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Friday, November 18, 2005

"Do you just sing along sometimes?"

There I was just driving along on a beautiful fall day, windows down so the cool breeze could blow through what’s left of my hair, sunshine streaming through the windshield with just enough warmth to feel good.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, one of my favorite songs came on the radio. You know, one of those songs from my teen years; one of those songs that I know all the words to. So I had no choice: I cranked up the radio and started singing at the top of my lungs. There I was—rock star Dr. Joey!

I stopped at a traffic light, song blaring, me singing and tapping out the back beat on the steering wheel…and you know what happened next, don’t you? Yep, I glanced beside me and the people in the car next to me were laughing their heads off! They had put their windows down to listen and laugh.

Well, I started laughing, too, turned down the radio, and shouted over to them, “Sometimes you just gotta sing along!”

And you do! Listen to life today and make a life, not just a living. Sing along as you do and know God’s singing with you!

Thursday, November 17, 2005

"Do you just laugh sometimes?"

I recently spoke to an association of hospital volunteers meeting close enough to our farm for me to drive. I spent the night in their meeting hotel and put up a display so they could carry our Listen to Life books in their gift shops.

I took down my display after the vendors fair and one of the bell hops helped me to load everything on a cart. He got my car brought up and loaded it for me. He was a really nice guy and I was very tired so I appreciated his help.

Well, about 30 minutes down the road, I heard some of the display items moving around in my trunk and then it hit me—I forgot to get my personal belongings out of the hotel’s storage. I checked out of my room during a break and put my suit, toiletries, and other things in storage and in my tired state simply forgot to get them.

Now I had two choices when turning around and going back to get them: get mad at myself, or laugh at myself. I decided that when you’re listening to life and making a life, not just a living, sometimes you just have to laugh.

So laugh today and know God’s laughing with you!

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

"Do you just cry sometimes?"

“Joey,” my mother said on the phone. “Honey, your Granddaddy passed away this morning.”

I’ve tried before and there’s no easy way to give or receive this kind of news. You just have to cry when you get a phone call like this.

It’s okay to cry sometimes. In fact, some medical doctors say it’s therapeutic, releasing good chemicals into your body. And wouldn’t it be sad if no one cried when someone dies?

My grandfather positively influenced my life in so many ways. Sure, I didn’t want to see him suffering anymore. It was his turn and I wouldn’t ask God to bring him back today because I loved him too much to be selfish with his life. But I still miss him. I miss his laughter, his cock-eyed grin, his wisdom, his self-assured ways that weren’t cocky, but inspired confidence that I would actually live through whatever what was happening.

So yea, I cried. And I still do sometimes. And you know what? It’s okay to cry sometimes as you listen to life. God cries with you when you do.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

"Do you just run around in circles sometimes?"

My office window looks up a small mountain over our backyard where our dogs play. I sat, writing these stories one day, and glanced out the window to see what the dogs were doing.

We raise yellow Labrador retrievers so all of our dogs are yellow Labs except Maxie who’s a beagle. Well, this particular day, Maxie is leading the other dogs in running in circles. Now that’s something beagles do naturally because they chase rabbits and rabbits run in circles. But Labs don’t run in circles naturally. So Jake, one of the Labs, wants to play with Maxie but just doesn’t get it. He keeps cutting her off in mid-circle, running straight at her. Finally, Maxie gets Jake to understand how to play—chasing her in a circle, not cutting across to catch her.

You know, sometimes life isn’t about just getting the job done in a straight line. Sometimes you just have to run in circles and have fun. So don’t be so serious today as you listen to life and make a life. Just run in a circle and have fun! God’s with you as you do!

Monday, November 14, 2005

"Do you just dance sometimes?"

Our family recently watched some home movies. Our daughters were much younger then and they really enjoy seeing themselves then.

I walked into the room just when our younger daughter, who was about 18 months old at the time, came on camera. Our family was at an amusement park and we had gone to one of those outdoor music shows. The entertainers called all the kids up on stage, and there she was—front and center—moving not just her feet, but her whole body; jumping up and down, running around, with this huge grin on her face!

Now what you need to understand is that she rarely did anything like this. She’s our quiet, introverted child who speaks only when spoken to. But there she is, dancing like she’s starring in A Chorus Line, enjoying every second of it.

Well, after several minutes of filming this, I said, “Sometimes you just have to dance!” And you do…sometimes life is so good, you just have to dance.

Listen to life and dance as you make a life, not just a living today. God’s with you as you dance.