Sometimes Life Is Like…

/ Jason Morris / 2 Comments

I’ve come to the realization that life is a whole lot easier if you can laugh at yourself. There are times when situations arise that, if you let them, could really turn your day upside down. However, if you respond with laughter (in certain circumstances), you might just be able to see the humor, the joy, the lesson in it all.

Because…sometimes life is like a cat that relieves itself on you.

Let me back up a bit.

So, yesterday, I was rocking out to the sounds of The Clash with Sammie and Jocelyn. We have a blue beanbag chair in our front room that the girls love to dive into. Well, in the midst of dancing to The Clash’s version of “I Fought The Law and the Law Won”, I look over to see Jocelyn dive into the beanbag. I didn’t really think much of it…until I saw her splashing her hands in some kind of liquid.

My first thought was, “Oh man, the lid came off of her drink.” However, as I got closer, I noticed that the liquid sure didn’t smell like water.

I then realized that it was all over her pajamas…did she vomit? I asked her, and as any almost 17-month old would do, she nodded in affirmation.

I wish it was vomit…Instead, it was cat urine.

So, I began to go into a full rant, “Stupid cat! Why would that stupid cat pee on the beanbag chair?”

I quickly picked up Jocelyn and headed to the tub. She was totally having a great time! I continued my rant, letting Emily fully know how disgusted I was with her cat.

And, I became totally self-righteous as I protested under my breath while bathing Jocelyn. “Why am I having to clean Jocelyn up? It’s not my stupid cat. I’m not the one who shut the door to the room where the cat box is.Blah, blah, blah!!!”

So, Jocelyn was having a great time in the tub…and I couldn’t help but laugh…that is, until I had to clean up the cat.

“Why do I have to give the stupid cat a bath? It’s not my stupid cat to begin with.”

And, I sort of got what I deserved. As the cat and I headed into the bathroom, I noticed that my shirt was getting rather warm. And, the warmth was accompanied by the feeling of liquid running down my shirt and pants.

I’d been hit! The stupid cat got me! “Your stupid cat is peeing on me!”

While bathing the cat, I began to see the humor in it all.

My daughter…playing in cat urine…thinking it was tons of fun.

My fat and lazy cat…relieving herself on me…probably out of fear and confusion.

There I was, covered in stinky cat pee, and I just had to laugh.

Why the laughter? You see, all I had to deal with yesterday was a little bit of cat urine. Disgusting? You bet! But, in light of the various struggles that others face on a daily basis, this is nothing.

There are people whose bodies are being ravaged by disease, malnutrition, lack of decent hygiene and health care.

There are people who have no clue where their next meal will come from.

There are people who have no idea how they will possibly be able to make their next mortgage payment…let alone cover their utilities.

There are people who have faced a great deal of loss.

There are people who are unemployed or underemployed…and the job market isn’t really picking up.

These are not the kinds of things we laugh about…

And, I have the audacity to pitch a fit over some cat urine?

So, today, I choose to laugh. Today I choose to give thanks (for things like a daughter who thinks it’s a riot to play in the cats mess!) and not let the small things explode into big things that take my focus off the One Thing that can turn a frustrating moment into a hilarious memory.

James 1:2-3  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Pslam 30:11-12  You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

I’m Not That Important???

/ Jason Morris / 1 Comment

After reading Scott Greene’s post on putting others first, I began to do some thinking…some inward searching…

Sometimes, I believe that life is a journey to help me realize that I’m really not that important. I know, it is probably a major surprise to you because, well, I’m awesome. But, as awesome as both you and I know that I am, when it all boils down, I’m just not that important.

Now, I’m not saying that my life doesn’t matter…it does. And, I’m not saying that God doesn’t have a use for me…He does.

What I’m saying is that my self-inflated view of myself (remember, I just referred to myself as being awesome?) is off-base.

You see, while my life does in fact matter…I am not the most important person in the world (and neither are you…sorry!).

And, while God can and does use me, He can and does accomplish His will without me.

Here’s my confession: I often believe that whatever I am doing is more important than what you are doing.

So, if I am driving down the road, my destination is more important than yours…so you should politely let me pass you when you are driving at or below the speed limit.

If I am at the grocery or any other store, the items I am buying will serve a greater purpose than the items you are buying. Therefore, you should politely stop blocking  the entire aisle with your cart while trying to figure out which brand and variety of macaroni and cheese you should buy for your family.

If I am working, my work is more important than your work. So, please don’t bother me…period…I’m working…doing the Lord’s work…and that’s important stuff…and you wouldn’t understand.

Now, while most of this is “tongue-in-cheek”, there’s a bit of reality in it.

You see, too often I’m so caught up in whatever I am doing that I ignore whatever else is going on around me. I ignore the people that God has called me to love.

This evening, it hit me kind of hard when I was having a conversation with a friend.

While I truly enjoy this friend, when I received the phone call, I was in the midst of trying to get ready for this evenings rehearsal. While he was sharing some struggles that he has been dealing with, I found myself getting anxious…wondering when he was going to stop moaning and groaning so I could offer my 2 cents and get on with my business.

In the midst of this anxious feeling, I caught myself. I began to think, “Hey dummy, this friend is having a difficult time and he called you to talk through it and all you can think about is putting batteries in microphones.”

And, that’s when it hit me like the business end of a 2×4, I’m just not that important.

So, what is important? Making time for God. Making time for family. Making time for friends. Making time for others…for the hurt, the broken, the lost, the hungry, the desperate people we encounter each day who just need someone to realize that their busy schedule really isn’t that important.  Making time to just slow down for 5, 10, 15 minutes and listen…truly listen…to the person who is more important than you.

So, my hope, my prayer, and my desire is that I will become less selfish and begin to consider others first…to consider others as being better than myself…and to take my time so I can be open to the important stuff of life.

My Lenten Journey

/ Jason Morris / Leave a comment

During the season of Lent, many people will give up things (chocolate, meat, caffeine, television, sarcasm, etc.) Others will try new things during the Lenten journey…like exercising, volunteering at a mission or shelter, or praying.

The thing about Lent is that it’s a great time to consider how we live. Are there things we need to let go of? Are there things that we should really put into practice?

Generally, I do not give things up during Lent. I’ve found that when I consider what I will give up for Lent, I do so in more of a selfish way than from a perspective of fasting that will help me consider the suffering of Christ. I tend to look at fasting for Lent as something that might benefit me…not so much spiritually…but physically. If I give up sugar, I’ll drop some of those unwanted pounds. One year, I gave up eating meat…only to have someone point out one evening that I was eating noodles that were cooked in beef broth and that the beef broth contained meat/meat bi-products. I refer to that person as the Lent Nazi (harsh? yes!). And, my motivation should have been questioned. First, I really do not consume that much meat to begin with…so it wasn’t much of a sacrifice. And, in the back of my mind, I was thinking about the health benefits of avoiding greasy cheeseburgers.

So, this year, instead of giving up Cadbury Eggs (seriously, that would be a sacrifice…as I believe I could consume about 12 every single day), I am going to be taking on some new practices.

I tend to pray and read the Bible on a daily basis. However, it’s never in a structured setting…outside of reading a Psalm and saying a brief prayer before I begin my work each day. I’m more of a “pray on the fly” and “read when it’s convenient” kind of guy.

So, during the season of Lent, I will be setting aside 2-hours each day for Bible reading and prayer. I have some resources (some of which I may share on this blog) that I’ll be using to help me throughout the journey.

I’m sure it will be difficult at first. It’s hard for me to focus on something for more than a few minutes. But, I’m hoping that this will develop into a habit that goes beyond Lent.

So, what are you giving up or taking on for Lent?

Stuck in Muncie…

/ Jason Morris / 1 Comment

What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday, Emily and I were traveling to Muncie to drop the girls off at my parents house as we were headed to Delaware, Ohio for my class at MTSO.

When we were just outside of Alexandria, IN, I received a voicemail from the church office informing me that someone from MTSO had called to let me know that this weekend’s classes had been canceled due to the pending snow storm.

The question was, “what do we do now?” We were about 15 minutes from my parents house…

One option would have been to turn around and return to Lafayette.

The other option was to finish our trip to Muncie and visit family and friends.

As most people know, if the grandparents are planning to see their grandchildren, you can’t call and say, “we’re not coming.” From my experience, that is almost as severe as pulling the plug on ones parents.

So, we made our way to Muncie. We stopped off at my mom’s school. Grandma enjoyed parading her grandkids around the building and in the teacher’s lounge. It was in the teacher’s lounge where I decided I no longer wish to visit my mothers school. Some of my former teachers tried to imply that I was not exactly a “model student”. They implied that I was talkative and always in trouble. Of course, they are getting older and their memories probably just aren’t what they used to be.

Then it was on to my parents house where we found my father up on a ladder fixing gutters before the pending snow storm. It didn’t take him long to get the ladder put away and get inside with the girls.

So, we decided to stay the night and visit.

Emily called some friends and planned an evening out. Greg and Carol invited us to join them for dinner and asked if we would like to go to the Indian restaurant. Emily asked if that would be okay and my response was, “Muncie has an Indian restaurant?”

By the way, the Sitara is awesome! The food was amazing! The service was great…there is a long story that would explain how hard they will try to please their customers with strict dietary guidelines.

At dinner, Greg and Carol also informed us of a new Thai restaurant in downtown Muncie.

I guess when Adam Weber started the whole “Muncie…We’re Trying” campaign he was right. Muncie really is trying!

Of course, overnight the snowstorm made its way across the state and now we are “stuck” in Muncie. Of course, by mid-afternoon I expect the roads will be greatly improved and we’ll be able to consider heading back to Lafayette.

However, a Friday lunch trip to the Heorot will be required…if I can get there!

In reality, we’re not stuck in Muncie. We have numerous friends we can visit. We have some relaxed time to spend with my parents. And, we have the possibility of a trip to the Heorot!

“Skins” Not The Problem

/ Jason Morris / 1 Comment

So, maybe you have heard about one of MTV‘s latest programs, “Skins”.  And, then again, maybe you have not…

When word of “Skins” started to hit the rumor mill, outrage and potential protests became the standard response of conservatives, evangelicals, parents groups, and so on. Why?

Well, because “Skins” is a program that, in a way, glorifies teenage promiscuity, experimentation with drugs and alcohol, and disrespect for authority of any kind.

Due to the fact that I had heard so much outrage over this new show, I decided to watch an episode. Truth be told, I was more offended by the poor acting and weak dialogue than any of the actions.

Reporters have said that the show has “crossed the line” in ways that no other program has…in history.

Yet, as I watched, I found that it wasn’t any worse than “Gossip Girl”, “90210”, or any of the crime dramas that air on a nightly basis.

I believe that the drama created prior to the airing of the first episode actually generated more interest in the program (maybe that’s what they were going for). Viewership dropped drastically after the first episode (again, most likely due to the poor acting, poor dialogue, etc).

Do I think it is an appropriate show for teenagers to be watching? No. But, I also believe that most of the programming on MTV is inappropriate for teenagers. I believe there are far more offensive programs airing on MTV than “Skins” (don’t even get me started on “The Real World” or “Jersey Shore” or any of the “reality” programming on any network).

Rob Sheffield, in his Rolling Stone article on the program, put it much better than I ever could:

“…the really shameful exploitation on MTV is the thriving ’16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom’ franchise, which has become a ‘Star Search’ for aspiring knocked-up teenagers. The whole point of ‘Teen Mom’ is to promise the jackpot of celebrity to the underage girl who gets pregnant in the most colorfully sordid circumstances. ‘Teen Mom’ is just sadistic, especially when you consider that the true casualties are the screwed-for-life babies who can’t sign the consent forms. ‘Teen Mom’ victimizes real-life kids and glamorizes their victimization; ‘Skins’ has fictional kids with fictional problems. It’s beyond idiotic not to see which is more ‘offensive’.”

So, those “sounding the alarm” on a program like “Skins” are not entirely wrong. It’s an awful program.

Here’s my suggestion…parents- pay attention to what your kids are watching.  Talk to them about what you allow them and do not allow them to watch. Talk to them about the differences between fiction and nonfiction, reality and what television producers call “reality”.  And, you might want to rethink allowing your kids to have a TV with cable (or computers or cell phones for that matter) in their bedrooms…it’s hard to monitor what goes on behind closed doors. Now, I’m not saying “burn the TV” or “only let your kids watch Christian television or listen to Christian music” (some of that is just as offensive, in slightly different ways). I’m just suggesting that we all think about what we watch and what our children watch. I’m suggesting that we have open dialogues with our families on how we engage with the culture around us.

So, will I be watching “Skins”? Nope. But, not because of the “offensive” content…but because it’s just a bad show.