switching it up

With the weather turning cold I've actually been chilly this past week! That is unusual for me. Sky depends on me for warmth! As a result I've been desiring hot things to eat and I've had oatmeal each morning this week. Taste buds are changing; I've had mine w/berries, a TBS of raw almond butter & a TBS of ground flax seed. Before it would have been butter, salt & pepper w/a little half and half; or just mixed w/cheese. I've been eating my oatmeal that way since I was a kid. Very rarely with anything sweet.

Well, I needed a change today. Pancakes sounded really good. Like my oatmeal, I've eaten them differently. As a child it was Bisquick mix pancakes with Mrs.Buttersworth's pancake syrup and a big glass of milk; then I would be asleep within the hour. As an older teen I started putting just a sprinkle of sugar on top after buttering them. Didn't make me quite as sleepy. As an adult I've taken to putting peanut butter or applesauce or both on them and then I don't fall asleep at all. Now I know what made me fall asleep in the first place AND I know how to put some real nutrition into the pancakes! I decided to give my old pancake recipe a makeover. Although this updated version is not vegan, it is gluten free, has protein, fiber and won't cause a blood sugar spike (unless you put syrup on them).

I had mine (pictured above) w/ a cup of mixed organic berries, yum! I also had 3 w/ a little bit of almond butter, very nice! This breakfast hit the spot (won't put me to sleep) and with an orange to go will it, will hold me till lunch! Best part? Great nutrition that won't go straight to fat.

This is my new Silver Dollar Garbanzo Pancakes recipe - TASTY!
Simple recipe makes 18-24, 2" diameter pancakes, serves 2 adults or 3 children:
1 cup garbanzo flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp stevia powder-optional (this is not Truvia or Splenda, this is the herb stevia)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
(I think next time I'll add 2 TBS ground flax seed, too, just to get the DHA in there)
Mix the dry ingredients in a 1 quart mixing bowl then add:
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 egg
Mix well and let rest 5 minutes while your griddle is heating to hot (my guess is 300*)
Spoon batter onto very clean, HOT griddle (no spray or oil) and cook first side until you can easily slide your spatula underneath (4-5 minutes for the first ones on the griddle, 3-4 min. for the rest of them)
Turn over and cook another minute, remove to warm plate while you cook the next set

Garbanzo flour only browns very lightly.

All the essential ingredients can be found at most any grocery store.

Don't they look nice?

a taste for chocolate

So, my hubby, Sky, still needs plenty of calories. He has a very physical job plus he works hard physically at home (maintaining the house, outbuildings & acreage, getting wood cut for the winter while working in a plant with five floors and only two freight elevators, he burns serious calories). I baked brownies to pack in his lunch. The fragrance got me going on chocolate. I've been taught to tell myself, "It smells better than it tastes." I've discovered this is true...MOST of the time...but then there are times when you just need to get over the hump.

I used a boxed brownie mix with regular white flour, regular sugar, regular cocoa, 2/3 cup of oil & 2 eggs...all things that would set me back. My pain level has finally been going down over the past 10 days (more on that a bit later), I don't want to do anything to mess that up so, what to do? I don't want to say no to chocolate. The LORD helped me:

1 frozen banana (I froze a very ripe peeled banana in 1 inch chunks wrapped tightly in plastic wrap)
2 chopped dates (have to chop them up BEFORE you put them in the processor)
2 TBS organic cocoa (picked mine up at Nature's Best in Sheboygan at a decent price, they have it at Festival Foods also)
I might add a couple drops of vanilla extract or vanilla powder the next time I do this but, maybe not.

Put all these in my small processor and let it go till it was smooth...and had a chilly sweet very chocolaty treat with the consistency of a Culver's custard treat that hit the spot and was too rich to finish! Um mm good! No fat, plenty of micro nutrients, a bit of fiber, devoid of artificial anything that supplies pain encouraging toxins to my joints AND very VERY tasty!

Thank You Jesus!

Pain: I was told that as my body starts to clear out enough of the toxins that have built up in the fat, my pain level will start to decrease. (I'm expecting about four years until this process will be mostly complete.) Well, I've been eating 'clean' since mid-May and about 10 days ago the pain in my joints (shoulders, elbows, wrists especially) has finally begun to diminish. My knees still hurt when I'm on them but when I'm not on them the pain has dramatically decreased. I cannot tell you what a relief it is. I've actually been able to sleep much better at night because of it.

Thank You Jesus! You created our bodies; the psalmist says "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" and I continue to be amazed by You and Your wonderful works!

Redo...

It's been a very, very...VERY long time since I last posted to this blog. I'm going to start again. A 'redo' so to speak.

I haven't a whole lot of time to put into this but, I think I have something to share.

I'm on a journey to better health. Lower weight, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, lower pain level, no more CPAP, no more asthma, no more eczema and able to walk in the woods again are my objectives. I began in mid-May and already I'm experiencing seven of the nine objectives.

My end goals are to walk in the woods pain free at my ideal weight and maintain that status for as long as the LORD thinks I should be this side of heaven.

If blogging through this process allows me to gain some accountability and provide encouragement to someone else, my purpose here will have been accomplished.

So, stay tuned...and feed my fish...I'm sure they're hungry after all this time.

Peace!

(By the way, as of this morning I'm down 58 pounds. Yay!)

Just sharing...I think it's relevant to what's going on...

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS:

Watch for and take advantage of opportunities to defeat a haughty spirit. These opportunities will come suddenly in various situations and circumstances, but you can quite easily gain the victory by clothing yourself with humility. For indeed, I give grace to the humble, says the Lord. I will empower you to defuse explosive situations by manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. The haughty spirit is a weapon and even a stronghold formed against you, but the weapons I have given you are more subtle and powerful.

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds

Fear, Anger, Humility and Acceptance

So, I have to return to the question from my previous post, "So is it wrong for Him to expect time and character?"

I jumped to far ahead in the thought process with my previous response.

God does not do anything wrong. Therefore, His expectation could not be wrong.

Invoking God's anger has many other things to consider.

Implying a whole lot of things which remind me that His thoughts and ways are higher than mine AND that He is ultimately unfathomable. So, I will keep the further processing of these thoughts to myself for the time being.

What I can do is listen to His Word. His Word also tells me that He becomes angry slowly when I continue to doubt Him. His Word tells me that I must have faith and trust in Him as a little child does with everything in the formative years. His Word tells me that His perfect love casts out fear.

Something that continues to resonate with me at the moment is the Saul to Paul story, in particular Acts 26:14(b) ... It is hard for you to kick against the goads. You remember, Saul thought he was zealous for the Lord when he was in fact zealous for the traditions of men. He was motivated by fear and anger to stomp out the Jesus following heretics. He held the cloaks of those who stoned Stephen, giving approval of the crowd's actions, and likely feeling completely justified. Saul spent a lot of energy on this quest. When Jesus had enough, Saul experienced the fear of God ... and was transformed into the apostle, Paul. Jesus also revealed that He had been making it hard for Saul to go the wrong way. He had placed goads behind him so that Saul would only go forward.

Goads are part of a harness used to capture, control and utilize the strength of an ox or horse or other animal for the purposes of the owner. The Word says we (the righteous and the wicked) were created for His purposes.

When Ananias was given the task to go to Saul and pray for him so that Jesus would restore his eyesight, Ananias was a bit nervous and reminded the Lord that Saul was a 'bad guy' ... and he was from Ananias' perspective ... Jesus told him to go anyway and made it clear, "This man is My chosen instrument to proclaim My name..." Saul was a harnessed instrument, being driven by God for His purposes. And He further reveals that as the transformed Paul, he would continue to suffer.

Ananias was also harnessed. He went where God sent him and accomplished God's will for him in that circumstance ... and I'm sure Ananias had a choice whether or not to suffer anxiety over this task (or not) while he was being obedient. A choice, a challenge, a struggle in the flesh with the natural human perspective as opposed to the spiritual perspective. Which makes me think of Jonah...

All this gives me a different perspective on suffering. We are all harnessed for His purposes. Sometimes we suffer because we are fighting God's will (Jonah, Saul). Sometimes we suffer God's will for us (Jesus, Paul).

Somehow all this has to do with fear, anger, humility, acceptance and obedience. I've got a lot more thinking to do now.

Jesus, I confess I'm feeling fearful because my eyes are on natural things instead of spiritual things. I confess I've let this fear bubble up into anger that I've expressed inappropriately. I want to trust You like a little child does. Cause me to do that. Cause me to keep my eyes on You. Cause me to submit to the harness of Your purposes for me. I don't want to kick against the goads. Your Word tells me that You will never leave me or forsake me, that You are yoked together with me in this harness and Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. Teach me to walk in step with You and Your purposes. I turn away from my kicking against the goads, I turn away from fleshy things, I turn away from my own way and I accept Your harness, Your purposes for me. Thank You for loving me perfectly and casting out my fears.

Presents or Presence?

There is someone in my life who thinks that big presents are good. They are. Especially if they are desired by the one on the receiving end, but...

What if the one on the receiving end desires something intangible even more than the tangible?

What if the one on the receiving end desires particular character qualities?

What if the one on the receiving end desires time?

Perhaps the one on the receiving end will ultimately be disappointed?

I suppose they would be if they received a tangible gift instead of what they truly desired.

I value qualities like commitment, honesty, integrity, transparency in a relationship. I willingly interact with people who exhibit these traits even if I disagree with them on serious issues.

Perceived lack of these qualities severely inhibits my willingness to interact with a person on any but the most superficial level.

I wonder...in several different places in the Bible God expresses His desire for time and character from His children rather than a tangible sacrifice or offering. Do you suppose He is disappointed?

Disappointment comes from unmet expectations.

He knows everything, being omniscient, so, His expectation can't be off.

No, I don't think He's disappointed when He doesn't get what He desires most, I think maybe He's sad.

Is it wrong for Him to expect time and character? He is, after all, the One who created us.

Then maybe He feels angry when His expectation isn't met?

I'm glad He reveals in His Word that He is 'slow to anger and abounding in love.'

I'm comforted to know He says 'My grace is sufficient for you'...

Lord God, I come boldly before Your throne of grace, to receive the mercy and find the grace I need for this day, and this circumstance, and this troubled relationship. Where would I be without You?

Feelings...

Been hearing a lot about feelings lately...how they're not the thing to make decisions by...they're not in control of your life, etc., etc. It's all true but, it doesn't make experiencing them any easier.

I've been feeling a lot of feelings lately.

It's hard not to take some things personal even when someone says, "Don't take it personal."

It's hard to feel sad and be encouraging at the same time.

It's hard not to let your old baggage influence your interpretation of your current circumstances.

It's hard when you're disappointed with someone you've trusted.

It's hard when someone you love is misunderstood.

It's hard when you're misunderstood.

It's hard when you have to sit still and wait and trust God for what is best in the long run.

It's hard sometimes.

It just is.

There's an old song...I know Whom I have believ-ed and am persuaded that He is a-ble to keep that which I've com-mitted unto Him against that Day.

Hangin' on...

Which Ocracy Do You Prefer?

Which Ocracy Do You Prefer?

I've got to weigh in on what's happening in Madison...

It's not a coincidence that the same afternoon that Scott Walker released his budget repair bill to the public that we received a phone message from the Teamsters strongly urging us to contact our representatives and tell them to vote against the bill.

I read the letter the governor sent to the state employees. It was sent to me by my state assembly representative who preferred for me to read it myself than to explain it in his own words. Collective bargaining was limited, not eliminated. There is a big difference between the two.

I hope the people who elected the senators who fled the state and still refuse to return will initiate a recall. They need come back and fulfill their responsibilities to those they represent by participating in the democratic process. Their absence has bought the attention and time we all needed to review the bill. To prolong the vote any further is unreasonable.

Please don't compare this to what is going on in the middle East. We already have a democratic process in place which is not a facade for a dictatorship.

Please don't compare this to what happened with Mercury Marine or Harley Davidson. These were individual companies dealing with business through unions representing employees. These unions do not represent the entire citizenry of the state of Wisconsin, neither have they been elected to state government. It's nice to know that the union members are willing to make some concessions but, the unions are not responsible for the state legislative process. The union members who are citizens of Wisconsin elected the state senators to represent them in Madison and these senators are responsible for the legislative process and they need to vote.

If you're going to compare it to something how about comparing it to stopping a bad habit or breaking an addiction? I remember when I quit smoking. Not fun. My body SCREAMED for a smoke! Losing weight hasn't been any easier...and I keep giving in...and where has that got me? If you don't know me, you can guess. And an addiction...that is only overcome by the grace and power of God. Well, that's all I can think about when I consider what our nation is facing all the way from Washington, to our local municipalities, to our own personal budgets. We're all going to be better off the sooner we do what needs to be done and if we don't, the consequences will continue to multiply to our detriment. Either way there will be pain and we will reap what we have sown.

Let's keep maturity and civility in sight when sharing our own perspective. A soft answer turns away wrath...and a polite and respectful tone is much easier to listen to (and much easier on the throat). Even if you don't change some one's mind, you can still add value to the process.

Click on the link to Chuck Colson's article in BreakPoint on 'ocracies' (good article) and at the bottom of his article you will find more links to other perspectives from the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and NBC Chicago.

Where's the PEACE?

Refuse to allow frustration and impatience to rule. There is no evidence of faith or trust in God when we react based on our emotions.

Rise above the circumstances that have made you angry, or fearful, or caused you to doubt and establish peace in your heart by focusing on the truth in the Word. Then, you can find wisdom and direction for dealing with your...problem.

God pours out wisdom liberally (James 1:5-8) if you will set your heart and mind on trusting Him to show you the way.

In fact, reading the first three chapters of James will build your faith and sharpen your resolve in these areas.

If you discover the wise thing to do is simply to wait and trust Him to work things out in His way and in His time, the Word will again be living and active for you! Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Repeat this to yourself. Repeat it out loud. Do what it says. Peace will return.

God has established peace for us and we will be kept in it when we trust Him. (Isaiah 26:3 & 12)

Fall is my favorite season...

Am I going to enjoy it?

I post on priorities alot. That's because I need to be intentional with them because I like a full life.

I've just got to state my intention: I am going to enjoy this fall season NOW, BEFORE it is gone.

This is the verse I will meditate on to gain alignment to God's purposes in my day-to-day life:

Isaiah 33:6
Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure.

I am not an island unto myself. God is real. His purposes will prevail. I will give an account to Him of my time here on earth. There are consequences to action and inaction. He loves me perfectly, is always present and active, and I can count on that.

We have a new grandson!

Our fifth grandchild, our second grandson!

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

Thoughts to Review and Renew

I'm in that mode again...the old year past, the new year upon us.

I just want to share one thing here this time. A poem by Sam Walter Foss written more than a century ago:

The Calf Path

One day, through the primeval wood,
A calf walked home, as good calves should;
But made a trail all bent askew,
A crooked trail as all calves do.

Since then thee hundred years have fled,
And, I infer, the calf is dead.
But still he left behind his trail,
And thereby hangs my moral tale.

The trail was taken up next day
By a lone dog that passed that way;
And then a wise bell-wether sheep,
And drew the flock behind him, too,
As good bell-wethers always do.
And from that day, o'er hill and glade,
Through those old woods a path was made.

And many men wound in and out,
And dodged, and turned and bent about
And uttered words of righteous wrath
Because 'twas such a crooked path.
But still they followed -- do not laugh --
The first migrations of that calf,
And through this winding wood-way stalked,
Because he wobbled when he walked.

This forest path became a lane,
Then bent, and turned, and turned again;
This crooked lane became a road,
Where many a poor horse with his load
Toiled on beneath the burning sun,
And traveled some three miles in one.
And thus a century and a half
They trod the footsteps of that calf.

The years passed on in swiftness fleet,
The road became a village street;
And this, before men were aware,
A city's crowded thoroughfare;
And soon the central street was this
Of a renowned metropolis;
And men two centuries and a half
Trod in the footsteps of that calf.

Each day a hundred thousand rout
Followed the zigzag calf about;
And o'er his crooked journey went
The traffic of a continent.
A hundred thousand men were led
By one calf near three centuries dead.
They followed still his crooked way,
And lost one hundred years a day;
For thus such reverence is lent
To well-established precedent.

A moral lesson this might teach,
Were I ordained and called to preach;
For men are prone to go it blind
along the calf-paths of the mind,

And work away from sun to sun
To do what other men have done.
They follow in the beaten track,
And out and in, and forth and back,

And still their devious course pursue,
To keep the path that others do.
They keep the path a sacred groove,
Along which all their lives they move.
But how the wise old wood-gods laugh,
Who saw the first primeval calf!
Ah! Many things this tale might teach --
But I am not ordained to preach.

The Manhattan Declaration

Jim Daley, President and CEO of Focus On The Family, has this to say regarding the Manhattan Declaration;
"The document is...a renewed rallying cry to those who have been engaged in this historic effort of spiritual and cultural conversion. This is not a manifesto for culture war; it is a prescription for cultural change...
As a unified body, we are acknowledging that our faith is strong and redemptive, but it's not necessarily a comfortable and easy pursuit. Standing up for our beliefs can often come at great cost."

The following link is to a 2 page pdf summary of the document:
http://manhattandeclaration.org/images/content/ManhattanDeclarationSummary.pdf

I am posting this on Thanksgiving Day 2009 and at this point Christian Americans still have much more than a remnant of the Christian heritage left us by our Founding Fathers in our culture and government. As a Christian American I exhort and remind my brothers and sisters to take up their cross, follow Him, be ready in and out of season and not to be weary in well doing! We are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against the spirit of anti-christ in our generation. Christ is still building His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Christ's purposes will be fulfilled.

Trauma, Drama..."and the wise man built his house upon the ROCK"

It's been a long time - 3 months - since I last posted here. A whole lot has been happening. I'm reminded of the parable of the wise and foolish builders and the little song I learned as a child..."the rains came down and the floods came up and the house on the rock stood firm!"

Please take the time to visit this site, read the article and check out the comments.

http://comments.americanthinker.com/read/42323/442851.html

I'd also like to share some edifying words I have heard lately:

Allow the water of God's Word to wash away all defilement of flesh and spirit. Let Him cleanse you and release you into the power of a new day. Deliberately renew your mind, and let go of all ungodly and destructive mindsets. Rise up in faith and renewed hope as you release the past and prepare to move ahead. Refuse to allow the enemy to destroy your confidence by making you feel condemned. Overcome the flesh, and walk in the Spirit.

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

The enemy is poised to attack us in the area of our emotions, but we must refuse to allow our flesh to rule or our emotions to run wild. We must stand strong, and rise up in the Spirit where we can see clearly and maintain stability. Otherwise, it will be a roller-coaster ride. Let the Lord lead through this maze of extreme demands, conflict, and confusion. The war is on, but victory comes through overcoming the works of the flesh and walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

There is a chorus, do you know it?

Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!
Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!
Let God arise and His enemies be scattered!
Let God, let God...Arise!

Beloved, refuse to allow frustration to hinder your progress. Calm yourself and quiet your soul, and allow Christ to bring you through every challenge in peace. Obstacles will literally melt away if you will just trust Him to undertake as you pray your way through. He will give you strength to accomplish all that is before you and the wisdom that you need to surmount every obstruction and clear every hurdle. Be strong and set your will to conquer.

Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

The enemy wants to create threatening situations that will produce enough intimidation to keep you from walking and living in the Spirit. Watch for these attacks and refuse to allow them to keep you earthbound. Just as Christ has called you to come higher, the devil is calling for you to go down with discouragement and disappointment because of the things you face and have to deal with. Refuse to allow the enemy of your soul to ground you. Resist him and keep looking up.

1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

“If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.”-- Winston Churchill

Another song comes to mind..."My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness...on Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand..."

Shalom!

Thinking about our nation...

"Freedom is an open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity. With the preservation of these moral and spiritual qualities and with God's grace will come further greatness for our country."

-- President Herbert Hoover

I wonder what he meant the "moral and spiritual qualities" which needed to be preserved were?

The only thing I know for certain is that only by God's grace is any person, let alone a nation, able to achieve anything considered even close to "greatness".

Transitions: Thrilling, Tricky, Transformational

A powerful word picture by Terry Walling in his new book Stuck! that reminds me of our part and God's part in our journey toward maturity as a Christ follower:

"The trapeze artists climb high above the crowd. All eyes watch as an empty swing is put in motion. Off to the side, the catcher begins his rhythmic swing, matching the timing of the vacant bar, floating upside down. His size and strength are impressive. The flyers are dependent on his skill and strength. The flyer propels herself high into the big-top air. The crowd thrills as the flyer blindly releases from the swing, trusting the catcher. The catch produces applause reserved for this moment. The flyer is home. They have together accomplished what few dare attempt, an act of death-defying proportion. This is a picture of the transitions in the life of a committed believer."

Stuck!
Navigating the Transitions of Life & Leadership
Author: Terry B. Walling
Publisher: ChurchSmart Resources, 2008, 144 pp.
ISBN: 1889638757

More Work? part 2

I had the pleasant surprise of crossing paths with two other neighbors outside yet another local post office...this time I was hailed and warmly greeted by both. From a distance there was no mistaking friendliness in this acknowledgement!

The kind of "work" needed here is almost effortless!

There's another blog I post on. I have the privilege of expressing myself to as many of my internet using neighbors that may choose to read it. They have an opportunity to comment there as well.

I have wondered often and long about the reasons why those who have commented there have done so with absolute anonymity. I recently came to a conclusion and formed a rather strong opinion about the matter. Based on that opinion I wrote a rather intense post which has been viewed but, still has not been commented on. So, I'm left wondering if that post will cause any change to occur.

I'm also hoping I didn't alienate anyone but, if that were my only guideline for topics on the other blog, I'd never post anything!

One of my mentors said, "I hate anonymous letters! As a matter of fact, if I get one, I throw it away and won't even read it." They shared that recently they had bent their usual rule for dealing with anonymous letters. This particular one was read because a second copy was given them and in turn they wrote a response to it in a public forum. The reason my mentor gave for this exception was that many people were involved, it effected a decision needing to be made, and there was another perspective that needed to be considered than the one presented anonymously. The response they wrote was not anonymous. I respect that.

I have no problem disagreeing with someone. I have no problem when someone disagrees with me. Most of the time I like my perspective best but, I have been enlightened by the perspectives of others on more occasions than I can count. Questions, answers and the resulting discussion can be "messy"; time consuming and draining at times but, I've always been a more well rounded person for having made that investment. Sometimes my opinion is changed as my perspective is enlarged and other things are brought in to focus.

This can be scary at times. It can be excruciatingly difficult at times. It is more work.

If anyone reading this would like to share their thoughts on anonymous commenter's, I'd appreciate the input.

I cried, I smiled

I started Grief Share Monday night. I cried through the whole thing. I'm glad I'm not the only one shedding tears in the group. I'm glad for a safe place to allow the true emotions to surface. I'm glad for safe people who understand.

I smiled today when the sun was shining. I smiled at the happy songs of the birds. I smiled at the happy colors of the spring flowers.

There is hope. God doesn't keep that fact a secret.

More work?

You know, sometimes it can be very challenging to be neighborly.

I'm a friendly person as a rule. I like to smile, say "hi" or at least nod to acknowledge someone I see out in the community. I wave at crossing guards and flag men on road work as I pass. I like to engage the cashier or waitress who's serving me in a few words of courteous small talk, making an effort to say something complimentary or encouraging while I'm there.

Then there's the times that we run across the difficult people in our lives.

Should it be any different with them? Well, yes and no.

Yes, it should be different because it takes greater effort. No matter what emotion they stir, the same respect is due them as is due every other human being. The reality of what is going on in my heart comes to the surface immediately in a difficult situation. It's revealed in my immediate reaction!

And no, because when this happens it becomes an opportunity to put myself aside and consider the bigger picture; God loves them and wants to love them through me so, what would that look like in this situation? That is exactly the same motive behind my friendliness in the first place; love and respect for God and others.

Today (well, technically yesterday) my path crossed with someone in the parking lot at the post office. I recognized them from a distance and determined to be friendly. As we acknowledged one another in a brief exchange of eye contact my smile was met with what I interpreted to be a disdainful scowl. Not totally unexpected, we have a stressful history but, I was hopeful we might be able to move past this level more quickly.

The fact that it's bothered me on and off throughout the day reveals to me that I've got more to process on the inside regarding the trouble between us. Some would say to me, "You think too much! Just let it go!" Well, "letting it go" is easier said than done, my friend.

"Letting it go" takes a bit of focused concentration and time. You have to be aware of what it is that you are letting go of before you can actually do it, otherwise all you have done is bury it alive. The next time you are confronted with something related to it, what is still in your heart will rise up and make itself known again!

This is one of the reasons that being too busy is a bad thing. The time needed for personal reflection, meditation and resolution is often squeezed out by the urgent and the necessary things get buried alive.

For me, taking time to "really live" includes making time for this kind of thing. It's the only way I've found to practically apply God's grace and peace and mercy to my own personal daily walk in a way that actually impacts everything I do.

I'm glad I took the time to write this out. Thanks for "listening."

Character and Controversy

I've been quite busy, as usual (not something I consider a good thing), and decided to take some time to just sit and watch a couple of videos.

Sometimes, I feel a need to experience something vicariously without actually having to be involved in any significant decision making processes. Movies can be good for this kind of get-away. The only decisions are whether or not to put it on pause when you need to move away from the screen.

The two I settled on were "The Tale of Despereaux" an animated G rated film staring a plucky little mouse and "Seven Pounds" a drama staring Will Smith. Both were well worth the rental fee.

Despereaux inspired me towards courage, honor, the value of fighting to overcome oppression, forgiveness from the heart, and the integrity that is revealed in common courtesy. It also highlighted the reality of how we respond to grief and loss in ways that can be easily misunderstood and may deeply effect those around us. All things I need to be reminded of at this particular juncture of my life's events and circumstances.

Seven Pounds allowed me to experience the raw emotion around the very difficult topics of grief and loss. Sometimes we're so wrapped up in "doing the right thing" that we don't allow ourselves to feel the emotions we're experiencing. We find ourselves reacting and behaving in ways that are uncharacteristic of us. I suspect I'm not the only one who has this type of reaction to loss and grief from time to time. I think it's a form of denial. I'm told that denial is a safety valve of sorts, putting things on hold until we are able to process them appropriately. This film also highlighted the reality of the dangers of isolation; physical or emotional. We need the perspective of those around us when we are going through difficult things.

I was surprised to find the themes of grief and loss, forgiveness and character in both films. I simply chose one because it seemed to guarantee a light hearted laugh and the other because it seemed to be inspirational...

I had signed up to join a Grief Share group this coming Monday evening. Coincidence? I don't believe in coincidence. Some One guided my choices.

I'm going to give you a link to a site that does movie reviews from a conservative Christian perspective: http://www.pluggedinonline.com/

If you'd like to see another perspective than mine on "The Tale of Despereaux" follow this link: http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0004407.cfm .

If you'd like to see another perspective than mine on "Seven Pounds" follow this link: http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0004409.cfm .