October 18th - Choose Contentment

The story...

While reflecting on my condition, contentment seems to characterize much of my later life.  I'm more loved and able to love others.  My physical needs are met; although, I do move through periods of suffering.  There's nothing that I strongly desire that I believe would significantly improve my condition.  Long-term hopes have been realized in unexpected good ways.  And, I don't seem to have expectations, or opinions, regarding other people's behavior - they don't need to act according to my will.  I've been trusting God for what's next.

I'm retired and physically able to go and do the majority of things that I need or want to do. I chose to grow with close friends who walk side-by-side with me.  I've a working faith that trusts God and His promises.  Fruit seems to be born from my faith walk - Spiritually operational.

One day my life will be otherwise - two rotator cuff full tears required surgery and a really long recovery in 2025.  I've witnessed people, in similar "content" situations, experience bouts of suffering.  Their pain either improved their lives and faith or eroded them into a shadowy resemblance of who they hoped to be.  Some gave up much with a gloomy perspective that life just ain't fair.  If you're suffering, I recommend the 31-page book: Suffering - Eternity Makes a Difference.

The only church in town will be a place where people can experience hope, friendships, love and the presence of God within it all.  It's a place where you can honestly live out each stage of life - suffering too.  It sure beats living in an imaginary world concocted to pretend that every thing is "groovy" when it ain't.  Why not discover more about the good and lasting promises and presence of God?

Just for today...

"We may even think we have overcome resentment, self-righteousness and self-pity, but if they are still there inside us, they will in some mysterious way emanate from us and deny what we try to cover up by our play-acting."    Courage to Change (p. 292)

Trip, P. (2001) Suffering - Eternity Makes a Difference

"Acting group; Looking good - Seem best; Doing should."
"Light exposes; Actors shriek - God disbands; Him to seek."   Am I a Poet?