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You Get Hurt When Trying To Help

Silly Honeybee!   She caused nothing but hurt and I was only trying to help.

I was fixing her hive, making improvements, making things better for her.  Obviously, she didn’t see it that way.  Obviously, now I see things differently. (with only one eye!)

And now there you are……… not with a swollen, hurt eye, but with a big hurt of your own.  Hurt feelings, a hurting heart, and well, just a hurting all over.  Why?  because you are trying to help someone.  You are trying to help, but nothing but hurt is showing up.  Who is it you are offering help?  Maybe a friend, a family member, an ex?  Maybe a complete stranger………or maybe even yourself.  You honestly are offering true help, not a selfish “do what I say do”.  You are looking out for that someone, and whatever hurtful situation is there.  Now it is now being thrown back on you.

Hurt people hurt people.  Say it our loud.  Hurt people hurt people.

A difficult place for any of us to be.  You have nothing but good intentions, but the hurt person is hurting.  I’ve hurt before,……. so have you.  All the good advice, all the positive words, all the motivational speeches, ALL that can be said or done, will only meet a solid wall of hurt.  

Try hitting your thumb with a hammer, then adding 24+32+89.  Go………….

Years ago as a preacher, I would give scripture, advice, and counsel to a hurting world of church folks.  Now, on this journey with God as the wilderness preacher, I see things in a different view. (even on days with one good eye).

It’s all about the hurt.  Hurt people hurt people.  There it is again.  While I so wish that I could do or say something to make your hurt go away, it doesn’t.  While you so wish that you could do or say something to someone to get rid of their hurt, it doesn’t.  Bummer.  Matter of fact you and I get hurt in the process of trying to help.  Double bummers.  What cha going to do?

Jesus gives us a great example.  HIMSELF!!!  I don’t think anyone tried to help others as much as He did.  I don’t think anyone got hurt from trying to help like He did.  He died for our sins.  He was crucified for helping people full of hurt.

My different point of view is this.  Give that hurting person what it takes to get rid of the hurt.  Love.  God’s Love.  Help in word or deeds will actually become helpful when the hurt is relieved.

Just as it’s not pleasant to look at my hurting eye, it’s not pleasant to look on someone that’s hurting.  And now, now you got to love on them.  Can’t do it you say??  I know, cause it’s someone who just hurt you even as you are trying to help.  No love to share with them, right?  AHhhhhh, that’s why it needs to be God’s Love.  And you got to be the one that shares it.

These hurtful situations are just another opportunity for you to know God and His ways for you.  Ask God for guidance with what to do or say.  Keep asking.  Keep helping others.  Yep, you’ll also keep getting hurt at times as well.  But this journey will allow you to KNOW God better and better.  It’s in His word.

With my different view now, I feel like I no longer need to be an “answer man” trying to solve a hurting world’s problems.  Instead, I need to share God’s Love to others who are on this spiritual journey that you and I are on.

Maybe we all should share God’s Love as we “help” others with their hurt.  Love your neighbor, love the stranger, even love the “ex”.  You’ll need help from God for that.  I hope you yourself are not hurting so much that you refuse God’s help.  Are you hurting?  Remember, hurt people hurt people……and that hurt’s God himself.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17

Love Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Faith Like a Farmer

"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"

 

You see a picture of vines, mud, bugs, and dirt.  The farmer sees……. WATERMELONS!!!

What’s the difference?  Well, it depends on who’s point of view that you are looking from.  A casual passerby looks across this field and all he sees are the vines.  If he looks closer he might notice the mud and dirt.  But not the farmer…….

The farmer sees watermelons!  Why?  Because he’s been living out in the field for several weeks.  Preparing the soil, putting in fertilize, planting the watermelon plants by hand, keeping the weeds out, his work goes on and on.  Why does he do it?    Answer…… FAITH!!

The farmer knows that there are many flowers (baby watermelons) out in his field.  The potential is enormous as to how many TONS of watermelons that possibly can be harvested from his field.  There is also a huge possibility that his crop will never materialize because of disease, bad weather, bugs, too much rain, too little rain, etc, etc,.  So why does a farmer take such a big risk on his time and investment?  Answer…… Faith!!

To me what is missing in our society today is the farmer’s faith.  A faith that is lived regardless of life’s conditions.  A faith that better things are to come.  A faith that drives every farmer to battle all the negative things thrown his way.   A faith, hope and belief in waking up each brand new day realizing………… “you aint’ seen nothing yet”!  Don’t you wish you could wake up every day with this attitude?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

So even if you live in a concrete city, or work inside all day, you can still be a farmer.  Grow your faith.  Read the word, pray, search for the friendship and fellowship of God.   The potential is enormous.  Sadly, there is a huge possibility of negative things coming your way to hinder or even stop you from growing with God.  Well, you got to have faith.

Back to what is missing in our society (and maybe even in your life).  When the farmer encounters bad weather, bad conditions, bad ANYTHING, does he give up?  Nope, because he has faith.  If his crop doesn’t produce a new world record for production does he give up?  Nope, cause he has faith.  And strange as this may sound, if the crop was a total loss, would the farmer quit?  Nope, because he has faith.

A farmer’s faith does not depend on the conditions around him.  It depends on the “condition” inside of him.  Faith from within,……. it’s needed in a farmer’s life.  He lives and breathes everyday knowing that the next day will be another one of those “you ain’t seen nothing yet” days.  This world calls a farmer “backwards”, “naive”, or “simple”.  But with faith like that I call him “NOBLE”!

Mr. Farmer, you keep LIVING your faith while many around you just “talk” it.  I myself will continue to live my faith in my spiritual journey.

I will continue trusting God to help me make right decisions.  I will continue to realize that sometimes even when I make “wrong” decisions, it turns into something right in the long run.  My faith points that out to me.  By faith, I will live this life not in fear, but in great anticipation that even in all the NEGATIVE around me, there is an assurance of things not seen.  There is a POSITIVE force leading me to unknown mysteries.  There is a Lord and Saviour who considers me one of His “watermelons” and has promised to be with me every day of my life.

There is a promise from God that………”you ain’t seen nothing yet”!

See Ya!!   Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher  Becoming “alive” because of faith!

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They Say I’m Supposed to, But No, I Hear The Music!

When and where do you hear music?

This bird stays up ALL night!  I know this because I wake up hearing him with his endless song.

I know that mockingbirds tweet,chirp, and sing day after day, all day long.  But, all night long as well?  Pretty sure he is desperate for a mate.  Or he may just be determined to keep all other male birds away from his territory.  But at 11pm, or 2:30 am, or 4am in the morning he’s calling away.  He has a song in his heart and it doesn’t matter the time, that little bird is belting out his voice to all who can hear.

I’m supposed to be annoyed, I’m supposed to be upset.  According to a lot of articles I’ve read concerning birds singing all night, I’m supposed to be mad because he’s interrupting my sleep.  I’m supposed to be this and that,……… but I’m not, because I hear the music!  What’s irritating to others is a source of music to me!  Go figure!

Definition of supposed—  Expected or obligated actions on your part.  ex. Everyone expects you to act like they would because you’re SUPPOSED to!  You are supposed to act like they do.  Who is “They”? Why am I obligated to “act as they do”.  I can’t. I won’t. Not when I can hear the music.

I recently experienced a time of grief.  With wonderful support from family and friends I might add.  But it was amazing to me how many folks thought I wasn’t grieving like I was “SUPPOSED to” (i.e. grieving like THEY thought I was obligated to be grieving)  But THEY don’t understand.  I heard the music.  I still hear the music.

“There’s within my heart a melody,

Jesus whispers sweet and low,

Fear not I am with you, peace,…. be still,

In all of life’s ebb and flow,………….

I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown,

I shall live with Him on High!”

Those are the words to a great old hymn that has been a favorite of my family for years and years.  It explains the music that I hear.  The music from the Holy Spirit that is inside my head!  (What a blessing for me)

A friend of mine (shout out to Jack!!) and I wrote a couple of songs the other day.  We didn’t write words or add a tune like we were “SUPPOSED TO”.  Instead, we wrote and sang the music that was “what we were hearing in our heads”.

So, whether it’s during a time of grief, or a songwriting session, or listening to a little bird, I’m focusing on the “melody” God has placed in my heart.

Where do you hear the “Music” that God puts in your heart”?  Do you hear it in the birds, nature, the mountains, somewhere in your everyday life?

Do you “hear the music”?  Or do you live each and every day in that “box” of “suppose to do it like “THEY” say”?

I’ve learned a lesson from that always singing mockingbird.  Spend more and more time listening to the “Music” and less and less time in the “box of supposed to’s”.    As a matter of fact, I’m going to try not to even use the word “suppose” when I talk with others.  I know I hear it less and less even when it’s spoken to me.  I can’t hear it……….. not when I’m listening to the “music” in my heart.  Thank You Lord!!

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. Psalm 135:3

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, with a new song in my heart