Learning Along The Way

Learning to Walk

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1530455_567223723366141_300730910_nSometimes, not all the time, but sometimes, LIFE is HARD.

There I said it for you. For me. Our definition of hard may not be the same. No Matter. Hard is hard.

What we do with that reality tells a lot about us. Do we complain? (my worst character flaw) Do we whine? (another of my problems) Or do we learn to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called?

We can change you know.  Not always our circumstances. But always our response to our circumstances.

I am encouraging myself here folks.  When I spend an excessive amount of time navel gazing I find myself mired in self-pity and full of whining & complaining (twins born of the same toxic ilk!)

I really am a female version of the Apostle Peter. Impetuous. Loud. Speaking before thinking. And looking at Jesus then looking away and down at my circumstances. Every once in a while it’s good to lift up my head, look around and consider the realities, not my perceptions.

The result? A made – new perspective. Counting gifts, paying attention to others’ real needs, stepping out of myself and serving others, all help me to get my focus off my own issues and aware of the greater needs around me.

Today’s photo comes from a community of people who are risking for and trusting God in authenticity; in the middle of very real life challenges.  Cancer. Abuse. Dark nights of the Soul.

Reading about their journeys may help you in yours. It certainly has helped me.

As you go about this Sabbath day, be reminded of a few vital truths as a Christ-follower: He is well acquainted with suffering; He told us we will have tribulation in this world, and He has overcome it; we have the opportunity to share in the fellowship of His sufferings; He will never leave you or forget you; His Holy Spirit is in you and He is your Comforter and Strength.

If you are struggling to believe any of these things, let’s talk.  My prayer for you today is that you are

Learning to walk…

30 Days of Giving #8: Laugh

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Gloucester Cathedral doorThe year I turned 50 was not a year full of reasons to laugh.  My life sounded a bit like a country song: my mom died, my dog died, my dad died. And my only brother and I stopped speaking. Blegh. Tim McGraw? Brad Paisley?

But someone understood exactly what I needed to do.  She not only brought a casserole, she gave me a reminder that I could look at daily.

laughMy dear friend Sue gave me the wood cut out for Christmas that year. She is one person who knows how to do that well.

Sue consistently points out both the light-hearted things in life and asks me to think about what God has to say on the subject.

Today Sue and her siblings and as much of the Moore family who could travel, gathered to honor the life of wife, mom, and grandma, the woman who never knew a stranger. Sue’s mom passed away in her sleep two weeks shy of her 95th birthday.  Now that’s a long life.  Betty Moore was generous, hospitable and loved to laugh.  All traits she passed down to her 5 children.

What a gift to give to the next generation: laughter.

Don’t take yourself too seriously.  Take time to laugh everyday.  Even better laugh at yourself.  If your anything like me there are humorous moments in everyday.

I’m sure there was laughter today hearing stories of family escapades. Remember the time…?

SueIf you haven’t already been reading Sue’s blog, you can find her encouraging and laughing at welcomeheart.  A shared recipe, a story well told and laughter.  Now that’s a good friend.

 

30 Days of Giving #5 Perspective

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Gloucester Cathedral doorHunting through digital photos is a sure path down Memory Lane. I am so thankful for iPhoto and its way of organizing for me by events. Of course I have to title and remember said event but it’s a start.

I am recognizing something about life from this side of half century: Perspective is Everything.

Some of you have already come to that party years ago, or maybe, just maybe, you haven’t arrived yet. So I will give you some of mine. Sharing is a skill we were supposed to learn in Kindergarten, right?

I found this picture last evening…Aralia KitchenIt makes me smile. I told my husband a while back that I am no longer in my pink phase. I bet you can guess from this photo what phase I have moved into now.

What does this have to do with sharing perspective? Bear with me…

I took this picture this morningphoto(61)

 

I’m sure you can see the similarities. The differences? A year later and two different kitchens.

I’m sure you can see the similarities. The differences? A year later and two different kitchens.  If you’ve been stopping by for awhile you know life changed radically this year for us. All good things but radical change.

Change is hard, but change is good.

Perspective is everything.

Why do I say that? Better yet How can I say that?

I am reminded every time I start to feel the “woe is me” mindset creeping into my thoughts of so many ways life could be drastically different:

death of a loved one

loss of a job

estranged family

loss of health

homelessness

mental illness

out of control debt

divorce

chronic pain

and the list can go on and on and on.

Perspective is everything.

A dear friend, and former youth pastor of our sons, has said on occasion “I want to glance at my circumstances and gaze at Christ.”

Now there is a dose of perspective.

Glance. Look at something briefly.

Gaze. Look steadily, intently, focused.

This is the perspective I give you today. Glance at your circumstances whatever they may be.

Gaze at Jesus. Through His creation (that’s everywhere). Through His Word (steadily, intently, focused)

Come back tomorrow for more in my personal challenge of 30 Days of Giving.

 

Perspective

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Ever have one of those days when you want somebody to feel sorry for you?

Yesterday I was ready to have a pity party.  I thought about sending out invitations so others could join in.  It wasn’t a particularly bad day or anything, I was just feeling sorry for myself.  It was hot (90 degrees) and I had to ride my bike home (3 miles).
The distance on the hot day was almost enough to keep me from getting on the bike to go home.  But I am really trying to honor my commitment to myself; I am attempting to be a serious bicycle commuter.  I have to remind myself of the benefits: exercise, saving money, getting to be outdoors, getting stronger as a cyclist…there are lots of benefits, really.

Back to my pity party (it’s all about me you know!) So there I was, time to go home from work and reminding myself of the benefits and the fact that no one in my family would be available to pick me up anyway.  I got on the bike and rode 4 blocks to the Jennifer Street Bridge, which spans the railroad tracks I need to cross to get home.  The bridge has switchback ramps that allow bikes to be ridden over but you have to be careful at the turns, watching out for others coming from the opposite direction.  

As I neared the bottom on the other side, I could see two women chatting so I slowed down even more.  By the time I made the last turn they had finished their conversation and started out on their runs down the lovely running/cycling trail.  They weren’t together; one had started out ahead of the other woman at a faster pace.

The second woman was the one who caught my attention.

She was starting out on her run too, but a little more slowly.  She was an amp runner.  Her leg was fitted with the same state of the art device as the runner from South Africa, Oscar Pistorius,  who ran in the Olympics.

As I was coming alongside to pass her on my bike, I wanted to say something, acknowledging her presence on the trail, but just saying Hi seemed not enough considering the effort she was putting out.  So instead I called out “You go girl!” with a thumbs up.

It was 90 degrees in the middle of the day and she was going on her run.  Suddenly my pity party came to a screeching halt.  I was blessed with perspective at that moment.  All of my whining and complaining looked so foolish in a blink of an eye.  I was glad I hadn’t sent out invitations to my pity party after all.

I love how quietly God will draw my attention away from my minor issues to give me eyes to see someone with real issues.  But she wasn’t feeling sorry for herself.  She was cheerful and working to overcome challenge in spite of the weather and physical limitations.  She called out to me, “have a nice day”, and I thought, how dare I not have a nice day?

Perspective.  What challenge is in your day today?  One piece of encouragement that I have gleaned from Scripture is that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  This part of God’s Word reminds me that the Creator of the Universe, Who spoke things into existence, lives in me and through His strength I am able to do all things.  Including riding my bike 3 miles in 90 degree heat!

I don’t know that sweet woman’s spiritual condition, but her countenance was full of joy and her actions were full of perseverance and determination.  Seeing her running did not make me feel sorry for her at all.  Actually I was quite inspired to do what I can physically and at the same time humbled for my ungrateful attitude.

Perspective is everything.  When you want to have a pity party, wait to send out the invitations.  Gain some perspective instead.

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