I remember when I bought my first car and it cost me a grand total of $16.00 to top off my tank. Today the number 16 only refers to the number of gallons it can hold because in dollars and cents that would barely get me to Wal-mart! Of course let's face it, gas isn't the only thing that costs more- from gum to cars, you name it, the numbers keep escalating.
When prices go up we notice because it touches us personally, you know, our wallets! It causes us to change how we handle our finances, do our budget, balance our spending, pay our bills etc. Change never comes easily but I have found as I get ol...umm...more mature, change is inevitable. What do I mean? Well let's see besides the cost of living, here are a few other areas that I have found myself having to make adjustments:
The 30 Hill! When I was in my twenties I thought 'this is the life.' I could eat anything I want and not gain an ounce, I always was full of energy, I was okay with waiting because I was young, I could still become anything I wanted, I could go wherever I wanted...the world was at my fingertips and there was no hurry or worry. Then I turned 30 and it all changed. Suddenly my body began to betray me, I started developing this soft inner tube like thing around my stomach area-what is that? And why won't it go away? If this had made an appearance 5 years ago I could probably go for a bike ride and it would go away, now, it clings on for dear life, my goal now is to eliminate it...slowly.
I remember the days that I could wake up and spring out of bed and if I dropped something I would bend down and pick it up and be on my way...I miss those days (insert tear here). The good news is that I have discovered muscles that I never knew I had, the bad news is that I know they are there now because they hurt. The first day I bent down to pick up something and let out a grunt...well...sad. Oh days of rebound, how I long for you.
Not only is my body changing (not all for the bad, but definitely not all for the good either)), but my health is as well. What are all these aches that have mysteriously set up camp? I never had much health issues but now I've been struggling with one for a couple years and the most frustrating part is the lack of diagnosis. It's like we must doctor ourselves these days. I see so many of my friends and family also experiencing changes in their health for no apparent reasons and I long for the free from pain days. Don't get me wrong, I have many good days but I am certainly reminded often that it is not what it used to be.
Then there are the relationship changes. Friends that come in for seasons and then go and then friends that come and will be there for life and you can't imagine what life was like before and don't want to think of life without. Family relationships change, suddenly those close to you are growing up and getting lives of their own, dating, working, traveling...changing the very dynamics of how you interact and preparing for the next stage. Changing schools, churches or jobs presents a continuous flow of new people whose lives you will touch and some of whom will touch yours and change it.
Not to mention how your perspectives change, your likes and dislikes (I mean I love golf and four wheeling, go figure!)
Change is sometimes hard, sometimes easy, sometimes not the best, sometimes really good, but always, always inevitable. So I have found that I really have only one choice when it comes to change and that is my attitude. I can fight it, or embrace it. As a Christian I have to trust what God says, "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future," and "The steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord." Right? He already knows all the changes I will encounter on this journey. For you too. So do I trust Him? Do I pray that He gives me wisdom be a good steward of my finances? Do I trust that if I eat right and exercise my body will be healthier? Do I know that He is the God that heals and the God that leads? Do I believe?
Change is going to come and when it's all said and done I would rather stick with the One who already knows the end from the beginning than try to figure it all out. I'm tired just thinking about it. (I think that is another sign of getting ol...umm more mature) :)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Seeing Faces in the Crowd
People intrigue me. One of my favorite pastimes is to sit in a crowded mall and just people watch (if you haven't done it, try it sometime, trust me, better than cable):) I find that we are a peculiar race. Everyone is always headed somewhere, doing something,goals, plans, go go go, do,do,do. These various idiosyncrasies of individuals are what make this life interesting. Some are for the better and some not so much so. But in everything, in every situation I have found that there is more than meets the eye. There are also important lessons to be learned in everyday encounters. Here are a few of my personal observations:
I have noticed that most people are fairly polite. If I greet someone there is a good chance that possibly 90% will respond, however how many of us actually care about those responses? There is this guy who visits my work place and every time you ask him how he's doing he responds "average fair". Not one of your typical responses but honest no doubt. When someone asks "how's it going?" I have found that they don't actually listen to the response that follows. For instance how many times have you been at a check out counter and asked the cashier "how's it going?" and don't even hear the answer because you assume it's "good"? Right? Our minds are already processing the next thing on our agenda. I know in the past I have had to make myself pay attention to what people say because their answers can surprise us. I remember someone saying once that they 'had better days'. Come to find out that person was going through a tough time. I think we miss out on more opportunities to share Christ, to be an encouragement or just to make someone feel like they matter simply because we are not so much about the Father's business as much as our own.
People are not always the most polite or friendly, so sometimes sharing that Christ-like love is not quite so forthcoming. I sometimes more feel like sharing a piece of my mind but gotta save that for a rainy day :) For instance I sometimes wait on the most obnoxious people who think the world revolves around them and we are there to be their personal peons. I wonder what gives someone the right to think they could use swear words or be crass in a conversation and that simply by saying "please excuse my language" suddenly makes their arrogance and rudeness acceptable? Honestly? Just because you are supposed to be there to wait on someone does not give them the right to be inconsiderate or rude. There is a thing that still exists that is known as respect. Quite frankly I get pretty miffed when I have to listen to someone speak to me directly or about someone else using offensive language and I don't feel obligated to put up with it. How about using one of the other billion words in the English language instead of apologizing for the use of the foul ones? I truly believe that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (gotta wonder what some of these hearts are filled with). For the most part I will share with someone that their language is unacceptable. Being a Christian does not mean getting walked over. My Jesus never failed to speak up for what was right. If people were always allowed to be offensive because no one called them on it, is it fair to them or the people who have to listen to them? I've had people come back in and apologize for using that kind of language. As in any area if one doesn't see one's sin how can one fix it?
Or how about the way we can quote "never judge a book by its cover" yet have a hard time actually living by those standards day after day. I know that someones appearance, speech and even smell make strong first impressions. So much so in some cases that we never see beyond that first glance. I confess, I have done it and perhaps will mess up and do it again. But oh boy, what happens when we venture to dig deeper? Sometimes things get worse granted, but many times life surprises us. I met this woman once who I thought at first was homeless, she was dirty, her clothes were stained and her hair unkempt and stringy. She was older and I was ready to write her off but then this woman started talking to me and after getting over the act of obligatory listening I really began to hear what she was saying. She was working on her Master's degree and was so well read it blew me away. Her opinions and comments were insightful and intelligent and she was confident in what she knew. Obviously others had seen past her exterior because she was a very influential part of a new up and coming program of the Arts at her school. Stop! Holy Spirit check! Humbled me to know that I was almost disgusted by this woman because of what I 'assumed' (let's not delve into that one).I could have missed out on getting to know someone super special because of my shortsightedness. Golly am I glad that God does not write us off that way. He sees us, the inside, all that He put within us, dreams, vision, talents, all that He has planned for us.
What would happen if we started truly seeing people the way God sees us? I mean, what kind of revolution would we start if we actually started caring. Being the Church, displaying His heart. Do you think maybe we would stop being so self-absorbed and start changing lives? Maybe we would see revival in our churches, our schools, our workplaces, our communities, our towns, our counties...Here is the key, which I am daily trying to grasp, every encounter, every person, every situation is a chance for God to be God in us and through us...if we would let Him. I challenge myself...I challenge you to make a difference.
I have noticed that most people are fairly polite. If I greet someone there is a good chance that possibly 90% will respond, however how many of us actually care about those responses? There is this guy who visits my work place and every time you ask him how he's doing he responds "average fair". Not one of your typical responses but honest no doubt. When someone asks "how's it going?" I have found that they don't actually listen to the response that follows. For instance how many times have you been at a check out counter and asked the cashier "how's it going?" and don't even hear the answer because you assume it's "good"? Right? Our minds are already processing the next thing on our agenda. I know in the past I have had to make myself pay attention to what people say because their answers can surprise us. I remember someone saying once that they 'had better days'. Come to find out that person was going through a tough time. I think we miss out on more opportunities to share Christ, to be an encouragement or just to make someone feel like they matter simply because we are not so much about the Father's business as much as our own.
People are not always the most polite or friendly, so sometimes sharing that Christ-like love is not quite so forthcoming. I sometimes more feel like sharing a piece of my mind but gotta save that for a rainy day :) For instance I sometimes wait on the most obnoxious people who think the world revolves around them and we are there to be their personal peons. I wonder what gives someone the right to think they could use swear words or be crass in a conversation and that simply by saying "please excuse my language" suddenly makes their arrogance and rudeness acceptable? Honestly? Just because you are supposed to be there to wait on someone does not give them the right to be inconsiderate or rude. There is a thing that still exists that is known as respect. Quite frankly I get pretty miffed when I have to listen to someone speak to me directly or about someone else using offensive language and I don't feel obligated to put up with it. How about using one of the other billion words in the English language instead of apologizing for the use of the foul ones? I truly believe that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (gotta wonder what some of these hearts are filled with). For the most part I will share with someone that their language is unacceptable. Being a Christian does not mean getting walked over. My Jesus never failed to speak up for what was right. If people were always allowed to be offensive because no one called them on it, is it fair to them or the people who have to listen to them? I've had people come back in and apologize for using that kind of language. As in any area if one doesn't see one's sin how can one fix it?
Or how about the way we can quote "never judge a book by its cover" yet have a hard time actually living by those standards day after day. I know that someones appearance, speech and even smell make strong first impressions. So much so in some cases that we never see beyond that first glance. I confess, I have done it and perhaps will mess up and do it again. But oh boy, what happens when we venture to dig deeper? Sometimes things get worse granted, but many times life surprises us. I met this woman once who I thought at first was homeless, she was dirty, her clothes were stained and her hair unkempt and stringy. She was older and I was ready to write her off but then this woman started talking to me and after getting over the act of obligatory listening I really began to hear what she was saying. She was working on her Master's degree and was so well read it blew me away. Her opinions and comments were insightful and intelligent and she was confident in what she knew. Obviously others had seen past her exterior because she was a very influential part of a new up and coming program of the Arts at her school. Stop! Holy Spirit check! Humbled me to know that I was almost disgusted by this woman because of what I 'assumed' (let's not delve into that one).I could have missed out on getting to know someone super special because of my shortsightedness. Golly am I glad that God does not write us off that way. He sees us, the inside, all that He put within us, dreams, vision, talents, all that He has planned for us.
What would happen if we started truly seeing people the way God sees us? I mean, what kind of revolution would we start if we actually started caring. Being the Church, displaying His heart. Do you think maybe we would stop being so self-absorbed and start changing lives? Maybe we would see revival in our churches, our schools, our workplaces, our communities, our towns, our counties...Here is the key, which I am daily trying to grasp, every encounter, every person, every situation is a chance for God to be God in us and through us...if we would let Him. I challenge myself...I challenge you to make a difference.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
True Wisdom
Last Friday I had the very harrowing, near death experience of having one of my wisdom teeth removed. Why are wisdom teeth so silly anyways? I am not even exaggerating. I spent the prior 2 weeks hearing one horror story after the next about extreme pain, liquid diets, dry sockets, blood clots, infection etc. Is it really any wonder that I was slightly petrified to have this procedure done?
Then my Pastor asks me to speak on Father's Day and I was super excited to be able to share God's word until I realized I was going to undergo major surgery on my mouth 2 days before. Yikes! Well of course that wonderful 'peace that passes all understanding' zoomed right past me and I started freaking out...just a little. I felt a level of calm returning when my friend assured me that it was a piece of cake. Apparently she had gotten all 4 of hers out in 15 minutes with no repercussions. I'm not sure I'll ever take her medical advice again. Lol!
Friday came and accompanied by my mom, sister and best friend (We definitely occupied the majority of chairs in the waiting room) I went to have this procedure done. While there I considered writing a will...but was too nervous to write. Once inside the surgeon sat and explained the details and offered me the opportunity to postpone (hindsight is 20/20 of course, should have jumped at that offer).
Well all numbed up, I sat in the cold, sterile room awaiting my fate, my very destiny as my heart thumped wildly against my chest (golly this is beginning to sound like a cheap novel). The surgeon finally returns and for the next 15 minutes tests the very mettle of my cheek, jaw and face. Now, when you can feel the roots of something being extracted from your face I say there is a problem. But yahoo I survived! By the time I left I had a massive amount of instructions to follow, my cheek was much fatter, my mouth much smaller and my wallet much emptier. I didn't do much that day but ventured out the next.
Well much activity plus recent surgery equals major swelling and I found that by Saturday night I was bearing a striking resemblance to Alvin Seville. I was freaking out again. Just a little bit hysterical as I was consumed with how everyone would view my chubby deformed cheek. Well, since I was staying over at my friend's house she reminded me that even if I looked like a chipmunk I still had to speak and it wasn't about me anyways!
Ahh the truth! Sometimes difficult to face. I got so wrapped up in the extraction that I forgot to trust God with it instead of being consumed by fear and apprehension, I got so self-conscious when I thought about people noticing how I looked and being distracted that I forgot briefly that it really was about God not about me. Good friends tend to serve as good advisors whether we want their advice at the time or not. I repented and prayed.
On Sunday I woke up in pain and still swollen and tried desperately to conjure up a new sweeping hairstyle to hide chubby cheek but decided that it wasn't about what I looked like, it was about what God was doing. What is that scripture? Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and He will lift you up in due time? I had to swallow my pride and you know what, God blessed me. The services went great and no one (even if they did notice) once mentioned my cheek. I was thrilled to rediscover how God takes care of His people and accomplishes his work through us when we will lay aside our own selfish ambition and take on His instead.
Then my Pastor asks me to speak on Father's Day and I was super excited to be able to share God's word until I realized I was going to undergo major surgery on my mouth 2 days before. Yikes! Well of course that wonderful 'peace that passes all understanding' zoomed right past me and I started freaking out...just a little. I felt a level of calm returning when my friend assured me that it was a piece of cake. Apparently she had gotten all 4 of hers out in 15 minutes with no repercussions. I'm not sure I'll ever take her medical advice again. Lol!
Friday came and accompanied by my mom, sister and best friend (We definitely occupied the majority of chairs in the waiting room) I went to have this procedure done. While there I considered writing a will...but was too nervous to write. Once inside the surgeon sat and explained the details and offered me the opportunity to postpone (hindsight is 20/20 of course, should have jumped at that offer).
Well all numbed up, I sat in the cold, sterile room awaiting my fate, my very destiny as my heart thumped wildly against my chest (golly this is beginning to sound like a cheap novel). The surgeon finally returns and for the next 15 minutes tests the very mettle of my cheek, jaw and face. Now, when you can feel the roots of something being extracted from your face I say there is a problem. But yahoo I survived! By the time I left I had a massive amount of instructions to follow, my cheek was much fatter, my mouth much smaller and my wallet much emptier. I didn't do much that day but ventured out the next.
Well much activity plus recent surgery equals major swelling and I found that by Saturday night I was bearing a striking resemblance to Alvin Seville. I was freaking out again. Just a little bit hysterical as I was consumed with how everyone would view my chubby deformed cheek. Well, since I was staying over at my friend's house she reminded me that even if I looked like a chipmunk I still had to speak and it wasn't about me anyways!
Ahh the truth! Sometimes difficult to face. I got so wrapped up in the extraction that I forgot to trust God with it instead of being consumed by fear and apprehension, I got so self-conscious when I thought about people noticing how I looked and being distracted that I forgot briefly that it really was about God not about me. Good friends tend to serve as good advisors whether we want their advice at the time or not. I repented and prayed.
On Sunday I woke up in pain and still swollen and tried desperately to conjure up a new sweeping hairstyle to hide chubby cheek but decided that it wasn't about what I looked like, it was about what God was doing. What is that scripture? Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and He will lift you up in due time? I had to swallow my pride and you know what, God blessed me. The services went great and no one (even if they did notice) once mentioned my cheek. I was thrilled to rediscover how God takes care of His people and accomplishes his work through us when we will lay aside our own selfish ambition and take on His instead.
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Austin
Miranda Tom