Dandelion Fluff

Have you ever looked at the life cycle of a dandelion? Those incredible yellow flowers, or weeds, which spring up all over the grass as soon as spring arrives. To some people, they look pretty. To others, they’re a menace to be weeded out and discarded forever. The first life of the dandelion consists of that little yellow flower that just seems to never go away.

Then, for those that do survive the first cycle of life, the dandelion suddenly and magically turns into nothing more than fluff. On the surface, this fluff looks very harmless. When a wind comes along, the fluff is blown away and the dandelion is never to be seen again.

At least for a season…

Impacting Your Environment

The dandelion fluff, which marks the end of a season, or life cycle, for the dandelion may look harmless. But, for those who really know what’s going on, the fluff is merely planting the harvest for the next crop of dandelions. The fluff goes to seed and lays dormant until the dandelion growing season hits once again.

From time to time it’s important for us to step back and see what’s going on in our life. A journal entry from Thomas Merton in June of 1960 says the following;

“To see better means we need to gain perspective. That sometimes means a withdrawal, or a stepping back from the machinery of life.”

Stepping back from the machinery of life…
Just let those words sink in for a moment.

All too often, the machinery of life adds to the chaos and noise of life as we navigate through this journey we call life. From time to time, we must step back so we can gain perspective on what’s going on around us. Or, sometimes we need to step back so we can gain perspective on what’s going on in our own lives. It’s during these times of reflection, these times of stepping back, that we truly gain the perspective we need to make sense of what’s going on around us.

In my final year of Seminary I took a class on the Historical Books from the Old Testament. Up until that time, I usually had little to no difficulty working on the various assignments pertaining to Bible study and Bible study methods. However, for some reason I had a block when it came to working through lessons found in the Old Testament historical books. All I saw was a collection of names, facts, and what I considered to be useless information.

However, one day that all changed as I sat in my Professor’s office lamenting the fact I didn’t see anything! He looked at me and said, “It’s because you’re too close to the material. You’re working too hard in trying to figure out what’s going on.” He then said, “Take off your glasses.” I told him if I did that, I would see nothing at all! He laughed and said, “Take off your glasses, hold them over your shoulder like you’re holding them up for God to use.”

The Professor then said something that totally changed the way I looked at not only the Scripture passage, but even the situation. The Professor said, “Now, ask God what He sees here.”

Wow! What a transformation of attitude in looking at something. I believe that’s what Merton touches on when he says we need to step away to get perspective. Sometimes it’s the stepping away, and even asking God to show us what He sees in a given situation, where truly find answers for the journey.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

]]> http://fellowsojourner.godlaughs.net/2009/06/28/stepping-back-to-gain-perspective/feed/ 3 http://fellowsojourner.godlaughs.net/2008/08/20/watercooler-wednesday-author-influence/ http://fellowsojourner.godlaughs.net/2008/08/20/watercooler-wednesday-author-influence/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:25:55 +0000 Dr. Rus http://fellowsojourner.godlaughs.net/?p=122 This post is taking part in Randy Elrod’s Watercooler Wednesday!

Over on Randy’s Cultural Watercooler discussion for today he asked the question – What book or author has had the greatest influence on you?

First off Randy, that’s really a tough question for a preacher! There are so many and so little time or space to tell you of them all! But, before I tell you who my favorites are, yes, I have managed to whittle the list down to two, your question reminds me of a similar question once asked of a class at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.

I don’t remember which class it was, but I do remember the professor. In a class studying Wesleyan Theology, Dr. Steve Harper once asked the question – If you were in the midst of being exiled to an island in the middle of nowhere, what one book would you take? Of course in a class of second and third year Seminary students working on their Divinity degrees, those who wanted to appear really spiritual said — the Bible! But, that was too easy. Dr. Harper’s question truly did start me thinking about what author, and what book, could truly continually feed my soul and spirit if I found myself on an island in the middle of nowhere.

Would I take John Wesley books? Or would I take something totally different?

There are so many choices, but in the end, I did narrow my choices down to two when it comes to authors who’ve influenced me the most.

1. Thomas Merton
2. Ken Gire

While in Seminary Dr. Jerry Mercer offered a class on the life and writings of Thomas Merton. I remember asking him about the class, and I must once again thank him for offering the class during my last semester so I could fit it into my schedule. Thomas Merton was an amazing man. If you’d like to read what many consider his life story, check out The Seven Story Mountain. But, the Merton book that most influence me is entitled New Seeds of Contemplation. This book opened up a whole new way of looking at life and contemplating how we interact with life.

Ken Gire is an author I discovered while working on my Doctorate from the Wagner Leadership Institute in Colorado Springs. I took a writing class from Ken in which he encouraged us to come into contact not only with what we wanted to write, but how the topic actually effects us. Once we tap into such a concept, our writing truly transforms with simple words on a page. I keep in contact with Ken from time to time via email and I’m always moved by his compassion and genuine interest in what’s going on my life.

As for books of Ken’s that have influenced me? Again, there are many. I’m currently reading The North Face of God. But, many of his previous books have also touched me as well. Books such as The Divine Embrace and Reflections on the Movies come to mind. But, his most influential book, is the first book I ever read of Ken’s entitled Windows of the Soul.

By the way, you can find all of Ken’s books at his main website Reflective Living Ministries.

As I said, there are many authors and many books that have influenced me along the way. But, of all the books and all the authors I’ve read, Ken Gire and Thomas Merton rank at the top of the list for those that have truly influenced and impacted my life in a significant way.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

PS – If you’re wondering, in the Thomas Merton category I’m currently reading Echoing Silence. If you’re a writer, this is a great read!

I loved the show in the early ’90′s and along the way I’ve forgotten most of the episodes, and realized I also missed some along the way. This week I started on season one, and today I watched episode three, Soapy Sanderson. The episode was good, as usual, but one scene in particular jumped off the screen at me. Dr. Fleischman is, once again, is having Maggie problems. In this particular episode he finds himself chatting with Chris, the philosophical radio announcer, about life, and how to connect with Maggie. He’s done something stupid again, putting himself first, which has turned her off.

Now it’s no secret, even by episode three of season one, that Fleischman does not want to be in Alaska. It seems every waking moment is spent trying to figure out a way to get back to New York City. Chris cuts through all of that and simply says, “It doesn’t matter if you’re going to be here for four years, four weeks, four months, or four hours. What’s important is how do you positively effect those around you in the time that you have here.”

Wow! What an amazing thought!

I guess that’s my thought for tonight as I get ready once again to wind down for another day. I would ask you the same thing I find myself asking myself right now — How did I positively effect those around me today?

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

Scanning my bookshelves makes it hard to pick out just one favorite book. I move from the classics such as Christ & Culture to the monastic of Thomas Merton. Then there’s the holiness of John Wesley and others in the Wesleyan Tradition. Of course I can’t forget the more modern testimony books by people such as Ken Mansfield who worked closely with The Beatles or Grace is Enough by Willie Aames of Eight is Enough fame. I’m also working on Timothy Keller’s new book The Reason for God. After interviewing Dr. Tim on my talk show about his book, I’m even more fascinating by it, and also highly recommend it

However, to boil my library down to one favorite book, I’d have to go with my favorite writer, Ken Gire. Anything by Ken is well worth the read. He’s passionate and has an incredible way of connecting his life, with the life of the reader, as we in turn connect with God. As for all the Ken Gire books I have, my favorite is Windows of the Soul.

This post is participating in Watercooler Wednesday!

Merton also points out that when he’s at his toolshed hermitage he is “always happy and at peace, no matter what happens. For here, there is no need for anyone but God.”

Then suddenly out of no-where, the entry ends with the sentence – “A fly buzzes on the windowpane!” Did this fly suddenly pull him out of the things and thoughts of God, directly back into what many call the real world?

This got me wondering just how often we find ourselves distracted from the peace of God through daily, and many times the mundane, things of life. A fly buzzing on the windowpane suddenly becomes our excuse for the moment to stop thinking on the things of God.

What is buzzing on your windowpane today taking your attention away from God? Is it a worthy distraction? Or is it best to ignore it, so you can continue pondering the things of God.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

A book containing excerpts from Merton’s thoughts on the vocation of writing was recently released entitled Echoing Silence. What an amazing thought. One wants to write, in order to encourage others along whatever journey they may find themselves on. Whether it’s a journey of joy, adventure, science fiction, or whatever, the writer writes, so one can be entertained, learn something, or be encouraged. However, at the same time the writer often finds himself in the midst of an echoing silence. Just how do the words flow into thoughts, sentences, paragraphs, chapters, and yes, even books.

It’s funny, I find myself in the midst of such an echoing silence these days. While it’s exciting to write and create, it’s at the same time somewhat scary to think I’m hanging my thoughts out there for all to see. Will people like what they read? Will they understand what they read? Will it even make sense?

However, it really is all about the journey we find ourselves on individually. For some, reading helps them along the journey. For others, writing helps them along the journey. Whatever the case may be, in the end, we can find encouragement in knowing that the Alpha and the Omega really does know what’s going on. In the end, He is the Author of Life and He truly is in our corner, even in the midst of what might seem like echoing silence, to run the race which is marked out for us so that we might hear those wonderful words of — Well done My faithful servant. Come, enter into your rest.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

Wow! What an amazing thought. Think about that for a moment and let it really sink in. Is it true we can get close enough to God that set times of prayer interrupt our time with Him? I remember pondering that thought often throughout seminary and even during times of ministry. How can one arrive at the place where set times of prayer interrupt regular time with God. That means we’re truly conscious of the presence of God at all times in our lives.

Many times we find ourselves tossed to a fro by the demands of the world. It doesn’t matter if one is in ministry, or if one is working in the marketplace, the demands of the world, and those around us, can seem overwhelming at times. How are we to survive and maintain a relationship with God in the midst of all the demands on our life? I believe that’s what Brother Lawrence was getting at when he addressed the idea of practicing the presence of God, at all times.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

We live in a world of many gadgets, which are in turn supposed to make life simpler. However, I often wonder if we ever do achieve the simple life by adding gadget after gadget into our lives. There was a time when I felt the need to have every new wild and fancy gadget that ever hit the market. In the end however, all this really led to was a life full of toys gathering dust on a nearby shelf. As I journey through this life I’m coming to realize that some of the gadgets are good, and when used properly, they can even help to make life simpler. However, other gadgets are merely toys taking up space, and making noise in an already busy schedule.

In the end, as we journey through each day, we need to look closely at what we’re filling our life up with, and then decide if it’s really making life simple or merely adding to the noise already around us.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus