Fame At Any Cost

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I recently caught part of an episode of the game show "Family Feud" that started me to thinking about fame & fortune.  The question called for the contestants to name a celebrity they were completely tired of hearing about and who they wish would just go away.  The answers included people famous for being famous and those whose most recent activities have made them infamous for being in legal trouble due to substance abuse.

I've observed before that it seems all a person has to do to be rich, famous, or both in today's world is to have a complete lack of self-respect--to consistently do outlandish (illegal, immoral, or both) things & be sure that it's reported to as many people as possible. 

I hope I'm never so starved for attention that I resort to getting it in such a negative, self-destructive way.  I hope I'm never referred to as someone who people wish would just go away. . . unless they wish I'd go away because God is using me to try to turn their attention toward Him, but that's another post for another day.

What Do You Think?

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I read a book recently that addressed the introvert/extrovert topic and found myself feeling completely vindicated.  I've often felt that the world seems geared toward extroverts and paints introverts as backward, weird, even lazy.  I've felt that American society, in particular, coerces introverts into going against their (our) true nature.
The book, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking," by former corporate lawyer Susan Cain, argues that introverts are unfairly maligned, and I agree. 

Check out the article, and give the book a try.  If you're an extrovert, maybe you'll understand us introverts a little better.  If you're an introvert, you might just find yourself feeling a little vindicated, as I did.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-an-introvert-can-be-happier--act-like-an-extrovert--175713001.html

Redemption

Never give up; you never know until you try.

This past weekend, my church family and I spent many happy hours celebrating our centennial.  We ate, drank (tea, lemonade, soft drinks,) played games, sang, and  thanked God for allowing us to be a family and for using us for His glory.

We felt some sadness amidst the revelry as we remembered those who aren't with us now, and we looked hopefully forward to what lies ahead for us in this world and the next.

I felt a special warmth Sunday as I realized the date, somewhat marred in my mind by a personal tragedy many years ago, has now been redeemed by an historic celebration that will stay forever in my heart and mind.  A memory of death and fear has been overshadowed by a memory of life and love.  Don't get me wrong; God has comforted me and brought healing since that tragic day so long ago, but as the anniversary has rolled around each year, the events that transpired that day have flitted across my mind.  Next year, as mid-July approaches, I'll be transported back to this year and the memory of smiles, hugs, laughter, and redemption. 
 

Dependence Day

Never give up; you never know until you try.

No, that's not a typo in the title.  Americans celebrate Independence Day this July 4, but I'm extra mindful this year of how dependent I am on God. 

We humans like to think we're in control, and we try to be in control, but it's an illusion.  Sometimes when we whine like children, God lets us have our way to show us that His way really is best.  We have the illusion of control, but we're only getting our way because God allows it.  Then, when we make a mess of things, we cry to Him to help us.  Oh, how patient He is!

This Independence Day, I'm trying to be less whiny and more trusting, and celebrate my dependence on God.

Change

Never give up; you never know until you try.


This week, I'm sharing another MountainWings.  It's about we should question the status quo and not just follow along blindly, never questioning why things are the way they are.  I believe we need to question, now more than ever, because despite more technology, educational attainment, and more riches than ever before, we seem to have more problems than solutions.  Enjoy, everyone, this bit of food for thought, courtesy of MountainWings.

http://www.mountainwings.com/past/3239.htm

Have Some Tea

Never give up; you never know until you try.

There's a quote, attributed to several people, that compares people to tea bags, asserting that like teabags, we grow stronger in hot water and don't know how strong we are until we're in hot water.

I'm always telling people that they're stronger than they know, and I've had people say that to me during or after a crisis situation.  I guess when we're tunneled in, hunkered down, trying to navigate through something tough, we can be so in "survival mode" that we wonder if we're strong enough to meet the challenge. 

Henry David Thoreau is quoted as saying, "It's not what you look at that matters; it's what you see."

I believe that, but I guess we've all been in places so scary that we not only didn't feel how strong we were, we didn't feel able to see anything except the issue we were trying to survive devolving into something even worse. 

Sometimes options are all around, and we're so caught up in fear, frustration, and/or fatigue that we miss them.  When that happens, stop and have a cup of tea.  Take a few deep breaths and ponder how much you're like the beverage you're drinking. 

Speed and Pace-Setting, Courtesy of "Mountain Wings"

Never give up; you never know until you try.

As I've noted before, I subscribe to several e-mail devotionals.  "Mountain Wings" is one of them, and a recent one spoke to me so much that I thought I'd share it. 

http://www.mountainwings.com/past/3230.htm