Mirror or Window
 It was good this morning to connect with several friends that I have not been in touch with since my illness. There expressions of encouragement and support are greatly appreciated. As much as they were glad to hear my voice sounding normal, I was glad to hear there’s on the other end of the line and feel more normal in my daily conversations.
My occupational therapist came today and checked me out on how I was doing with my arm and shoulder strength. He thought the idea of me driving around the neighborhood was a little scary, but I told him I took it slow and tried to stay on my side of the road. We did go outside and used my regular wheelchair to take a good four block round trip “walk.” The two blocks back were a little slower..
I am planning on participating in the Colfax 5KRun/Walk/ride your wheelchair event on May 17. I am raising money for drug and alcohol recovery through Teen Challenge of the Rocky Mountains. You can be part of my “Five for Freedom” campaign.
I have enough FaceBook friends and blog followers that a donation of $5 or more from 200 people will help me reach my goal of at least $1,000. You can donated online at www.coloradogives.org/ksummers Your support will empower men, women with preschool children and teen girls to experience a new direction in life. For more information go to www.tcrm.us
BIBLE VERSE OF TODAY…
“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.”  1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV
Devotional writer Sarah Young reminds us that, God has called us to lead the life that He has assigned us and that we need to be content with that. We need to beware of comparing our situation with that of someone else – and feeling dissatisfied because of that comparison.
This can be the proverbial “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” syndrome or as I entitled this blog “a mirror or a window.” We can look at our life and make a decision each day how we will live it and what we can do to improve our life and invest in others, or we can be constantly looking at others envying their circumstances or opportunities or success.
I like the concept that God has not called us all to be “successful in the world’s eyes” but we can all be faithful, which is successful living in God’s eyes. In the Parable of the Ten Talents (Matthew 25:14,15) the Landowner gave varying talents to three different individuals with the expectation that they would multiply what had been entrusted to their care. Each one had the potential of receiving the master’s reward.
Faithfulness and contentment go hand in hand. Sarah Young said, “Learning to be content is both a discipline and an art.”  We train our minds to trust in God’s sovereignty and we also search for God to show up in the details of our life including our trouble and confusion.
This poem below communicates the importance of being true to our self. It was written in 1934 (at the height of the Great Depression) by Peter “Dale” Wimborw,Sr. It’s original title was “The Man in the Glass.” It has been known as “The Man in the Mirror.” My father-in-law had this poem on a piece of paper stained with the passage of time. It seemed like it was his plumb line as he navigated life with all of it challenges and ups and downs. Perhaps it helped him realize that when you look out a window at the others and the world around you catch a glimpse of yourself.
 When you get all you want and you struggle for pelf,*
and the world makes you king for a day,
then go to the mirror and look at yourself
and see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your mother, your father or wife
whose judgment upon you must pass,
but the man, whose verdict counts most in your life
is the one staring back from the glass.
He’s the fellow to please,
never mind all the rest.
For he’s with you right to the end,
and you’ve passed your most difficult test
if the man in the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole world,
down the highway of years,
and take pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
if you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
*pelf = informal word for money or wealth, etc