It's too far.
It's too long.
It's not long enough.
It's too cold.
It's too wet.
It's too dry.
It's too hot.
In the last 72 hours, I've heard so many complaints. This isn't right. That isn't right. He did this. She did that. They won't go here. I can't go there.
Really?
I once measured the distance between two locations. I found out that it's the same distance from point A to point B as it is from point B to point A.
I also found out that if it's 70 degrees outside, it's warmer than 60, and cooler than 80.
I even checked to see if snow will create moisture, and just as I thought, when the snow melted, it turned to water. Wow.
Things don't turn out the way we want. It's just how life goes. We do with what we have in a way in which we have it. For example, wash your car and it will rain, unless you want the rain for your flowers, and then it won't rain for two weeks. Route a trip and you'll end up finding every bump and pothole in the road. Take a "better and faster route" and you'll get stuck in traffic.
I had a goal of 100 pounds lost by this next week. It's not going to happen, but I don't care. I'm very happy with where I am and the progress that I'm continuing to make to get to the 100 pound mark. If I really wanted to complain, I'd gripe that my shoes are loose or that I have to get more smaller-sized clothing. Sheesh - of all the things to complain about.
Day in and day out, people want to "trump" an ailment. If you have a cold, they have a flu. If you have a sore hand, they have a sore arm. I knew of a couple of old ladies who would go back and forth with the "I'm worse than you", to the point of tying up the doctor's office and sometimes an ambulance. Unfortunately, it finally ended when one of the ladies passed away. I guess the other lady couldn't trump that one.
Some people who are close to me have been facing some issues. Each person has asked that it remains private, but what I can say is that the courage that they have had as they faced their issues is something that is quite remarkable. There hasn't been any "whining" or "moaning". There has only been straight out, honest, open conversations. And from these conversations I've learned and grown more and more each time.
Take a look around, and count your blessings. Stop complaining, because everyone knows that you'll only complain about the opposite. Enjoy what you have, because you could have less. Pray for those who are in need, because they may need the strength. Pray for yourself, that you have the heart to be the person who is caring enough for others.
Enjoy life, because it's all you've got.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Your words flow from your heart - and a few streams are pretty muddy.
This past week as seen it's share of trials and heartache... The explosives at the Boston Marathon. Earthquakes in Iran and China. The plant explosion in West.
This week has also seen "heros" emerge from the crowds... People running into a situation to help victims. Communities coming together to assist people they've never met and might not ever see again. Expressions of love and caring from all around the world.
This past week has also seen way too much hatred.
I wish that I could focus on whatever hatred or pain the Massachusetts terrorists may have been feeling. I wish that a focus could stay in one place, reliving any confusion or pain. But not this week, again.
As I watched the social media light up with all sorts of finger-pointing and accusations, as well as every news outlet trying to get the "better scoop" (for example, one outlet was going to interview the relative of the neighbor of the boat owner - that might be a little far fetched).
People tossing wads of vomit about Muslims or the Islamic faith. But the terrorists were extremists. For example, after the Okahoma City attack some years ago, no one ever talked about "the Catholics" or "the Republicans" (Tim McVay was both). I don't recall near the hype about the NRA back then either (Tim McVay was a member).
People throwing crap-pies about what they thought they saw. First, if you don't understand what's happening, then why fight a battle in which you know you'll lose? For example, there was talk about how the government "must have" known something because there were bomb-sniffing dogs around the Marathon finish line. Yeah, and...? So what if there were dogs? It has been the common scene since 2001. And for those who ague that the dogs couldn't pick up a scent... well, it was a pressure cooker. Have you ever seen one explode in a kitchen? If so, was there explosives being cooked?
People shoveling manure on assumptions. Whether you like the government or not, or whether you like the President or not, how can people point fingers at a baby? The 19-year old was a baby when he and his family came to the United States. And how was it Pres. Obama's fault? I haven't heard a word about Pres. Bush yet (he was the President when the family immigrated).
Here's an idea - instead of feeding into the hype, crap, junk, lies, and hate, how about we stop and pray for everyone affected by all that has happened around the world? How about we give thanks for what we are blessed with? How about we face facts, like our own, and learn to stop the hate and promote the love and caring that has been more evident this past week (trust me, it's there - you just have to open your heart).
Stop the hatred, racism, ugly, or whatever else causing division.
Start loving - plant a tree in honor or memory of someone. Buy a stranger's lunch. Hold a door open. Smile at people. Pet a dog. Cuddle a cat. Hold a baby. Whatever.
Just love.
This week has also seen "heros" emerge from the crowds... People running into a situation to help victims. Communities coming together to assist people they've never met and might not ever see again. Expressions of love and caring from all around the world.
This past week has also seen way too much hatred.
I wish that I could focus on whatever hatred or pain the Massachusetts terrorists may have been feeling. I wish that a focus could stay in one place, reliving any confusion or pain. But not this week, again.
As I watched the social media light up with all sorts of finger-pointing and accusations, as well as every news outlet trying to get the "better scoop" (for example, one outlet was going to interview the relative of the neighbor of the boat owner - that might be a little far fetched).
People tossing wads of vomit about Muslims or the Islamic faith. But the terrorists were extremists. For example, after the Okahoma City attack some years ago, no one ever talked about "the Catholics" or "the Republicans" (Tim McVay was both). I don't recall near the hype about the NRA back then either (Tim McVay was a member).
People throwing crap-pies about what they thought they saw. First, if you don't understand what's happening, then why fight a battle in which you know you'll lose? For example, there was talk about how the government "must have" known something because there were bomb-sniffing dogs around the Marathon finish line. Yeah, and...? So what if there were dogs? It has been the common scene since 2001. And for those who ague that the dogs couldn't pick up a scent... well, it was a pressure cooker. Have you ever seen one explode in a kitchen? If so, was there explosives being cooked?
People shoveling manure on assumptions. Whether you like the government or not, or whether you like the President or not, how can people point fingers at a baby? The 19-year old was a baby when he and his family came to the United States. And how was it Pres. Obama's fault? I haven't heard a word about Pres. Bush yet (he was the President when the family immigrated).
Here's an idea - instead of feeding into the hype, crap, junk, lies, and hate, how about we stop and pray for everyone affected by all that has happened around the world? How about we give thanks for what we are blessed with? How about we face facts, like our own, and learn to stop the hate and promote the love and caring that has been more evident this past week (trust me, it's there - you just have to open your heart).
Stop the hatred, racism, ugly, or whatever else causing division.
Start loving - plant a tree in honor or memory of someone. Buy a stranger's lunch. Hold a door open. Smile at people. Pet a dog. Cuddle a cat. Hold a baby. Whatever.
Just love.
Monday, April 15, 2013
It's a brand new (Mon)Day... Pass the chips!
Mondays - a day feared by many, a day loathed by some, a day of unwanted miseries for a few.
And it only gets worse if you let it.
The last week has been stressful for me... lining up appointments all the way through summer, getting this paperwork and that form filled out. Watching the pile of mail build on my desk, like a strange alien calling out "read me!"
But my Mondays are a "bright" day for me - or at least they should be. See, Monday's are part of my time off. A day when I should be resting, reflecting, and maybe even doing some housework in between (but I did say "maybe". LOL). Monday's are a day when I can sit back (probably more than I should) and think about how my week has gone, and how I'm going to possibly (possibly!) conquer my new week.
I've found that the more someone worries, frets, and throws a fit about something, the less will be resolved. If I worry about getting the dishes done, I tend not to do them. If I fret about how I'll get something accomplished, I'll make myself sick. If I throw a fit about how I didn't get this or that taken care of, I still won't get this or that done.
I set a goal last May - that I would lose 100 pounds in a year.
I've got two weeks to drop around 30 pounds if I'm going to make that goal.
Being realistic, I'm not going to lose 15 pounds a week - that is truly asking way too much. But also being realistic, I have to ask myself how I feel now versus a year ago. I can't worry. I can't fret. I can't throw a fit.
A year ago, it killed me to walk out of my driveway. And my driveway is downhill. Now, I'll do the driveway AND 2 miles around the town in 10 minutes under my time a year ago.
A year ago, I fought like heck to get some clothes to fit me. I'd suck in my gut to get my shirt to fit better, only to have lost brain cells due to the lack of oxygen from holding my breath for too long. Now, my "problem" is seeing if I've got another hole in my belt so my pants don't slip off, or finding something that fits me because it would be way too big.
A year ago, I would "breath" when I talk. Listening to a recording of myself, you could hear each huff and puff as I would be sorting through my Sermon notes or speaking during a meeting. Now, if I huff and puff, it's because I ran that much further this time and pushed myself to gain more endurance.
Don't let me mislead you. This past year hasn't always been a "walk in the park". As a matter of fact, the City Park serves as a reminder to me of where I'd always to try to call it quits, but knew that I had to 3/4 of a mile to go if I wanted to get home, and now I hardly ever stop at the Park for a rest - don't need it. The struggles have been many, the joys have been few, but the main joy of being healthier far outweighs any issue, struggle, or obstacle that comes my way.
I should go now. Maybe I'll get some housework done.
Maybe.
And it only gets worse if you let it.
The last week has been stressful for me... lining up appointments all the way through summer, getting this paperwork and that form filled out. Watching the pile of mail build on my desk, like a strange alien calling out "read me!"
But my Mondays are a "bright" day for me - or at least they should be. See, Monday's are part of my time off. A day when I should be resting, reflecting, and maybe even doing some housework in between (but I did say "maybe". LOL). Monday's are a day when I can sit back (probably more than I should) and think about how my week has gone, and how I'm going to possibly (possibly!) conquer my new week.
I've found that the more someone worries, frets, and throws a fit about something, the less will be resolved. If I worry about getting the dishes done, I tend not to do them. If I fret about how I'll get something accomplished, I'll make myself sick. If I throw a fit about how I didn't get this or that taken care of, I still won't get this or that done.
I set a goal last May - that I would lose 100 pounds in a year.
I've got two weeks to drop around 30 pounds if I'm going to make that goal.
Being realistic, I'm not going to lose 15 pounds a week - that is truly asking way too much. But also being realistic, I have to ask myself how I feel now versus a year ago. I can't worry. I can't fret. I can't throw a fit.
A year ago, it killed me to walk out of my driveway. And my driveway is downhill. Now, I'll do the driveway AND 2 miles around the town in 10 minutes under my time a year ago.
A year ago, I fought like heck to get some clothes to fit me. I'd suck in my gut to get my shirt to fit better, only to have lost brain cells due to the lack of oxygen from holding my breath for too long. Now, my "problem" is seeing if I've got another hole in my belt so my pants don't slip off, or finding something that fits me because it would be way too big.
A year ago, I would "breath" when I talk. Listening to a recording of myself, you could hear each huff and puff as I would be sorting through my Sermon notes or speaking during a meeting. Now, if I huff and puff, it's because I ran that much further this time and pushed myself to gain more endurance.
Don't let me mislead you. This past year hasn't always been a "walk in the park". As a matter of fact, the City Park serves as a reminder to me of where I'd always to try to call it quits, but knew that I had to 3/4 of a mile to go if I wanted to get home, and now I hardly ever stop at the Park for a rest - don't need it. The struggles have been many, the joys have been few, but the main joy of being healthier far outweighs any issue, struggle, or obstacle that comes my way.
I should go now. Maybe I'll get some housework done.
Maybe.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Marriage Encounter
Paulette and I attended a Marriage Encounter this past weekend. For those who have never heard of M.E., it's a weekend of sessions matched with writing and dialogue with your spouse.
For me, it was a Friday evening through Sunday afternoon of "cutting to the nub, skin pealing, mental anguish, humble vulnerability". It tore me up so many time, and made me less of what I was.
And I will be forever thankful.
My weekend started with the 150 mile drive to the hotel where we would be attending the Encounter - and I would hate to go more than a few miles with Paulette, because within a few miles, she'd want us to talk, but wouldn't have something to talk about. Grrr.
We then attended the first couple of sessions and found ourselves agreeing on something - if the Weekend would give us a horrible headache. Writing, talking, writing, talking... we "knew" how to do all of that. What we were wasting our time for?
By the end of the first evening, we were talking a whole new language, understanding each other more, and finding an insight for each other that we had never experienced. On the second day, we were exposing our souls, opening ourselves up to our joys, pains, and feelings. By the third day, we were saying things that we would never say to each other - nice things - that was like a new and fresh dessert. As we were driving home, we were talking, laughing, and thinking of all of the people we know who could attend a Weekend. We were even thinking of how we would find ways of staying in contact with fellow classmates and presenters. In Encounter, these people that we would be in covenant with are called "flames", using the symbolism of so many things, such as the Spirit's guidance. Paulette and I even joked that many of the couples were older than us, so would it be ok to call these people "old flames"?
When Paulette left my house to go back to her place, we found ourselves counting the weeks and the days until we'd be together again. In the past, we sometimes couldn't wait until we got back on the road, but now, we're renewed.
One of the keys this Weekend was learning to communicate. There were so many things that Paulette and I were trying to say, but we just didn't know how to say it - how to express our own feelings and allow the other to express theirs. And once we got a grasp on that, everything else, no matter how major, was so much easier to talk about - as natural as breathing.
Granted, there is and will be times when we have to remind ourselves who to communicate. Even with breathing, we have those huffs and puffs when climbing hills, but the other side of the hill so all downward and simple and easy!
If you or someone you know is interested in a Marriage Encounter, just ask me. It's may be the toughest time that people, newly married or married 55 years, will ever enjoy!!
It's MORE THAN worth it!
For me, it was a Friday evening through Sunday afternoon of "cutting to the nub, skin pealing, mental anguish, humble vulnerability". It tore me up so many time, and made me less of what I was.
And I will be forever thankful.
My weekend started with the 150 mile drive to the hotel where we would be attending the Encounter - and I would hate to go more than a few miles with Paulette, because within a few miles, she'd want us to talk, but wouldn't have something to talk about. Grrr.
We then attended the first couple of sessions and found ourselves agreeing on something - if the Weekend would give us a horrible headache. Writing, talking, writing, talking... we "knew" how to do all of that. What we were wasting our time for?
By the end of the first evening, we were talking a whole new language, understanding each other more, and finding an insight for each other that we had never experienced. On the second day, we were exposing our souls, opening ourselves up to our joys, pains, and feelings. By the third day, we were saying things that we would never say to each other - nice things - that was like a new and fresh dessert. As we were driving home, we were talking, laughing, and thinking of all of the people we know who could attend a Weekend. We were even thinking of how we would find ways of staying in contact with fellow classmates and presenters. In Encounter, these people that we would be in covenant with are called "flames", using the symbolism of so many things, such as the Spirit's guidance. Paulette and I even joked that many of the couples were older than us, so would it be ok to call these people "old flames"?
When Paulette left my house to go back to her place, we found ourselves counting the weeks and the days until we'd be together again. In the past, we sometimes couldn't wait until we got back on the road, but now, we're renewed.
One of the keys this Weekend was learning to communicate. There were so many things that Paulette and I were trying to say, but we just didn't know how to say it - how to express our own feelings and allow the other to express theirs. And once we got a grasp on that, everything else, no matter how major, was so much easier to talk about - as natural as breathing.
Granted, there is and will be times when we have to remind ourselves who to communicate. Even with breathing, we have those huffs and puffs when climbing hills, but the other side of the hill so all downward and simple and easy!
If you or someone you know is interested in a Marriage Encounter, just ask me. It's may be the toughest time that people, newly married or married 55 years, will ever enjoy!!
It's MORE THAN worth it!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Another look at the "good old days"
Paulette has told me many times that at certain times of my life, I had someone to hang out with, have a cup of coffee with, tells stories with, etc. What she meant was I've had people that I could do what I needed to do, say what I needed to say, be who I needed to be. Her point was that I was happier at those times (and I sometimes wonder if it's also her way of saying that it got me out of her hair for those moments. LOL)
The other night, I got a message from an old friend who was passing through. We spent some hours talking, laughing, telling stories, and so on (even about Coach K watching him play). By the end of the night, I was exhausted from the day, but I was relaxed, at ease, and happy that I got to see my friend.
Then I got a card from the family that I wrote about before - their first son was the first person I baptised. Seeing the family pictures and reading about how their kids are growing brought a great joy to me.
I baptised a young man on Easter Sunday, chatted with a young lady and her daughter who have started attending one of my churches, had the first Sunrise Service that my Parish has had in a long time, enjoyed great fellowship as a Mission-oriented Sunday School class served breakfast after the Sunrise Service...
...and the hits just keep on coming!
I'm amazed at how often people will find fault in things - their kids are living their own lives, the bills are piling up, the weather is different than it was six months ago, the crops are growing without the seed, so on and so on.
Maybe if some people spent more time counting their blessings instead of trying to "one up" others with their problems, we'd all be a lot happier, and people would want to "hang out" more.
SMILE!!!
The other night, I got a message from an old friend who was passing through. We spent some hours talking, laughing, telling stories, and so on (even about Coach K watching him play). By the end of the night, I was exhausted from the day, but I was relaxed, at ease, and happy that I got to see my friend.
Then I got a card from the family that I wrote about before - their first son was the first person I baptised. Seeing the family pictures and reading about how their kids are growing brought a great joy to me.
I baptised a young man on Easter Sunday, chatted with a young lady and her daughter who have started attending one of my churches, had the first Sunrise Service that my Parish has had in a long time, enjoyed great fellowship as a Mission-oriented Sunday School class served breakfast after the Sunrise Service...
...and the hits just keep on coming!
I'm amazed at how often people will find fault in things - their kids are living their own lives, the bills are piling up, the weather is different than it was six months ago, the crops are growing without the seed, so on and so on.
Maybe if some people spent more time counting their blessings instead of trying to "one up" others with their problems, we'd all be a lot happier, and people would want to "hang out" more.
SMILE!!!
Monday, April 1, 2013
Resurrection Recovery
I survived! I made it though another Lenten Season, Holy Week, and Easter, and this time, I didn't even have to dodge the "...or you'll be in the hospital" bullet. I made it through the Season with just about all of my hair in place. Whew!
To top it off, my Easter was one of the busiest that I can remember... In years past, I've had different things pop up during Holy Week that has thrown a wrench in the gears - even driving 250 miles after a Palm Sunday Service at two churches to meet with a church board elsewhere. But this year, my "stress" came from the extra joys this Easter morning. I did a baptism on a young man and him and his wife became members of one of the smaller of my churches. I also had a great Sunrise Service followed by a wonderful fellowship with breakfast supplied by an adult Sunday School class in the larger of my two churches that is focused on mission work.
And don't even get me started on the number of people in each Worship Services.
Over this next week, I need to continue in lots of work, and at the same time, prepare for a "working retreat". This is the part when I wonder how much "fun" my job/life is. But through it all, it's what I do, and from today, I'm finding more and more great joys.
Blessings!
To top it off, my Easter was one of the busiest that I can remember... In years past, I've had different things pop up during Holy Week that has thrown a wrench in the gears - even driving 250 miles after a Palm Sunday Service at two churches to meet with a church board elsewhere. But this year, my "stress" came from the extra joys this Easter morning. I did a baptism on a young man and him and his wife became members of one of the smaller of my churches. I also had a great Sunrise Service followed by a wonderful fellowship with breakfast supplied by an adult Sunday School class in the larger of my two churches that is focused on mission work.
And don't even get me started on the number of people in each Worship Services.
Over this next week, I need to continue in lots of work, and at the same time, prepare for a "working retreat". This is the part when I wonder how much "fun" my job/life is. But through it all, it's what I do, and from today, I'm finding more and more great joys.
Blessings!
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