In his book "Theirs Is The Kingdom", Robert Lipton states, "Not even Christianity is exempt from its harsh truth. Our faith clearly does not measure up to the claims of its popular promoters. Hidden behind the promise of peace is warfare; concealed amidst the assurances of hope is plaguing doubt. And in the shadow of great joy stands a cross... Integrity and deceit, growth and brokenness, affection and hostility. They are the realities of life in the field where I live and work. To deny any aspect is to miss the full measure of life. The assurance of a good harvest in the fullness of time is enough to make the joys satisfying and the pain tolerable."
I often find myself, like so many others I'm sure, wandering aimlessly through a self-created wilderness; drudging knee deep through emotions of doubt, pity, and loneliness. Sad, but very true. However, what I have come to realize is the trying, emotionally draining, seemingly hopeless times are the reason for my colorful outlook on life. Without the good and the bad experiences, I would not have the ability or knowledge to decide my perspective. My life would consist solely of aimless wandering and the permeation of true sadness. What is great about all of this is I am choosing to live a different way. Now, don't get me wrong. It is not easy and I screw up A LOT, but what choices that are truly worth it are ever easy? So, like I said, I am making a choice...
I want to see the best in people, so they can see the best in me. I want to view my problems as small, so not to become overwhelmed and burdened by them. I want to laugh, love, and appreciate more so that the anger, tears, and doubt are suffocated and become few and far between. I want to pay attention to everything, so I miss out on nothing. I want to believe in myself as much as I believe in others. I want to dream deeper and larger than life; to do more and be more, so I am never scared to take a leap of faith. I want to overcome my fears, so I am able to help others become fearless; fall backwards into darkness simply for the thrill of it. Fear and uncertainty lose their grip if I give them nothing to hold on to. But above all, I want to constantly share and show the depths of my faith in order to inspire others to believe.
Everything matters. Everyone matters. I want to live as so.
Through every one of my experiences, all of the ups and downs, the laughter and tears, the achievements and failures, the loves and losses, the places and people, I have been slowly designing a uniquely beautiful and strangely complex outlook on life with Jesus as my anchor. The kicker is that even though my surroundings and experiences create this thing called a life, I still have the ability to make alterations. I can not always control my surroundings, but I can prevent them from controlling me.
While sitting shotgun in this emotional roller coaster, I get an up close and personal encounter with the realization that my choices allow me to determine my outlook. Like Mr. Lipton said, without enduring the entire spectrum that life has to offer, I would never know about this wonderful blessing called a choice. My happiness is ultimately up to me. What doesn't kill me truly does make me stronger. Life's many circumstances are, for the most part, uncontrollable, but my negative reactions toward them are completely avoidable.
The most powerful part of recognizing perspective as a choice is it allows me appreciate every experience, good and bad, that I encounter while ever so elegantly stumbling along life's path...
I walk a little ways, trip on something that came out of no where, catch my balance, and stand up with a smile on my face thinking I just dodged a bullet... only to fall face first into a puddle of mud. So is life.
But here is the beauty of it...
Recently, when life's most current affliction reared its ugly head, I was overcome with a strange feeling. As certain as I was about the reason for the tears streaming down my face, I realized why it needed to happen, why God made it happen. I was thankful for every one of those little drops and the horse they rode in on! My pain, although it still hurt like ever, was easier to understand and manage.
Even better, when I really dig deep and am extremely fortunate, I am able to appreciate my pain. I learn and grow from it. Laughter becomes more rich, accomplishments more memorable, and faith more fulfilling and sustaining than ever. The small things that would normally go unnoticed power their way into moments worthy of remembering. Something as small as riding my bike at sunrise, wind blowing in my hair, sun shining on my face, with the words of a Sugarland song making me grin like a kid on Christmas morning affects me. Why does that even matter to me? I guess because I want it to. I am choosing for it to matter.
It's why I love laughing so hard I cry and start in with the "silent laugh" so that it sounds like I am choking. Or why warm sheets, coffee in the morning, the moment right before I go to sleep, Friday's excitement for the weekend, lounging on a boat on the lake, sitting on a balcony overlooking the ocean, the moment right after my soccer team scores a goal, laughing about dreams remembered, seeing a friend's face or hearing her voice while she tells me she is engaged or pregnant, running with my dog, a friend's crazy laugh, first date nerves, friendly faces in the Grove on a home football weekend, and an addicting vampire book series never get old.
Favorite movies I could watch on repeat that no one else seems to enjoy, quotes from songs and Bible verses that I write all over my desk and bedroom, and landscapes so breathtaking I could stare for hours all bring me such joy. I feel so blessed that I have realized how to allow the little things to have an impact on my life. It is up to me to decide how I feel, and I continually thank God that He trusts me to make that choice.
Having the ability to determine my perspective is an absolutely beautiful thing.
Choose wisely...
I often find myself, like so many others I'm sure, wandering aimlessly through a self-created wilderness; drudging knee deep through emotions of doubt, pity, and loneliness. Sad, but very true. However, what I have come to realize is the trying, emotionally draining, seemingly hopeless times are the reason for my colorful outlook on life. Without the good and the bad experiences, I would not have the ability or knowledge to decide my perspective. My life would consist solely of aimless wandering and the permeation of true sadness. What is great about all of this is I am choosing to live a different way. Now, don't get me wrong. It is not easy and I screw up A LOT, but what choices that are truly worth it are ever easy? So, like I said, I am making a choice...
I want to see the best in people, so they can see the best in me. I want to view my problems as small, so not to become overwhelmed and burdened by them. I want to laugh, love, and appreciate more so that the anger, tears, and doubt are suffocated and become few and far between. I want to pay attention to everything, so I miss out on nothing. I want to believe in myself as much as I believe in others. I want to dream deeper and larger than life; to do more and be more, so I am never scared to take a leap of faith. I want to overcome my fears, so I am able to help others become fearless; fall backwards into darkness simply for the thrill of it. Fear and uncertainty lose their grip if I give them nothing to hold on to. But above all, I want to constantly share and show the depths of my faith in order to inspire others to believe.
Everything matters. Everyone matters. I want to live as so.
Through every one of my experiences, all of the ups and downs, the laughter and tears, the achievements and failures, the loves and losses, the places and people, I have been slowly designing a uniquely beautiful and strangely complex outlook on life with Jesus as my anchor. The kicker is that even though my surroundings and experiences create this thing called a life, I still have the ability to make alterations. I can not always control my surroundings, but I can prevent them from controlling me.
While sitting shotgun in this emotional roller coaster, I get an up close and personal encounter with the realization that my choices allow me to determine my outlook. Like Mr. Lipton said, without enduring the entire spectrum that life has to offer, I would never know about this wonderful blessing called a choice. My happiness is ultimately up to me. What doesn't kill me truly does make me stronger. Life's many circumstances are, for the most part, uncontrollable, but my negative reactions toward them are completely avoidable.
The most powerful part of recognizing perspective as a choice is it allows me appreciate every experience, good and bad, that I encounter while ever so elegantly stumbling along life's path...
I walk a little ways, trip on something that came out of no where, catch my balance, and stand up with a smile on my face thinking I just dodged a bullet... only to fall face first into a puddle of mud. So is life.
But here is the beauty of it...
Recently, when life's most current affliction reared its ugly head, I was overcome with a strange feeling. As certain as I was about the reason for the tears streaming down my face, I realized why it needed to happen, why God made it happen. I was thankful for every one of those little drops and the horse they rode in on! My pain, although it still hurt like ever, was easier to understand and manage.
Even better, when I really dig deep and am extremely fortunate, I am able to appreciate my pain. I learn and grow from it. Laughter becomes more rich, accomplishments more memorable, and faith more fulfilling and sustaining than ever. The small things that would normally go unnoticed power their way into moments worthy of remembering. Something as small as riding my bike at sunrise, wind blowing in my hair, sun shining on my face, with the words of a Sugarland song making me grin like a kid on Christmas morning affects me. Why does that even matter to me? I guess because I want it to. I am choosing for it to matter.
It's why I love laughing so hard I cry and start in with the "silent laugh" so that it sounds like I am choking. Or why warm sheets, coffee in the morning, the moment right before I go to sleep, Friday's excitement for the weekend, lounging on a boat on the lake, sitting on a balcony overlooking the ocean, the moment right after my soccer team scores a goal, laughing about dreams remembered, seeing a friend's face or hearing her voice while she tells me she is engaged or pregnant, running with my dog, a friend's crazy laugh, first date nerves, friendly faces in the Grove on a home football weekend, and an addicting vampire book series never get old.
Favorite movies I could watch on repeat that no one else seems to enjoy, quotes from songs and Bible verses that I write all over my desk and bedroom, and landscapes so breathtaking I could stare for hours all bring me such joy. I feel so blessed that I have realized how to allow the little things to have an impact on my life. It is up to me to decide how I feel, and I continually thank God that He trusts me to make that choice.
Having the ability to determine my perspective is an absolutely beautiful thing.
Choose wisely...
"A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God."
-1 Timothy 6:6
"Do not sorrow for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
-Nehemiah 8:10
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
-Psalm 51:12
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