There is a Facebook page that I look at from time to time. It is a group that formed out of memories of growing up in our childhood neighborhood and surrounding area in Houston. Truthfully, I have not posted too much on it but I like reading other's observations and tales of growing up. Seems like most of them are either older or younger than me. Very few went to my high school but most of them went to the areas rival high schools. Pictures of places long gone are posted. Stories of those places told. Places where we played have been developed and only the few know of the trails and hills we rode our bikes on. Stories of watching change. It strikes me kind of funny that all we were a part of that generation that held rebelling and not obeying authority or giving in to the man as imperitive to life, trust no one over thirty, are now saying, writing and doing the very things that we made fun of when we heard adults in our lives say those sentiments. Interesting comments reading of people who back in the day ran in the 'popular' crowd and those of us who watched that inner circle sometimes with jealousy and envy and hopeful one day our presence would be noticed. In a good way, not a making fun of way, but looking back maybe not running with the fast crowd might have been a good thing. When I first discovered this group there was a man that reverted back to his junior high school mentality. He was blown away that he was NOW communicating with some of the very popular girls he had known from afar, back in that long, long ago. Most of his posts took the train to Smutville and comments and some pictures he posted were filled with innuendo and were downright offensive. Sometimes people would kind of joke with him hoping he would take the hint that his comments were distasteful and rude. Finally, because this man continued in his trashy filled ways, one of the men in the group, relatively new to the group, confronted him and stood up for the women who were regular posters on the page. It is scary to stand up for something or to someone in person but it takes a lot of guts to stand up on social media with words written without the benefit of hearing the voice or the emotion or threats of hundreds of "FB friends" who you don't really know. The rude commenting man left the group and took his nastiness with him and deleted all his postings. Yay! Ding dong the witch is dead.... Everyone was so thankful that someone finally said something.
This week the brave man who stood up for decency passed away. He had been ill, recovered, then found himself back in the hospital. People who had never met him went to the hospital to visit and sit with his family. The FB page is filled with loving tributes and deeply thoughtful words for this man. The majority of people only knew him from Facebook, some had met him at a FB meet and greet just a few months ago and then there are those who have known him since childhood. They all express the same things about his character, his sense of humor and his delightful view of life, he had been given over a hundred fold in each of those categories. Stories and memories fill that group page and it has been an awesome and eye opening experience to read them. His life had made an impact the old fashioned, get to know you in person, way and the 21st century way on the Internet and social media.
We never know how our lives impact. Kindness, encouragement, forgiveness and joy leave a lasting footprint on our hearts. Truth be told meanness, spitefulness and ugly words also leave a lasting imprint on our hearts. Sometimes when we get older...yes, I am about to go all Titus 2 on you, that grating, edgy, mean spirited, and negative viewpoint amplifies. We don't even realize it until we see it all over someone else. We want to be good fruit but sometimes we hang on the vine a little too long and become only fit to be prunes or raisins, craisins, or dried fruit. Dried fruit is only appreciated on long hikes or for survival. Really, who would pick dried fruit when one can have fresh, juicy fruit? I don't know if this man believed or not, but the influence of his life on this group of people has brought awe and wonder in seeing and understanding that even the smallest details in life can and will be used.
Last night we got to see our friends from France. They lived here five years and then were transferred back to their home, only their home seems to be fixed and established at least in their hearts, over here with us. Lots of laughter, tears, kisses (hey, we are learning the customs and gestures from France,) conversations and then long goodbyes. As we gathered as friends we all rejoiced in the experience of impact, even though that probably wasn't front and center in our minds. I've never seen a family like Claude's and Ria's that are so loved and so missed. Their lives and love impactful and the fact that Ria is a master chef and baker adds to that impact and well of course to weight gain. But, it is impactful weight gain. :)
All these things above have shown me more of the awe and workings of God. He is there in the details. He surrounds us with His love and invites us to be fruitful, kind and impactful for His Kingdom. For us to know the joy of living life through Him and in His strength and power. If you would like to read more about impact and being wonderstruck with the Creator and Father God, order Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg.
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Some of you might be saying, a lot of your postings have had to do with this Wonderstruck book but those of you who know me also know I would not be posting and writing about it if it didn't impact my life and view of living. The preview I've been given to read has done just that. I am so glad several of you have mentioned to me that you have already ordered your copy. You will not be disappointed.
1 comment:
Just bought it. So pumped!
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