Learn From The Turtle*

We continue to receive the newsletter from our former congregation, Grace Lutheran Church, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. "Amazing Grace" is always full of interesting articles and bits of wit and wisdom, we just received the latest edition which contained this, a list of "20 Things To Remember", it's too good not to post here. I'll be printing this one out for future reference, no author is credited.

1. Faith is the ability not to panic.
2. If you worry you didn't pray, if you prayed, don't worry.
3. As a child of God, prayer is kinda like calling home every day.
4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. Gods wants us to be still so that He can untangle the knot.
6. Do the math. Count your blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruits, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem, it's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10. Laugh every day-- it's like inner jogging.
11. The most important things in your home are the people.
12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
13. There is no key to happiness, the door is always open. Come on in.
14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
16. We do not remember days but moments. Life moves too fast so enjoy your precious moments.
17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise it's just hearsay.
18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you're done.
19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. *Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the angels to read. I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I have lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.

Life is Good!

Challenged!

If you stop by here to read regularly you know that I've been challenged of late. There have been a few storms and I've weathered them; maybe a little worse for the wear, but I've landed on the other side. When we find ourselves in positions that are awkward we may stop and wonder how we arrived there. I dare say that none of us would choose trial over comfort, but at times that's precisely where we are through no choice of our own. Late last year I was elected to a position of leadership within my church congregation, while flattered, I was, above all, fearful. Fearful that I was ill-equipped to assume the responsibility and terrified that I would let down the very people who had elected me. "Why me?" I asked God in prayer, "surely there must have been a mistake, you know me better than I know myself... I bolt from conflict, I don't have the skills necessary, this is more, much more, than I can handle!" I can't say that I heard an answer (as in words spoken to my ear), but I can tell you that my fear was replaced with calm. Honestly, this was a little unsettling, unnerving at the time. I wasn't sure I'd gotten through... much like a child whose wailing pleas are temporarily allayed with a pat, or a hug, I was afraid that God was putting me on hold. My fears and doubts nagged away. That was then.

The work began, the challenges were issued. My skills were tested: organization, patience, listening, debating, accepting, courage, public-speaking... talents I did not know I possessed. I've been busy, very busy-- doing the job I was elected to do, living the mission. The busy-ness filled the spaces where doubt and fear had lived before! I've been so consumed with the work that I forgot about the apprehension! I've heard it before: God doesn't call the equipped but equips the called. He did it for me. Believe me, If I can rise to this challenge it's only with God's help and guidance and through no illusions of my own. The work continues, the bar has been set. My feet will be held to the fire and I will need to continue to prove myself, but I'm calm in the knowledge that God and I can do this together! There's sunshine peeking over the horizon. This is now.

Life is Good!
God is gooder.
(thanks, Nancy!)