Gotta Love to Play!

I love the winning, I can take the losing,
but most of all I love to play.
Boris Becker

A good attitude to have. With this outlook, life is so much easier. Because if the end result is not always what we had hoped for, we can always say: “Oh well… at least I had fun playing, and I gave it my best shot!” It’s like I’ve said before, it’s not always the goal that bring happiness, but more often the journey.

See also The Journey is the Reward

Life is a Game

Yesterday Johannes had his first day in school after the heart surgery. He wanted me to go with him, so I took the day off from work and helped him get settled in. It went very well. He was beaming when he saw his class mates again. This will do him a lot of good, I thought.

Today he went by himself, but before I went to work, during the school’s morning break, I went over to there (we live next door) just to see that he was happy. And he was. On the way back I passed Isak and his friends in 1st grade. First Isak ran to me and jumped in my arms, and shouted, “Daaaaady!!!” Then the other kids followed. They immediately asked if I wanted to play a game with them. I smiled, partly because I love to play, but partly because I knew that it won’t take many years before our children will do anything to not have their parents show up on school grounds. How embarrassing! So why not seize the opportunity while it is still there. And work? Well… it could wait twenty more minutes. We played tag and all kinds of games I don’t even know the names of. I haven’t run so much in months. When the bell rang I was all sweaty, but happy still. It was great to be a kid again - if only for a few moments.

So… at our jobs today, let’s step away from our computers and work stations for awhile and run around with our colleagues and play tag. If nothing else, it will put a smile on our faces (seeing how silly we all shall look). But, if we are happier at work, we will work harder and better… right? Maybe even a promotion for a new bill for parliament should be in place here: at least one game per day at every place of employment.

I’ll be the first to vote on it.

A Prayer for the Heart (4)

Life is like a tango: two steps forward, and one step back. Overall it’s good to know you’re moving forward, but sometimes you’ll just have those day in between when everything goes backwards. This has been one of those days.

Well… frankly, it’s not entirely true that it’s been full throttle backwards today; Johannes has actually continued to steadily improve physically. But it’s been a very sad day for him mentally, and his mood has fallen way past his bottom level. I don’t think I have ever seen him so depressed. The doctors reassure us that most children his age react this way a few days after surgery. That may be, but natural or not, I still very sorry for him. Beside the great physical discomforts, that he now takes greater notice of, as the drugs slowly leave his system, he has started to vomit quite a bit also.

But the saddest part for him was the bad news we received this morning from our cardiologist after an ultra sound examination of Johannes’ “new” implantation, a contegra. This is like his former homograft but coming from a bull’s neck vein instead of from a human aorta. It turns out that right at the joint of the contegra and the lung artery, where the stitches are, the blood pressure is too high for some reason. And the ultra sound can’t tell us clearly why. One possible cause is that the contegra is to tight in that end. But the only way to know for sure is to perform a heart catheterisation, where a catheter is inserted through a major vein in the groin, leading up to the heart. There they can monitor exactly.

Of course, this is s a good thing to do if you want real answers. The only problem is that they want to do this tomorrow, Thursday afternoon. This means putting Johannes back to sleep again. And he really, really, really does not want to do that. We just need to find a way to help him get through it again. But… it might not stop there. In an open conversation today I told my son that he might have to undergo yet another major operation, should this small surgery tomorrow show a negative result. Upon hearing that, his spirits didn’t exactly cheer up. But I felt I had to tell him, just to prepare him.

Having said all this, however, Angelica and I both feel that things will soon be okay, somehow. A lot of that confidence comes from our faith, but also from the many thoughts and prayers sent our way from our family, and from many of you. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

And while you’re at it, please say an extra prayer tomorrow afternoon.

Warmest regards, Louis

Good Days or Great Days?

The thought of the day comes from Lance Armstrong:

“I take nothing for granted. I now have only good days or great days.”

I like that approach. Perhaps the choices we have are not between good or bad, but between good and great. In other words, with a positive outlook my life will always be good, and with some extra effort it can even be great.

I took this photo an early autumn morning. The sun is just rising, casting its rays on the water and the birch trees. I remember this day. God gave it a great start, and because I wanted it, it became even greater.

For the Endowments of Life

Last week I attended a CES Conference. At one point a friend and colleague gave all the participants a few minutes to write a personal psalm. I’m not a poet, I know, but I was still glad to have a few solitary moments to clear the world from my mind and write these words of gratitude. For the wonders of the earth, I adore Thee For the light in heaven, I see Thee For the glories of thy creations, I admire Thee For the blessing of family, I honor Thee For the companionship of friends, I thank Thee For the power of Thy Word, I worship Thee For the gift of Thy Son, I praise Thee For the Spirit that enlightens me, I follow Thee For all the endowments of life - I love Thee If I were to add (my own) images to my thoughts it could look something like this. For the wonders of the earth, I adore Thee For the light in heaven, I see Thee For the glories of thy creations, I admire Thee For the blessing of family, I honor Thee For the companionship of friends, I thank Thee For the power of Thy Word, I worship Thee For the gift of Thy Son, I praise Thee For the Spirit that enlightens me, I follow Thee For all the endowments of life - I love Thee Comments to some pictures: Nr 4 shows my family; nr 5 shows some colleagues and friends; nr 6 shows a recent baptism in Lodz, Poland, in a ‘home-made’ baptismal font; nr 7 shows one of my Polish Institute students with a painting of Christ in the background.

The Smallest is the Greatest

Today is a planes-trains-and-automobile kind of day. I’m travelling back from a CES job convention in Frankfurt, Germany. At present I am on a train, getting closer to home. But I just spent two hours in an airplane, having a pleasant conversation with a nice lady who shared with me the faith of a Christian.

We talked about everything from religion to education. But a few minutes before landing we both settled in silent awe as we looked out into the night sky and saw the beautiful lights of northern Stockholm below. Expressions were made of how grand the earth was, and how small we are in comparison. Then amazingly, we both started to quote, simultaneously, the well known words in Psalms 8:3-4:

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?

No words can describe the grandeur of God. To me, God’s creation is utterly amazing, yes, but another thought is even more mind-boggling: that He knows who I am; that He knows my name; that He cares for every step I take. So although I am but one of the smallest results of His workmanship, yet I am the greatest.

If this is true about me, what does that say about you?

What Beats a Bedtime Story?

What beats a bedtime story? How about four bedtime stories?

My sons kidnapped me! They wouldn’t let me go. I started with one story (which was our deal), then a second, just to show them I cared. When my time was up, the little terrorists started pressing me. “You’re not a nice daddy if you leave now”; and “We’re going tell mommy that you…” (well, we’ll skip that part…). “Okay”, I answered with faked authority, “but only one more!” Somehow that one became two.

You know, life is big! The universe with all it’s wonders encircle us. Mankind has reached its height in terms of scientific discoveries. Still we’re just getting started. Technology is entertaining us with gadgets to many to number. At this very moment you are sitting here, surfing the net, reading this blog, looking for information, or searching for some kind of happiness through this miraculous world wide web. (Who would have thought it possible a generation ago?)

Still. With all the depths and heights of our existence on earth, few things we experience can match the wonders of a bedtime story moment. No computers, no television, no loud music. Just person to person. Child to parent. Smile to smile. Heart to heart.

What can beat that?

Louis

The Journey is the Reward

Why do we rush through our lives, as if we were in a hurry to get somewhere? Take me anywhere, just not to here! Why so? Sure, I am the first to admit that goals are important in life, but if we don’t take time to look around and enjoy the journey our goals will loose their effect; they are to make us happy now. Today. That is why I like this simple Chinese proverb:

“The Journey is the Reward”

If we enjoy our journey our lives gain meaning. It’s as simple as that. Let’s not think that the only important thing is that celestial glory which awaits us some time faaaaar in the future. Seeing how wonderful this life is, here and now, lets us experience the sparking of that celestial flame in a hearts already today.

A lone driver in an old American car on an old Sweden road, driving slowly. I bet he’s enjoying it!

Enjoy your day!

Louis

Christ Heals Family

One of my duties as a CES Coordinator is to visit teachers and students in their various classes, assisting with administrative matters. Last night, as I met with a class in central Sweden, I spoke at length with the teacher about her recent family tragedy. Her twenty-one year old son had passed away a month ago in a motor accident.

She explained that even though there had been many tears and a feeling of void in their lives, there had still been light - even peace. I asked her how it was possible? She spoke calmly but resolute: “It’s because of Christ.” I thought for a second about others who have expressed similar words, and although I for the most part have little reason to doubt their sincerity, there was something different about this woman. She really meant what she said. I could see it in her countenance; still the same person, yes, but different still.

“How do you mean?” I asked. She explained that she had always believed in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, at least in theory. “But now”, she said, “I know it really works!” Excitement gathered in her eyes as she continued, speaking also for her family: “Even though we have known that Christ has taken all our burdens upon himself, we have never felt it the way we do now. There are no why’s or if’s! Just a peaceful assurance that God is with us, lifting us when our own strength fails us.”

Many times have I felt the power of Jesus’ atonement. His healing power is real, no doubt. But I was still awestruck by the words I heard (and there were many more) last night. In a moment when most people would resort to despair and perhaps fear, this family had opened its heart to God - and was healed.

When we parted she thanked me sincerely for coming. “No problem,” I said, a little ashamed, “but… I should be the one thanking you!” I had come there hoping to give something to this teacher and her family, but I knew it was I who was at the receiving end.

Thank you.

Show Your True Colors

I was captured by some autumn motives today. This is one of them.

When I saw this yellow tree I got what may seem to be a silly thought, but nonetheless…

How does that birch tree feel? I mean, she stands there showing her bright colors, in the middle of everything, sticking out from the rest? Does she feel out of place?

No. It can’t be. Just look at her! See how she stretches towards the sky, how she waves to us with her beautiful color, projecting her branches for all to see.

She wants me to notice her. Here am I, look at me! She shouts it, not because she is proud in thinking she is better than all the other trees, but because she is proud of who she is, and the joy she can give others.

And right now she is moving on. The world around her is clinging to its old ways, but she is taking steps forward, not afraid to change. After all, that’s what her life is all about.

In every way she is showing her true colors.

Are you and I?

It’s a Good Life

Publishing my first blog.

When I thought of a suitable title for my page, I didn’t have to think long. As a matter of fact, I didn’t think at all. It just came to my mind immediately: A Good Life. Whether this was inspiration or just good common sense, it matters not. I just know that this is how I feel, that life is good; that my life is wonderful, although I share much of the same hardships that you face, I’m sure. But I thank God for the every day experiences that mould me to who I am - and can become.

Hence, this will not be a blog where complaints are cast out here and there. Rather, in the name of optimism, my texts will attempt to see the world from a brighter angle. Hopefully these words (and photos) can be of inspiration to someone out there.

Be seeing you, friends

PS. I am trying to figure out this WordPress better. If you have any special tricks for a better looking page, please let me know