365 – One Year
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
I turned 50 this year – thankfully!
As happy as I am about that it was cause for me to step back and think about where I am and that brings me to this posting. I have been blessed with more than 18, 250 Everydays. And I have used them well on everything and everybody except myself. For myself I have allowed bad habits, bad choices (or even worse no choices), and general malaise to drive my physical, mental and emotional state.
So the question becomes….how do I change all this to get where I thought I would be (or where I know I want to be) from here.
The best answer I can come to is to start the One Year plan… I know I can do anything for a year. (I managed to commute between Chicago and Bloomington for 3 1/2!) For a year I will do it differently. I will look at it differently, I will make different decisions, I will do what I haven’t done for these many years….and see what happens. If I don’t like where I am at on December 14, 2012 — I’ll try something else. But, I am guessing that, if I stay true to what I am starting, I will begin the next 50 years in a much better place.
Hope you join in on my journey. Feel free to post about your “One Year” or just follow my observations, trials and errors! Here’s to a great adventure!
New Church Vision
Our church just introduced a new vision as part of a multi-year project to extend our relationships with God and our community.
Share God’s Love.
Grow In Faith.
Serve As Disciples.
I think this is very inspiring in a lot of ways. For me it is a reminder to break down the walls of comfort I build so that I can step out and Share, Grow and Serve.
Faith that stagnates stops being faith and becomes dogma. Best to always test the limits of the possible.
Small Church Where Good Words Were Spoken
Good words about a good person were spoken here.
The location doesn’t really matter. The meaning does.
Listen for good words said. Pass good words on.
We don’t always know the good things we do. It’s nice when someone takes time to speak up and let us know.
At least I like it. Even when it is happening to another.
For we see the bad side of people all to often. It seems to glare more brightly in our eyes. Or at least our eyes are more attuned to its presence. So the good side needs help from the ears.
Speak good deeds. Speak good intentions.
Today at least try.
Haiti Disaster Relief
Prayers travel quickly, yet relief takes time. Operation USA has been delivering relief for 30 years and takes contributions of both money and miles (as well as other in-kind and corporate options.) They also have an option for donating specific to their Haiti operation.
Life can be full of setbacks and disasters. We are all here to help pick-up and carry on.
New Year – New Day – New Life
Well, the months have flown by and the ideas here have sat undisturbed for too long.
Time to shake off the cobwebs and move forward.
No excuses. Some regrets. Forgiveness asked.
Funny how everyday concerns can take your eye off the long pass, the ultimate goal. But that’s how we’re built and thus the beauty of grace in all its forms. Today we build on yesterday’s foundation. If we’ve set the stones wrong then we’ll tear them down and start anew. Requires work, thought, contemplation. But then everything worth doing does.
Well Planted Steps
Moving forward is a bit tough when there is little proof you are right, or wrong, or sane.
Taking steps in loose sand gives a feeling of sinking, sticking, stuck.
So step lively. Listen for alternatives. Feel for solid ground.
Watch for tide, sharp shells and rocks.
Be ready to turn for good reason, stop for safety, but…
move forward all the same.
Almost…Moving On
I moved to a new apartment this past weekend Just the other side of the complex. (I got a garage!)
But, this small move has me more out of sorts than when I moved from Chicago to Bloomington two years ago. Maybe it’s because the apartment is almost the same as the one I left. Almost the same layout. Almost the same drawer system. Almost the same sunlight patterns.
Almost.
I think it is easier when you are thrown into a completely new situation versus a “moderate” change. Old habits and muscle memory react to “almost.” Somehow the opportunity to start-over and re-create seems further away when it is “almost.”
Maybe we have the idea of baby-steps all wrong….
they don’t represent small change….
they represent standing up and moving on.
Fear
I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.
Psalm 3:5-7 (NIV)
Some days it feels like this number working against me — and I always feel like I left the armor of Christ at home. Heavenly Father, give me strength and wisdom to deal with what is real and not what the fear has created in my mind and my heart.
Amen.
The In-Between Time
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
– Psalm 46:1
Normally Psalm 46 is quoted for the verse that comes late in this passage “Be still and know that I am God.” (verse 10). And I admit it is one of my favorites — I know that God is ok with me stepping away sometimes to let Him carry it (whatever it is!)
But I think that the first verse of this chapter is the more important one…Its declarative voice makes a pure statement that just is….It isn’t contingent on us to do something. It doesn’t require any action on my part. ”God is our refuge and strength.” And, I know it should be where everything starts.
If you think about it, “Be still and know that I am God” is really similar to the same charge that I have used on my children …”Just sit down and listen to me!” (Usually there is screeching involved on my part but I don’t know how to write that!)
My kids know that I will always be there for them – no matter what. No matter how much their world is in chaos – I will be there. But sometimes, I have to get their attention before they will settle down enough for me to help. And sometimes, I wish they would have come to me first (like it is better to take the car to go pick up the pizza at 2 a.m. instead of waking me up….not!)
Hmmm… like my children, it is the time between knowing that He is there to help and being still long enough to ask for His help that gets me into the most trouble. So often it is when I have chosen to just push through and “do it myself” that chaos reigns.
Don’t you hate it when the lessons you are trying to teach your kids are the ones you need to learn the most.
I don’t want to sing a joyful song!
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
– Psalm 100:1 – 2
Today is a crappy day. My stress level has been at capacity for more than a month, I have a nasty cold, I am getting ready to move to a new place, I am separated from my family for at least one more year because of work and it’s raining. Yup. I have every right to grump and moan. Life is just unfair sometimes.
In times like this, coming to Him with joyful song is so hard. Because I know that if I start counting my blessings instead of my woes I will feel better, lighter and, yes, thankful. Maybe that is why this Psalm is so poignant – it puts that power to feel better back into our own hands.
Ok. Fine. I am thankful for…..