I’ve been on a reading frenzy over the past couple of weeks.  What that translates into is: I have begun and finished two books in a row WITHOUT picking up anything else in the meantime.  It’s a bad habit I have. (hello, my name is Tracy and I have a little book addiction…..)  I often have 3 or 4 books going at one time and it takes FORever to finish them!  Go figure…

The two I’ve just finished are both by Og Mandino and prior to this I’ve never read anything by him before.  I must say, I love him.  He captured me hook, line and sinker from the get go.  Hubby gets a “thumbs-up” for his book recommendations!

The Christ Commission, by Og Mandino.  I found it captivating and hard to put down.  A story of an author known for writing mysteries and he receives a wish to travel back in time to six years after Christ’s death and resurrection, taking one week to investigate if The Resurrection was a hoax.  Fascinating history, bringing the Apostles to life with other biblical characters along with some fictional leeway on the author’s part, but nonetheless, I was up late several nights reading this one with no regrets on any lost sleep!

The first book I actually  read was a quick read by Mandino, The Greatest Salesman in the World.  The setting was just prior to and after the birth of Christ.  It was a book chock full o’ great habits in living successfully and purposefully;  becoming the women (or men) God intended for us to be.   They are simple steps.  They are repeated daily.  They are good habits.  Mandino does a PHENOMENAL job in expounding upon each point, inspiring the reader to take hold of these lessons and incorporate them as their own.   In a nutshell here they are:

• The first lesson was in becoming a SLAVE to good habits.
•  Greet each day with love in my heart.
• Persist until successful. I am here for a purpose (we all need to OWN this one!).
• Live each day as it is my last.
• I will be master of my emotions.
• Laugh at the world, for this too WILL pass.
• Don’t settle for less, think BIG.
• Act now.
• Above all, the best and most important is always saved for last:  Pray for guidance.

John 8:7

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Before we had to deal with my husband’s incarceration, this verse was simply a good reminder to me that none of us is free of judgement; we all sin.  After his incarceration and subsequent release, I want to scream that verse at the top of my lungs to everyone and anyone who looks at my husband sideways.  We all screw up.  Plain and simple.  It’s so easy to point the finger at others because it removes the attention from ourselves.  I’m here to tell you that the truth is, not one of us has the ability to rightfully toss that first stone, though there are plenty who feel duty bound to hand them out and line people up for target practice.  It’s a frustrating fact of life and it’s played out day after day.

One of the “lesson-gifts” of the past several years is learning  to look at both sides of a story. When I learned of a tragedy from our former town, one of the first thoughts that went through my head were the tremendous loss to BOTH sides.  When mistakes are made, crimes committed, or accidents occur, every single action has a DOMINO reaction.  It is a lesson our children, our family, and our friends have witnessed and experienced first hand.  It is a difficult lesson.  It is a lesson with a perpetual learning curve.  However, the lesson is only “good” when it can be used to break the cycle of judgement.  Turning our eyes to our own heart, realizing we ALL make mistakes helps us to encourage those who want to break free from damaging patterns in their lives.  Isnt’ that what we strive for?  To live a better life?

I’ve learned, for me, setting myself apart from another person because “I never did THAT!”, or “How can someone do THAT?” , only places me front and center stone in hand.  In reality, there is very little that separates the guard from the prisoner, the addict from the soccer mom, the judge from the accused.  It’s a thin line.  If you don’t believe me, check it out for yourself, you will be blown away.  We are all human.  We all sin.  Thankfully, we are all given the opportunity for grace, salvation and a chance at redemption through Christ.  It is a gift we can redeem at any moment.

One song that captures this so well,  is by The band “Tenth Avenue North” :  You are more   I love to remind my husband of this every chance I get.  And my children.  And myself.  And you.  Because it’s true.

You are more than the choices that you’ve made, 
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, 
You are more than the problems you create, 
You’ve been remade. 

Praise God.