Just Another Obstacle

Today I am taking stock of my assets. Like yesterday I find that the way I see them involves a choice. Let’s go through this together. My assets today are temporary but I am thankful for what I have. I desire to maximize their use to make the most out my future.

Last time I submitted a story, (I took Sunday off), I spoke of my stroke being an obstacle. Before my stroke, I had built a lot of intellectual assets. Music, books, comedy, films, poetry, courses and filmed teaching segments, were all part of the list. Everything I had produced was a part of what God had given me in the first place and was refined by some sort of struggle. Many things I had accomplished were not part of the list being more transient in nature. Stage plays, unrecorded concerts, speaking engagements, all played a role but had left nothing I could use for my future. This is not to say that they had no lasting value. Much of this had built into the lives of others, for which I will always be grateful.

Back when I was a fully functional adult I had heard the idea that if you invest in your education, nothing could take that away from you. I discovered to my chagrin that this is not exactly true. Memory can fail you in drastic ways. I came to realize that there is an asset that is more permanent. If you build a relationship with God it will never go bad from his end. Family may die but he alone will not.

The temporary nature of my accomplishments was brought home with a vengeance a few weeks ago. A rather large outbuilding on my property was set ablaze but a person or persons unknown. The building had housed a lot of my recent inheritance and many projects that I had counted as assets. It was very quickly all gone. A passerby that knew a relative got a video of the inferno. I got a hold of a copy but it’s all I have left. Insurance will not begin to cover the cost of the real loss. Taking stock today is fundamentally different than it was a month ago. I am left with memories that are failing me as well. I look at the songs in books that I have written and realize I do not remember many of the tunes that go with the words and the recordings that could have reminded me have perished in the fire.

Nothing in this world can be counted on. The gifts of God are what they are in any given moment. I still have what I can do. These gifts are the wonderful assets that give me hope for the future and a path forward regardless of the damage I endure. Let’s look at what we all have left with which to go forward.

1. The most powerful thing we can use to go forward is prayer. We can all call upon a faithful God.

2. The relationship with God convinces us that he has a purpose for us yet to discover if we do not have a clear picture of why we are still breathing. (Sometimes we think we know but will be surprised when we really do discover it. This may need to be rediscovered daily.)

3. Creativity. This may be a continuation of what you were doing, be a new twist because you can’t do it the same way, or be something brand new but if God were done with you, he’d take you out completely. The fact that you’re still alive is his vote of confidence that you still have a purpose to discover. Your ability to think creatively will help you make a contribution to this group.

4. You and I must come to the place of understanding that our real value is what God has placed in us and is not dependent on what we do. Becoming is everything, not doing. Growing inside is job one. We can all become examples of God’s grace. Perhaps your future will only matter to him and you. He thinks you’re worth his investment in a relationship. That alone should give you hope and a future.