I snore. It sounds, so I am told
like a steaming locomotive. Lighting up the silence of night like a chainsaw.
Rumbling thunder grows from the back of my throat and nasal cavity waking all
who are near. Tonight I am in downtown Bradenton Florida. My wife and I are
splitting a room with her brother Derek and his amazing wife Rebecca Syswerda! Holly Syswerda Grate has
been elbowing me since midnight waking me, urging me to "stop the
chainsaw" for the sake of my family members sleeping next to me. It is
something that I wish I could turn on and off like a light switch, but alas, it
is not. So, I decided to get up, come outside, and watch the blood moon
tonight. Which brings me to Michael Liddick. Mike is a
good friend from college that I traveled all over the country with while in
college. He is an amazing talent, top shelf singer, a man of impeccable
character, and when it comes to snoring he might just be the world champion in
this particular field. Or at least he was. I don't know if you still battle the
ear, nose and throat monster Mike, but I am here to tell you that you may just
have a new contender in the ring of misery for those around us trying to sleep.
Let's box! Yet on a more serious note, I will confess that Mike endured the
wrath of Jason Grate
during those years when snoring was not a part of my sleeping repertoire.
Wether it was me flicking his nose, screaming, pillow smothering, or on one
occasion with my lifelong friend Wesley Osborne,
if my memory serves me correctly, putting a wooden clothes pin on your nose. I
look back on those days now with fondness, but at that certain quatrain of my
life it was so difficult to sleep. Why? Because I didn't snore. Well, now I
do!:). Now I can identify! Now I understand! Which has taught me a very
important lesson. We all have things, idiosyncrasies that others display that
get under our skin. They, can list things about us that probably annoy them.
The key is recognizing this in the midst of frustration with each other
concerning our humanity, our flesh, and our sin. We will, in the end, reach a
higher level of understanding with those petty annoying things first, and then
as we grow, we will learn to demonstrate forbearance with one another when we
demonstrate less than desirable behavior. The phrase "walk a mile in my
shoes" is a proverbial truth that we all must practice mentally IN THE
MOMENT of frustration. This act is the soil where grace tree grows. And it's
fruit tastes good my friends. It's Saturday, and our Lord Jesus was in the
Grave today. To forgive us of our sins, free us from the yoke of selfishness
and pride, and give us a purpose for living in this life. But one other reason
for His incarnation/crucifixion, and resurrection was
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Since then we
have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of
God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who
is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has
been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw
near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help
in time of need.
So Mike, I can now identify with
your past weakness. I'm sorry I didn't get it. But I get it now:). Identifying
with and sympathizing with each other is the birthplace of empathy. I'm my
opinion, it is the missing component in our desire to fulfill the Great
Commission. We lack empathy.
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