I constantly have ideas rambling through my head that I would love to blog about. Rarely do I actually make the time to sit down and write. I suppose this is some type of flaw in my nature or rather just a way of prioritizing that reflects where my life is currently.
Anyway, I'm reading a lot of books right now...Blue Like Jazz, Velvet Elvis, Battlefield of the Mind, Get out of that Pit. Let me just say, while I enjoy listening to Joyce Meyers now and then, I am really having trouble reading her book. It's not that her conclusions are necessarily wrong, but her means of getting to them is utterly annoying. They follow no pattern of legitimate study, but random cross referencing of different versions (interpretations) of the Bible. Maybe I'm being an academic snob. I'm trying not to be. At least I haven't given up reading it all together. Blue Like Jazz is great reading. So far, I'm a big fan of his writing style. I'm only a chapter into Velvet Elvis. I have yet to make any conclusions. Although, my first observation is his poignant use of analogy.
Ok. So, other than that, I've discovered an amazing thing about God's grace. Well, I say God's grace. Let me explain. Just when you think things can't get any worse, the sinking ship gets another hole (how's that for analogy). So, I'm not sure if it's God's grace, denial or an acceptance that this is life and who wants to live life unhappy or feeling like it's always a struggle. That is why I use the analogy of the sinking ship with another hole. When the ship is going under anyway, does one more hole really matter all that much or make the ship sink any faster. Personally, I think not. It may be delirium, but I choose to think that this hole is allowing the water that's in the boat to seep out, thus making the ship sink less quickly. A-HA! It is my hope that the dreary posts of the beginning of this year will be replaced with much lighter and enjoyable observations about life. This is life. I think I agree with anyone who says that life is 90% attitude and 10% what happens to you. Life isn't changing much around here. I'm not sure that life does...Solomon was wise, he didn't seem to think it changed much at all. I think life changes when we see it differently. We are all in this together. We are all messed up in some way. We all go through crap. You can't really compare crap...it all stinks. Sometimes the smallest crap stinks the worst. Sometimes it all comes down to perspective. You can only do so much, and then you have to raise your hands and say Jesus take the wheel. Maybe that's what age and wisdom do for youthful zeal...they calm and steady us so that we realize what is important in life. If we could only find that perfect balance.
My friend Loyd just wrote an awesome blog about how it's not so much about our methods but our obedience. I think the lessons I'm learning now are really clicking with that sentiment. This is part of success...contentment ~ lesson one for those of you who have followed. Do what your hands are given to do with all of your might, whatever that may be...like it or not.
I'm happy - almost deliriously happy. Grace, acceptance, attitude, determination, delirium...call it what you will. At least it's not the pit of despair.
Still cleaning up the crap, but doing it with a smile!
