Honestly, Man...........

"You put so much pressure on yourself." Pat has said that to me in times of stress, especially when driving and directions aren't accurate or change due to detours. I guess I like the feeling of comfort and security that comes from knowing what's ahead and how I can get there using the least amount of thinking and adaptation, but when things come up, that level of control disappears. I can see, looking back, where this has happened in other areas of life. Is it that I feel others are counting on me knowing what's going on, or does it come from my tendency to act before thinking, or seeing everything in black and white, all-or-nothing? I know I over react at times, but not as often as I used to (there's some justification for you). Well, that and a buck will get you coffee. I need to earnestly give all that to God, and allow the chips to fall where they may. Life is too short to fret over everything, so let's choose our battles carefully, sticking with the ones we can do something about.

I Can Do Anything.....

I can do anything for an hour......a day..... a week..... a month.......... When was the last time you used that phrase, or something like it? I started when we first started going on mission trips to South Carolina, and I've pretty much adopted it as a rule in life. No matter what we may have to experience, an end will eventually come, and we may find ourselves stronger, or better, or whatever, but definitely changed in some way. Challenges cause us to do one of two things. Either we shrink back, hiding from them, or we face them, coming to realize they weren't as big and insurmountable as we once thought.
If we try to avoid these things, then we stand the chance of becoming afraid of any new thing that comes our way, and, in our fear, we may even lash out, trying to protect ourselves. But, if we reach out and attempt to understand what is coming, we very well could find ourselves advancing two or three steps in a positive direction, instead of stagnating where we are.
Face life like this, starting today. Start with an hour, and work your way up. You's be amazed how well you will do when adversity is perceived as a learning opportunity.