Whistle as You Ride Your Bike!

It amazes me to watch my son.  Children are oblivious to things that we as adults (unfortunately), let eat at us.  He does things with an innocence and carefree attitude, that makes me envy him. When his friend says something hurtful, or dumps him to go play with another kid, he shrugs his shoulders and moves on.  He doesn't dwell on it. He doesn't let it play over and over in his mind.  He doesn't lose sleep.  He gets on his bike and rides around the block whistling to himself!

*This literally just happened to him, and that is what he is doing*

I can't help but think, if I handled things the way he does, how much better things would be. I just spent the last week fretting on and off about something, when I should just have gotten on my bike and rode around the block whistling to myself!  Why do we do this?  

Now granted there are some things that as adults, should be in our thoughts.  We can't live life oblivious to our responsibilities, the family that God has entrusted to our care, to our marriages, etc.  I'm talking about the other things that occupy WAY too much of our thoughts and time, but are not as big of a deal as we make them out to be.

You know what I'm talking about......

"So and so didn't say hi to me as she passed me in the hall!" 

"This guy cut me off in traffic, now my whole day is ruined" 

"They gave me American cheese instead of cheddar on my sandwich today" 

Ok, these are exaggerations to make my point.....I hope!

But seriously, be truthful with yourself for two days. Write down the things that occupy your thoughts each day. Take a few minutes every couple of hours and just jot down the things that have occupied your thoughts in that time.  

At the end of the day, read your list. Pray about it, and ask God to help you 

~ improve on the things that occupy your thoughts and time, that shouldn't. 

~ to worry less and dwell less on things that really, in the grand scheme of things, don't matter. 

~ to not let your day get ruined by trivial matters. 

~ rely on Him more. 

You will not only see where your day goes better, but also where your evening time with your family is better, as well.  You'll find more to praise God for.  

Banana Chips

As I sit here eating banana chips, I can’t help but think about the fact that I used to think they were disgusting. I wasn’t (I feel) what you would have called a picky child growing up, but it still amazes me how many foods I have grown to like over the years. Foods that, as a kid, I would never have eaten or ever thought I would.

But there is one thing that makes this a possibility....without it, I would never know that I now like banana chips....the gumption to take a chance and try again.

It is hard to fathom how many foods I could be assuming that I don’t like, had I not had the courage to try them for the first time, or even again!

Of course, this topic covers more than just food. There are so many things that God could be placing before us right now, that we are just assuming are something we will not care for. So many opportunities, interests, friendships....that we are just letting pass us by.

As I finish my banana chips, let me encourage you to.......

pick a new venture.....retry something......open yourself up to the possibilities, opportunities and friendships that God is placing before you.

Community

Community...it can be a scary thing. True community does not come easily or cheaply. It goes beyond just going to church together, or even serving in the same Ministry together. It breaks down the borders of the superficial relationship. It causes us to dive into something deeper, more personal....

But why is that so scary? Why does it frighten us to be in a position where people can get to know us better? Why are the feelings of vulnerability so strong?

I think it is because we are afraid that we are going to be alone. Ironic....yes....we are trying so hard to keep ourselves on an island, all because our true fear is that we will be...ALONE!?

What am I talking about? I am talking about that fear that we are going to finally come out of our shell, share that “thing” that we have been holding inside of us, and we are going to hear the collective gasp and see the shaking of heads. That we will be ALONE in our sin, or what we are thinking or feeling.

Well, it is simply not true. The exact opposite is the truth. When you finally allow yourself the opportunity to truly get to know others, you see that you are not alone, that you have commonalities with people that you never knew existed. This withdrawal, we feel, promises us safety...but it really just causes us to miss out on countless times of joy and support. All of us need a sense of belonging...to know that there is a group of people who know what’s going on in our life Monday - Saturday, and who will support us when needed.

Don’t let your fears keep you from forming friendships and bonds. Community is a creation of God. This next year, make it your goal to allow Community in your life. Find ways to make those connections. They are easier to find then you think.

“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Proverbs 27:17