Spirituality

When In Rome…

Today we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Everyone becomes Irish on March 17th. On May 5th most Americans will be Mexican so they can properly celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Well, the United States has been called a melting pot so it sorta makes sense.

Outside of the days I just cited, what is your crowd? Are you the same person at work that you are at home? Sometimes people become chameleons so they will fit in. Being liked and accepted is universal. There’s nothing wrong with it, but you must be yourself to feel genuine.

You were created by a perfect God who made you exactly how He wanted you to be. He knew we would have faults, but God gives us a way through. He cares about us so we are given challenges that grow and develop our character. See your life through God’s eyes, not your own.

If you are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day today, have fun. Remember to wear green. Enjoy the moments and remember to be yourself. Always…

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Spirituality

Greener Grass

You have heard it said that “the grass is always greener on the other side.” This saying could be applied to a work situation or a relationship. Things might look better in a new environment, but this is a distortion.

Every job and every relationship has challenges. Difficult times are part of life’s ups and downs. You might be unhappy in the moment, but it’s just a feeling. Feelings pass. Things change. We grow and we adapt. If we throw in the towel every time a setback is thrown our way, we will spend our lives in a constant state of turmoil.

There is another old saying about grass which I believe is a better idea. That one says “the grass is greener where you water it.”

Spend time focusing on where you are now. Consider your long term goals and what you really want from your life. Are you aligned? If the answer is yes, then I encourage you to stay the course. And if the answer is no, maybe it’s time to water your lawn…

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Spirituality

Enigmatic

Why do bad things happen to good people? That’s one of the many enigmas we can’t understand on this side of eternity. We live with the hope that one day everything will become clear.

There are parts of Scripture that are enigmatic. At the same time, much of it makes sense. Over time, it becomes clearer and clearer after I have read it several times. And one thing is certain: you cannot get it by osmosis. You must read it. Otherwise, your Bible just sits on your bookshelf and collects dust.

As mysterious as God is, we can trust Him. It’s important to remember that God doesn’t cause bad things to happen. He can’t. It would go against His nature. And yes, I said it, there are things God can’t do. Lying, cheating and causing pain are out of His realm. He allows it, but doesn’t cause it.

It’s legitimate to question why. Asking why is one of the best questions we can ask. The answer might not come quickly, but don’t give up. Eventually you will know…

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Spirituality

Make or Break

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison for opposing South Africa’s apartheid government. He was labeled as a domestic terrorist. In 1994, Mandela became South Africa’s first black president. In his autobiography, Mandela said “prison didn’t break him. Confinement strengthened his resolve.”

Life is going to throw some real shit our way. In those moments we have a choice. We can use them to grow us or they can destroy us. Resilience is built during the dark times, not when things are easy. We find our inner strength when we are tested.

All of life is an unknown. We think we know how each day will turn out, and most of the time we are right. Then something unexpected happens. When this happens I encourage you to face it. Face it until you make it. Ask for guidance from above and hold on to hope.

And remember, you have made it through every dark moment you have faced in the past. Keep going, no matter what…

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Spirituality

Rebellion

When I was a teenager, I grew my hair long. It was stylish back then, but the parents of that generation saw it as rebellious behavior. If you had long hair then you must be on “dope.”

Every generation tries to break free and establish their independence (even though they are still living at home). It’s a normal part of growing up. As a parent I didn’t like always being questioned by my kids, so I had to remind myself why they were doing it. Those reminders became a daily thing.

The ultimate rebel was Jesus. Not only did he disrupt the religious leaders of his day, he created something that has lasted for over 2,000 years. But Jesus taught peace and forgiveness, not overthrow of Rome. A lot of people missed his intentions because they wanted freedom from Roman rule.

Now that’s a true rebel, a rebel for good…

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Spirituality

Trusting The Unseen

In Proverbs it tells us to “Trust in the government with all our hearts.” No, it doesn’t say that. But many people are placing more trust in Washington DC and the politicians than they deserve.

When elections roll around I hear people say their favorite candidate (s) “have the experience necessary to lead us out of this mess.” The truth is, their experience is what got us into this mess. Stop falling for the sound bites and look at the substance if you can find any.

We are instructed through Scripture to trust God. He’s good. Always. We are cautioned to not even trust our own hearts. Our motives may be impure, but we cannot escape the searching eyes of the Spirit. He sees everything. And when we believe in Him, God works to change our character.

I encourage you to place more trust in the unseen and less on the fiery politicians. God remains in control, no matter how crazy the world may become…

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Spirituality

Disturbing the Peace

Disturbing the peace is a crime. In Texas it is a Class C misdemeanor you can be cited for if you make unreasonable noise in a public place. And along with a fine you look like an idiot.

Growing up in a chaotic, violent home, it wired my brain to adapt to craziness. It became “normal” in my mind. After working through the legacies of my childhood I was able to rewire my brain in a healthy way. Now I keep the crazies out. Peace reigns supreme.

It takes time and a lot of work to jettison the sins of the past. Unresolved trauma shows up in the form of triggers. Sometimes we know why things trigger us. For example, it sends me into orbit when someone lies to me. This is a carryover from childhood, but lying is never good.

If you grew up like me, I encourage you to do the work on yourself. The healthier you get, the more healthy people you will attract into your life. You will set boundaries to protect your peace and well being. And that’s a good thing…

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Spirituality

Decision Time

Where we are in life is the result of a series of decisions we made. We have goals and dreams for our lives that we set in motion to achieve. Our goals are like the destination on a road map. We figure out which roads to take to get us there. Wrong road? Try a different route.

No one sets out to get divorced, go to prison, or become homeless. Sometimes bad things happen. The legacy we are born into plays a part, but we still have a choice no matter what our circumstances are. We can decide to be better.

Victimhood is on the rise. But here’s my observation about victims: if you can walk and talk, you can think and do. No one is a victim of their circumstances.

If you are feeling stuck or bogged down in life, you must decide to change. You will get to where you want to be through hard work and discipline. But those are decisions only you can make.

The choice is yours. It’s time to decide…

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Spirituality

The Danger of Optimism

It is through the lens of optimism that I see the world. My thoughts default to what’s possible, not what is. Sometimes this is a dangerous way to see things.

My mind is hardwired to see the good in every situation. This includes people. Seeing the good in others can be a blind spot for me. They might be setting my home on fire but I still see the positives in them. Do you see what I’m talking about?

In today’s society we have a political divide that is getting wider. The optimist in me believes we can re-establish the middle ground where people discuss their differences but part as friends. No damage done. So far I have been disappointed, but I refuse to give up. Optimists can be stubborn, too. Another danger.

We see the thread of goodness that lives in the heart of man when tragedy strikes. In my most optimistic opinion, we don’t need to wait for all hell to break loose to show kindness and compassion.

We can begin today. And by today I mean right now…

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Spirituality

Habitually Late

Punctuality is a symbol of self worth and respect for others. Being habitually late is a weight that is easy to lose, though. Let me explain.

Arriving early sets the tone for the day. You aren’t rushed or behind. My old coaches would say “if you’re early you are on time. If you’re on time you’re late. And if you’re late, you run.” I hated to run so the habit of getting an early start was formed from avoidance!

People who regularly arrive late drive me crazy. The occasional tardiness is fine. Stuff happens and I understand. It’s the ones who can’t get somewhere on schedule if their life depended on it I’m talking about, because they usually aren’t just a couple minutes late. They can delay you an hour sometimes.

It’s easy to change this bad habit. You plan for it. That’s it. Be intentional with your time and effort. Have respect for others by being the one they can count on.

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