“A Kick in the Pants” is a guest post by my friend Frank Spaniak. I know I frequently need a kick in the pants. Here’s Frank’s story…
There are times in one’s life that are harder than others. Normal goes right out the window. In as much as you might try to bring it back, it remains elusive, even futile to get back. I believe it is at these points which we can grow (or fall into the abyss of misery).
These hardships can come in many forms: physical ailments, problems at home or work or a general malaise of the spirit attempting to lead a person to not care about anyone or anything, except the trouble at hand.
I’ve recently had a bout with a life threatening physical ailment (but by the grace of God was successfully treated). My stay in the hospital, though, gave me some time to take stock of my faith and life.
There are disappointments in the life you want to lead vs. the life you have led. There are always unfinished desires and business. Not to mention a bucket list for some. There are regrets, some with a few and some with many. But definitely some “Wish I hadn’ts”.
There is not so much a crisis of faith, but a questioning of the sincerity and the trust that goes along with that faith.
Is this it? Is this the time I am being called home, or is this just practice?
A dear friend wrote, “Being dead is easy, it’s the dying that’s the hard part”. It got me to thinking about how many things in this world often are trying to kill you. If you don’t practice reasonable care you can contract a disease just by traveling to the wrong place unprotected. There are also simply things that just go wrong (as was my case) and no one is sure that anything could have been done to prevent it.
Yet, there are a whole host of things trying to get you both subtle and coarse: bad food (or worse, possibly tainted food – read GMO – which to me is death by installments). Even one’s own body cooperates less as time passes by not bouncing back the way it used to (heavy sigh).
Some time ago I joked with my wife that, sometimes, I think the reason that most older people do not make as much impact in the world is because we are a lot busier trying to stay alive. I’ll further add that I think we are trying to savor the gifts we have been given in our loved ones: children or grandchildren and such before it’s time to go. I’m not saying that they (nor we) don’t to the exclusion of all else, but it seems that we take on fewer projects or causes in number – being busy trying not to die and all.
In John 16:33, Jesus said that we would have hardships. That is certainly true. But it is how we deal with those hardships which brings into focus some of the tenets of our Christianity and also provides lessons to be learned.
Because these things come to mind I’m reminded that, being in Christ, one is never truly alone. We may be alone with our thoughts but God can and does read the thoughts and hearts of men (and women).
We can be truly thankful that we are not saved by works or the lack of them.
Wherever I am at, is where the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Son Jesus wants me to be. It is He that got me thru it.
It is a blessing beyond words that the Holy Spirit IS the down payment of our salvation, because what kind of thoughts would be left to have without Him? What good is a kick in the complacency otherwise?
His love for me is based on what He does, not what I do. One can only hope that my actions can express the love I have for Him. It’s somewhat like one of my children making mud pies and innocently offering one to me – I obviously wouldn’t eat it, but I would know the love the child has for me by the offering. Hopefully at some point my child will graduate from making mud.
This is reminding me that it is a waste of time worrying so much about the things of this world. It is a reminder that we can be called home at any time either by natural process or because Jesus has called us all home. The focus needs to be on HIM.
Trust in God, He is in control and He knows what He is doing.
Frank’s Bio:
Frank Spaniak is currently Senior Systems Administrator in a medium sized firm and a Programmer/Analyst and Business Consultant for the last 35 years. He has been a member of the Omega Letter fellowship since 2004 and is also one of the former webmasters under the friendship and mentoring of the departed Jack Kinsella. When the site was online, he also co-hosted the blog talk radio show Omega Letter Radio with Jack and Kari and writing the occasional article for the blog. He is currently hosting omegaletter.chat for the former members.
For the last 10 years has been helping in the ministry “The most excellent way” helping people with addictions work thru their difficulties, problems and circumstances of life and now is leader of this chapter of this ministry.
An avid but lousy golfer, he also runs the Missing Lynx Golf league for the past 25 years as secretary and big shoulder, taking the chance to share the good news when the opportunity arises.
Married to the love of his life for nearly 40 years, he has two lovely daughters and 3 wonderful grandchildren taking up whatever time is left.
P.S. Frank mentioned Jack Kinsella and the Omega Letter. In 2018 I wrote an article: Farewell to Our Beloved Omega Letter.
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