ABC news has video footage of a walrus in a Japanese zoo doing sit-ups. I’m not kidding – I watched it.

I’m not sure what bothered me most…that an animal (who depending on if he/she is an Atlantic or Pacific, walrus) weighing from 1,200 lbs to over 3000 lbs could do more sit-ups than I can or that humans find a walrus doing ab crunches entertaining. I was strangely offended FOR the animal. I’d rather see video of him under the ocean where walruses maneuver their gi-normous bodies with ease by propelling themselves along at the comfortable speed of 4.3 mph and know he’s eating anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 clams twice a day. (Walrus facts gathered from seaworld.org)

I like to think about walruses doing walrus stuff.

What does a walrus need with “six-pack” abs anyway? Are the lady walruses in the area impressed? If not, bummer for him. Doing it only for a human trainer’s reward and the applause of human zoo visitors seems like such an empty existence. Sort of like me doing what I do for human approval alone. I feel great when Jon, family, friends, readers, and listeners notice and approve of my work. Their kindnesses feed my soul but it’s not enough.

At the end of each day, what matters most isn’t Jon’s tender praise, Mom & Dad’s sweet pride, or my brother’s confidence that I could do it along (although I treasure their words up in my heart). No…in the deepest place of my soul, it is what God thinks that matters most.

I wish I could put off my discomfort over this video on my genuine love of animals and enjoy the simple biblical truth it brought to mind…but, I think my “bother” is two-fold.

There’s the workout thing. Jon and I walk daily but if I’m going to be honest about it, our walk doesn’t compare to a walrus water workout (they spend 2/3 of their lives in the water and during migration they travel over 1,800 miles) and is not what I need to lose weight for my health’s sake.

I do believe that it’s what God sees and knows that really matters in all things Joy. So the real lesson (and an uncomfortable one it is!) in the walrus workout is what God says about my body being His temple. I can’t erase the image of a walrus in Japan doing sit-ups for a few human laughs. Nor can I escape the truth that an unhealthy body is no laughing matter.

Last night we had an amazing, pesonal church experience. Tomorrow we will celebrate…HE LIVES! My God is not stone or wood - both will oneday be rubble. Nor is He buried in a tomb behind a rock.

Jesus the living Savior sits at the right hand of the Father…and prays for me. His Word says so. One of the last things He did before returning to the Father in what we call the Acension, was to pray for us. (John 17)

One of my favorite verses is Zephiniah 3:17. It says:

The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

What does it sound like when the living God sings?

My friend Bill Monson also loved this verse. As I remember what Jesus did for me…I realize the full impact of Bill’s recent entrance into heaven…He is in the presence of the God who sings! I have thanked God that Bill no longer suffers - his battle with cancer is over. I have also thanked God for Bill’s faith, his smile, and his friendship.

And tomorrow when I sing about my ressurrected Lord…I’ll thank Him Bill is celebrating Easter eternally! I can only imagine what that looks and sounds like. My friend knows first hand.

For God so loved YOU and ME that He gave His only Son! Amazing grace…underserved and freely given.

Oh - thank You Jesus!

Writers study and consider point of view with great care. This last weekend, our four year old grand niece Gracie, taught me a valuable lesson in POV. I had washed and dried her hair. She wanted it curled and was standing very still while I used the curling iron. When I “fluffed” her bangs I asked her to look at me. Obedient, she did and got a strange look on her face.

Then she said, “Auntie, you have spider webs in your nose.”

I missed a teaching experience. I could have shared how my gracious creator God put the hairs in my nose to protect me from incoming dangers carried in the air.

Instead, I laughed. Out loud from my belly…sitting on the edge of the bed doubled over.

Later in the day I watched her playing and a smile crept over her lips. She looked at me and said, “Auntie, you have spider webs in your nose with boogies!”

We both laughed long and loud from our bellies. It felt absolutely wonderful.

I realized she had just edited her first observation adding description. Perhaps one day Gracie will be a writer but I think she has a better chance as a comedian.

Instead of her learning about the importance and value of nose hairs, I learned how to write from a child’s point of view. I think I’ll rise to her level of vision a little more often before I start a days writing. Maybe all I’ll see will be knees and nose hairs. Or something far more valuable - life viewed from the eyes of a child where worms can be your friends, lady bugs are saved and set free, and acorns far more than future trees - they are cute nuts wearing hats!