If God had ever said to me, “Bob, I can either give you a million dollars or let you be part of the instructional staff at the University of Florida, you choose.” … I would have replied, “Who needs that much money? Go Gators!”

As someone who grew up in Gainesville, earned my undergraduate degree in education at UF, and walked around the campus of UF with Kathy on our first date, I never dared dream that one day, I would sport a UF nametag and have at least some influence on the education of 240 students who refer to me as “Dr. Ayres”.

You can recognize me on campus as the old guy with a backpack, riding an orange, electric bicycle and with a somewhat giddy smile of amazement on his face.

In my head, I’m saying to God: Lord, I just cannot believe you opened this door for me to be on this campus! I get to instruct some of the smartest, most motivated young people on the planet.  Certainly, I can now die a happy man (though hopefully not anytime soon). Riding a bicycle through masses of cars, bikes, scooters, skateboards and anything with at least one wheel—the most daunting, are the drivers with one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding a smartphone—these things often bring me much closer to Jesus than I anticipated.

Yet God’s favorite word seems to be, “Surprise!”

Now, for the reality check: it is only fifteen hours a week, provides occasional opportunities to teach, and is not a permanent position. I have other things God is calling me to do so I may or may not apply for a full-time position. Yet this experience is the fulfillment a young boy’s dream and satisfaction for an old man’s ego to bear the title: Adjunct Lecturer – University of Florida.

My parents have passed away, but they would be so proud. Both were career educators (graduates of UF) and Dad taught at the college level for a couple of decades. He loved going to graduations (which I certainly do not) and he was always advising undergrad students to major in math. Dad would often remark, “You can succeed in any profession, if you major in math.” Mom was our greatest encourager and believed that her kids could anything with enough time and effort.

Isn’t it funny, that at 63 years old, even with both parents gone, I still want to make them proud. By the way, I didn’t major in math… which may explain why an offer of a million dollars from God wouldn’t hold that much sway for me.

The point of this blog (besides sharing my exuberance) is to pay attention to the blessings of today. Never have so many, had so much, for so long. Pause from stressful distractions in life to pause, breathe, look into the eyes of your loved ones (both two and four-legged ones), pick up a good book, or just ponder the gifts in your life. They embrace us.

In fact, I bet you could name half a dozen really cool things in your life right now! For one, you are God’s precious creation and he is good, all the time. One of my colleagues says that God “winks” at us sometimes to remind us of all the good things in life.

Join me in taking a moment and notice something good in your life. Look around. They are right there; somewhere in your heart, mind, or line-of-sight.

As God winked and said, “Surprise!”

I responded, “Go Gators!”

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

Psalms 139:1-6

In the frantic nature of our current day society, we can become easily overwhelmed with a sense of go, Go, GO! Far too often, we fall into the trap of thinking “more is better” in our busy schedules, as though the world depends on us. Sometimes busyness masks control issues which are expressions of deeper trust issues. When we pause, and slow down enough to recognize that God is already working—inside us, through us, and around us—we can more intentionally and calmly reflect this loving and all-powerful God in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

Is life intended to be a race towards some human-conceived goals? Or should we spend more time strolling in the park, holding the hand of our heavenly Father, in a deep, child-like desire to please him? The scripture shows God is most focused on the state of our hearts. He simply calls us to be faithful and pay attention to what is around us.

We serve a God who is often revealed in silence. The prophet Elijah heard God in the “sound of a whisper” following the flurry of strong wind that shatters rocks, rattling earthquake, and scorching fire. Psalm 46:10 reminds us to “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” John 15 takes us deeply into the importance of a life of abiding. Jesus often withdrew to the solitude of the desert for undistracted prayer. Regular prayer is not about “trying harder” but creating space by clearing our minds. God initiates. We respond.

God can transform our busy, broken lives into new and beautiful creations. Success is not necessarily a by-product of faithfulness. God exists in our failures, too. His primary call is for caring relationships, regardless of what the day brings.

So today as you start your day with more on your “To Do” list than can possibly be accomplished, pause and remember God’s presence. We cannot work our way into his favor; we are fully accepted by his grace. We cannot be good enough to earn his love; he already loves us. We can try to push him away from our thoughts, but he already knows them… and his grace is sufficient.

Let’s choose to respond, by recognizing our need, and his provision provided through the cross. Now is the time to enjoy a relationship with the Creator who knows our deepest, most painful secrets, yet passionately loves us so completely. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Yes, lots to do today! What a gift.

Prayer

Lord, you have examined my heart. You know my thoughts. You know everything I am going to pray before I pray it. Yet you wait expectantly for me as a parent waits for a distracted child to notice a gentle smile. Help me do no less, nor any more, than you want me to today. AMEN

Excerpt from:

City of Pah! Devos for Those in the World of Deaf/HH Teens (A&M Books, not yet released) by Bob Ayres with contributions from friends & colleagues

How to Become like your Enemy

It is really quite simple. Follow the type of advice that C.S. Lewis’ literary demon “Screwtape” might have given to his nephew “Wormwood”, a junior tempter in training. Be sure to read to the end of this blog to see the satirical nature of these suggestions.

React

Be impulsive. Jump quickly into an argument. Practice sound bites that sting your opponent. The more quickly you attack a view that you disagree with, the better! This prevents you from choosing your words carefully, which might make you look weak or uncertain. Even more importantly, reacting keeps you from considering any important points that might soften your already hard-and-fast opinions.

Huddle

Stay away from people or information with a different perspective from your own. Only hang around those who will support your point-of-view. “Group-thought” has served the escalation of violence around the world for millennium. Who knows? If you make the mistake of getting outside your circle of influence, you might actually start liking people from the other side. This would undermine your whole intention.

Accuse

Never miss an opportunity to expect the worse in the other person. Without a doubt, they are doing the same with their opinion of you. Gossip widely and even exaggerate what they are doing that could harm you or others. Speak boldly in black-and-white terms using words like “always”, “never”, and “disgusting.” If you really want to become like your enemy, stoke the fires of personal insult and injury.

Devalue

If you have done the first three steps, you are well on your way to devaluing the person altogether which definitely brings you more in line with your enemy. Start by comparing the strengths of your position (even your personal strengths) against the weakness of the others’ position (and humanity). Once you begin to feel like they do not hurt, or feel, or experience life like you do, then you are almost there.

Hate

Congratulations! You’ve arrived at a place where you completely devalue who you see as your “enemy” and don’t really care if they live or die. You have become like your enemy! Now—unless they are taking a different approach—you have both arrived at the same place; a place where hate rules. The irony is, now that you are so much alike, you should be best friends. I gues this may be why the extremes of society, whether far-left or far-right, seem to have so much in common.

On the other hand…

President Lincoln is quoted as saying after a heated debate following the Civil War about crushing the southern states: “Do I not destroy my enemy, when I make him my friend?”

As followers of Jesus, there is still an even better way. We can pause… pray… and turn to scripture to remind us of who we are, and whose we are: we are ambassadors of Christ, especially during dark, chaotic times.

St. Paul writes:

“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26

We can act, instead of react.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

We can engage, instead of huddle.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-24

We can strive to comprehend, not accuse.

Jesus himself tells us:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:43-45

We can value every person as Jesus did, not devalue those we see as enemies.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-36

We can love our enemies, instead of becoming filled with hate.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

Who knows? Even those with whom you disagree deeply may be striving to act, engage, comprehend, value, and love their enemies, too.

You might even become like each other after all… as friends.

Click Here for a Moment to Pause

Taking a moment to pause.

Whether it is a flower, or the sunset, or the smile on a child’s face, taking a moment to pause reminds us of how quickly time is passing and how precious this moment is.

I halfway jokingly tell my wife Kathy, ‘On my tombstone, make sure it says “He never missed a day of his life.” Stress, worry, crisis, deadline, or any myriad of unsettling demands often erodes our attention on the beauty that exists all around us.

I’ve learned over the years that life is much less about what happens, than it is about how we respond to it. From my family of origin, I learned the value of humor as a coping skill. Pause. Draw a breath. Notice something you would have missed otherwise. Laugh whenever you can.

Life is a gift that is both precious and fragile. Sometimes, it means we must take a moment to remember.

Harvest Eve – an alternative to Halloween

There’s no place for her upon the playground
for she’s not so fast or quite as pretty
When she asks them they laugh and run around calling
“Homely girl, go back to town.”
So she shakes her fist in anger
to hide the feelings she has inside her
she runs as far as the school-yard will let her
the teachers call “Hey girl, don’t you hide.”

“I’ll run as far away as my legs will let me go.”
She curses and mumbles under her breath
Stares at her legs, at the scars of long ago and she’ll carry them until her death.

They laugh, the children laugh
at the way she never smiles.
They make fun of her, or just leave her alone;
For the ghettos stretch for miles and miles
and she always has to go home.

When she gets there she has to listen
for someone unseen who’s visiting while her father’s away
She reaches deep in her pocket for the key
The noise is behind closed doors, so it’s okay…

The teachers don’t understand why she doesn’t seem to learn
or why she doesn’t even care.
But what is there for her to try and ever earn
there’s no one to share it with
no one is ever there.

They laugh, the children laugh
at the way she never smiles.
They make fun of her or just leave her alone;
For the ghettos stretch for miles and miles
and she always has to go home.

She is always on her own
Does anybody care…
just how alone?

Many years ago, I wrote these lyrics and my brother Bert put them to music. Always had a special place in my heart. Every child deserves to be loved and cherished. This simple belief led us to adopt five wonderful children who were all born into tough situations.

These words, in no way, are intended to imply that parents raising children in impoverished settings are not loving and involved. In fact, many of these parents are heroic as they teach values and instill integrity in their children while living in such dangerous settings. They are to be applauded and respected for the incredible odds they help their kids overcome.

But this little girl… scars on her legs from beatings, and strangers coming in-and-out of her home… she gets mocked at school as well. “They laugh, the children laugh at the way she never smiles.” Where does a child like this find refuge?

When I wrote this, I simple wanted to create a brief word-picture that causes us to ask ourselves, “do we really care?” If so, then what actions are we called to take?

Photo by Nextvoyage on Pexels.com

The moon sparkled upon the rolling tides;

its reflection wavered in rhythm

cool and fresh, the wind steadily blew her hair across her face.

She walked along for this is where she often came to listen

to the omniscient ocean, the all-knowing sea.

The sand rubbed beneath her feet

as she strolled and strolled down the lonely beach.

‘How peaceful’ she thought as the waves lapped upon her bare feet

‘how much prettier this music is, than any that man can re-create.’

The sound of the omniscient ocean,

the all-knowing sea.

She soon stopped her walking and turned toward the sea.

Closing her eyes she held herself

and listened. The sky was crystal clear,

the stars were a million-fold, the moon

floated there, bouncing upon the waves.

The clapping of the water, the rustling of the grass behind,

the wind would nudge her gently, so gently, just enough to keep her there.

Slowly she opened her eyes and raised them to the sky,

reaching out arms upward,

‘I love you’ she whispered

‘become a part of me, make me peaceful as this night.’

And in her heart she heard the answer

through the sound of the omniscient ocean,

the all-knowing sea;

the love of the omniscient ocean,

the all-knowing sea.

“And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what do You say?” And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she had been, in the midst. And straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” And she said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go your way; from now on sin no more.” Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

(John 8:3-12)

From A Journey to Life by Bob Ayres