I spent the long July 4th holiday in Denver handling some personal family matters. Kathy and I wanted to watch some fireworks on Thursday night, but after a long day, we were just too tired, so we watched some from New York on TV.

It was the annual Macy’s fireworks display on the Hudson River. I like fireworks but this was the most spectacular display I have ever seen. So much so, that Kathy and I decided to put it on our bucket list: spend the 4th in New York some day, to see that show.

There are times when there is a lot on your plate. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Whether it’s watching fireworks, watching a movie, resting, or doing something else you enjoy, taking a break is a good thing. It is needed.

Sometimes you need a mental break to just let things go for a while. Otherwise situations outside of your control can overwhelm and frustrate you. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself, to do what you need to do for you, so you can be your best for others.

In all of life’s many and varied situations, I am really grateful to have a standard to live by. Without a standard for truth how can one really know what is true and not true, good or best, a right choice or a wrong choice? For nearly 40 years I have tried my best to rely on the Bible as my standard for truth.

As you well know, circumstances and situations are not always cut and dried. Obviously if the issue is stealing then it’s pretty apparent; stealing is wrong. But everything in life is not that simple.

My starting point in all situations and circumstances has to be love: that is the foundation. Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is to love God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. The second, he said, is to love your neighbor as yourself. On those two everything else rests.

It’s easy to love people when they are doing everything right. It is quite another when their actions obviously violate God’s standard for truth. But, regardless of where people are at, our actions and motivation need to be rooted in love.

All people have free will; they choose to believe what they want to believe. We can speak the truth to people to help them so their lives will be blessed. They can choose to accept it or reject it.

You and I cannot make people accept and believe God’s Word; that is not our job. But perhaps one of the saddest situations occurs when someone who at one time did know and believe God’s Word, but has since chosen to put it aside, and now follow their own God of convenience.  Again, God gave all of us free will to choose, and really, when you think about it, we choose every single day what we are going to believe.

I truly do grieve for those who once knew the truth but have chosen to put God, His Word, and His Son aside. At best that is a very uncertain and dark path to take. But, even so, because His very nature is love, He will forgive and receive those who choose to return back to Him with open arms.

Mike Verdicchio
2013

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