The human condition is a marvel to me.
I was thinking today about how, day to day, things can be very routine, but in that routine, we can experience an infinite number of thoughts and emotions.
Take my day today, for instance. I got out of bed at roughly the same time I usually do on a weekday. I slept fine, as far as I know. I hadn't gone to bed angry with anyone. I didn't doze off thinking that life was particularly difficult. But when I woke up this morning...
I wasn't angry with my wife, just to clear that thought from your head, nor was she angry with me. I just wasn't "feeling it" today. My motivation to do anything productive was hovering around zero, my confidence that I was capable of doing anything productive was at approximately the same level. I had a bazillion things to get done today but I was having a hard time convincing myself that I would do a passable job on any given task.
The amazing part of all of this is that there is the potential that tomorrow, I will be ready to charge the gates of Hell with a water pistol. And nothing significant will change from today to tomorrow.
We (at least I) am so prone to listen to the crazy thoughts and insecurities that dart through our head. Sometimes they tell us that we are wonderful; other times...not so wonderful. If we let them, the voices can dictate how we live our life and what we give our self to. We can ride the roller coaster of emotion and fear and doubt as well as the positive dreams and desires until we don't truly understand who we are.
Here's what I lean on. God's love never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He doesn't get caught up in my junk. He is solid. That gives me hope.
Peace.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Kindness
Big gets attention. Small makes a difference.
I don't know that I fully agree with that statement, but I needed a big opening to get your attention. If I had started with something like "Kindness is one of the most undervalued and neglected attributes when it comes to bringing in the Kingdom of God", you might have stopped right there. (Maybe you stopped after the opening...humor me and keep reading!).
I was thinking about kindness today and what a big deal it is when people are kind. It might be just a smile or an offer of a helping hand but, as cheesy as it sounds, it really can have an effect on others. And it doesn't cost much to be kind.
We can take mission trips and speak to auditoriums packed with people and that is all great. We can endeavor to do "great things" for Jesus and I am all for that. More than these though, I am for speaking a kind word, whether to strangers or to your family. I am for offering to help when you have the ability. I am for looking for the bright spots and bringing light to a dark situation.
Kindness is listed in the Bible with love,joy, peace, patience...the big ones. How often do you ask God to help you be kind?
Maybe it's time to take another look at kindness and ask for enough of it to give away every day.
Peace.
I don't know that I fully agree with that statement, but I needed a big opening to get your attention. If I had started with something like "Kindness is one of the most undervalued and neglected attributes when it comes to bringing in the Kingdom of God", you might have stopped right there. (Maybe you stopped after the opening...humor me and keep reading!).
I was thinking about kindness today and what a big deal it is when people are kind. It might be just a smile or an offer of a helping hand but, as cheesy as it sounds, it really can have an effect on others. And it doesn't cost much to be kind.
We can take mission trips and speak to auditoriums packed with people and that is all great. We can endeavor to do "great things" for Jesus and I am all for that. More than these though, I am for speaking a kind word, whether to strangers or to your family. I am for offering to help when you have the ability. I am for looking for the bright spots and bringing light to a dark situation.
Kindness is listed in the Bible with love,joy, peace, patience...the big ones. How often do you ask God to help you be kind?
Maybe it's time to take another look at kindness and ask for enough of it to give away every day.
Peace.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Beginnings
I decided that I am going to write more in 2011. I know, I know, I have said that before and then I write for one day straight and nothing happens again for three months. This is a bit different. I am determined to put something on my blog once a day. That means that this could be the most random blog on Al Gore's Internet. The Lord only knows what might be put on this space with a once a day post.
I am already a day behind for the year and we are only two days in. That's not the greatest start. We'll just pick up from here and move forward.
Hold on to your drinks because I am headed for a rapid change of subject.
I am reading Douglas Adams book "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", a book given to me by my wife for Christmas. Years ago I had listened to the BBC Radio broadcast years ago and loved it but I had never read the book. This year I came across a list of the 100 books that everyone should read (or something like that) and this book was on it.
I don't know that it is a book for everyone. I really like it, but I think it's because I came in with an idea of the story. I think it would be a little tough to follow if you are coming into it with no idea what to expect. It is very creative and some of the writing is unbelievable. I would like someday to be able to write like Douglas Adams. Maybe not the same content, but the ability to string words together into a beautiful tapestry or to convey a thought in a memorable phrase.
Stay tuned. We'll see how this little experiment plays out.
Peace.
I am already a day behind for the year and we are only two days in. That's not the greatest start. We'll just pick up from here and move forward.
Hold on to your drinks because I am headed for a rapid change of subject.
I am reading Douglas Adams book "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", a book given to me by my wife for Christmas. Years ago I had listened to the BBC Radio broadcast years ago and loved it but I had never read the book. This year I came across a list of the 100 books that everyone should read (or something like that) and this book was on it.
I don't know that it is a book for everyone. I really like it, but I think it's because I came in with an idea of the story. I think it would be a little tough to follow if you are coming into it with no idea what to expect. It is very creative and some of the writing is unbelievable. I would like someday to be able to write like Douglas Adams. Maybe not the same content, but the ability to string words together into a beautiful tapestry or to convey a thought in a memorable phrase.
Stay tuned. We'll see how this little experiment plays out.
Peace.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Mystery
"I just want to know", she said.
"I know," he replied.
"Why, you know. That's what I want to know, why."
"I know".
"And how...my god, how does something like that happen? How does it happen?"
"I don't know."
"Who else knows about it? Do you know?"
"No."
I have been mulling over the thought of mystery lately. From the trivial question of who ate the last cookie to the life question of why is my life the way it is, mystery is at every turn. There is so much that we don't know. There is so much that we can't know. We can study and read and pray and talk but at the end of the day, we have to come to the place where life is a mystery.
We're not good with mystery. We don't like to not know. Whether it is why or how or what happens now, it is imperative that we get to the bottom of the situation and get things figured out. God forbid that there is a little mystery in your life.
But life is full of mystery. We don't get all the answers and when we do get answers, they are not necessarily the ones we wanted. Mystery is that place where we trust that God is good, He is for us and He sees the purpose and the end of what is happening.
The first part of this post was going to be a prompt for people to go off of and let me know what you think is happening in the scene. It's not that now. What is happening will remain a mystery known only to the creator (that's me!). I know what is going on and how it will play out. All of your thoughts are only speculation at this point. You will have to trust that it will end well.
Kind of like life.
Peace.
"I know," he replied.
"Why, you know. That's what I want to know, why."
"I know".
"And how...my god, how does something like that happen? How does it happen?"
"I don't know."
"Who else knows about it? Do you know?"
"No."
I have been mulling over the thought of mystery lately. From the trivial question of who ate the last cookie to the life question of why is my life the way it is, mystery is at every turn. There is so much that we don't know. There is so much that we can't know. We can study and read and pray and talk but at the end of the day, we have to come to the place where life is a mystery.
We're not good with mystery. We don't like to not know. Whether it is why or how or what happens now, it is imperative that we get to the bottom of the situation and get things figured out. God forbid that there is a little mystery in your life.
But life is full of mystery. We don't get all the answers and when we do get answers, they are not necessarily the ones we wanted. Mystery is that place where we trust that God is good, He is for us and He sees the purpose and the end of what is happening.
The first part of this post was going to be a prompt for people to go off of and let me know what you think is happening in the scene. It's not that now. What is happening will remain a mystery known only to the creator (that's me!). I know what is going on and how it will play out. All of your thoughts are only speculation at this point. You will have to trust that it will end well.
Kind of like life.
Peace.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Inspired
I heard a story on the radio the other day and I don't remember many details but it caused me to think about inspiration. The story was about a man who had a stammer when he spoke and this man was inspired by King George the Sixth of England, who also stuttered when he spoke. That is all I can recall about the radio story.
It caused me to start thinking about inspiration. I don't know if King George ever knew that he inspired this man who obviously went on to do enough with his life that he was featured in an NPR radio broadcast. It caused me to think about people who have inspired me and if they knew they had done so. It caused me to think about people that I have possibly inspired, for better or for worse, I might add.
It's a strange thing, inspiration. How does it work? When does it strike? How do some people inspire others so easily? Is it a conscience decision to "be an inspiration" or does it just happen?
I don't know that I have answers. Maybe a few more posts on inspiration are in order. For now though, I want to know a few things from you.
Who has been your inspiration? Do they know they have inspired you? What if you let them know?
Who are you inspiring? How are you doing it? What are you inspiring them to?
Can't wait to hear from you.
Peace.
It caused me to start thinking about inspiration. I don't know if King George ever knew that he inspired this man who obviously went on to do enough with his life that he was featured in an NPR radio broadcast. It caused me to think about people who have inspired me and if they knew they had done so. It caused me to think about people that I have possibly inspired, for better or for worse, I might add.
It's a strange thing, inspiration. How does it work? When does it strike? How do some people inspire others so easily? Is it a conscience decision to "be an inspiration" or does it just happen?
I don't know that I have answers. Maybe a few more posts on inspiration are in order. For now though, I want to know a few things from you.
Who has been your inspiration? Do they know they have inspired you? What if you let them know?
Who are you inspiring? How are you doing it? What are you inspiring them to?
Can't wait to hear from you.
Peace.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Yet again
Once again, it has been over a month since the last posting here. I seem to find myself caught up between wanting to write, and write well, and wondering who is reading and who am I writing for. (As a side note, I think everyone I have talked with who is an aspiring writer has had these same thoughts.)
I suppose, when it all comes down, that I am writing for myself and when I don't write, it is out of fear...fear of being "wrong", fear of not writing well, fear of putting thoughts out there that might confirm that I am not "normal".
It is amazing the power that fear can wield. No one has told me that I am wrong or don't write well. No one has said "I wish you would stop writing because you are way off and I don't like your style". It is an internal voice that persuades me that things are not going to work out the way I want them to. It can be paralyzing.
My mother once told me that she thought I was a perfectionist. I thought she had missed it because things don't have to be perfect for me (check out my college transcript if you doubt me!). She explained that I was a perfectionist in that, if I didn't think I would be very good at something, I would just walk away from it. I would be done with it and not even give it a second thought.
For me, perfectionism is the same thing as fear. No one gets everything right all the time. NO ONE! I know this and still, I hesitate. I hedge. I talk myself out of opportunities and dreams because...well, because. Fear slips in and continues to back me away from things that God may have laid in front of me.
I am working on it. I have several irons in the fire that could become reality and they scare me a bit. I am doing my best to trust God and His hand on my life. I am asking Him for boldness believing that He will answer.
Peace.
I suppose, when it all comes down, that I am writing for myself and when I don't write, it is out of fear...fear of being "wrong", fear of not writing well, fear of putting thoughts out there that might confirm that I am not "normal".
It is amazing the power that fear can wield. No one has told me that I am wrong or don't write well. No one has said "I wish you would stop writing because you are way off and I don't like your style". It is an internal voice that persuades me that things are not going to work out the way I want them to. It can be paralyzing.
My mother once told me that she thought I was a perfectionist. I thought she had missed it because things don't have to be perfect for me (check out my college transcript if you doubt me!). She explained that I was a perfectionist in that, if I didn't think I would be very good at something, I would just walk away from it. I would be done with it and not even give it a second thought.
For me, perfectionism is the same thing as fear. No one gets everything right all the time. NO ONE! I know this and still, I hesitate. I hedge. I talk myself out of opportunities and dreams because...well, because. Fear slips in and continues to back me away from things that God may have laid in front of me.
I am working on it. I have several irons in the fire that could become reality and they scare me a bit. I am doing my best to trust God and His hand on my life. I am asking Him for boldness believing that He will answer.
Peace.
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