How Do You Spell "Love"?

How do you spell “love”? This doesn’t come across well on the printed page, does it? And is it a trick question, or what? Well, you may have heard the answer I’m looking for, and I’ve certainly seen it fleshed-out this past week. How do you spell “love”? How about T-I-M-E?

I encountered a man with a sharp knife a week ago today and he sliced about a 10-inch gash in me. And several “partners-in-crime” stood by, supporting his actions. Thankfully, he made sure I was unconscious before he laid open my leg and hip joint. Yes, Dr. Drake replaced my damaged hip with a new one, and now I’m one the road to recovery, which I pray will be uneventful. (Did I have you going there for a minute?)

Such events give friends and family an opportunity to demonstrate their compassion as well as God’s love. The gracious acts began days before when I received a lovely card; the sender wanted me to know she was praying for a successful outcome. Calls came in to check on the time. The morning of the operation, as I lay swaddled in the sterile hospital whites waiting for the procedure’s beginning, chaplain Bob Storie, a long-time friend and perfect picture of God’s gentleness and humility, stopped in to pray with my husband and me. During the surgery, friends and family helped while away the hours.

During my four-day hospital stay, many brought gifts, words of encouragement, lively conversation and prayers. Two or three visitors assured me meals would begin arriving at our home in the days to come. Now that I’m home, we’ve enjoyed entrees, veggies, cornbread, homemade soup, and luscious desserts. Friends have stopped by and cards have arrived in the mail.

So “love” can be spelled “T-I-M-E”; all these actions required the doers to put aside things they could have been doing for themselves and invest time (and money) in helping smooth the road to recovery.

Lord, thank you for these selfless acts my friends and family have showered upon me. In future days, if I don’t take advantage of service opportunities you’ve planned for me, please give my memory a gentle nudge.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:10-13)

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)

Rule of Thirds

In photography, there is a concept called “the rule of thirds”. The phrase may be new to some, so here’s an explanation: in composing a shot before the shutter clicks, the photographer may choose to consider an imaginary division of the image into 9 equal parts (like a tic-tac-toe game). Each juncture where the “lines” cross is one-third of the image. Placement of a key element of the photo along one of these dissecting lines often provides a nice, off-center look to the finished picture, and helps avoid the common “bull’s eye” look, where the action or focus is at the very center.

During a conference at Mississippi’s Camp Garaywa, I was trying my hand at this recently- learned concept. This photo, taken just down from the lovely Patterson Place lodging, made the perfect (and most cooperative) subject.

When planning our days, we’d do well to consider the “rule of thirds” with the 24 hours God grants to each of us. Our Creator has fashioned our bodies with a need to rest, and for most, eight hours (a third of the day) provides a good night’s sleep. Then those who have a job spend about another third of our daily allotment “bringing home the bacon”. So that leaves more-or-less eight hours for the other third, to do all the things that don’t pertain to work or sleep.

The Bible tells us “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1). You’re familiar with the secular counterpart, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (or Jill a dull gal)”. Some are workaholics, devoting way more than one-third of their day to their job. Some may claim justification, but most often, it isn’t necessary, and it’s usually the family that suffers most. Solomon offers this warning: “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income… (Eccl.5:10).

Of course, the other side of the coin are those who can work and don’t: “The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work” (Prov. 21:25). God created us to work; we see that in the very first chapters of Genesis. Those who have a job that provides an honest living, allows them to use their skills (whether innate or learned), and honors God are blessed indeed.

So what to do with the remaining third? Aside from the time required for tending to responsibilities and activities involving home and family, are we careful to seek opportunities to develop spiritually and serve our fellow man, both in the secular and spiritual realm? And are we avoiding time-wasters, such as worshipping the TV god, or mindless internet surfing? As for myself, I want to put a spiritual slant on the “rule of thirds”, and to do so, I should join the Psalmist in his prayer:

“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”Psalm 90:12

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)