#LifeWithTucker

Welcome to my new blog site, #LifeWithTucker. 
     Let me catch you up on what has transpired over the last four weeks.  On July 24th Dylan took Tucker out on a walk and Tucker pulled free and disappeared into the woods.  For four agonizing weeks we have looked and called for him with no prevail.  Alicia didn't miss a day without shedding tears worrying about her little boy.

Last night (August 21st.) Tucker came home!

 

 

    If you are a pet lover (not a pet owner) you understand the emotions we had.  After four weeks of leaving "Cheese Nips" on the back porch and sleeping with the door cracked open, Tucker came home.  He returned with a different demeanor than he left with, his natural instincts had taken over and he was a little apprehensive to approach us.  But after retrieving the "Cheese Nips" box from the pantry and opening it he loosened up. 

     He growled at me, which is normal, but when Alicia got on her hands and knees and met him face to face he began to lick her face.  Tucker kisses is what she had called them for the last year and had cried herself to sleep missing them for the last four weeks.

     Our visit was short and sweet as Alicia and Dylan walked him out on the back porch and watched him disappear back into the night.  We know he'll return often and look forward to the visits but now we can sleep in peace knowing that God created these special creatures with an intelligence and instincts to care for themselves and others.

We will keep you up to date on our midnight visits with one of the most special pets we have ever had.

 

 

Entitlement steals your imagination!

Unfortunately many people have entitled attitudes, some larger than others, some counting on others for bail, some expecting others to alleviate whatever pain they are going through, and many depending on monetary relief from government entities and non-charitable organizations.  However we look at entitlement there are many different categorical area's.  The largest group are those that feel entitled to explanations.  This is the group that is at the greatest risk of losing more than materialistic value.  This group is in danger of losing their imagination.    

Let's talk about how not to let your imagination get robbed!

 

 

The quickest way to lose your imagination is to let yourself get in the way.  When we question the creativity of our own thoughts we begin chipping away at the heart of our phantasmal nature.  It is often said that those with the most imagination achieve higher success than those who use analytical thinking.  Not that knowledge is not important, but people who dream big produce big. 

 

In the Christian world the quickest way for someone to lose faith is to allow themselves to be first.  It is the main reason people have such a hard time believing in the corporality of a higher deity.  People give in to analytical thinking and lose not only their imagination but also their faith.  It's best illustrated in children during Christmas time, young children go to bed believing that Santa Claus is coming to their house.  They don't try to figure him out because the happiness he brings takes over the thought of his existence.

Same with Christians who have experienced gifts from an unseen God, they don't worry about trying to prove that he doesn't exist when a true sense of peace encompasses their life.  Why do you think Jesus said we must have faith like children, they believe what they are told by people they trust.  If you want to guide someone to faith you have to earn their trust, you have to earn the right to guide them.

God himself said that his way is not our way and his way of thinking is not our way of thinking.  So, if we demand the reason why, we revert back to entitlement.  Again, we just let ourselves get in the way.  We are our own thieves not only to our imagination but to our faith. 

So what do we do if we find ourselves slaved to analytical thinking and robed of our own imagination?  Revert back to our childhood and look at what made us believe.  Personally, for me, I had two trusting parents.  You might be different but there was something in your childhood that expanded your imagination and faith.  The only hint that I can give.....is that it wasn't you.     

      

How we walk in valleys cultivates our durability.

Being my first post I wanted to share something that should seem simplistic but in many ways we tend to look at this from the worlds point of view.  Also known as a man-made point of view.  I don't know about you but I have a hard time living in a world that is judged by negative people and media that thrives on antagonistic persuasion.  Ok.... no more soap box.

For the last four years I have been a football chaplain and have worked close with many athletes teaching character and spiritual growth.  One of the words we tend to use exorbitantly is adversity.  Anytime we lose a game, go through an injury, or have a tough practice we say "You have to learn through adversity.". It's almost become cliché. 

It is true that by adversity we become stronger.  But have you ever looked at adversity as a gift?  Why would we accept misfortune as a gift?  One thing that comes to mind is I have never learned anything through success, it's always been through failure.  In my, soon to be released, book Waterproof Steve LeJeune tries to explain to his son that adversity makes us stronger, tough for an eight year old to understand.  Sure it's easy to say "Learn from the tough times." But how?

I heard a friend once say that we should walk softly in valleys, walk softly?  Isn't it true, how we walk through tough times cultivates our durability.  So that the next time we travel through the same challenging circumstance we are stronger.  When I learned to play the guitar my fingers hurt for days, if not weeks, but after time my fingers became tough enough to handle the strings I was pressing.  It's the same with valleys, we learn from adversity and gain wisdom, so the next time we find ourselves there we are stronger. 

Wisdom is only achieved by seeking it.  As a Christ follower we are told to seek wisdom through God.  I personally think that's easier said than done.  My schedule often conflicts with my communication with the big guy upstairs, but I am reminded that He is there when I find myself in a valley.  Adversity as a gift?  Not a worldly way of thinking is it?

So...... (this was suppose to be shorter) how do we walk in valleys?  Softly.  Searching.  Listening.

Ephesians 5:15-16 Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.


 

 

 

 

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