3,2,1 and Z,Y,X - Backwards Works

Perhaps you have heard of the "pay it forward" idea.  Maybe you saw the  movie that was released in 2000 that highlights the social experiment of not paying back to the giver of the good deed, but rather, looking for an opportunity to do a good deed to another in order to honor the good deed that one received.  In reality, it's the concept of looking backwards to a blessing received in order to look forward to give a blessing.

In our Western culture, we want to "pay back," instead of pay forward. In other words, when someone does something nice for us, we feel an urgency to do something in return for that very person.  If we don't, we perceive that person(s) will think we are ungrateful.  But, here is what we have heard others around us say, (and we like it) "Thank you!  I am going to pass this good deed forward!"  That's that.  You have multiple examples of how you have paid it forward, or perhaps been the recipient of someone paying it forward.  Recently, I was waiting my turn in line for a coffee.  The gentlemen in front of me finally reached the service window when he turned back to me and said, "What will you have today?  I am paying forward and buying your coffee."  Less than two hours later, a young man approached me at a service station and asked for just a few dollars to buy only several gallons of gas to get him home.  I paid it forward.  It felt good.  You can identify.
Backwards works.  We have to remember what we have received before we can be creative with the resources given to us.

Now, try this on.  Ephesians 4:32, " Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ Jesus forgave you."  Backwards works with this scripture.  Let's step it off  in reverse.
1) Jesus Christ forgave you
2) Forgive others
3) Be compassionate
4) Be kind

     These are character traits that we can knit to our lives and actually make paying it forward a lifestyle that pleases Christ first, then others next. And we know that just as someone did a good deed for us, we can in turn do a good deed for someone else.  Face forward.

   
     We have to look backwards, both in reality and spiritually, in order to pay it forward.
     Backwards works.  Let's keep wearing this.

     Keep Looking Up!  And, thank you for reading our blog.
     J:m and L:nda

My Head Ran Out of Ink

Out of Ink

 Sometimes we just run out of head ink.  We let the business of life crowd in and crowd out what we enjoy most - developing relationships through ink.  I fell in love with this expression when one of my university students apologized for writing a shorter than required essay.  Even though his essay was good, it could have been more developed.  He aptly explained as he handed it in, "My head just ran out of ink."  That is precisely what has happened with us these last two months.  We have not blogged since December 31, 2014.  That is not to say that we quit being or that we "ran out of voice."  No, we are still here, and we have had plenty to say in our circles of relationships.  When I run, I become inspired.  I always voice to myself that I am going right back home, sit my sweaty self down in front of our new Apple computer that continues to be so sassy and challenging and share that great thought.  But, I don't/didn't.  I left the idea on the running path or with a song on my Playlist.  Or, the two of us left the idea on the side of a mountain trail or a bike path.  Or in a restaurant or at a gas station or at an airport terminal.  They were good writing topics.  I only wish we could remember our thoughts.  Perhaps you know how it goes:  I knew that before I forgot it.  At any rate, we have head ink now.
....And, we have been looking at the map - the world map.  Studying a world map always gives us head ink.  You are not expected to know this because of our lack of head ink lately, but we have continued to take Spanish classes.  ( This is going to link.)  It continues to be embarrassing.  Somehow, we managed to enroll in an Advanced Grammar Spanish Class that meets every Thursday evening.

The book cover appears to be inviting and cute, but the inside is humiliating.  Spanish has tenses that do not exist in the English language.  Jim has more eye contact with the instructor than I do.  He studies all the time.  I study 1 hour before class on Thursday.  This has proven to be an unsuccessful strategy for me.  The instructor calls on Jim to read, and he does so happily while  I try to be invisible.  This is not a good way to learn a language; I know, I am a language teacher.  Jim is the ideal student.  Now to link the map with the the Spanish class.  We are putting our toes in the water, getting a feel for another Mission Corps assignment this year.   Our denomination has an abundance of work in Spanish-speaking countries, and, at this point in my language studies, immersion would probably be a good strategy for me.
We do acquire some language practice during the week when we volunteer at a Spanish ministry in Phoenix.  The kind Spanish speakers there speak quickly to Jim but very slowly to me.  Hmmmm....

     We do not know where we will go this year.  But, since ink has come back into our heads, we would ask you to pray with us about our upcoming assignment.  God may lead us to a place where we will not use our Spanish, and that is all right.  However, He may call us into a new Spanish-speaking work in new territory, and that would be all right, too.
World map + language classes + His calling = a good mystery.  We invite you to share our ink with us.  And, of course, we will keep you posted and blogged!

Keep Looking Up!  And thank you for reading our blog.
   J:m and L:nda