I have had this one brewing for a couple of days. I was going to get political for a moment but instead have decided to share some reflections on some songs by my favorite group for the moment Third Day. They have been cranked in my car the past couple of days. I'm sure everyone on Hwy 65 thinks I'm nuts as I rock my way to school and home!
This round will focus on their album entitled "Wire". I like the style of music and the lead singer's voice a great deal. But mostly I appreciate and feel ministered to by the lyrical content of their songs. It is typical for Christian bands to focus on self as I guess it is for all of us. I appreciate that Third Day looks at our own inadequacies and then puts the focus on what God has done and how His grace and love is poured out on us even though we are undeserving.
In the song Innocent they really hit on the freedom that comes from grace and forgiveness. It was a pertinent song for me based on my own personal experiences and struggles the past couple of years. Here are the lyrics:
Innocent
It seemed like I had run out of second chances
And they sentenced me to die
And I was just like a dead man walking
I was running out of time
But you came to me and opened my eyes
You gave me a brand new life
I am innocent and I have been set free
I no longer have chains around my feet
And no matter where I go or what they say
I am innocent
Many years have passed since the day that I met you
But your words are still the same
And every time I find myself with joy or sadness
I am calling out your name
‘Cause you came to me and opened my eyes
You gave to me a brand new life
The bold, italicized chorus is what it is all about. Being free enough to live in that grace and forgiveness and not care about what others think or say. I must admit that while I know God has forgiven me for my multitude of shortcomings, I don't always take that to heart. Those chains around my feet keep me from being able to run with these gifts. My own selfishness and pride are the main stumbling blocks to being released from these chains. If we truly believe in this death, resurrection, forgiveness as we confess to in our faith then we are forgiven. No ifs, and or buts. It is done, I can't earn it, can't buy it, can't make it happen. It is, I am, and always will be. What a release, what freedom, what overwhelming joy that should bring!!!!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Gravel Guy
I had a bizarre and interesting day yesterday. I should say I had an interesting night after I left school yesterday. It started with a meeting about unemployment and displaced worker benefits. Not a meeting I ever expected to be invited to. It was interesting and I learned a lot about stuff I never hope to use.
On my trip home I was waved over by an old friend who wanted to chat about some difficult times in their life. So I was standing by the side of Hwy 65 giving a listening ear to a friend who had been estranged for strange reasons the past 2 yrs. Very odd but good to have some healing happen even if it was during a conflicted time for my friend.
Last, my wife called to let me know that Bob Roth had passed away. I consider Bob to be a friend even though we have probably shared all of 12 hours together in our lives. Bob owned a road construction company that was a family company. By some odd twists in life I became a very small part of that family. I will share with you the quickest version I can of how we connected and then spend much more time on why he is worth a blog. During my year off from teaching I took a position for a few months to train as an Investment Advisor in McGregor. Bob was a friend and worked on Dollars for Scholars with my boss. He would come into the office on occasion to discuss business for that organization. One day he needed help emailing pictures of some heavy duty equipment he was selling. So I helped him. He was "amazed" for some reason about my computer skills. Bob looked at me and said I should hire you to do this stuff for me. I jokingly answered back, you can't afford me Bob. Thinking this was all in good fun, I turned away to continue my computer work. When I looked back, Bob was staring at me and said, "How much?". I told him what I needed and he says that's what I was thinking. Well, nothing really came about from that although he was serious at the time. Jump ahead a few months and I'm at the Home Show in Mora and there is Bob and his son Brian. They stop me and tell me they were just talking about me. I ended up doing a few hours of computer work and meetings for them to help them apply for grants in bidding for Government construction jobs.
Bob welcomed me into his family without reservation or judgment at a time when I was feeling quite left out and lonely in the world. There were only a few times we got together but it was always as if I was an integral part of the business and that I belonged to his family. I am quite certain all of his employees felt the same way. I was fortunate to observe this at the Christmas party I was surprisingly invited to be a part of. Bob understood that you expect a lot from yourself and those who you worked with but you also gave a lot to help and support those very same people. If you were a part of this in any small way, you were completely a part of it, no matter how insignificant your role really was.
Bob was critically burned while welding on a fuel tank in his shop at his home. He passed away yesterday. This is as close a family as I have ever observed and I can't imagine the grief they are experiencing. He touched my life in a few short hours and showed me what loyalty is all about. Bob, if you can read this from heaven, I'm saving a grill for you and I'll be looking forward to that Friday supper we never got to have!
On my trip home I was waved over by an old friend who wanted to chat about some difficult times in their life. So I was standing by the side of Hwy 65 giving a listening ear to a friend who had been estranged for strange reasons the past 2 yrs. Very odd but good to have some healing happen even if it was during a conflicted time for my friend.
Last, my wife called to let me know that Bob Roth had passed away. I consider Bob to be a friend even though we have probably shared all of 12 hours together in our lives. Bob owned a road construction company that was a family company. By some odd twists in life I became a very small part of that family. I will share with you the quickest version I can of how we connected and then spend much more time on why he is worth a blog. During my year off from teaching I took a position for a few months to train as an Investment Advisor in McGregor. Bob was a friend and worked on Dollars for Scholars with my boss. He would come into the office on occasion to discuss business for that organization. One day he needed help emailing pictures of some heavy duty equipment he was selling. So I helped him. He was "amazed" for some reason about my computer skills. Bob looked at me and said I should hire you to do this stuff for me. I jokingly answered back, you can't afford me Bob. Thinking this was all in good fun, I turned away to continue my computer work. When I looked back, Bob was staring at me and said, "How much?". I told him what I needed and he says that's what I was thinking. Well, nothing really came about from that although he was serious at the time. Jump ahead a few months and I'm at the Home Show in Mora and there is Bob and his son Brian. They stop me and tell me they were just talking about me. I ended up doing a few hours of computer work and meetings for them to help them apply for grants in bidding for Government construction jobs.
Bob welcomed me into his family without reservation or judgment at a time when I was feeling quite left out and lonely in the world. There were only a few times we got together but it was always as if I was an integral part of the business and that I belonged to his family. I am quite certain all of his employees felt the same way. I was fortunate to observe this at the Christmas party I was surprisingly invited to be a part of. Bob understood that you expect a lot from yourself and those who you worked with but you also gave a lot to help and support those very same people. If you were a part of this in any small way, you were completely a part of it, no matter how insignificant your role really was.
Bob was critically burned while welding on a fuel tank in his shop at his home. He passed away yesterday. This is as close a family as I have ever observed and I can't imagine the grief they are experiencing. He touched my life in a few short hours and showed me what loyalty is all about. Bob, if you can read this from heaven, I'm saving a grill for you and I'll be looking forward to that Friday supper we never got to have!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Horses
This goes back a couple of weeks...but the whole Kentucky Derby thing struck a nerve with me. I was listening to KFAN, an all-sports radio station, on my commute home the day after the Derby and they were discussing the "tragic event" that happened when the horse was put down after breaking a couple of ankles at the end of the race. I am an animal lover but please, a tragic event, a catastrophe, disaster....sad, yes, too bad, okay I'll buy that but any of those other adjectives, I think not. This was being said and discussed as the people in Myanmar (Burma) were dealing with at what at the time was thought to be 10,000 dead from a typhoon. (This number got exponentially larger later on.) Now that is a tragic event, disaster, catastrophe and more. I am a big sports fan and an animal lover but let's have some perspective here. I cannot justify anything happening in sports to be more significant than the events of Myanmar or China or Iraq or the homeless of the world or AIDS crisis or on and on and on and on. Can a sports station discuss these things or can we have that conversation around our Starbucks coffee? Sure we can nothing wrong with that but let's keep our perspective on its real significance. I guess we can add this to the pet peeve list on this blog.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Baseball and People are Interesting Aren't They?
Baseball has long been a favorite of mine. There is something magical about the strategies and thoughts that go into each game that capture you. It has a certain "spirit" to it that cannot be described or defined with words. It transcends the words, moves beyond the game itself. Yes, it is just sports and there are certainly far more important topics to discuss in this world. I don't idolize or worship the sport. I can't say I even lose myself in the game to escape my reality. (In fact, I like my reality and see no need to escape.) I enjoy the game, especially with my friends and relatives who are somewhat passionate about the game. Rachel, my oldest, has become a fan and it is one of those wonderful father/daughter moments when we watch a game together. Nothing really has to be said, we just experience it together.
Not sure why I wrote this but one of my "baseball buds" commented on a blog below and I got thinking about how much I enjoy and look forward to our baseball trips. As time goes on and if this blog goes on, I have a feeling that baseball will be a topic again.
One of the fun parts of sitting in a ball park is people watching. Baseball brings together quite an eclectic group of people. It is quite interesting to watch people run the gamut of intensity and emotion during a game. Some take it as a life and death proposition while others see it as a nice social outing or a chance for a nice tan. (Unless you are in the dome of course.) There are those two extremes and everything in between. I'm sure most of us fit somewhere between but it is fun to see all ages, genders, races, and income levels fall into all these categories.
It is not just at the ball park that people are interesting...we had our Track and Field day on Wednesday this past week at school. My fellow blogger Neerdmans told me it was fascinating to study the parents at this event. He couldn't have been more spot on. You could find the same range of people at this event as you could any baseball game. There were the parents that were just thrilled to have a nice day to be with their child and it ranged all the way to those who thought their children were competing at the Beijing Olympics. Must admit I don't get all of that but interesting to observe. All in all, it was a great, fun day with perfect weather. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to participate in an Oxbow Track and Field Day.
Not sure why I wrote this but one of my "baseball buds" commented on a blog below and I got thinking about how much I enjoy and look forward to our baseball trips. As time goes on and if this blog goes on, I have a feeling that baseball will be a topic again.
One of the fun parts of sitting in a ball park is people watching. Baseball brings together quite an eclectic group of people. It is quite interesting to watch people run the gamut of intensity and emotion during a game. Some take it as a life and death proposition while others see it as a nice social outing or a chance for a nice tan. (Unless you are in the dome of course.) There are those two extremes and everything in between. I'm sure most of us fit somewhere between but it is fun to see all ages, genders, races, and income levels fall into all these categories.
It is not just at the ball park that people are interesting...we had our Track and Field day on Wednesday this past week at school. My fellow blogger Neerdmans told me it was fascinating to study the parents at this event. He couldn't have been more spot on. You could find the same range of people at this event as you could any baseball game. There were the parents that were just thrilled to have a nice day to be with their child and it ranged all the way to those who thought their children were competing at the Beijing Olympics. Must admit I don't get all of that but interesting to observe. All in all, it was a great, fun day with perfect weather. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to participate in an Oxbow Track and Field Day.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Doom & Gloom
Next to the real estate business I used to work with there is a variety store with an owner who has a great heart but the unique ability of always seeing what's wrong with the world. We affectionately nicknamed him Doom & Gloom. More and more there is conversation going on about what is wrong with our families, society, the world, etc. While most of these observations are true in my opinion, I struggle with this pessimistic view of people and life. The part that is intriguing is not the observations but the jump to the conclusion that the U.S., families, the world are a sinking ship. The question then becomes where do we jump. This struggle in my mind is partly because this seems to be an Old Testament mentality. The law, Sodom and Gomorrah, all those tales of God's wrath on the sinful communities of the time are the comparisons that come to mind during these conversations.
The struggle then becomes that this is a New Testament time. What really did the crucifixion and resurrection mean? Are our sins truly forgiven? What does it take for that to be true? How do we celebrate the grace so freely bestowed upon us without it becoming Bonhoeffer's cheap grace? I don't really know the answers to these questions. My faith takes me to a place of hope. (Although, my struggles with the job hunt and self-esteem, etc. may paint a different picture at times.) I do believe that there is far more good in our people, our schools, our society than we recognize. Media folks do a great job of focusing on and making money on the "doom & gloom" news of the world. It doesn't mean that the conversations and actions to change the areas that are not right in our world are wrong. Definitely not, these discussions and plans to ensure that we teach our young people how to live a respectful, responsible life are necessary and pertinent. However, I don't believe that God has left us or our hope behind. Maybe our new legislative policy should be "No family or world left behind!"
The struggle then becomes that this is a New Testament time. What really did the crucifixion and resurrection mean? Are our sins truly forgiven? What does it take for that to be true? How do we celebrate the grace so freely bestowed upon us without it becoming Bonhoeffer's cheap grace? I don't really know the answers to these questions. My faith takes me to a place of hope. (Although, my struggles with the job hunt and self-esteem, etc. may paint a different picture at times.) I do believe that there is far more good in our people, our schools, our society than we recognize. Media folks do a great job of focusing on and making money on the "doom & gloom" news of the world. It doesn't mean that the conversations and actions to change the areas that are not right in our world are wrong. Definitely not, these discussions and plans to ensure that we teach our young people how to live a respectful, responsible life are necessary and pertinent. However, I don't believe that God has left us or our hope behind. Maybe our new legislative policy should be "No family or world left behind!"
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Now I remember
Thanks to Neerdmans and his blog I remember what my random thought was.
There is a line in a Sheryl Crow song that says, "It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you have!" I like where that energy is directed. Being thankful for all that we are given and have as opposed to greedily wanting more as the media ingrains in our minds a thousand times a day. How does this connect to freedom? Isn't being thankful and content with what we have truly a freedom of the soul? Content? Yes, content. I believe there is a difference between contentment and satisfaction. To me contentment is being thankful and grateful for the gifts in life we are given. Being satisfied means we are done, there is nothing more to strive for and I never want to be satisfied. That may be a large fault of mine but I always want to continue to strive to make a difference for at least one person. I wish I was more content more often but I am finally seeing that my not being satisfied is not necessarily a bad thing.
As you can tell, music truly speaks to my soul. It's where I get lost in thought and challenged in ideas. I do enjoy reading but music seems to impact me in a more powerful way.
Hey, I have a dream of a powerful ministry which involves a Christian band. Anybody want to join the dream? I have mediocre singing and music abilities but a good heart!
There is a line in a Sheryl Crow song that says, "It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you have!" I like where that energy is directed. Being thankful for all that we are given and have as opposed to greedily wanting more as the media ingrains in our minds a thousand times a day. How does this connect to freedom? Isn't being thankful and content with what we have truly a freedom of the soul? Content? Yes, content. I believe there is a difference between contentment and satisfaction. To me contentment is being thankful and grateful for the gifts in life we are given. Being satisfied means we are done, there is nothing more to strive for and I never want to be satisfied. That may be a large fault of mine but I always want to continue to strive to make a difference for at least one person. I wish I was more content more often but I am finally seeing that my not being satisfied is not necessarily a bad thing.
As you can tell, music truly speaks to my soul. It's where I get lost in thought and challenged in ideas. I do enjoy reading but music seems to impact me in a more powerful way.
Hey, I have a dream of a powerful ministry which involves a Christian band. Anybody want to join the dream? I have mediocre singing and music abilities but a good heart!
Freedom cont., hypocritically conflicted, other stuff
A couple of thoughts on freedom....
If we are able to freely question and discuss freedom aren't we truly free in the political sense?
There seem to be two freedoms in my last blog, spiritual and political.
On the spiritual freedom, I was listening to Casting Crowns "Lifesong" CD on the way to school today and listened a couple of times to my favorite song on it called "Do you want to be free?" Here's the last few lines of this song:
Do want to be free?
Lift your chains I hold the key
All power of heaven and earth belong to Me
(And the best part the true kicker to all of this. Here is how it ends.)
You are free! You are free!
(Beware, hard driving rock & roll alert!)
There it is...all we need to know..it has already been gifted to us by His sacrifice and resurrection!
I find as I type these blogs I'm real good at talking the talk through these words but I suck at walking it. My term for this is hypocritically conflicted. I understand the right things to say and know to whom my heart belongs but my actions and spoken words don't always follow that path. Is it okay to have discourse on this and yet know you are a hypocrit in action. A constant struggle for sure and yes, I know, it is part of the human condition but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Reminds me of Keith Green song that says, "But nothing last except the grace of God!" Amen
I know I had other brilliant thoughts but they are gone now.
If we are able to freely question and discuss freedom aren't we truly free in the political sense?
There seem to be two freedoms in my last blog, spiritual and political.
On the spiritual freedom, I was listening to Casting Crowns "Lifesong" CD on the way to school today and listened a couple of times to my favorite song on it called "Do you want to be free?" Here's the last few lines of this song:
Do want to be free?
Lift your chains I hold the key
All power of heaven and earth belong to Me
(And the best part the true kicker to all of this. Here is how it ends.)
You are free! You are free!
(Beware, hard driving rock & roll alert!)
There it is...all we need to know..it has already been gifted to us by His sacrifice and resurrection!
I find as I type these blogs I'm real good at talking the talk through these words but I suck at walking it. My term for this is hypocritically conflicted. I understand the right things to say and know to whom my heart belongs but my actions and spoken words don't always follow that path. Is it okay to have discourse on this and yet know you are a hypocrit in action. A constant struggle for sure and yes, I know, it is part of the human condition but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Reminds me of Keith Green song that says, "But nothing last except the grace of God!" Amen
I know I had other brilliant thoughts but they are gone now.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Freedom
Just got home from the world's longest choir and band concert. It was very good but VERY long. Anyway, here goes a quick thought.
Freedom is a word that has been bantered about a lot with the war in Iraq, the Declaration of Independence on display at the History Center, and the daily news which covers some story that paints a lot of gray into what is freedom and what is encroachment on other's freedom. I certainly don't have many answers. Questions are easier to come up with here. My sense is that when we tie freedom to tangible and/or material things we miss the point. Freedom cannot be measured or given a monetary value. It is intrinsic and infinite in some ways I think. I don't know if we ever truly experience freedom. We are all bound by expectations that we put on ourselves and that our society places upon us. I was listening to an interview with a man who has studied the history of the Declaration of Independence. Very interesting to say the least. I want to study more about the trials and tribulations our founding fathers faced in making a declaration for our freedom. They literally had a bounty placed upon them by the King of Britain. It is hard to fathom risking your life for writing a document. They didn't have guns or knives to threaten the British with, no it was a pen but a mighty pen it was. Their words expressed what they envisioned true freedom being. It is interesting to me that in a state where we struggle with how to deal with documents that are "just pieces of paper" while dealing with the treaties with the Native Americans, we have no problem fully buying into the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, etc. Sorry I digressed there, just remember hearing someone complain about the treaty thing using the argument that it is just an old piece of paper. That is probably a topic for another day.
So freedom, we live in a country founded on that principle. However, I believe true freedom goes back long before 1776. Can we really experience freedom without the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross all those years ago? I don't think so. Of course, being human we may not truly ever experience TOTAL freedom. The paradox of my faith is that I must give up everything to experience that freedom. It is amazing how often I experience the most joy and peace in my life when I lift up my burdens and stresses to my maker. Those gifts that are dearest to me are true gifts which I fortunately had no control over, my wife, my daughters, etc. All gifts from above and keys to survival down below.
The discourse that happens while discussing our freedom in a country and citizenship frame of mind are all worth while. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to diminish the importance of those conversations. I'm just not sure we will ever have the answers. The Answer may have come in a far different place with a far different outcome.
Well this has turned out not to be brief. Sorry about that. Freedom....it equates with peace for me and peace is another intangible quality. Our perceptions of freedom and peace are, rightfully so, tied with the war in Iraq and other conflicts around the world. My personal freedom and peace has very little to do with those military actions however. It is directly related to my relationship with God. Sometimes I think we think too much about how to bring it about instead of relying on our instinct and heart.
Lord let me bring that sense of peace and freedom to the young people I am fortunate enough to teach each day. They desperately cry for that calm that comes from such examples.
It's late and I'm sure tomorrow morning this will all seem very disjointed and make no sense. I'll try and clarify when I'm more alert. Good night!
Freedom is a word that has been bantered about a lot with the war in Iraq, the Declaration of Independence on display at the History Center, and the daily news which covers some story that paints a lot of gray into what is freedom and what is encroachment on other's freedom. I certainly don't have many answers. Questions are easier to come up with here. My sense is that when we tie freedom to tangible and/or material things we miss the point. Freedom cannot be measured or given a monetary value. It is intrinsic and infinite in some ways I think. I don't know if we ever truly experience freedom. We are all bound by expectations that we put on ourselves and that our society places upon us. I was listening to an interview with a man who has studied the history of the Declaration of Independence. Very interesting to say the least. I want to study more about the trials and tribulations our founding fathers faced in making a declaration for our freedom. They literally had a bounty placed upon them by the King of Britain. It is hard to fathom risking your life for writing a document. They didn't have guns or knives to threaten the British with, no it was a pen but a mighty pen it was. Their words expressed what they envisioned true freedom being. It is interesting to me that in a state where we struggle with how to deal with documents that are "just pieces of paper" while dealing with the treaties with the Native Americans, we have no problem fully buying into the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, etc. Sorry I digressed there, just remember hearing someone complain about the treaty thing using the argument that it is just an old piece of paper. That is probably a topic for another day.
So freedom, we live in a country founded on that principle. However, I believe true freedom goes back long before 1776. Can we really experience freedom without the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross all those years ago? I don't think so. Of course, being human we may not truly ever experience TOTAL freedom. The paradox of my faith is that I must give up everything to experience that freedom. It is amazing how often I experience the most joy and peace in my life when I lift up my burdens and stresses to my maker. Those gifts that are dearest to me are true gifts which I fortunately had no control over, my wife, my daughters, etc. All gifts from above and keys to survival down below.
The discourse that happens while discussing our freedom in a country and citizenship frame of mind are all worth while. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to diminish the importance of those conversations. I'm just not sure we will ever have the answers. The Answer may have come in a far different place with a far different outcome.
Well this has turned out not to be brief. Sorry about that. Freedom....it equates with peace for me and peace is another intangible quality. Our perceptions of freedom and peace are, rightfully so, tied with the war in Iraq and other conflicts around the world. My personal freedom and peace has very little to do with those military actions however. It is directly related to my relationship with God. Sometimes I think we think too much about how to bring it about instead of relying on our instinct and heart.
Lord let me bring that sense of peace and freedom to the young people I am fortunate enough to teach each day. They desperately cry for that calm that comes from such examples.
It's late and I'm sure tomorrow morning this will all seem very disjointed and make no sense. I'll try and clarify when I'm more alert. Good night!
The Inaugural Blog
Well here goes nothin'! And odds are this will be a lot about nothing. Thanks to my friend Neil David, David Neil has decided to enter into the blogging fray. While I don't have nearly the brilliant thoughts or analytical mind of my friend...I can blab for a long time and cover almost nothing. This intro is a good indicator of that.
It is my hope to share questions, thoughts, observations from the daily joy ride of life. I don't pretend to have all the answers or even any of the answers but lots of questions and thoughts. I also have a few pet peeves that I need to cleanse myself of along the way also. Feel free to share your thoughts, agree or disagree, I can handle it.
My first pet peeve goes out to the cigarette smokers of the world. On my commute each day I lose count of how many cigarette butts get thrown at me (well, not at me) during my drive. This act of littering and disrespect for our planet drives me insane for some reason. I can't pinpoint why it is such a big frustration for me but it is. Same with the butt flickers on the sidewalk, etc. Friday as I was leaving school I saw a parent flick away on the sidewalk coming into school. Please, I beg of all of you, find a trash can. I'm not going to argue the merits of whether you should or shouldn't have the right to smoke. I'm a big believer in freedoms but why is it so difficult to treat your cig trash as trash. Okay, got that out of my system.
As I typed that I realized that some of the thousands of people who will be reading this...(sarcasm)...may not know who I am or my background. I will do a little bio at some point here.
Since we just finished celebrating Mother's Day...I gotta tell you about my wife. She is hands down the best Mom that God has graced this planet with. It would take many a blog to share all of her attributes. Thank God my two daughters have her to guide them, mold them, be compassionate to them, not to mention fix their meals, wash their clothes, and work on all the creative projects that go on endlessly in our home. Esther, thank you for your humble, compassionate soul and for sharing yourself and your amazing talents with me!
Neil David has been sharing much about ego based on a book by Eckard Tolle. We have shared that many of our issues as a society stem from the presence and power of ego. I haven't read the book yet but the discussions are interesting. I must admit that it is very humbling as I realize that my ego has been a big stumbling block for myself. As I face the daunting task of job hunting again this year, it is apparent I need to remove my own ego and selfish wants and succumb to what God is calling and WILL provide for me and my family. Others who were also cut are interviewing this week and I am sincerely excited for their opportunities while also finding myself in a "funk" of self-pity because I have not been called. How easy it is for me to forget who is in charge or better yet WHOM is in charge. While I try and control things to work my way I forget how every time in my life God has provided, guided, and opened doors of opportunity. I need to give it up. My ego, the job concerns, my family concerns, my life...give it up, let it go, trust in the One who died and rose for me and all those around me. I know the right words to say, the discipline to take action or maybe more importantly not take action is the tough part for me.
Thanks for "listening" here. Hey Neil, this blogging thing is quite cathartic. Thanks!
Endo
It is my hope to share questions, thoughts, observations from the daily joy ride of life. I don't pretend to have all the answers or even any of the answers but lots of questions and thoughts. I also have a few pet peeves that I need to cleanse myself of along the way also. Feel free to share your thoughts, agree or disagree, I can handle it.
My first pet peeve goes out to the cigarette smokers of the world. On my commute each day I lose count of how many cigarette butts get thrown at me (well, not at me) during my drive. This act of littering and disrespect for our planet drives me insane for some reason. I can't pinpoint why it is such a big frustration for me but it is. Same with the butt flickers on the sidewalk, etc. Friday as I was leaving school I saw a parent flick away on the sidewalk coming into school. Please, I beg of all of you, find a trash can. I'm not going to argue the merits of whether you should or shouldn't have the right to smoke. I'm a big believer in freedoms but why is it so difficult to treat your cig trash as trash. Okay, got that out of my system.
As I typed that I realized that some of the thousands of people who will be reading this...(sarcasm)...may not know who I am or my background. I will do a little bio at some point here.
Since we just finished celebrating Mother's Day...I gotta tell you about my wife. She is hands down the best Mom that God has graced this planet with. It would take many a blog to share all of her attributes. Thank God my two daughters have her to guide them, mold them, be compassionate to them, not to mention fix their meals, wash their clothes, and work on all the creative projects that go on endlessly in our home. Esther, thank you for your humble, compassionate soul and for sharing yourself and your amazing talents with me!
Neil David has been sharing much about ego based on a book by Eckard Tolle. We have shared that many of our issues as a society stem from the presence and power of ego. I haven't read the book yet but the discussions are interesting. I must admit that it is very humbling as I realize that my ego has been a big stumbling block for myself. As I face the daunting task of job hunting again this year, it is apparent I need to remove my own ego and selfish wants and succumb to what God is calling and WILL provide for me and my family. Others who were also cut are interviewing this week and I am sincerely excited for their opportunities while also finding myself in a "funk" of self-pity because I have not been called. How easy it is for me to forget who is in charge or better yet WHOM is in charge. While I try and control things to work my way I forget how every time in my life God has provided, guided, and opened doors of opportunity. I need to give it up. My ego, the job concerns, my family concerns, my life...give it up, let it go, trust in the One who died and rose for me and all those around me. I know the right words to say, the discipline to take action or maybe more importantly not take action is the tough part for me.
Thanks for "listening" here. Hey Neil, this blogging thing is quite cathartic. Thanks!
Endo
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