May 27th - Tad Sad Today

The story...

I felt a bit sad for a few days.  I missed a loved one who's usually near as I more deeply considered the passion week.  A person that I care for shared turmoil that they're working through and I felt distant from my groups.  Thankfully, I recognized the fallacy of focusing on things and experiences for happiness.  The sadness was real - it's a thing.  That type of sadness doesn't go with peace.

My sad feelings, experienced over time, are inputs that help me wake up to reality.  I've acknowledged sadness and shared the feeling with other people who care about me.  Right now, I see my shadow on the wall from the early morning sun.  I feel like I might be entering into a new season - goodbye to the old and hello to the new.  I feel like the sadness may have reintroduced me to a new season of life.

The only church in town would celebrate the resurrection of their Lord and Savior during Passion week.  They'd confront most important truths about God and themselves - wonderful experiences and eternal truths shared and worked out in reality - together. 

I wrote the first draft of this blog posting a few weeks before it actually saw the light of day.  Like the feeling of sadness needs time to be more fully understood and worked out - I enjoy the blog editing process too.  Story retold has been helpful for me - praise God in Christ.

Just for today...

Are you feeling: happy, fearful, sad, angry, shameful, or guilty?   What's true about them?  Please don't be too quick to dismiss the reality of the truths you might be feeling.  Maybe they're telling you that there's a better way - a way of more peace, rest, and joy.

"Feeling's real; Don't wanna stay - Experience truth; Then move away."   Am I a Poet?

March 28th - Co-Dependency

The story...

I've had close relationships with other people that didn't go well.  If they didn't feel good, or they were suffering, then I didn't feel so good and suffered.  I'd "try" to fix, manage, and control them and their situation.  The reasons for my behavior wasn't clear to me; yet, I expect it was primarily aimed at alleviating the pain for both me and them.  This kind of behavior may be labeled co-dependency - a type of behavior that actually enables the other person's destructive behavior.  You can check out the Wiki link or the variety of books on the subject if you so choose.

Might a better way of living include trusting what God says is true, living by those truths, and actually being, more truthfully, the kind of person and friend you were hoping to find?  I expect that you're a best friend when you work out your own life well and allow others the respect and dignity to work out their own lives too.  They might actually catch a glimpse of God as you allow Him to indwell and work His way out through you.  Please consider the wisdom of working out your own life while humbly walking, as truthfully as possible, with God as opposed to continuing your attempts to fix, manage, and control yourself and others.

Michelangelo's Work: Adam and God's Relationship 

I expect there'll always be co-dependent relationships within the only church in town.  Yet, they'll likely fade away as the people of the church work out their faith in reality's Light.

Just for today...

"When I trust God to give me what I need, I let go.  I face forward.  My hands are free for health, loving, and enjoyable activities. I find unexpected reserves of energy."  Courage to Change (p. 88)

"You've your way; I'm on mine - Change apart; Strong together."   Am I a Poet?