Growing up, I heard the phrase “It’s just a phase he’s going through.” That, freely interpreted, meant things like “I can’t stand what he is doing either.” Or, “He has tested his father’s and my patience to a point that we are uncertain whether or not to go to church this Sunday.” Or, “Why would anyone dive off the roof into the shallow end of the pool and expect to live?” There are many other examples, which I’m sure many of you can add.

I taught ninth grade for many years. It is time when students are neither child, nor adult, transition time that is truly rough on some parents and children. I’ve had parents come to conferences and ask where their child had gone and what was this “thing” that had replaced him or her. A couple years later they would inform that their child had returned to their body, but was now acting like they should be treated like an adult when they hadn’t made the jump into adult life yet. I spent a lot of time holding parents hands and encouraging them that “This is a phase they are going through.”  I spent time holding the teenagers hands explaining that it was just a phase their parents were going through. You would wonder that saying that about a “phase” to someone else didn’t make my tongue jump out of my head and run for cover.

I have often wondered how the Lord sees these things. Saul/Paul is out running down the Christians, and God says to the angels, “It’s just a phase he is going through.” Had He said it, it would be because Jesus knew what he was going to do, how long it would last, and what the change would mean to the rest of us who have read his love for Jesus in scripture. We don’t have the privilege of that complete knowledge. 

We don’t always have the outcome fully defined. For some diving off the roof is a horrible, even deadly, choice. For some of us, it was the thrill of seeing my mom come out the back door of the house and fall to the ground as I was on the way to the water. Her response was pretty terrifying. Mom’s can really get it done when they want. My mom was no exception. Needless to say it was the last time I visited the neighbor’s roof.

Typically, in whatever phase we or the people around us are in, we can’t see it clearly. I often can’t tell the beginning from the end because I’m in the middle of it. I have much better 20/20 hindsight for me and for others.

There is at least one goal that will work in any phase, at any age. If you want the outcome to be great, good, or far better than you deserve, hang on to Jesus. We know —“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 ESVhttp://bible.com/59/rom.8.28.esv. It is one of those guarantees which has proved true through the entirety of my life so far, so I’m game to keep on trusting Him and it. This guarantee has surpassed all the mistakes I’ve made, all the repentance and apologies I’ve had to make, and all the repentance and apologies I didn’t understand to make. It’s a pretty giant sized promise and a tremendous comfort. We are helped and not helpless.

So how do you introduce yourself and a new blog to strangers and friends? Hello, my name is Harry Joiner. Actually, you are simply meeting the current version of Harry Joiner. It is much improved over older versions due to the ongoing work of redemption, and probably is not the best version, which I expect is yet to come as redemption continues. I am a person in process, thanks to the salvation and ongoing faithfulness of Jesus the Christ.

I gave my life to Christ when I was 20. That is, as of this writing, 48 years ago. I would like to say that all my worst mistakes were before I came to Christ, but I would be misleading you. I’ve made some real doozies since then. I have a natural talent for making mistakes, but Jesus has the greater gift of turning the mistakes around and using my learning and growing for my and others’ benefit. I want this blog to be about how Jesus can work and love on anyone. I hope never to mislead my readers into thinking that I am more than just someone who needs Jesus and has the amazing miracle of being in a relationship with God who came to earth to rescue people like me.

I am a retired teacher. I taught English and can make writing mistakes, which would make you wonder. I am loud and outgoing, as I was genetically disposed to be an extravert. That also means that I get into things and places where wiser people would have avoided. It gives me plenty of opportunity for humility and growth. My writing is likely to span from serious to silly, from thoughtful and thought provoking to cartoon type humor and anything in between.

My hope is that you will always find the writing encouraging. Proverbs says a righteous man falls seven times, but gets up again. The part about getting up is the tender hand of a loving God who puts you back on your feet. That is my hope for this blog, that you would see that tender hand.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton