Holdin' on to Jesus.

I like to think I'm pretty witty. I'm not. I like to think I can throw one pun after another into a conversation. I cannot. I like to think I never foul up. That is laughable. It may appear as though I have everything all tied together and that is an illusion on most days. Yesterday, there were at least a handful of moments when I had to look around to see if anyone else saw my mistakes.

For instance, I had left my wallet in wifey's vehicle the day before and I thought to myself, "I'll need to get that wallet before I leave for the office." I intended to get gas in the truck on my way into work. Yep, you guessed it; I walked past wifey's car, jumped in the truck, and off I went. Four miles from home, I was thinking how I would get coffee and a doughnut for the office manager when it hit me. I forgot my wallet! Gaaaa! No coffee and doughnut for him and no gas in my truck. In another era of my life I would have exploded in anger, but yesterday all I could do was laugh and think, "What a doofus!"

So, with great composure and a bit of regret, I exited the highway on one side and entered it on the other ramp and went back to retrieve the wallet. The difference between a former era and yesterday is that I hold onto Jesus much more now than I ever have before. Sort of like this snow that is somehow stuck to the bottom of our sidewalk handrail.

A recent snowfall had deposited wet sticky snow onto the rail. Because the temperature was right around freezing, the slump of snow built up on the railing and then slowly slid down around to hang from the bottom of the rail. More snow fell on top the rail to create this neat situation. Gravity was still working but the snow on the bottom of the rail was hangin' on. The image is a good reminder for me that when I'm slip sliding (failing forward) through life, I must hang onto Jesus.

"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good (Jesus). Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:15-24, NIV) [Emphasis added]

Friends, it isn't what happens to us that defines our day as success or failure. It is how we respond to the events of the day that speak volumes of our character and connection to Jesus. He is the only one who will stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24) and for that I am eternally grateful. I resolve to hang onto Jesus for dear life. How about you?