I had some shame stirring as I woke up: rude to my wife, messy with my stuff, snoring, gingivitis, etc. God knows I can digress if I sit in my junk for long.

When I do, I felt like a wreck. I know some of you have felt the same way:

I’m not even strong enough for myself
I’m falling to pieces
Honestly don’t care about anything anymore
Can’t go on living like this
I need someone to listen. No one can help me.

Fortunately, God is listening.

On the way to work in the back of my mind was playing:

I always look for heroes to admire.

Helen Keller, and those who cared for Helen, especially Anne Sullivan are people worthy of admiration.

Helen Keller was not born blind and deaf; it was not until she was 19 months old that she contracted an illness which left her deaf and blind.

I read this quote from Helen Keller and felt inspired.

I want to say to those who are trying to learn to speak and those who are teaching them: Be of good cheer.

Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow.

During our visit with Eric and Jill Lacher we marveled at their love.

Though they have similar hearts and values, they began their relationships with very different strategies for living out those values.

During our visit they shared with us that the wisdom of Emerson Eggerichs has helped them to grow deeper in love and express it more effectively to one another. On their behalf and to our benefit here’s some of what they learned.

How Does a Husband Spell Love to His Wife?

As I was approaching fifty years old I sought the wisdom of my elders. I sought out men and women older than I was to learn lessons on life that they had been learning.

Monday I began a series entitled A Treasure Chest Of Wisdom, including:

1. Don’t Hold Grudges
2. Take Care Of Your Health.
3. Compassion Makes Sense and Giving Is Better Than Taking
4. Greed Gains Momentum

Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, it’s important to be grateful for the amazing gifts we already have.

Loving family
Faithful friends
Good health

June 13, 1986 

She was way, way out of my league.
She was kind, thoughtful, sweet, talented, listened to me, and she liked me.
As far as I could tell, she loved me.
Oh, and she was HOT!
I was clueless what love entailed, but I knew I wanted to love Amy.
I also knew I didn’t want to live without her.
Not that I couldn’t live without her, but I didn’t want to.
So, on one knee, in the living room of the house she lived in I proposed.
She laughed, thinking I was kidding.
I wasn’t. I had no ring because I didn’t want to choose the wrong one.
Then we embraced.

While in Oahu Amy and I stayed at a beautiful place close to the ocean.

“Close” is an understatement.  Outside our cottage was the beach.  Twenty or thirty feet of beach and a subtle slope separated us from the ocean.

On that beach, sitting in a lounge chair, feet away from the ocean I took pictures of the best sunrise of my life.

Shorelines

Most people I know have been captivated by shorelines.  Decide for yourself.  What thoughts or feelings come to mind when you see these pictures?

Beautiful flowers were commonplace throughout each of the Hawaiian islands we visited.

Their beauty is captivating whether you normally enjoy flowers or not.

Their blooms are big and lush; their colors are vibrant.

“Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers.” 1

As beautiful as these flowers are, the Scriptures reveal that God’s majestic love for us is personal.

The Best Sunrise Of My Life

“Today, when I woke up I suddenly realized that the sun had not.  While I could have been exhausted from twenty-plus hours of airports and uncomfortable airplane seats, I had to get up.”

Saturday, February 25th I woke up in Hawaii.  Amy’s dream come true; and since it was #1 on her list, it was mine too.

So, as tears fill my eyes thinking about that I realized that Saturday, February 25th at 6:08am started the best morning of my life, ever!

5 Stop Signs

1. Stop believing the lie: Life isn’t always fair. Accept what you must, and change what you can.

2. Stop before you regret it: Think before you act. A moment today may cause pain for years.

3. Stop & notice:  See the beauty in people, in nature, and in yourself.

4. Stop to appreciate what you have: Family & friends, talents, opportunities & useful stuff.

5. Stop & have fun: Hanging out, talking, laughing and playing and makes some of the best memories.

When blinded by distortions of reality people flounder in pain.

Lost in loneliness.  Trapped in trauma.

U2′s Get On Your Boots hits on one such distortions:

You don’t know how beautiful
You don’t know how beautiful you are
You don’t know, and you don’t get it, do you?
You don’t know how beautiful you are

Each week at every TreeHouse we remind one another that we are all “lovable, capable and worthwhile.”  It’s a critical concept. When we understand, embrace and apply the truth that we are all “lovable, capable and worthwhile” it overrides the lies of not good enough.