Tag Archives: Grace

Message in A Minute: See The Best

In 7th grade, at random times during the school day, I would hear a certain teacher down the hall yelling at students.

He was known for taking disruptive students out in the hallway and the whole school would echo with the his stern voice. Mr Pacifico didn’t mess around, and we all knew it. Most every student had a healthy respect for him, even if they didn’t have his class.

I feared that one day I would be in that class.

The next year, I was in his class and I was terrified. 

At that time in my life I was battling depression and panic attacks. I couldn’t concentrate on school work, I couldn’t focus on the lectures, I couldn’t read the required chapters. It was an extremely difficult time.

I did well on every test but I got behind on my daily class work. One day, Mr. “P” as he was known, called my name out and told me to meet him in the hallway. I knew I wasn’t in trouble for any behavioral issues but my fear took over. I walked through the door and braced myself for the verbal assault I was sure to receive.

What happened next changed the way I viewed Mr. P. It changed the way I viewed myself, and it still encourages me today.

Mr. Pacifico calmly and sincerely asked me what was going on in my life. As if he could sense the source of my struggle, he helped me talk through what was troubling me. We talked for a long time.

He expressed concern that I was wasting my potential. While I don’t remember exactly what he said, I remember he used the word “gifted” to describe me, and he filled me with hope and courage.

I continued to struggle for years after, but from that day on, I had Mr. Pacifico’s words to give me a better perspective.

For me, this mirrored my relationship with God. 

At 18 years old, I approached God with fear and regret, but I was met with acceptance and encouragement. He gave me a new perspective and a new direction. Obviously my relationship with God holds dynamics that go beyond this comparison. But it does make me wonder a few things.

Do I see the best in people, even if they can’t see it yet?
Am I bold enough to speak words that people need to hear?
Can I demonstrate sincere concern for others in a way that will help them reach their God given potential?

What about you?

Maybe you and I still need to be taken out in the hall every now and then to get some perspective.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: Love Is…

You’ve probably heard a certain piece of scripture quoted at every wedding you’ve ever attended. Or you might be very familiar with it from your upbringing or personal study.

I would imagine there are very few people who have never encountered this selection of scripture.

I Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails…

If you are someone who was raised in a Christian home and/or went to church most of your life. You probably had someone challenge you to insert your name in the place of “love” in these verses. It’s a sobering exercise.

Let’s try it…

Tom is patient?

Tom is kind?

Tom doesn’t envy?

Tom doesn’t boast?

Tom is not proud?

Tom does not dishonor others?

Tom is not self-seeking?

Tom is not easily angered?

Tom keeps no record of wrongs?

Tom does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth?

Tom always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres?

Tom never fails?

Ok, I was laughing from the start.

I fall short in every single statement in one way or another. So do you. You can try your name there, you can try Mother Theresa’s name there, or anybody you know. We don’t measure up…that is what grace is for, but that is not my point.

I had a thought, what if I inserted the word “God” in these verses?

Would He stand up to His own standard?

After all according to scripture (1st John 4:7) “God is Love”.

And we are told “perfect love casts out fear” (1st John 4:18).

So let’s try it…

God is patient?

God is kind?

God doesn’t envy?

God doesn’t boast?

God is not proud?

God does not dishonor others?

God is not self-seeking?

God is not easily angered?

God keeps no record of wrongs?

God does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth?

God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres?

God never fails?

If any of that makes you uneasy, maybe it’s because you haven’t seen God for who He really is. God is better than what most of us have been told.

He’s not a tyrant who can’t wait to punish.

He isn’t a cosmic police officer who has a list of your offences.

He is not a far off weird old man who doesn’t care about you.

He is not a rich uncle who will send blessings only when you do the right thing.

He is a loving father, patiently waiting for you to acknowledge your need for Him.

Don’t allow misconceptions or experiences to keep you from finding out how much you are loved. Ask God to reveal Himself to you, and don’t be surprised when He lives up to those famous words from scripture.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: Eternity In Our Hearts

The best written words are not only read but wrestled with.

The best books are those we forget we are reading.

Our favorite movies are the ones in which we imagine ourselves playing a role.

The best conversations are those that cause us to forget time is passing.

Our favorite songs aren’t the most musically sophisticated, but are the songs that tell our story.

There is a reason a speaker, a novelist, or a musician seems to know us so well.

They found a way to express the common theme of life, the longing of every heart, and what runs through our minds most often.

To love, to be loved, and to find who we are, in spite of who we’ve become.

Eternity has been imbedded in our hearts.
A desire to be known is ingrained in us.
A childlike wonder lives in our minds.

And most important of all…love Himself walked among us, inspiring our best, suffering our worst, steadfast in the notion that you and I are worth it.

Now we can make our way home.

-Tom Wise