Reflections On Connections!
My son and I sat in a
small waiting room in the hospital for the next step for pre-op for cataract
surgery. A nurse appeared at the
door. Everyone came to attention waiting
for their names to be called. When the
nurse announced the name, two ladies stood up.
It took awhile to untangle the identities of the two. As we listened, we learned that the husbands
also had the same names. The waiting
room was abuzz with laughter and exclamations as each tried to find out the
background of the other couple. It
reminded me of family reunions I have attended. Excited words ensued as they
discovered similar lives and attempted to found out how they are connected.
small waiting room in the hospital for the next step for pre-op for cataract
surgery. A nurse appeared at the
door. Everyone came to attention waiting
for their names to be called. When the
nurse announced the name, two ladies stood up.
It took awhile to untangle the identities of the two. As we listened, we learned that the husbands
also had the same names. The waiting
room was abuzz with laughter and exclamations as each tried to find out the
background of the other couple. It
reminded me of family reunions I have attended. Excited words ensued as they
discovered similar lives and attempted to found out how they are connected.
Connections. Who would have thought in a small waiting room
in a large hospital that the similarity of names would draw two families
together? As the words swirled around
the room, I thought about the power of words to connect us to each other. Words and the meanings of the words draw us
together. I thought, too, how God gives
us seemingly coincidences that He sets up for our wonder and joy in Him.
in a large hospital that the similarity of names would draw two families
together? As the words swirled around
the room, I thought about the power of words to connect us to each other. Words and the meanings of the words draw us
together. I thought, too, how God gives
us seemingly coincidences that He sets up for our wonder and joy in Him.
Have you ever
wondered at the purpose of Alexander Graham Bell to invent the telephone? He was a teacher of the deaf and conceived
the idea of ‘electronic speech’ while vising his hearing-impaired mother. He desired connections.
wondered at the purpose of Alexander Graham Bell to invent the telephone? He was a teacher of the deaf and conceived
the idea of ‘electronic speech’ while vising his hearing-impaired mother. He desired connections.
I thought about how
my Uncle Jake, hungry for words, who lived in the dark world of the blind. He learned Braille to give him words. I watched as my granddaughter signed words
during a church service for those who are deaf.
Her skilful fingers flew through the air speaking words of God. I thought about my friend who has difficulty
seeing, and listens to books through devices that pour words into the air. I see the sixth grader in my classroom,
always with a storybook at ready when her work was done.
my Uncle Jake, hungry for words, who lived in the dark world of the blind. He learned Braille to give him words. I watched as my granddaughter signed words
during a church service for those who are deaf.
Her skilful fingers flew through the air speaking words of God. I thought about my friend who has difficulty
seeing, and listens to books through devices that pour words into the air. I see the sixth grader in my classroom,
always with a storybook at ready when her work was done.
Words purport to
sell, persuade, tell a story/parable or entertain, Words can build up, tear
down, teach, or create a world of love or of hate. Words build barriers between people or
bridges to connect. Words, despite what
we learned as children, are powerful.
They produce connection with love or disconnect with hurt.
sell, persuade, tell a story/parable or entertain, Words can build up, tear
down, teach, or create a world of love or of hate. Words build barriers between people or
bridges to connect. Words, despite what
we learned as children, are powerful.
They produce connection with love or disconnect with hurt.
The words we
choose to use in a moment of anger linger in the hearts of the hearer for a
lifetime. Words paint a picture for the hearer of who we are. Body language underlines the verbs of our
words that we use.
choose to use in a moment of anger linger in the hearts of the hearer for a
lifetime. Words paint a picture for the hearer of who we are. Body language underlines the verbs of our
words that we use.
Now, how did Words begin? The
words from long ago. Do they still
vibrate in the air? Words of every language – fill our minds. Words began this way: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the
earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the
face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the
waters. And God
said, “Let
there be light,” and there was light.
words from long ago. Do they still
vibrate in the air? Words of every language – fill our minds. Words began this way: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the
earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the
face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the
waters. And God
said, “Let
there be light,” and there was light.
In John 1:1-5 is
another reference to where words began… In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He
was in the beginning with God. All
things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was
made. In him was life,
and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
another reference to where words began… In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He
was in the beginning with God. All
things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was
made. In him was life,
and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
The more I considered the word – Connections – the more I see
connections all around us that were put into place by our God, our Lord, our
Mighty One. Our God is a connecting God
who loves to bring connections in our lives through words and actions.
connections all around us that were put into place by our God, our Lord, our
Mighty One. Our God is a connecting God
who loves to bring connections in our lives through words and actions.
• God wants a relationship with
us. He created Adam and asked him to
name the animals.
us. He created Adam and asked him to
name the animals.
• God created the world. Is it any wonder that He connects the moon
with the tides of the oceans?
with the tides of the oceans?
• Is it any wonder that he
created tiny seeds that become the food that man eats – another connection.
created tiny seeds that become the food that man eats – another connection.
• God created light that follows
darkness – and a sun that follows the moon.
(Do they communicate as they pass?)
darkness – and a sun that follows the moon.
(Do they communicate as they pass?)
• God created Eve, as a helper to
Adam.. Therefore a man shall leave his
father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one
flesh. Genesis 2:24. And now we use a connection – a circle – a
ring — to make marriage binding.
Adam.. Therefore a man shall leave his
father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one
flesh. Genesis 2:24. And now we use a connection – a circle – a
ring — to make marriage binding.
• We call it bonding when a
mother holds her new born baby. Another
connection.
mother holds her new born baby. Another
connection.
• A family legacy grows with each
generation, and the family chooses that legacy. A connection.
generation, and the family chooses that legacy. A connection.
• There are always consequences
to our choice of actions every day – another connection.
to our choice of actions every day – another connection.
• When we smile at someone, there
is a connection.
is a connection.
The most binding and far-reaching connection is God’s love for each of
us. He reaches out and loves us so much
that He gave his Son Jesus to live on earth and to become a sacrifice for our
sins. This is a connection above any
other on this earth. When Jesus died on
the cross, his blood was shed for sins of every human who ever walks this
earth.
us. He reaches out and loves us so much
that He gave his Son Jesus to live on earth and to become a sacrifice for our
sins. This is a connection above any
other on this earth. When Jesus died on
the cross, his blood was shed for sins of every human who ever walks this
earth.
When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we connect with that
blood. When we read God’s Word of Life,
we connect with His love. When we pray
for forgiveness and worship Him, we connect with our Lord God. When we love and serve others, it is done to
God as well. That is connection.
blood. When we read God’s Word of Life,
we connect with His love. When we pray
for forgiveness and worship Him, we connect with our Lord God. When we love and serve others, it is done to
God as well. That is connection.
The connection with God is delicately entwined and interwoven and
describe who God is. These words are our
connection with Him. Wisdom and Hope and
Trust emanate and grow from the Fruit of the Spirit.
describe who God is. These words are our
connection with Him. Wisdom and Hope and
Trust emanate and grow from the Fruit of the Spirit.
But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
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