PONDERINGS

The following are just things I've been thinking and writing about in little bits of time here and there over several weeks. Or months, maybe.


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I know someone who is unhappy about something and seems pretty determined to continue believing the worst case scenario about every aspect of it. From my perspective, which is obviously limited because I'm not them, they're bitter. They recently brought the situation up for the gazillionth time and I found myself thinking all sorts of snarky things to say in response. Then I realized I was bitter about their bitterness. How ridiculously hypocritical is that?!


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Melanie once asked me what I thought God was trying to teach me through Tim's unemployment. It was a while back, early in this game that we're still playing, but I was feeling pretty discouraged at the time and her question was a good one. I don't believe that God's wagging his finger, shaking his head, and saying "I'll teach you a lesson" (and I know Melanie doesn't think that either), nor do I think that lessons can only be learned through circumstances of our own making or only through the curve-balls life just throws our way. I do think, though, that we can all make an effort to see what we can learn through whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.

One of the things I regularly say to the little Ws is "Be teachable". I think it's equally important for adults, myself included, to take the same advice. Whether your life is mostly sunshine and roses or a huge dark cloud, take time to consider what you can learn from it. Maybe it's choosing to express thankfulness for the good things when life seems to deal one blow after another, using your resources (time, money, skills, etc.) to bless other people who could use your help, or extending grace to those who have let you down and/or forgiveness to those who have hurt you. Maybe it's trusting that God will meet your needs, learning to be responsible with your resources, or remembering that no hard season (or good season, for that matter) lasts forever. Maybe it's talking less about yourself, listening more to others, or going out of your way to befriend someone. Maybe it's managing your time wisely, getting adequate sleep, or having a better work ethic. It could be anything, really.

Just think on that today. Consider what you can learn about yourself from your current circumstances, how you can grow as a person through whatever your life is like right now.


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Relationships change. All kinds of relationships. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, sometimes to something that's simply different. Different can seem better and different can seem worse, even if neither is really accurate because it's simply just ... different. I prefer the "seem better" kind of different and have realized I don't handle the "seem worse" kind very well at all, even when I realize objectively that it's not worse. Just different.


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"Growth comes from truth. Truth is learned through knowledge. Knowledge is acquired through study. Study requires discipline and/or desire. Oh, how I wish my desire was strong enough to increase my discipline! To not just be spiritually hungry, but ravenous, to want nothing more than to know more of Jesus!"

~ Copied from my Bible study notes.


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If my circumstances never changed, then what would my attitude be? I think about that a lot. If employment, housing, health, family relationships, transportation, or other situations that we aren't content with were to stay the same forever, then how will we respond?  Let's assume that we have no control over whether or not changes can be made and that it doesn't matter whether our discontent seems valid to other people or not.

The choice is ours. Are we going to choose to make the best of the situation we're in and keep moving forward with a smile on our face? Are we going to choose to focus on the things we don't like and wallow in a stagnant pond of self-pity and complaining?


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If we find ourselves in the middle of a lot of conflicts or drama, then we should pay attention to the fact that we are the common denominator in all those situations. Figure out what changes to make. Make them. Move forward.


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How can I show love to the unwanted and forgotten? There are some specific groups of people that I have a soft spot for, but I've been reminded in various ways lately of how important it is to intentionally reach out to those who tend to be ignored. I need to figure out what the best way to do that is at this particular point in time.


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