Allison Phillips!

It seems everytime I get in my car it somehow finds its way toward the home of one of my favorite people on earth. Allison Phillips came into my life at a time I needed her most. I've always felt eighteen years old in my heart but lately the mirror and declining health tell me otherwise. Growing older can be a scary proposition. You have to work much harder at staying pliable and viable or you can slip into a suffocating rut. I hate ruts.

Allison is my granddaughter. She's pushing three years old and she embodies the word vivid. I draw so much strength and life from this little girl. As a pastor, my entire world centers around the relational needs of others. Working in the trenches with hurting people can be demanding and draining. I thank God for God. My comfort is knowing I can confidently point people toward a relationship with the true source of comfort and resolve. When I feel depleted, I make my way toward Allison. Her giggle, silly dances, passion for books, love of music, wild expressions and crazy imagination draw me out of my world and into hers. Being in the presence of a well loved child is intoxicating. Like I said, she appeared just in time to keep my soul from slipping to a narrow place. I'm heading over there now!

Humility

Early this morning, I heard a young musician on tv give the clearest definition of humility I've ever heard. Here's how he framed it. Humility is not thinking less of yourself...it's thinking about yourself...less. That really caused me to pause and re-think a few things. The apostle Paul teaches that we should have the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ. He then defines that attitude. Christ in very nature is God, yet He didn't cling tightly to it rather He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. I always embraced this as Christ purging Himself of His glory and reducing His status to nothing. Although there is truth to that...the bigger story is that Christ didn't think less of Himself, He simply put the concerns of virtually everyone before His own. He humbled Himself to the extent He laid down even His existence and became obedient to death. For you and for me. I tend to wade in a self-effacing humility that has often been emotionally destructive. There's so much more life involved by intentionally loving your neighbor as yourself and putting their needs first.