The Gift of Second Chances

Who doesn’t want a do-over?

American humorist Will Rogers is credited with saying,

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Sports teams and players often wish they could undo the big mistake that cost them the game. Even with instant replay, they seldom get a “do-over.”

Life presents most of us with numerous opportunities to try again for success. In a way, the start of every year and even every day is a new beginning—a second chance. In the Weight Watchers program, we are told if you mess up your food choices one day, start fresh the next and get back on tract.

What life events produce the opportunity for a second chance? They are very stressful and change life in an instant. 

• ·       Loss of a loved one, job, or relationship
• ·       Traumatic event, accident, or natural disaster
• ·       A health crisis
• ·       Failure or defeat

  What do we do when life deals us a body blow that takes the wind out of our sails?

The American Psychological Association explains the importance of resilience in recovering from stressful situations. “Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress—such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. It means "bouncing back" from difficult experiences. Research has shown that resilience is ordinary, not extraordinary. People commonly demonstrate resilience. One example is the response of many Americans to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and individuals' efforts to rebuild their lives.”

Many non-fiction books and movies are written about people who overcome major adversity and develop the skills necessary to move on with their lives. Sometimes you have to experience the worst to appreciate the best.

The ultimate “do-over” or second chance is laid out in the third chapter of the Gospel of John. The process of being “born from above” transforms a person and gives them the ability to see the world through spiritual eyes and grants a believer eternal life. John 3:6-7

April is National Donate Life Month which recognizes and celebrates organ donation. The selfless act of organ donation provides second chances for recipients who would otherwise die from organ failure.

 I spoke this week at a Christian Women’s Connection luncheon with the theme, “Second Chances.”  They promoted the importance of organ donation and I presented my story and testimony—“Three Amazing Gifts and a Second Chance at Life.”

My speech was inspired by my memoir which many of you have read. My book makes a great gift for someone dealing with difficult times.

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Born Three Times—A New Life, A New Liver, A New Love

Until 4/30/17, I am selling signed copies of my book for $13 each (includes US postage.)  Send an email to friedasdixon@gmail.com. A stamped, addressed envelope will be enclosed for your payment convenience.

Comment on my blog below and tell me about your gift of second chances.

Dare to Dream

A 99 year old Dutch lady, Annie, and 102 year old Edie in St. Louis fulfilled their dreams by getting arrested.  (As reported by CNN 3/1/17)  Annie wanted to “experience a police cell from within.” She had the time of her life “when she was picked up by police, cuffed and locked up.” 

According to the news report, Edie requested that she be arrested at her senior center while she was delivering her handmade craft items.  She probably wanted to make sure her friends witnessed the exciting event. 

These are two ladies whose “bucket list” aspirations are definitely unique and not what I have in mind for my 100^th birthday.  In my braver moments I want to ride a zip line or sky dive, but the older I get the less likely either will happen.  I have enough aches and pains from just a day of shopping at the grocery store or mall.

The FOX 13 TV Station in Tampa featured the following story.  “96 Year Old World War II pilot takes flight again in Florida.”  Adventuresome Bob Brocklehurst, gave a thumbs up as he took to the air in a P-51Mustang like the one he flew for the military.  During the war he was stationed in Alaska for two terms protecting the Aleutian Islands from the Japanese. After 70 years, he was not content to just co-pilot the plane so he took the controls for a loop and a barrel roll. According to Bob, “I felt right at home.”

P-51 Mustang

My late bloomer husband and private pilot husband, Charles, definitely has this on his “dream list.”  Charles wasn’t a military pilot, but helped to taxi and repair many types of military planes while he was in the Navy.  His dream is to get back in the pilot’s seat of a general aviation aircraft that he has built.  

The lesson I plan to teach this Sunday during children’s church is about Simeon and Anna—two senior adults in the Bible who saw their dreams fulfilled.  When Mary & Joseph brought Jesus to the temple when he was eight days old to be presented to the Lord they were met by Simeon—a righteous and devout man who yearned to see the “consolation of Israel.” He recognized Jesus as the one who had been promised as the “glory of Israel” and “a light for revelation to the gentiles.”  Anna, a widow and prophetess at the temple, prayed for many years to see the “redemption of Israel.”  God fulfilled both of their heart-felt dreams when they were allowed to see and hold the infant Jesus.  Luke 2:29-32  (Quoted  from the English Standard Version of the Bible)

A dream is defined in the English Oxford Living Dictionary as “A cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.” 

Do we dare to dream and think about the plans that God still has for us?  Like the prophetess, Anna, we must never lose hope that God will answer our prayer.  Like Simeon, we need to listen to God’s instruction and be available when given an opportunity.  Remember, if it’s a dream God has placed in your mind and heart—He always shows up on time.   Keep praying and waiting.

Love Is In the Air

Microsoft Clip Art

The stores are filled with balloons, heart shaped cookies and doughnuts, and ads for roses fill the internet and television.  Valentine’s Day is celebrated by those who have sweethearts and endured by those who are alone with no significant other.

Spring is steadily moving in on Georgia after weeks of above average temperatures and just enough rain to coax daffodils to poke their heads up.  Tulip trees are bursting with blooms from pink to dark red.  We’ve had so little cold weather this winter, I’m afraid the flowers will appear, only to be burned when the next cold blast rolls through.

Love and spring are definitely in the air.  Mark Twain described the longing that comes this time of year as follows:

“It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want—oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”

All is not hearts and flowers when you realize that the tax man and his deadlines are fast approaching.  Since we own a company, we pay estimated taxes on a quarterly basis, but our annual day of reckoning with the IRS is on March 15. Maybe William Shakespeare was on to something when he used this quote in Julius Caesar. “Beware the Ides of March.”

I read a thought-provoking Bible verse this past week that sums up my responsibilities as a Christian to pay all I owe. Imagine—the IRS and Valentine’s Day in the same verse!!

“Pay all that you owe, whether it is taxes and fees or respect and honor. Let love be you only debt! If you love others, you have done all that the Law demands.” Romans 13:7-8 (CEV)

I think it is easier to pay government required taxes and fees than to fulfill the rest of the verse to respect, honor, and love. The former is a matter of duty, but the later requires an attitude of the heart. It can be challenging to respect, honor, and love when others don’t act in a deserving way. As with all the commands in the Bible, I must depend on God’s grace and strength to love those who love me back as well as the unlovely and unlovable. This is not the sweet, romantic love celebrated on Valentine’s Day, but the hard work of sharing our lives with those around us. 

Microsoft Clip Art

Take a Faith Journey

 January is a good month to plan your vacation for 2017. It would be wonderful to travel to Germany during the 500^th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation to visit all the significant sites connected to Martin Luther.  If that is not an option for you, plan your summer get-a-way to one or more of the faith-based museums much closer to home.  I researched each of the following museums and narrowed it down to my top four that I can’t wait to visit starting in 2017.

The Billy Graham Library

Ruth's Bookstore

Located in Charlotte, NC, this library invites you to “Come Experience a Journey of Faith.”  As you tour the 40,000 square foot facility, you will discover the life and legacy of America’s favorite pastor, Billy Graham.  The facility is located on 20 acres close to his childhood home. Displays, interactive kiosks, a bookstore, and a prayer garden are features you won’t want to miss. And it’s all free, including parking. Reservations are required.

ARK Encounter
A full scale Ark, built according to the specifications, given to Noah in Genesis 6-9 is on display in Northern Kentucky. “Think Bigger” is the theme of this destination park that is located between Cincinnati, Ohio and Lexington, Kentucky.  Pairs of life-like sculpted animals of each kind, which were probably alive at the time of the Great Flood, are found in the Ark. Dozens of educational interactive displays lead the visitor to a greater understanding of this important Biblical event. Tickets for one or two days can be purchased on line.

Creation Museum

Dinosaur Display

The Creation Museum is located in Petersburg, Kentucky about 40 miles from ARK Encounter. The museum website describes what is offered. “This 70,000-square-foot facility allows families to experience earth history as God has revealed it in the Bible. Nearly 150 exhibits feature fearsome animatronic dinosaurs, talking heroes of the faith, and professional displays that honor God´s Word. The museum also boasts a fun-filled, 200-seat special effects theater, a state-of-the-art planetarium, a petting zoo, nature trails, and lots more.”  Combo tickets are available for                                                          both ARK Encounter and the Creation Museum.

Museum of the Bible
This museum invites all people to engage with the Bible when it opens in Washington, DC in November 2017.  According to Wikipedia, the 430,000 sq. ft. facility “documents the narrative, history, and impact of the Bible. The museum is non-sectarian, non-political, and it will not proselytize.”  The hope is that people will learn about the Bible and decide for themselves what they believe. Steve Green, Hobby Lobby President, is donating over 40,000 items from Old and New Testament times, including fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Stay tuned for more information about the grand opening.

Be inspired, be amazed, and be challenged. Let me know in the comment section at the end of this blog if you plan to take a Journey of Faith.

Museum of the Bible

From God Bless to Go Bless

My mind and body are finally starting to defrost.  The momentum of the new year and my determination to “get back to normal” have been on hold. Bitter temperatures, snow, and ice descended on the Atlanta metro last weekend just as I was recovering from the holiday season.  Where else but Georgia in January can you have a 4^o wind chill one Saturday and 65^o the next?

In order to move forward, it helps me to have an inspiration, a goal, or a plan as I navigate the 355 days left in 2017. These quotes express my desire to make my days count this year.

“What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.” – Vern McLellan

“We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them.”

– Hillary DePiano

January is a good time to look back and to look forward. In spite of the challenges and difficulties of last year, I choose to celebrate my many blessings. Blessings are wonderful, but the question is what will I do with them? Will I hoard them or share them? 

The child’s nighttime prayer is to bless mommy, daddy, little sister, big brother, etc. That is great for a child, but it should not be the totality of our adult prayer. If God has already blessed greatly, should we ask for more?

Compared to much of the world, we have more blessings than we deserve. If we have something in abundance, our goal should be to share that abundance with others. 2017 would be a good year for me to ask God each day to make me a blessing to someone else. How would that show up in real life?  Kind words for the person who waits on me at the bank and grocery store. Lending a helping hand to someone in need or offering to pray for somebody who is hurting. These are simple acts of kindness.

An elderly man jumped on the mother of two at the Ft. Lauderdale airport to protect her from the recent shooting.  He whispered to her, “I will protect you.” Both of their lives were spared by his heroic act. We never know when we might have the same opportunity to spring into action. If we make a habit of passing along blessings to others each day, an unselfish act will be second nature for us.

When I think about sharing my blessings, I recall a church hymn I used to sing years ago:

“Out in the highways and byways of life,

Many are weary and sad;

Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,

Making the sorrowing glad.

Refrain:

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,

Out of my life may Jesus shine,

Make me a blessing, O Savior I pray;

Make me a blessing to someone today.”

—Ira B. Wilson (1909)

Who can you bless today?

Crossing the Divide

Seventy-nine years ago this week, the 1.5 mile Lincoln Tunnel under the Hudson River was opened to traffic. Creative engineers constructed a safe path for travel under previously unpassable waters. For the first time, cars could drive from New Jersey and end up in New York City.  

This bit of trivia caused me to reflect on other events we are experiencing here at the year’s end that mark a beginning and an ending and sometimes cause us to tunnel through to the other side.

 Most folks will agree that the national election of 2016 was one of the most divisive in recent memory. And many will also agree they are very thankful that the election is over. As our country moves forward under new leadership many policies will end and new ones will be put in place. There will still be rough and tumble politics, but the uncertainty of who will lead the country for the next four years has been put to rest. 

Did you notice that today we had one more minute of daylight than we did yesterday? The Winter Solstice was the divide between fall and winter and the shortest day of the year. Everyday has 24 hours, but from June to December in the northern hemisphere the daylight hours grow shorter and the nighttime hours longer. These days can be tough for those who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder. For all of us, longer hours of daylight will be a welcome relief signaling the arrival of spring.

Christmas marks the greatest divide in human history. God broke into history by sending Jesus into the world. No longer was God a distant creator but a flesh and blood Savior who bore the sins and hope of all mankind. The great divide between man and God was broken down. Light and love replaced death and darkness for all who put their faith in Him. May you find time this Christmas season to open your hearts to the light of God through his son, Jesus Christ.

“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; 

on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”  Matthew 4:16

On New Year’s Eve we will cross the divide from 2016 to 2017. Out with the old and in with the new. For some it is a lonely time as they remember the loss of family members and friends during the past year. I’m always glad for a fresh start and a new beginning. I resolve to make the next year better than the last—only to find my expectations don’t quite measure up to reality. My prayer is not just for a Happy New Year, but for a healthy, hopeful, and holy 365 days for each one of you.

Thank you for following my blog. See you in 2017.

Let There Be Peace on Earth

Many Christmas songs call for “Peace on Earth.”  As much as we would like a peaceful world, it’s easy to feel helpless when we see so much war and turmoil all over our planet. Maybe we need to look within to find peace in our own lives before we can impact our world.

In 2015 my friend, Tanya Hall, and I collaborated in writing 28 Advent devotionals for our church members to use during the weeks leading to Christmas. We used a stanza from the beloved Christmas song O Holy Night for each devotional. I’m pleased to post one of Tanya’s devotions where she shares her thoughts on the true source of peace.

O Holy Night

“His law is love and His gospel is peace.”

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14

What does peace mean to you? Is it the absence of conflict?  Is it really possible to experience peace in the midst of great conflict? According to the Bible, the peace given by God transcends all understanding. In other words–it doesn’t make sense. But we know God loves to work in the impossible. Many years ago I struggled with a situation that I could not move past. I was stuck. For seven years my mind and emotions were tormented. I could not enjoy the present, because I was stuck in the past. God did a healing in me that only He could do. He gave me a peace that transcended my understanding. I knew it was from God because nothing else I tried worked. His peace wrapped around my mind and emotions until I could rest from the battle.

God’s peace doesn’t make sense to the world yet it’s the world’s greatest need. Everybody is looking for peace. We all seek peace on earth, but it’s only in God that true peace resides. HE IS PEACE. He longs to fill you with His peace which abides in spite of earthy conflict. It truly transcends ALL understanding. The peace the angels proclaimed at the birth of Jesus has yet to be realized. It didn’t make sense to the chaotic world of Jesus’ time and makes no sense to our world today.

If you are lacking true peace, turn to Him. It’s the best gift you can give yourself.

 Lord,You are my peace in this chaotic world. Amen.

Wise men and women still seek Him.