I lost someone this week-end who had become very special to me. No, she did not die, but she is moving and our relationship will not be the same. So as I talked with the Lord, I was crying about how I feel I have had a great amount of loss in my life. Sometimes I meet someone and the connection happens so quickly and deeply that you can be amazed. Actually that is what I call a soul-mate, the connection is unexplainable. Though most of the time this term is used in a romantic connotation even there people are saying they are one. You have this wonderful, delightful friendship and in a blink it changes-someone moves, job changes, or relationship changes lots of things can happen. It is not bad or evil, just change.
So back to my conversation with the Lord, it is like seasons. Some things and some people are just for a season. The snow has melted and now your time out doors will not be sledding or ice-skating, but becomes tennis or surfing. Nothing bad-just different and hanging on or throwing a tantrum only makes you miserable it won’t change the weather at all.
As I pondered this I began- to think instead of seasoning- those people or circumstances who bring flavor and spice to our life. Jesus said we should be salt. You know-that bag of chips that calls you somehow they just keep going down your throat and then what-you are thirsty. Our purpose is to show that Christ makes such a difference in our life and they get thirsty for some living water too. Then I am struck by the idea that maybe He put them in my path to ‘season’ me.
Lately I have come to recognize how ‘sheltered’ my life in Christ. I have troubles, I have pain but I know where to run. I do not receive a ‘pass’ and the storm has to go by me. I have peace, I can ask for wisdom and grace and strength to walk my path. I was sharing with a mom who has some serious issues going on with her children and she looked at me like ‘what planet did you come from-I need real help, now.’
I can see how my answers sound easy and like God is a genie in a bottle but it is so much more. The cost is high, He wants you so turn your life over to Him, and most of us just want a solution for ‘this’ problem not a God on the throne of our life. I know sometimes I feel like they think I am offering so little, but let us face it there is only one answer and Jesus is His name.
All I know is when I have a crying day or week-end and I don’t even know what will fix me-I am grateful for the love of Christ. I love how those who really are soul-mates know how to hug and cry with you-not give their opinions.
I am a very blessed woman!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Walk a Mile in Their Shoes
That old saying is easier to say and think than it is to live. We come up with excuses, 'I'm not judging, I'm a fruit inspector'. Or question, ‘how can I help my fellow travelers if I don't spot where they are missing the mark and get them back on track’.
Recently I heard the story of someone who has not worked except fill-in jobs since I have known him which is a couple of years. I thought he was just one of those guys who has decided that the opportunity to have a good time, smoke a little weed, drink a little and just make enough to get by. I have seen a lot of this attitude and our economic conditions only adds to the excuses. I like this guy because he is in the life of a good friend but I understand her frustration at his lack of drive to achieve and to be working toward a future.
The story I heard was how he was a businessman with teams of employees and projects from LA to San Diego. He was a careful planner, followed weather conditions because they affected his business. In a short span of time despite his careful attention, some bizarre weather conditions affected this whole area. He was roofing 3 different shopping malls and because of the damages even though he had insurance he lost everything. His wife was unfaithful and he lost his family and soon he was left living with friends and working when it came up.
I was appalled at myself for writing a scenario about his life that had nothing to do with reality. A person who needs encouragement, understanding and my prayers received none of that from me.
I don't see this man often but now he is a part of my prayer time. Perhaps someday I can relate to him in a deeper way but until then he has my respect and my sympathy, not my disdain.
Something we need to all remember-everyone has a story. Not knowing the story can cause us to be judgmental and put a distance between us that is not honoring to God. Jesus took the time to talk with a woman He should not have by the standards of the culture and He changed her life and the rest of the town. He touched the unclean, called life to the dead and not to be a rebel but to honor His Father and the ultimate purpose He came for-restoration and healing.
Recently I heard the story of someone who has not worked except fill-in jobs since I have known him which is a couple of years. I thought he was just one of those guys who has decided that the opportunity to have a good time, smoke a little weed, drink a little and just make enough to get by. I have seen a lot of this attitude and our economic conditions only adds to the excuses. I like this guy because he is in the life of a good friend but I understand her frustration at his lack of drive to achieve and to be working toward a future.
The story I heard was how he was a businessman with teams of employees and projects from LA to San Diego. He was a careful planner, followed weather conditions because they affected his business. In a short span of time despite his careful attention, some bizarre weather conditions affected this whole area. He was roofing 3 different shopping malls and because of the damages even though he had insurance he lost everything. His wife was unfaithful and he lost his family and soon he was left living with friends and working when it came up.
I was appalled at myself for writing a scenario about his life that had nothing to do with reality. A person who needs encouragement, understanding and my prayers received none of that from me.
I don't see this man often but now he is a part of my prayer time. Perhaps someday I can relate to him in a deeper way but until then he has my respect and my sympathy, not my disdain.
Something we need to all remember-everyone has a story. Not knowing the story can cause us to be judgmental and put a distance between us that is not honoring to God. Jesus took the time to talk with a woman He should not have by the standards of the culture and He changed her life and the rest of the town. He touched the unclean, called life to the dead and not to be a rebel but to honor His Father and the ultimate purpose He came for-restoration and healing.
Intentional
Intentional: done purposely. Intention: determination to do a specified thing or act in a specified manner, anything intended or planned.
As a writer I like words and that means sometimes a word catches my imagination and I not only look up the meaning and different uses but I work on that word in my mind, a meditation if you will. A few years ago when my worries were less looming and I did this on a regular basis the last word I had begun working on was Intentional. I even made a bracelet at that time which had a lot of my favorite words and this was the last one.
My thinking at that time, and has proved out by the last few years, is if you are not living an intentional life, you are probably living a passive, doing what is next on the list life. It can become a pattern to live re-actively. To keep moving based on what is happening around you from the good events to the handling of a crisis. This leaves me feeling not only out of control but a life that is subject to events and eventually I think a sense of martyrdom or a victim profile slowly became my mindset.
Being intentional in lifestyle does not mean you won’t have situations that were unplanned for or that take you in directions you had no desire to go. There are many other people who influence and affect our days. The weather, economic conditions, fires, earthquakes many things are out of our control but our outlook will make all the difference in whether we shine or sink.
I think what I am looking for in ‘intentional’ being a life word is a sense of purpose that may change ‘shades’ but will dig deeper for the important things in life not be put aside.
Such as my relationship with God, He isn’t in my life to follow my dreams and wishes.
He actually has a plan and it is the BIG picture, how I finish my race not the going to LA should I take the 10 or the 60. Don’t misunderstand me I am not saying God doesn’t care about the details, He loves the conversation to make that choice but it isn’t the point of my life.
So what is the point. My daily walk of course, my focus on the things which are important to Him and demonstrated by Jesus while He was here on earth. Taking people where they were and giving them hope and meeting the needs which would hopefully encourage them to seek the light that reveals the truth and the way to Father.
As a writer I like words and that means sometimes a word catches my imagination and I not only look up the meaning and different uses but I work on that word in my mind, a meditation if you will. A few years ago when my worries were less looming and I did this on a regular basis the last word I had begun working on was Intentional. I even made a bracelet at that time which had a lot of my favorite words and this was the last one.
My thinking at that time, and has proved out by the last few years, is if you are not living an intentional life, you are probably living a passive, doing what is next on the list life. It can become a pattern to live re-actively. To keep moving based on what is happening around you from the good events to the handling of a crisis. This leaves me feeling not only out of control but a life that is subject to events and eventually I think a sense of martyrdom or a victim profile slowly became my mindset.
Being intentional in lifestyle does not mean you won’t have situations that were unplanned for or that take you in directions you had no desire to go. There are many other people who influence and affect our days. The weather, economic conditions, fires, earthquakes many things are out of our control but our outlook will make all the difference in whether we shine or sink.
I think what I am looking for in ‘intentional’ being a life word is a sense of purpose that may change ‘shades’ but will dig deeper for the important things in life not be put aside.
Such as my relationship with God, He isn’t in my life to follow my dreams and wishes.
He actually has a plan and it is the BIG picture, how I finish my race not the going to LA should I take the 10 or the 60. Don’t misunderstand me I am not saying God doesn’t care about the details, He loves the conversation to make that choice but it isn’t the point of my life.
So what is the point. My daily walk of course, my focus on the things which are important to Him and demonstrated by Jesus while He was here on earth. Taking people where they were and giving them hope and meeting the needs which would hopefully encourage them to seek the light that reveals the truth and the way to Father.
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