe this simple (if not annoying!) song has a lot to teach us.  Really?  I invite you to read on ...

The story begins with the duck walking up to a lemonade stand and asking ... got any grapes?

However, to his dismay, he soon discovers there are no grapes on offer .... and he waddles away ... till the very next day ...

Our duck friend doesn't seem to learn from this, as the following day, he walks back up to lemonade stand, and again asks ... got any grapes?

Once again, the duck is to learn that the lemonade stand has no grapes to offer, and he waddles away ... till the very next day ...

Despite being very bright in colour, it would seem that Mr Duck lacks a certain amount of intelligence, and visits the same lemonade stand a total of five times, each time asking for grapes.  Why would he do this?

My guess is that such was his desire for grapes that he would do whatever was needed in order to get some.  He had his heart and mind fixed on grapes and nothing else seemed to matter, including continued knock-backs. 

Silly duck.  We wouldn't have been so daft right?

The one with the attitude

As I scanned over my Facebook wall this morning I spotted a new post at Bloggerish Allsorts - a blog that I enjoy reading.  I always enjoy Dan's posts, but this one has really made me think.  The title, short and to the point, says it all: 'Positivity'.

I encourage you to click on the link and read the blog for yourself - it is a quick and easy read - but one that may just well change the way you see things today.  It has me.

In his opening paragraph Dan sets the scene:

'I've been finding myself up against a lot of negative attitudes recently, not least my own, and am really trying to continue to be up-beat despite them. It seems that all around us we are encased in walls of discouragement and in many cases, complete apathy (which is even worse).'

Isn't this a very real observation?  It is certainly one that I have noticed in recent months.  And, like Dan, I have to admit that one of the worst examples of negativity has been my own.  I have grumbled, complained, seen the worst in people or situations, and my enthusiasm and motivation has at times been buried deep.  This is not something I am proud of, and I am not sharing this publicly to evoke kind and encouraging words from friends.  Instead, I hope that by confessing this in black and white - I will be challenged and motivated to change.  

This may seem a little dramatic, or over-the-top, but I honestly believe positivity is key to living life to the full and encouraging those around us to do the same.  Don't misunderstand me, this doesn't mean we need to go around permanently smiling, singing, dancing, and viewing absolutely everything as wonderful.  This is not positivity - it is ignorance and stupidity.  Harsh?  Yes perhaps, but we all know life does have its measure of disappointment, pain and hardship.  So what does it mean?

The one with the THUD

All was quiet in the Royal Household - I had just poured milk into my tea in the kitchen and the boys were watching television in the lounge.  It was a peaceful afternoon.  Then - THUD!!  In a panic I put my tea down on the kitchen worktop and ran (well - walked briskly!) into the lounge to check the boys were ok.  Although they had come away from their usual spot on the sofa and were now standing looking a little confused in the middle of the lounge - they both seemed fine.  In fact, nothing seemed to be amiss at all.

Confused, I began to interrogate the boys:

'What was that bang?'
'What did you just do?'
'What have you touched?'

Their response?

''Dunno?'
'Nothing!'
'Nothing!'

I believed them, and yet, I knew the THUD must have been caused by something!!

After a short conversation with the boys, they said that the THUD had come from the dining room, and that something may have hit the window.  A reasonable suggestion I thought, but I couldn't see any evidence on the ground that would suggest something had been thrown at the window.

Ah well, I returned to my cup of tea that I had left in the kitchen and my mind drifted to other things and the THUD incident was soon forgotten.

That is, until the following afternoon, when something caught my eye as I walked past the window in the dining room.  The sun shone through the glass, and as it did, it revealed a blurry mark on the window that hadn't been there before.  I turned to look at it, and suddenly the cause of yesterday's THUD became clear ...

The THUD had been the result of a bird flying into the window!  It all fell into place; the mystery solved.  The bird had flown into the window, and although it had flown away again, it had left his mark.

I wonder what 'mark' we leave?  We may think that our involvement and presence has no lasting impact.  However, just as the scent of perfume may linger in the room when its wearer leaves, so our example, our behaviour, our character, our words, our actions, may all have an influence on people and situations when we are gone.

Do we leave a 'good' mark?  Do we live our lives in such a way that leaves people with a positive 'aroma' of who we are and what we believe in?  Or do we leave an unpleasant stench, which upon our departure forces people to open the window to invite the fresh air in?

As Christians, we are to demonstrate the love of Christ in all we do and say?  Do our words and actions convey the fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control?  (Galatians 5:22-23 in TNIV)

Are we living God's way? 

'But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. (Galatians 5:22-23 - The Message)

Even though the bird only made contact with my window for a very short time, it left its mark.

Don't underestimate the impact you have on people and circumstances.  You can make a difference - make every effort to make your 'mark' a good one.