Some good quotes for me to embrace today

Push aside the expectations of others and instead focus on the appreciation of what you've accomplished. If you believe in it, then that's all the truly matters. - unknown

Don't judge me on the basis of what you heard from others. Judge me on the basis of what YOU know about me, or else try knowing me. - Ashish Basumatary

There's people that are just in awe of what you do, and then there are people who just think it's garbage. And I think there are people who are just uncomfortable seeing someone have fun with their job. - Todd Barry

With fame, you can't trust everybody. You can't depend on them being there for you as a person. They will only be there because of what you've got and what you can bring to their life. It's not a relationship - it's a leech. - Chris Brown

The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you had to give. - Howard Cosell

Believe half of what you see and only some of what you hear, unless you hear it from me. - Chris Daughtry

Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't. - Steve Maraboli

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart . . ."

Melting Your Clouds

I woke at 3:45am with my mind flying at Mach 3. My Outlook calendar, to-do list, dead-lines and failures were flashing through my brain, overwhelming me; my head feeling full and spinning. I stepped into the hot shower thinking I could steam the thoughts away like dipping into a cup of soothing hot tea. I read the Bible and prayed, asking for calm. A friend had given me Psalm 37 as a reading, but my eyes followed the words into Psalm 38.   Yes, this was me . . . I felt myself in every groan of David. Here’s just a sample:

"Because I have been foolish, my sores stink and rot.  I am bent over, I am crushed; I mourn all day long. I am burning with fever and I am near death. I am worn out and utterly crushed; my heart is troubled, and I groan with pain. O Lord, you know what I long for; you hear all my groans. My heart is pounding, my strength is gone, and my eyes have lost their brightness."

But then I got to the end, and the hope:

"But I trust in you, O Lord; and you, O Lord my God, will answer me . . . Do not abandon me, O Lord; do not stay away, my God! Help me now, O Lord my savior!"

You may wonder what brought that flood into my life. It was a cascading over time of many things of interrelated actions, relationships and personal shortcomings, within which my mind and heart could not realize a rest.  Sharing this with my wife, she suggested a good power walk along the nearby Buff Park. So I bundled up and marched down the sidewalk in the chilly early morning air.

I no time I was warmed up, unzipped my bomber jacket and my mind was clearing a bit. As I rounded the corner away from the Bluff, something had me turn around and cross Ocean Blvd onto the Bluff Park walkway – face into the breeze. And there it was. It stopped me cold.

There, next to the bluff railing, curled up into a disheveled lump, huddled under a blanket, was a shivering mass of human being. I don’t know if the shaking was from the cold or effects of drugs – or both, but my head suddenly cleared and froze right there seeing total helplessness. What was I doing embracing David’s groanings, when I’m looking at the stark reality of Psalm 38?  I prayed right there for that person and admonished myself, for beyond my cloud of worry and confusion are people in far worse condition.

May we reach through our clouds of emotional and mental concerns this day and be thankful for our lives and those with whom God has surrounded us. If you are alone, go to a shelter or church that is serving the poor and disadvantaged . . . your clouds will melt away as you share your life with another needy soul. 

Why $2.20 when others may be less?

Some may be wondering about our cost per meal of $2.20 . . . As it is Fall Campaign time again, and as Long Beach is in the shadow of five larger Missions (LA and Orange County), you will be getting appeals from most of us to help provide meals and critical services to the homeless and disadvantaged during the holidays. Unfortunately, only Orange County Rescue Mission works with us in limited mail in Long Beach zip codes. We wish LA Missions did the same.

When one serves over 240,000 meals a year, meal costs are an interesting conversation item with our marketing vendors and other Missions. We are told that it is not good to raise the price of meals in our appeals. I can't say how others calculate their meals, but I will always choose to be fully honest and transparent with our donors and public. Our meal cost reflects closely what the real meal value and expense for our average meal.

Just as your costs are rising, so are ours. Yes, we do use donated food in preparing our meals; however, the meal cost basis is what the real value is – as if we had to purchase all the items served. So, whether you send a check, food donations, or both, our meal value is on average $2.20. Still a deal no matter how you slice it!

Thank you for sharing your table with those in need this holiday season and throughout the year.

Jim Lewis, CEO

Happy Thanksgiving?

“Happy Thanksgiving!” came the greeting. “Ditto”, I replied. Aaron laughed. “I don’t do holidays,” I stated flatly. “What?” . . . Aaron Mascaro, one of our chaplains looked like he couldn’t make up his mind if I was serious or not, as I often have some ready comebacks to my staff. I explained to him that I don’t handle holidays well; perhaps due to the dysfunction of my childhood that feeling of loss is compounded at the holidays.

That’s the way it is for many people like me, and especially for those we were serving the past two days at the Long Beach Rescue Mission. Hundreds of people – homeless, needy, neighborhood families, those who are hurting and hungry for whatever reason – come through our doors for a free meal and a feeling of family for a few moments over a Thanksgiving meal. Perhaps some of the numerous volunteers are here for the same reason – a lack of family – or if they’re lucky, to share their lives with others, and to show their children what serving and true thanksgiving is really all about.

Maybe that’s why I work at the Mission . . . because I know what it’s like to have loss, and I desire to share with others that which I didn’t have. My life has not reached the depths of loss of many of those we serve who come off the streets; but that’s only because I made different choices along the way and have had a wife and children who give me stability, and a relationship of faith through Jesus Christ. Otherwise, I would be on the other side of the doorway coming in for help rather than providing it.

Later this morning, as we watched people enjoying their Thanksgiving breakfast, Aaron shared an article he had read and used in his message to our guests last night at the Thanksgiving eve dinner. It was about the myth of Thanksgiving as a family holiday . . . I didn’t know where he was going with that, so I held my voice and left him finish. He said it was a community event, not a private family event as we know it today. The pilgrims – as a community – were giving thanks for their native friends who had showed them the proper crops to plant and desired to share with them the bounty God had provided through the friendship of that community.

As Aaron shared this, I looked around the dining room and let it soak into my heart . . . community is what we celebrate; it is what draws us to share our bounty with others and reach out to the least, the last, and the lost of our neighborhood and city streets. It is in this community that our personal loss and dysfunction is melted away as we join with others in serving, being served, and becoming part of a much larger family. Sure we have issues to deal with – as did the pilgrims – but as they had, we too have a larger family of community. So whether in our serving or receiving, we are blessed through those who desire to celebrate what God has provided through our community and into our lives.

I pondered this on my way home to my family . . . maybe I can do holidays after all.