Then he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the Lord.” – 1 Kings 2:15

It’s a fact.  The situations of life often become something quite different than they were imagined.  If you can remember when you were still a child, you may be able to remember some of the dreams and ambitions you had for the future.  Reality can often be a rude awakening.  When Mandi, our youngest daughter was a small child she would often appraise the circumstances surrounding her and would cry, “It’s not fair!”  I would then comfort her with fatherly love with the words, “Life is not always fair.  Get used to it.” 

She was not alone in her assessment.  People from every status of life had struggled with the disappointment and lack of what is perceived to be fair.  Even King David’s family struggled with it.

Adonijah thought he would be king in Israel.  He was actually the fourth son, and thus not the first in line for the throne.  Still, his selfish ambition was not limited.  He saw the disruption in his family.  He knew about the treachery of Amnon and Absalom.  It may be that Kileab was already dead as well, as he is not mentioned again.  So, it would seem that Adonijah had a clear path to the throne. 

As David’s age and feeble status left him diminished in his ability to effectively reign, his ambitious son found some supporters and seized the throne.  At the same time that Adonijah was in the midst of his celebration, others were working to put the God ordained ascension of Solomon into place.  Of course, Solomon’s kingship was going to be.  In the ensuing events, the ambitious brother claimed submission to his younger brother, and life appeared to gain a sense of order and normalcy. 

Appearance can hide some dangerous contention. Between Adonijah and Solomon, there was still an underlying tension.  Ultimately, a young woman, Abishag, who had been close to David, became a game piece in a power play.  The life of Adonijah was not what he would have wanted, imagined, or believed he deserved.  In essence, he told the king’s mother that things were not the way they were supposed to be.  He pulled Bathsheba into his plan, but Adonijah’s move did not fool his brother. So, his sense of life being unfair, and his lack of acceptance simply brought the frustrated man a death sentence.

It may be that when we look at where life has brought each of us, we may find that it is not what we previously wanted, imagined, or even believed we deserve.  Still, we are where we are.  While there is nothing wrong with working for better situations, we still need to be aware of all our circumstances.  Kicking against our surroundings will typically only make our feet hurt and cause us more problems.

Okay, so things are not the way we think they ought to be.  We can look for change, and maybe even work in that direction.  At the same time, if we are wise, we will also accept where we are, and live our best where we are.

Russell L. Dyer – Written: December 6, 2020 — Posted: 3/24/2024

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” – Matthew 16:15

One of my mother’s favorite sayings was, “I think he is talking just to hear his head rattle.”  Maybe we have all been in the company of certain people who seem to enjoy talking with no obvious purpose other than just talking.

To be seen, to be heard, and to be accepted are three of the great personal desires in community life.  Yes, there is a certain kind of anonymity desired.  It is a longing for privacy by even the most celebrated person.  Many years ago, Dan Blocker was well known for his role as Hoss Cartwright on the popular show, Bonanza.  In an interview, he commented that the downside of such popularity was that he could not even take his sons to a baseball game without being constantly pursued by fans.  At the same time, he knew that he loved the job of being seen in television and the movies.  While we may not express the Norma Desmond line, as played by Gloria Swanson, in “Sunset Strip”, “Alright, I’m ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille.”  Generally, we still want to be recognized.

As Jesus conversed with his followers, He asked the pointed question, “But who do you say that I am?”  It mattered.  He needed to be seen.  He needed to be seen for who He was.  Who He knew He was, was most assuredly important.  Still, the value is diminished if He cannot communicate, and be recognized for the person He is.

A hallmark of the 1960s was that of those people who “dropped out” to go in search of “who they were”.  Not really intending to be cynical, there is a question that comes to mind.  How would you know if you found yourself if you didn’t know who you are? Really, there were probably a lot of mothers who could have readily let them know.

The personal question of the matter still begs for a response.  “Who do you (other people) say that I am?”  It may not be the most comfortable question to ask, but it is an important one.

It is a good thing to have an “honest” evaluation of yourself.  Perhaps a better word for it is a “correct” evaluation.  For, we can be honest, and still be wrong.  It may be a little bit like listening to a recording of our own voices.  When we hear our voice for the first time, we may wonder who it is that is speaking, or think something is wrong with the recording.  Of course, the truth is that we hear our own voice quite differently than others hear it.  In the same way, we may be perceived differently by others than we perceive ourselves.  If you think about it, when we are challenged to evaluate ourselves, we need some help.  We need to know what others honestly think.

Perhaps the “Golden Rule” is a good place to start.  Let behavior toward others be directed by how we would like to be treated, and then how we are seen will be enhanced toward the positive.  We can build how we are seen by the doing of things that build a positive image.  Consider how people saw Jesus.  The general population saw Him as messenger of God, as well as an opportunity to be physically and spiritually blessed.

It is important to find a source and examples for what we want people to see.  Let there be a source.  The example of Jesus and the powerful guidance of the scriptures are always the right choice.  For well more than a century, people of character have leaned upon the defining phrase introduced by Charles Sheldon in his well-worn novel, In His Steps.  He leaves us the challenge to always ask, “What Would Jesus Do?”  Making it personal sets us in the light to be seen in the very best of ways.

How do you want people to see you?  Do that!

Of course, we cannot control everything people think about us, or any subjective perceptions they may have.  There may well be people who malign even the best intentions we have.  Most people will assume we are what we show to them.

We want to be seen, and we will be seen.  How we are seen is valuable.  Give it your best, and then see how people respond.  If you watch them, you will have the answer to how you are seen.

Russell L. Dyer – 3/22/202

He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. – Ecclesiastes 5:10

The phrase begins with the words, “If only …”  After those words almost anything can fill the space.  In another place, Solomon states, “There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”: The grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water — and the fire never says, ‘Enough!’” (Proverbs 30:15-16).  If we can find some honest reflection in us, we will probably find that our “if only” thoughts will also never really be enough.  It’s something like the old commercial line, “There’s always room for Jello”.

The romantic song by Diamond Rio may have captured the concept as well as any. 

One more day, one more time
One more sunset, maybe I’d be satisfied
But then again, I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still for one more day with you
One more day.

Yes, I know that there are moments in time in which we feel we are fully satisfied.  As the Hollies sang, “If I could make a wish I think I’d pass.  Can’t think of anythin’ I need.”  The thing about such satisfactions is that the feeling generally fades with the passing of time.  We might relate it to Thanksgiving Dinner.  With the abundance on the table, there is a tendency to eat until a packed stomach sends messages of being satisfied, and then some.  The thought might enter our minds that we may never want to eat again.  Still, a few hours later, when the leftovers are presented, we find that we can eat and do desire more of the feast.

So it is in life that we seem to always find within us that sense of desire for more. Before we begin to kick ourselves for our lack of satisfaction and fulfillment, there is something we ought to know.  We were designed to pursue the next goal and the higher ground.  Even the wealthy king, Solomon, reminds us that God has placed the unending search of eternity deeply within our basic drive of life.  In our temporary world, the very nature and life of eternity remains just beyond our grasp.  It is a driving force of a progressing life.  In other words, that is the way we were made.  A part of the concept of being made in the image of God is that we live in a pursuit.  From the design of our human inception, we were given that drive to have dominion over the world around us.  In other words, life is about a pursuit of what has not yet been obtained.

Contentment and satisfaction are not in contrast to a constant drive to achieve more.  There is a silly story about a boy who finished third grade and then announced that he was not going to return to school.  His mother tried to reason with him.  She asked her son what kind of job he thought he could get with only a third-grade education.  He paused for a moment then replied, “I could probably teach second graders.”  Again, the need and hunger for progress, achievement, and accomplishment are not in contrast or even conflict with a humble and contented spirit.

So, here is the secret that is not really a secret.  There is a difference when there is an attitude of gratitude.  Knowing how fortunate we are to have what we have, gives our blessings more value in putting them to use.  Jesus also noted the value of having an ongoing “hunger” for what we do not yet have.  He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

The old advertising campaign claimed the available room for their product, even when we might otherwise consider ourselves to be full.  Hoping not to come across as being trite, there is a good message.  The ongoing desire for good or better things can be one of the better driving forces of life.  Seeking to find the better things, to be filled with the better things, and to use the better things for good, is worthy. 

So, here’s to hoping that our lives are filled with greatly appreciative contentment from the blessings that push us forward.  Then we can clearly say that “Never Enough” is a really good thing.

Russell L. Dyer — 3/19/2024