Debbie W. Wilson

Refreshing Faith

Are You Sabotaging Your Success?

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I made a shocking discovery about myself this week. In Made to Stick, Dan and Chip Health tell the story of a third grade teacher who wanted to erase prejudice in her students. Martin Luther King, Jr. had just been assassinated. This teacher wondered how she could help her class really grasp the tragedy of prejudice.

One morning she told her class that brown eyes were better than blue. She moved all the blue-eyed students to the back of the room. They had to wear collars so they could be recognized from a distance. Brown eyes were given a longer recess.

By: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District

Friendships immediately dissolved as brown-eyed children shunned their blue-eyed peers. One child even asked her how she could be the teacher since she had “them blue eyes.” The next day, she told the class that she’d made a mistake. Blue eyes were superior to brown. The blue-eyed children squealed with delight and ran to put their collars around their brown-eyed classmates.

The teacher noticed something else. That day the blue-eyed children were faster on their spelling drill

“Why were you so slow yesterday?” she asked.Continue Reading

Oklahoma Tornado and the Question of Suffering

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The devastating tornado in Oklahoma ripped open the hearts of those affected as surely as it tore apart their homes. A man turns to stare at a pile of rubble, “I finished paying off my house last week. I’m lucky though, my family is safe. But I lost everything else—including three animals.”

But the young family who ran for safety—and didn’t make it—the death of children, spouses…are incomprehensible losses.

The tornado was the most massive loss last week, but not the only one. I received three emails concerning different people’s deaths. Another friend with cancer called in hospice.

Why, why all this suffering? I know the theological answer. Suffering is the Siamese twin of sin. Sin cursed the world, and so we—nature included—groan, waiting for our redemption.

I want more.Continue Reading

When People Are a Challenge

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“I knew I wanted to be a doctor from the time I was young. I still enjoy the medical aspect, but people are a challenge. I can tell what kind of day I’m going to have by the names on my appointment book.”

Do you understand my doctor’s words? I do, and so does Jesus. That is why His words to Peter are relevant today.

After His resurrection Jesus had a special exchange with Peter that supplies three lessons for those who deal with people.

“So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’

Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’” (Jn. 21:15, NIV).

  1. Jesus fed and served Peter and the disciples before He addressed the motivation to serve. Those who minister well are first fed by Jesus. Have you let Jesus feed you today? We’ve discussed this before, just a reminder.
  2. The motivation to care for others comes from my relationship with Christ, not my affection for people.

Jesus knew Peter loved Him and wanted to serve Him, but He also knew working with people can be a challenge. They are in your corner one moment and against you the next. Often they need our care the most when they are the least likable (think sick, grumpy, stressed, or insecure). If Peter was to represent Christ in the world he couldn’t draw his motivation from the people he shepherded. He had to draw it from his relationship with Christ.Continue Reading

Battling Chocolate (Temptation)

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Halloween candy goes on sale this week. Before you snatch up your favorites, beware of the monster you may unleash. Here’s my recent battle with temptation.

Somebody knew women who like china, love chocolate and placed my favorite treat among housewares. I picked up the 14.1 ounce Swiss chocolate bar and remembered its smooth taste. “I’ll buy it for you?” my friend said. “Absolutely not!” I put it back and walked away, but the temptation had taken root. I ambled back to look at the fat grams, 12 grams per serving. Ridiculous. Who eats just one serving? I walked away.

I discovered this chocolate on a mission trip in Europe. The music of that experience played in my mind. In those days this candy was rare in America. I could save it for when I really wanted chocolate.

The check-out clerk said he had never seen such a big chocolate bar. Good, I thought. It must be fresh.Continue Reading

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