Never give up; you never know until you try.
I read the same message twice today, from 2 different sources, so I'm passing it on to you. It may not resonate with you as it has with me, but I hope you'll think about it, because it may help you cut yourself some slack, especially if you're a perfectionist or if you're working on a big--or time-consuming project.
Drum roll, please. To boil it down, the message is:
Try to avoid looking at how much you still have to do and the distance you still have to travel. Look instead at how much you have done and how far you've come, and concentrate on the grace that has gotten you this far. Rest in that grace and remember that God will help you get the rest of the way.
To that bit of advice, I add my own advice to avoid looking at how long it has taken you to do what you have done and get as far as you have. The next leg of the journey may not be as long. Or, and I'm sorry to rain on your parade here, it may take longer. The whole point is to not worry about how far or how long to go but instead to celebrate the ground won so far. Admittedly, that's easier said than done, but life isn't easy. It can be painful and it can be messy; but with God in your corner, it will be okay.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Not Truth, But Faith
Never give up; you never know until you try.
The title for today’s post comes from a quote by poet Edna St. Vincent Millay: “Not Truth, but Faith it is that keeps the world alive.” I ran across it as I was thumbing through one of the jillion books on my bookcase, and I think it struck me because I had just been reading through some old issues of writing magazines and found an article pooh-poohing the use of such Yoda-like backward phrasing. I agree with the advice to forego convoluted phrasing, unless done very sparingly and for a specific reason, and I agree with Edna, or “Vincent,” which her friends called her, according to Poets.org, because I think she had a reason for her phrasing.
Truth can be good, but for many, the everyday truth of their lives is a study in deprivation, degradation, violation, isolation—the list goes on and on. If not for faith that tomorrow will be better than today, they would succumb to complete despair and wither as surely as an autumn leaf. Yes, I could add that God’s Truth—the truth of His love and promises, etcetera, keeps us going, but if we don’t have faith in that Truth, we lose hope and wither.
Many of us have been there. We’ve found ourselves in circumstances we hated with every molecule of our DNA and that hurt like an old-fashioned operation with dirty instruments and no anesthesia. Bad marriages. Bad jobs, or no jobs. Death of loved ones. If living meant living as we were, we honestly wanted to die. Maybe only faith that things would get better was what kept us from ending our lives.
And so my challenge today is much like one I’ve issued before. I’ve encouraged readers to be “nice” to people, and today I encourage everyone to do what you can to foster faith, in yourself and in others, that tomorrow will be better than today. At the very least, even if circumstances remain the same, you’ve had more practice in coping with them.
The title for today’s post comes from a quote by poet Edna St. Vincent Millay: “Not Truth, but Faith it is that keeps the world alive.” I ran across it as I was thumbing through one of the jillion books on my bookcase, and I think it struck me because I had just been reading through some old issues of writing magazines and found an article pooh-poohing the use of such Yoda-like backward phrasing. I agree with the advice to forego convoluted phrasing, unless done very sparingly and for a specific reason, and I agree with Edna, or “Vincent,” which her friends called her, according to Poets.org, because I think she had a reason for her phrasing.
Truth can be good, but for many, the everyday truth of their lives is a study in deprivation, degradation, violation, isolation—the list goes on and on. If not for faith that tomorrow will be better than today, they would succumb to complete despair and wither as surely as an autumn leaf. Yes, I could add that God’s Truth—the truth of His love and promises, etcetera, keeps us going, but if we don’t have faith in that Truth, we lose hope and wither.
Many of us have been there. We’ve found ourselves in circumstances we hated with every molecule of our DNA and that hurt like an old-fashioned operation with dirty instruments and no anesthesia. Bad marriages. Bad jobs, or no jobs. Death of loved ones. If living meant living as we were, we honestly wanted to die. Maybe only faith that things would get better was what kept us from ending our lives.
And so my challenge today is much like one I’ve issued before. I’ve encouraged readers to be “nice” to people, and today I encourage everyone to do what you can to foster faith, in yourself and in others, that tomorrow will be better than today. At the very least, even if circumstances remain the same, you’ve had more practice in coping with them.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Blowing Off Steam
Never give up; you never know until you try.
I had a regrettable encounter with someone recently. Suffice it to say that when I crossed paths with this woman, she was in a bad mood and obviously itching for a fight. I, unfortunately, allowed her to bait me into a less-than-cordial verbal exchange in which I gratingly observed that she was obviously in a bad mood. I must've struck a nerve, because she grew even more hostile and retorted that I was the one in a bad mood. Keep in mind that I had been minding my own business, feeling just fine, thank you, when she rudely insinuated herself into my existence with an unwarranted attack, and you'll see why I flared. When she accused me of being the one in a bad mood, I heatedly replied, "I wasn't until I met you!" I excused myself to get away from her before I really lost my cool, but I didn't get away from her.
She stayed with me a while after our exchange. Or rather Satan stayed with me, accusing me a good while after the exchange. Granted, I wish I hadn't returned the woman's venom, but afterward I asked for forgiveness for my fit of temper. That should've been the end of it, but Satan loves to accuse us long after a regrettable episode has been forgotten by other parties.
I finally moved past the episode, reminding myself, and Satan, that it's sometimes easier said than done to "turn the other cheek." We're human; we react to unpleasantness, especially when it involves unjustified attacks on us.
For all I know, that young woman had endured just such an attack by someone else earlier in the day. I hope venting on me kept her from venting on the wrong person--someone who may have responded by physically assaulting her. I just wish I had reacted to her tirade with empathy, looked behind the venom, and asked if she was okay. Maybe then she would've felt cared for and unburdened herself in a positive way. The exchange would've turned into a blessing for us both. Then again, maybe she would've reacted the same way. I'll never know. What I do know is that I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father Who forgives and Who allows me to blow off steam to Him any time I feel the need and won't accuse me when I "blow it."
I had a regrettable encounter with someone recently. Suffice it to say that when I crossed paths with this woman, she was in a bad mood and obviously itching for a fight. I, unfortunately, allowed her to bait me into a less-than-cordial verbal exchange in which I gratingly observed that she was obviously in a bad mood. I must've struck a nerve, because she grew even more hostile and retorted that I was the one in a bad mood. Keep in mind that I had been minding my own business, feeling just fine, thank you, when she rudely insinuated herself into my existence with an unwarranted attack, and you'll see why I flared. When she accused me of being the one in a bad mood, I heatedly replied, "I wasn't until I met you!" I excused myself to get away from her before I really lost my cool, but I didn't get away from her.
She stayed with me a while after our exchange. Or rather Satan stayed with me, accusing me a good while after the exchange. Granted, I wish I hadn't returned the woman's venom, but afterward I asked for forgiveness for my fit of temper. That should've been the end of it, but Satan loves to accuse us long after a regrettable episode has been forgotten by other parties.
I finally moved past the episode, reminding myself, and Satan, that it's sometimes easier said than done to "turn the other cheek." We're human; we react to unpleasantness, especially when it involves unjustified attacks on us.
For all I know, that young woman had endured just such an attack by someone else earlier in the day. I hope venting on me kept her from venting on the wrong person--someone who may have responded by physically assaulting her. I just wish I had reacted to her tirade with empathy, looked behind the venom, and asked if she was okay. Maybe then she would've felt cared for and unburdened herself in a positive way. The exchange would've turned into a blessing for us both. Then again, maybe she would've reacted the same way. I'll never know. What I do know is that I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father Who forgives and Who allows me to blow off steam to Him any time I feel the need and won't accuse me when I "blow it."
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Freedom
Never give up; you never know until you try.
Monday we in the U.S. celebrated Independence Day. To some it involved a day away from work; to some it meant grilling out with friends and/or family; to some it meant fireworks displays; to some it meant all of the above.
It seems as if every devotional piece I've read this week has been about freedom and has quoted various Bible passages concerning freedom. "Freedom" is the "flavor of the week," meaning next week will bring a different flavor to capture our attention. It's still this week, though, so I hope you'll indulge me as I add my observations to the subject of freedom.
Saturday my friend "A" and I had a garage sale, bringing in a little money selling items we no longer want. We had a few customers and had fun hanging out together, even making a little extra cash. I was actually surprised by the amount of traffic we had. I was also surprised by 2 people's interaction with me.
Person 1 knew my face, remembering me from high school, though he didn't know my name. He was a couple years ahead of me, and we didn't run in the same circle, but he remembered from whence he knew me. (I looked in my yearbook when I got home and vaguely remembered seeing his picture before; I still don't remember him.)
Person 2, also older but a former neighbor from way back, used my name when he said goodbye as he left the sale. I didn't know he would remember my name, but he obviously did.
I was really glad both men seemed pleased, or at least not unhappy, to see me. That started my little brain to really working on the importance of treating people right and having a good reputation--people have long memories about some things. Being highly regarded brings a freedom of its own, while having a bad reputation brings bondage.
I'd like to think I've left nothing but good feelings and good memories of me in my wake, but I know there have been times when I was less than kind, less than considerate. We've all had bad days, circumstances we found ourselves in that brought out the worst in us, binding us.
That's why it's so important to surround ourselves with people who bring out the best in us and to be mindful of how we treat people; they remember us, even if we think they won't. As I noted in "The Payoff," you can never go wrong treating people with respect and kindness.
Monday we in the U.S. celebrated Independence Day. To some it involved a day away from work; to some it meant grilling out with friends and/or family; to some it meant fireworks displays; to some it meant all of the above.
It seems as if every devotional piece I've read this week has been about freedom and has quoted various Bible passages concerning freedom. "Freedom" is the "flavor of the week," meaning next week will bring a different flavor to capture our attention. It's still this week, though, so I hope you'll indulge me as I add my observations to the subject of freedom.
Saturday my friend "A" and I had a garage sale, bringing in a little money selling items we no longer want. We had a few customers and had fun hanging out together, even making a little extra cash. I was actually surprised by the amount of traffic we had. I was also surprised by 2 people's interaction with me.
Person 1 knew my face, remembering me from high school, though he didn't know my name. He was a couple years ahead of me, and we didn't run in the same circle, but he remembered from whence he knew me. (I looked in my yearbook when I got home and vaguely remembered seeing his picture before; I still don't remember him.)
Person 2, also older but a former neighbor from way back, used my name when he said goodbye as he left the sale. I didn't know he would remember my name, but he obviously did.
I was really glad both men seemed pleased, or at least not unhappy, to see me. That started my little brain to really working on the importance of treating people right and having a good reputation--people have long memories about some things. Being highly regarded brings a freedom of its own, while having a bad reputation brings bondage.
I'd like to think I've left nothing but good feelings and good memories of me in my wake, but I know there have been times when I was less than kind, less than considerate. We've all had bad days, circumstances we found ourselves in that brought out the worst in us, binding us.
That's why it's so important to surround ourselves with people who bring out the best in us and to be mindful of how we treat people; they remember us, even if we think they won't. As I noted in "The Payoff," you can never go wrong treating people with respect and kindness.
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