"Today's Friday the 13th. So what?"

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Okay, so today’s Friday the 13th. It’s the second one in two months. If you are afraid, you may suffer from paraskavedekatriaphobia (http://www.didyouknow.org/phobias/phobias.htm.).

But let’s think about it for just a second: somewhere tonight in a backyard, a little boy catches his first firefly. His grandfather teaches him to catch a lot of them and put them in a jar. His mother catches an early flight home from a business trip and arrives in town just before bedtime as the little guy is putting the jar under his bed. She tells him the story of how she did the same thing when she was a little girl...with the same man. Today is a lucky day in their family, isn’t it?

And let’s think about it for another second: some guy somewhere tonight will ask the girl of his dreams to marry him…and she’ll say, “Yes!” A mother births her first child today…and they’re both just fine. It’s a lucky day for these people.

Life goes on just as usual today. Separate the fact from fiction, the reality from the fantasy today as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living. And remember: God is with you even on Friday the 13th.

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"What do you see?"

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A friend of mine is an artist. She paints just about anything and is incredibly gifted.

A friend of hers tells a story about meeting a fellow artist who is blind. (That’s right, blind.) She created the most beautiful works of art, primarily paintings. And was blind.

While the friend is meeting this blind artist, the blind artist reaches over and places her hand on a piece of art that is on display. Her hand hovers over the painting for a moment, then comes to rest on a body of water in the painting.

The blind artist says, “Isn’t that the most beautiful shade of blue!?”

As hard as it is to believe, even though this artist is blind, she “sees” colors…granted in a different way than you and I. But nonetheless, she “sees” colors with what I can only refer to as a spiritual in-sight.

Imagine that—an artist who is blind, but can see. An artist at heart, seeing with her heart, surely listening to life for God’s voice to guide her.Makes you wonder if you depend too much on your eyes, doesn’t it? Listen to life and make a life today, okay?

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"It's the little things in life, isn't it?"

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I visited a friend with cancer in the hospital. I had just walked in when the nurse appeared in the doorway, and said to my friend, “I’m sorry we don’t have any.”

My friend looked at me and said, “I’ll bet you’re wondering what I requested. Toothpicks. I asked if they had any toothpicks. I just love my toothpicks after I eat.”

I thought to myself walking down the hall after our visit, “There she is, dying from cancer, and all she wants is a toothpick.” And as I rode down the elevator, the thought hit me, “Go get her a box of toothpicks. It’s such a little thing.”

So I went to the grocery store, bought a box of toothpicks, and went back to the hospital, where she was eating her supper, and said, “I have just what you’ll want after your meal” and I handed her the toothpicks.I’ll always remember her look of surprise, and her laughter. You see, it’s the little things in life that you hear about when you listen to life today for what God has to say.

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"What's your perfect day?"

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Do you ever think about what your perfect day would be like? I’m sure you know what an imperfect day is like. But what about a perfect day?

Would it be all green traffic lights on the way to work? Or, your favorite songs on the radio? Or, to win the lottery? Or, to get a new, more prestigious, better paying job? Or, to see your kids grown up and married? Or, to pay cash for your favorite sports car? Or, to travel to Hawaii or Alaska or Europe or Australia or South America?

How would you describe your perfect day? Does it begin with breakfast in bed? Then a massage? Then a day of pampering? Highlighted by lobster and filet for dinner?

Legendary Hall of Fame UCLA basketball coach John Wooden says, “You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

I don’t know what your perfect day looks like, but if you’re listening to life so you make a life, not just a living, do something for someone who won’t repay you.

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"Are you upset?"

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A speaker placed two identical jars on the table next to the podium and said, “These jars came from the same factory, were made of the same materials, and can hold the same amount. But they are different,” he said. Then he upset one and it oozed out honey. He turned over the other, and vinegar spilled out.

Then he said, “When a jar is upset, whatever is in it comes out. They looked alike until the jars were upset. The difference was within them, and couldn’t be seen. When they were upset, we saw what was inside of them.”

He was right, you know. You can put on a good front until you’re upset. But when you’re upset, you reveal your innermost thoughts and attitudes.

What if someone at home or something like the economic hard times tipped you over today? What would flow out? Would you reveal the “honey” of grace and patience, or the “vinegar” of anger and sarcasm? Remember that what is inside of you presents itself in all the times of your life, but especially when you’re upset. So be sure to focus and listen to life and make a life, not just a living with God’s help today.

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