Look My Way

What’s tall, colorful, and gyrates wildly to get your attention as you drive down the road and silently says “Look My Way”?

An Inflatable Air Dancer

These vinyl creations are most often used to lure customers into a retail store or car dealership. But vineyards and gardens are sometimes decorated with these sky puppets in order to repel birds and four footed creatures that like to eat the fruit and plants.

There are days when I identify with the wacky waving tube man. In recent weeks, I’ve been pulled from one event to another. Circumstances and situations constantly required me to change gears or change hats. And there is no end in sight. But I have discovered some spiritual and practical lessons as I’ve observed my air dancing friend.

Spiritual Lessons

• It’s easy to ignore my surroundings. Just as I drive without ever seeing the stores on the side of the road, am I also failing to observe people and their needs? Unless someone grabs my attention like my air dancer friend, I’m content to stay in my own little world. I need to be attuned to the spirit that tells me to interact with folks I meet each day..
• Life is full of twists and turns and I often flail about on my own trying to get my balance.  I stay that way until I realize that I am not in charge of the circumstances of my life.  If I have done my best, I need to trust God to handle the rest. “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah 4:6.
• Like the tube man, keep on smiling. Everyone knows my mood by my face.  I’m not very good at hiding my feelings. I want to be spiritually uplifting to people who are probably having a tough day too and a smile is a good way to start.

Practical Lessons

• Be more flexible—physically & emotionally.
• Limit sticking my fingers into too many pies.
• Go with the flow.
• Relax when I have a bad hair day.
• Strive to be that skinny again.

Even an inanimate object like an air dancer can teach us important lessons about life.

Click on this YouTube link to see air dancers in action.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiOybfrhsnNAhXCeCYKHde0Ck0QtwIIHzAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Drkg9ov-2N4g&usg=AFQjCNGHfVQ6hXVG5PZabvrPP7Qii-Ebog&bvm=bv.125596728,d.eWE 

Keep the American Spirit

I felt a sense of pride as I pulled into my condo community today and saw American flags mounted on all our mailboxes in honor of Flag Day.  The banners representing our country fluttered in the breeze and at times snapped to attention when a stiffer wind blew. In light of recent terror attacks on our citizens. I also felt a sense of sadness that enemies both foreign and domestic are attempting to destroy our American way of life.

Some things never change. One hundred years ago today President Woodrow Wilson officially established June 14, 1916 as Flag Day.  He spoke these wise words:

“Many circumstances have recently conspired to turn our thoughts to a critical examination of the conditions of our national life, of the influences which have seemed to threaten to divide us, of forces within and without. Stand with united hearts for an America which no man can corrupt; no influence draw away from its ideals; no force divide against itself.”

We need to pray for our country as never before that we the people will appreciate and protect our country, not only for ourselves, but for the generations that will follow.

Several weeks ago I asked fellow bloggers to submit a guest piece. In the patriotic spirit of the recent Memorial Day and upcoming Independence Day, I received the following from Debbra Stephens. Debbra has published Bible studies on the Gospels and the book of Ephesians. She is on the women’s ministry team at her Marietta, Georgia church and blogs at www.DebbraStephens.com. Welcome Debbra.

Make It Memorable

"With holidays come memories. I usually choose to remember only the fond ones, of course. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t experienced bad holidays—I just choose not to dwell on them.

I don’t want to remember how many spare ribs I’ve burned, pies I’ve ruined, or potato salad recipes I’ve attempted. And I certainly don’t want to recall relational tensions, family feuds, or feelings that got wounded.

What types of things do you dwell upon?  Choosing to dwell upon the admirable and the lovely helps to shape positive attitudes. It’s not to deny reality, mind you. It’s simply a choice…a wise choice. When practiced, it eliminates attitudes that have the potential to rob the atmosphere of joy, truth, or worse, create great difficulties. This is nothing new. It’s an age-old principle—tried, tested, and proven true—and handed down by the Apostle Paul. It’s something I like to call the 4:8 Principle.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, 
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

I look forward to every opportunity to make family holiday celebrations memorable. I want to be positively all there and leave the negatives where they belong—in the past, forgotten and forgiven. And following the 4:8 Principle ensures just that."

Today I reached 20,000 clicks on my blog www.twolatebloomers .  
I never dreamed four years ago my blog would reach that many people. Thank you for your support.