SecondIron's Blog

Sharpening Iron to Live Second

On the Edge of Darkness, Just be Held

Does it seem darker than before? How do you get the strength to go on? Feeling like you are drowning yet you raise your head and find the inner power to continue to push through. As a husband, there are certain roles that you assume. Provider, comforter, healer, leader, I could go on and on. We believe we are to hold it all together no matter what. Then comes that moment in time, where the sands slip through our fingers, and we begin to lose our grip. Fear and anxiety that we put our parents through as kids become a reality in that moment, as we lose control. Whether it is a spouse or child, you can be brought to your knees in an instant. One moment you are complacently going through your daily routines. Suddenly your life is turned upside down, and you are rocked to your core, no longer having control. My wife and I have not been blessed with children. I witnessed the stripping of all my power as illness took over her life. In a moment we went from our daily routines to feeling like we were barely breathing. Days and nights blended as I remained at her bedside. Every needle and pill she experienced pierced my helpless heart. I painstakingly watched as the doctors treated my wife more like a number than a person. All dignity and humanity were taken away as they tirelessly tried to find a label or condition to put on her. Our home was empty in […]

In the Calm of the Storm, after Matthew

For the first time in many years as a Floridian, a last week’s hurricane made our city nervous. It is rare that hurricanes impact our little part of Florida. Jacksonville, our city lies, tucked away in the northeastern part of the state, we are usually protected. Last week on October 7th, the First Coast prepared for what looked to be a catastrophic event, it’s name was Mathew. After seeing the devastation left in its wake in Haiti. Our city began to prepare for the worst case scenario of a direct impact. Evacuations were ordered, store shelves emptied. The closer Matthew got to our coast the more time I spent circling my house and neighborhood in prayer. In times of despair and worry, we tend to turn to prayer as our salvation. Perhaps if we turn to Him in times of peace and tranquility, he will listen more carefully to our prayers. Wind and rain picked up, waves crashed ashore. Images of Matthew’s wrath covered the headlines of every channel. Fear was evident as the forecasters spoke of our imminent doom. Covering our home in prayer for protection, we chose to stay and see what the storm might bring. Flooding, downed trees, power outtakes, history washed away while other remnants washed ashore. Homes and roadways turned to rubble. As Matthew weakened and turned to the north, we began to breathe a sigh of relief. Our comfort took over as we thought the worst had passed. My wife and I sat down and started to watch a […]

What is your real name?

When we are born into this world, we are given a name. Many will keep that name their entire lives, yet never own their identity. What if your name is not your real one? Like Saul who spent many years with contempt for Christians changed his name to Paul. In actuality, he never changed his name, but God gave him his real name. It took him to break, and admit his flaws, only then had he earned his real name. We live our lives wounded by others and accepted it as our identity. Perhaps it was your dad calling you “stupid, weak or sissy.” Or your “friends” that bullied you into a false personality. We are marked by people’s opinions, and they scar us, many times for life. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 In defense, we give up our real identity. We protect ourselves by a false worldly view. As an imposter, we live out our lives living a lie. No longer do we recognize ourselves. Our ego takes over, we attach labels to ourselves to hide behind. Speaker, Writer, Blogger, entrepreneur, the list goes on. Labels we hide behind,  identities that hide the real you. Who are you? Whatever appellation you go by. God sees through all the false fronts. You may create a new persona that your online world sees. Or perhaps even a facade that even your closest of friends think is […]