SONSHINE: TIME TO CHANGE SANDPAPER

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They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalms 126:5-6

I laughed tonight when I read some thoughts by an old friend, Keith, whom many of us have traded forum messages with over the years. I have a multitude of wonderful quotes by this brother stuck away in my files and we also have one published on our blog sidebar. I thought Keith's metaphor on the changing of sandpaper (quoted below) a wonderful one. I found it delightful because there are so many ways to look at it.

I copied this from Keith's wife, Cindi's blog tonight:

"In a conversation I had with Keith the other day, he mentioned an analogy....the sandpaper that sands the rough edges off the wood, is also changed during the process. I was on my way out the door to work so we didn't delve into it any deeper than that. I'm not sure if, in this situation, I am the block of wood or if I am the sandpaper."

While Cindi pondered whether she was the "wood' or the "sandpaper" in her situation, I thought something completely different with this metaphor. I thought of the times of "refreshing respite from my trials" as the times God is not sanding off my rough edges, but instead moving across heaven to grab another sheet of sand paper. Oh, take your time Lord .... take your sweet time (LOL).

He does give me little times of "respite" and "refreshment" in each day and in these I am so removed from my trials. If you were to see me during these periods, I am certain you would think, that man's joy is so full he must not have a care in the world.

So yesterday, I spent an hour putting together a 100 piece jigsaw puzzle with a little four year old as her mom ran errands. Oh believe me, I hate puzzles but I could see right off the bat I was going to enjoy this one, because this little four year old didn't have a clue. She was however very adapt at pressing, forcing, prying and reshaping any two pieces that even showed the possibility of fitting together. Grimacing, I finally talked her into picking and placing in a pile the pieces that had the same color or pattern and said I would put them together. I explained how we would be a team.

As we were completing the puzzle, I would gleefully shout at every coupling of pieces, "Yeah! we got another one!"
Well, after we were seeing some real success, with the bottom of the puzzle coming together, my little friend began to wryly comment every so often after my shout, "Jack you're the one who is really putting the puzzle together."
To which I would assure her with my best Mr Rogers impression, that she had the more important job and I was doing the easy stuff.
Well about the time this savvy four year old was balking at my repeated analysis of the importance of our different assigned jobs, her mom and three siblings showed up for lunch. The half completed cheap cardboard puzzle was boxed and spared to see another day. Maybe when my little friend is five we'll have another go at it and I bet our roles, right off the bat, will be reversed at her insistence.

I always keep little cartons of different flavored yogurts in the refrigerator as treats for the kids when they come over for a visit. It's routine now, that we have to have some kind of contest or drawing to see who gets first pick of the flavor they want. I mean these aren't ordinary contests but there are all kinds of decorum and formality to be gone through, including drum roles, speeches and applause as each winner is announced. Well yesterday after the puzzle and lunch it was yogurt time and the kids were excited. I was the one to shake up the pot with the five folded pieces of paper with a name on it. The ten year old drew the names and in between drawings I re-shook. My name was drawn first so I made my pick. Then when no one was looking I deftly placed my name in the pot again. There was a near riot when my name came up again. I knew I would be called "cheater" the rest of the afternoon so I succumbed to the pressure and gave my extra yogurt up. LOL

Yes, I am thankful for the time God took to change sandpaper yesterday. And if you are going through a trial I pray that you also can find someone to share some joy with during the time it takes for Him to cross the heavens for a change of sandpaper.

Jack & Joian

PS. I started this blog with the idea that the "sandpaper analogy" would serve as an introductory to a deeper message. I thought to share some thoughts on John's heartbreaking situation and how it seems we each at times would prefer to fit into part of another man's fate. I don't know why some seem to suffer more than others in this world but I also know I enjoy seeing my friends, loved ones and even strangers enjoying themselves. God forbid that I should ever come to the point that I can't share in the joy of others, even knowing I might suffer that they find such joy.

"I understand so well that it is only His love which makes us acceptable. His love is the only good I ambition. Jesus has designed to show me rest in God's Divine Furnace, and this is the surrender of the little child who sleeps without fear in its Father's arms."

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Joian Ruth Schroff

God is good. And Joian, more than any of us, knows this. Our sister, and my best friend, rests in the Father's bosom, today. Dear Joian's sojourn, on earth, ended early last winter, after a period of illness.

Together, Joian and myself began "SONSHINE" in "07". Last June, we took our rest from the blog.

Great battles, were waged this last year, by both Joian and myself. One was taken and one was left. Neither, the taking, nor the leaving, lacks in His perfect providence, afforded each. I can't explain, nor fully understand, how each can be perfect. Never the less, I do know, Joian understands it perfectly.

Today, Joian, more than any, knows God is good.

Jack

PS. Thoughts of your joyful rest relieve my tears, tonight. I miss you, my friend. I'll see you soon.

Great Quotes

Those who believe they believe in God but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God, Himself. Madeleine L' Engle
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"If anything about my salvation or right standing with God depends on my faithfulness, I'm toast, damned to hell." Gavazzoni
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Any infinite Being who feels it is their duty to torture me for eternity, should switch to decaf. Joe
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Everyday people are straying away from the church and going back to God. -- Lennie Bruce
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"He took responsibility for all the evils that have befallen man that day He gave His life. This has never been adequately appreciated by religion. It needs to be appreciated." (Roy)
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"Isn't that what man always wants- a divine force he can control? That's actually the definition of witchcraft." (Florian)
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"Christianity is not about polyester and pot roast. It's about Christ and what He's doing in you and me at the moment." (Holly)
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"It's his life for ours. We die, he lives, and then the mystery is that we live again." (Joian)
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"God's Spirit, is a pure motive" (Cardinal)
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"I would rather train twenty men to pray, than a thousand to preach. A minister's highest mission ought to be to teach his people to pray." (H. MacGregor)
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Pretty soon, everybody will get what they deserve, which is Salvation, Reconciliation, Restitution, Restoration, Immortality and Incorruption - now ain't that the coolest thing! (Keith)
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The bible is not an owners manual and trying to apply it to our lives reeks of salvation by works. (Cam)
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I live all the daytime
In faith and in might
And in holy rapture
I die every night (Novalis)
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Where shall we find an abandonment that is as comprehensive as the will of God. (Fenelon)
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He wanted no one but God to witness what he did, just as the only reward he expected was God Himself.(description of Bro. Lawrence)
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The humility of the cross became more desirable to him than all the glory the world had to offer. (description of Bro. Lawrence)
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Prayer is helplessness casting itself upon power; it is misery seeking peace; it is unholiness embracing purity; it is hatred desiring love. Prayer is corruption panting for immortality; it is the eagle soaring heavenward; it is the dove returning home; it is the prisoner pleading for release; it is the mariner steering for the haven amid the dangerous storm; it is the soul, oppressed by the world, escaping to the empyrean, and bathing its ruffled plumes in the ethereal and the divine.(unknown)