Friday, June 20, 2008

Treasure

Solomon sought meaning for his life; he wanted to believe that his life would be more valuable than its mere length. Perhaps he measured himself by his father’s accomplishments – driven to achieve. But Solomon approaches meaning from a broad perspective, in some ways like Victor Frankle’s work, Man’s Search for Meaning. In Ecclesiastes 2 he briefly mentions his search for meaning through pleasure, only to turn abruptly, “Laughter is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?” So he searched in other ways:

I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly--my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man.
I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

But in the end he says, “…when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:3-11).

Verse 8 reveals a lot about humankind, Solomon drew to himself all the delights of the heart. Interestingly, this is the only verse in the Bible where “treasure” and “heart” both appear, other than when Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Solomon’s search for meaning is really a search for what to worship.

Where do we search for meaning in our lives? That is where we keep our treasure, and that is our god. Remember…We follow Him!

Don Morrison

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Help Me Out!

makegodsmile gave a great suggestion that we can start right here. Whether for good or for bad, please fill in the dots on this statement: "My experiences with my Mom/Dad have left me..."

Don Morrison

Friday, June 13, 2008

Father's Day

The following stories were submitted by readers to the Houston Chronicle. (edited for length).

"Daddy saved me!"

A few years ago, my 3-year old daughter taught me how easily I could lose the precious title of father. Vacationing in northern Michigan, Casey and I headed to the boathouse with supplies for a picnic. As I entered the boathouse, right behind my daughter, I saw her fall into the dark water between the boat and the dock. Immediately I dropped the supplies and fell to the dock, reaching into the murk to pull her out. To my horror, she was not there. I rolled into the water, pushing the boat away as I fell. I searched the green water for Casey for what seemed minutes until I finally spotted her under the hull, suspended motionless in the water like a large doll, her eyes staring widely at me.

Grabbing her, I pushed her to the surface, when, to my relief, she let loose a scream of fear and anger. Gently, I then lifted her onto the dock. Unfortunately, the weight of my wet clothes prevented me from climbing onto the dock myself. I instructed my still-crying child to go get Mommy. She took off for the house crying but repeatedly yelling almost triumphantly, "Daddy saved me!"

My deep appreciation for the privilege of being a father was set in place for the rest of my life.
- Dr. Ken Grier, Spring, Texas


My Hero

From taking the training wheels off my bike, to letting me off punishment a couple days early, to putting me through college, my Dad is truly a hero.

He has never once "not had time" for my brother and I. For 21 years he has made sure we were provided for, and not just financially. He insisted that my brother and I attend college, only it was never a fight because all through our lives he has shown us what it takes to succeed so my brother and I always knew that we'd go to college.

I catch myself thinking sometimes that his friends must think my Dad is pretty great to be putting both his kids through college and then I think, many parents never get the chance. My dad has always said that he wants my brother and me to succeed even more than he did. For 21 years he has not once let my brother or I down, so we won't let him down either. Our father is truly a hero.
- Carrie and Richie Vincent


I received a phone call the other day from a wonderful person who reminded me that not everyone has memories of wonderful fathers. My friend had a good point, that on occassions such as Mother's Day and Father's Day, those who lived with ungodly/abusive/negligent/absent parents may relive their pain all over again, especially when at their place of refuge, their church family, they are inundated with words and symbols of fathers and mothers and seemingly everyone around had only good to say.

What do you think...How should we help those who hurt on Father's/Mother's Day?


Don Morrison

more stories can be found at this link http://www.chron.com/content/interactive/special/holidays/97/dad/stories/

Wednesday, June 04, 2008


Humble Yourself

I read a prayer called the "Litany of Humility," written by Merry Cardinal del Val (1865-1930) and I would like to share it here:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated*
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected
Deliver me, O Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.



What do you think of this idea of humility? Is this a prayer we can or should pray?

I have not achieved humility, so I speak as an outsider, but I think that perhaps humility has less to do with me and more to do with the will of God being accomplished. If pride is the contrast to humility and if pride means to think highly of oneself, then does humility mean to think lowly of oneself, or, instead, to not think highly of oneself?

We can start by considering God’s will above our own. That sort of humility will surely teach us a lot about finding our proper place.

Don Morrison

*falsely accused

(The full version of the Litany of Humility can be found here along with some interesting comments and links.)