Why is it so much harder for people to give compliments than it is for them to complain? I have a very hard time with this concept - and, quite frankly, it makes me angry most of the time. And the saddest part? I often see it the most when it comes to church people. The people that are supposed to be slow to anger and quick to love often seem to get it backward - they are slow to love and quick to anger - and quicker to complain about things they don't like.
It's exhausting and it's something I deal with on a weekly basis. And, because I know how much it frustrates other people, I keep some of those complaints - especially the horribly rude and almost cruel ones - to myself. Which may not be healthy and may not even be right, I admit, but it's what I do. Why burden the people I care about with more complaints about the same old things all the time? Why make them angry when I can prevent it (even though I know their anger isn't toward me)?
It may be hypocritical for me to complain about people complaining. I can't put my finger around that concept - but it's more hypocritcal (at least to me) to put on your church face and pretend to be all nice and caring, then write anonymous notes, letters, and complaints. I know people are not for me to judge and I know if I KNEW who some of these people are, I would be astounded at their reactions to things that don't matter in the long run, but as it is, I am just really annoyed at the whole thing.
Right now my struggle is with how to handle the complainers, because if I'm honest, I'm running really low on grace and patience toward them today.
I just wish, instead of people whining and complaining and being negative, they would take the time to see how much love, heart, and work goes into things. Instead of hating change, they would realize that the world is constantly changing. Instead of complaining about things just because it's in THEIR church, I wish they would see how new ideas can impact GOD's church.
And, honestly, I wish they would spend less time worrying about the stupid stuff and more time worrying about things that actually matter to more than just them, their friends, and those that hate to see anything new or different in the church.
Today, I'm tired of it.
Tomorrow, who knows?
9.27.2007
The Impossible Dream
None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
One a recent Sunday morning in Bloomington, 2,000 people were asked to do something extraordinary. They were asked to think about their passions, their dreams, and what is keeping them from pursuing that thing that 'keeps them up at night.' Then they were asked to write it down, walk to the front (or back) of a room, and pin their big dream on a piece of fabric for the world to see. As I sat and watched all those people willingly walk forward with their dreams and place them out there for the world to see, I began to think again about the things that keep my heart racing and inspire me to get up in the morning.
Some of my dreams, I admit, don't seem that "BIG." My biggest dream? To write a book. To use my pen and paper to write something that someone else wants to read. But, compared to other people's big dreams for God, I didn't think that was enough. And then I read my friend Korry's blog. And, what he had to say about his dream made me think differently about mine. My dream - although not exactly "Christian" in nature - can still be used by God to make a difference, to further Him, and to reveal Him to others. Does that mean I need to resign myself to writing Christian fiction? I don't think so. I think it means I need to follow my dreams with my whole heart and know that God is in control of them and that He gave me these dreams for a reason and I should follow them, no matter how unimportant I think they might be.
I am reminded of the lyrics to one of my favorite Broadway songs, "The Impossible Dream" from Man of LaMancha
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star
My dream is mine - given to me by God to do something big. Not following my dream because I don't think it is a huge as other people's dreams doesn't make sense - it makes me a coward.
9.26.2007
Fall Into Reading
Thanks to my friend Nicole (who I've decided is a friend, though we've never met, because, quite frankly, I think we're too much alike NOT to be friends) I have decided to join the Fall Into Reading 2007 Challenge.
Here are my books (updated 9-27-07):
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Water for Elephants
Giving & Stewardship in an Effective Church
Quiet Strength
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Pride and Prejudice
Ana's Story
Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras (one series, four books)
Here are my books (updated 9-27-07):
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Water for Elephants
Giving & Stewardship in an Effective Church
Quiet Strength
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Pride and Prejudice
Ana's Story
Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras (one series, four books)
9.16.2007
Lessons in Home Owning - Day One
So, Tim and I made the plunge this weekend - we are now homeowners! I decided that it would be fun to document the things i'm learning about having a house on my blog - so here are a couple things I've 'figured out' this weekend.
1. moving sucks.
No matter how exciting it is to be moving into a HOUSE instead of an apartment, no matter how beautiful our home is or how blessed I feel to be in it - moving still sucks. Boxes, carrying boxes, furniture, unloading, loading...it's no fun, but the rewards are worth it.
2. you can't explain every sound you hear.
As soon as Tim left this morning I was convinced there were people in the house somewhere. Noises everywhere, but soon I figured out what some of them were - birds landing on the roof of the garage. The rest? settling, squeaking, neighbors, who knows. If I analyze every sound I hear, I'll drive myself crazy.
3. being in two places at once is confusing.
while we did a good job of getting most of the essentials moved from the apartment to the house yesterday, i did notice some things missing that i 'needed' this morning.
So, there are the first few. What are some of your thoughts/experiences in home owning?
1. moving sucks.
No matter how exciting it is to be moving into a HOUSE instead of an apartment, no matter how beautiful our home is or how blessed I feel to be in it - moving still sucks. Boxes, carrying boxes, furniture, unloading, loading...it's no fun, but the rewards are worth it.
2. you can't explain every sound you hear.
As soon as Tim left this morning I was convinced there were people in the house somewhere. Noises everywhere, but soon I figured out what some of them were - birds landing on the roof of the garage. The rest? settling, squeaking, neighbors, who knows. If I analyze every sound I hear, I'll drive myself crazy.
3. being in two places at once is confusing.
while we did a good job of getting most of the essentials moved from the apartment to the house yesterday, i did notice some things missing that i 'needed' this morning.
So, there are the first few. What are some of your thoughts/experiences in home owning?
9.07.2007
Oh Where Oh Where Have I Gone?
Oh Where oh Where Could I Be?
I'm here. Just way busy. When I get home from work, I don't feel like turning on the computer and taking the time to write anything, even though there is plenty to write. I just sit there, staring at the TV, and allowing my brain to melt into mush for a little while. Then, I get up, pack some boxes, and try and accomplish something in whatever 5 minutes is left of the night before I literally fall into bed. I have a couple minutes, now, though, so i will write.
This has been an interesting day. My new job is very exciting - but also stressful. This week was full of all those random things you can't really LEARN how to do, you just have to learn BY doing. Always good, but sometimes hard to adjust to - I realized that there is a lot to this job that isn't just bookkeeping and HR - it's a lot of stuff! But, I am loving the challenge, even if it is wiping me out at night, which isn't a good thing.
Then there's the packing - I am so tired of the packing - but it will all be worth it next week when we close and move and have a place to call our own. It's VERY exciting. Once we're moved, I will put up some pictures. If you need our address, please drop me an email and I'll be sure to give it to you! Our apartment smells like cardboard boxes right now, but again, it will all be worth it in a week!!!
Tomorrow is a big day for my family - my mom's birthday. She's turning 50 and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have a momma like her. She'll be down to 'help' move next week. I say 'help' because she's still recovering from surgery and can't really lift things right now - but she'll get to see the house and hang out, so that will be good. In case I didn't mention it - her surgery went well and there was NO CANCER!
Overall, I just feel like the blessings keep pouring down on me right now. I am married to the best husband a girl could want, I have a good job that is challenging and fulfilling, we are moving into our first home, my mom is healthy, my family is loved, and I am cherished. It's days like this when I'm reminded that God is so good and so faithful, even when I don't take the time to notice them.
So, hopefully I'll be able to do a better job of blogging sometime soon. In the meantime, though, check out the blogs I regularly read on the right. Good stuff. Lots of it!
I'm here. Just way busy. When I get home from work, I don't feel like turning on the computer and taking the time to write anything, even though there is plenty to write. I just sit there, staring at the TV, and allowing my brain to melt into mush for a little while. Then, I get up, pack some boxes, and try and accomplish something in whatever 5 minutes is left of the night before I literally fall into bed. I have a couple minutes, now, though, so i will write.
This has been an interesting day. My new job is very exciting - but also stressful. This week was full of all those random things you can't really LEARN how to do, you just have to learn BY doing. Always good, but sometimes hard to adjust to - I realized that there is a lot to this job that isn't just bookkeeping and HR - it's a lot of stuff! But, I am loving the challenge, even if it is wiping me out at night, which isn't a good thing.
Then there's the packing - I am so tired of the packing - but it will all be worth it next week when we close and move and have a place to call our own. It's VERY exciting. Once we're moved, I will put up some pictures. If you need our address, please drop me an email and I'll be sure to give it to you! Our apartment smells like cardboard boxes right now, but again, it will all be worth it in a week!!!
Tomorrow is a big day for my family - my mom's birthday. She's turning 50 and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have a momma like her. She'll be down to 'help' move next week. I say 'help' because she's still recovering from surgery and can't really lift things right now - but she'll get to see the house and hang out, so that will be good. In case I didn't mention it - her surgery went well and there was NO CANCER!
Overall, I just feel like the blessings keep pouring down on me right now. I am married to the best husband a girl could want, I have a good job that is challenging and fulfilling, we are moving into our first home, my mom is healthy, my family is loved, and I am cherished. It's days like this when I'm reminded that God is so good and so faithful, even when I don't take the time to notice them.
So, hopefully I'll be able to do a better job of blogging sometime soon. In the meantime, though, check out the blogs I regularly read on the right. Good stuff. Lots of it!
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