I'm so grateful for the opportunity to stay at my brother's vacation spot on Lake Palestine this week. I've written 25 new couplets and rhymes and posted them at Imagination's Door blog.
Sam is happy. We've gone fishing and walking and biking. I'm trying to complete enough poems and rhymes to submit to a publisher next week. I've even begun a few sketches/illustrations.
I'm grateful and happy and believing for the next phase in Portland. I was thrilled to meet up with an old college buddy Sunday night and we're meeting for dinner tonight. It's just good to reconnect with old friends! Yay!
It poured down rain yesterday afternoon, a lovely break from the heat followed. Had a cool, pleasant evening on the balcony. Nice!
I made my way to the local library and got online. Just finished posting all 25 new poems. Yippee! Already started the outline and germ for a couple of short stories, too.
Welp, time to run! Gotta get back to my pooch and enjoy the Texas sun while I can!
Thank you, God, for the generosity of my family, allowing my to vacation here and get away to be creative. Thank you!
The Happy Snowflake Dance blog; a daily exercise in openness meditations. The 21-day Happiness Experiment has morphed into a 21-day Openness Experiment. My Mission: a daily journey into openness through meditations, words, actions and being.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Do the Happy Dance!
Today, I'm doing the happy dance just because...
Though my situation has not seemed to change, I am celebrating God's provision for my life. I can celebrate what I know to be true: God is good. He knows everything and I do not. God is merciful. His grace is more than enough. He is compassionate.
So I'm doing the happy dance. Woo hoo!
Though my situation has not seemed to change, I am celebrating God's provision for my life. I can celebrate what I know to be true: God is good. He knows everything and I do not. God is merciful. His grace is more than enough. He is compassionate.
So I'm doing the happy dance. Woo hoo!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
1001 Arabian Nights and Faith
Ah, I was thinking about faith this morning as I so often do. I have been holding on to a promise for the last few months and I feel the fulfillment will come within the week. Do I doubt? At times, yes. But then I remember that God is incapable of lying and that he said if I hang on and do not doubt, whatever I ask will be granted.
Sometimes I feel as though I am only going through the motions. Does that make me a fake? Am I only resorting to a futile attempt at manipulation? Or am I really participating WITH God when I act on what is in my heart and mind? or when I speak my dreams?
I was thinking of this subject this morning when I opened an old storybook to the shortstory of Sheherazade from 1001 Arabian Nights and the Tale of the Barber's Sixth Brother (or the Barmecide's Feast). As the story goes, Shacabac had once been wealthy but had lost his fortune and was reduced to beggary. One day he went to an imposing home with guards at the door to beg them for alms. The guards opened the door and encouraged Shacabac to ask the master of the house for anything he needed, saying, "You shall get whatever you need from the master himself."
So Shacabac entered and found himself in the beautiful palace of the Barmecide, an Arabian noble man. As he wandered along , Shacabac soon stumbled into a great hall where an old man with a white beard sat. The old man jumped up to greet the brother kindly and asked what he could do to serve him.
Since the brother of the barber, Shacabac, was hungry, he asked for food. The Barmecide immediately promised food and began calling for his house boy to bring in water to wash their hands. Shacabac began to tell the man how grateful he was when he noticed that the old man seemed to be washing his hands in an invisible bowl of water. Not wanting to offend the old man, Shacabac pretended to wash his hands in the invisible bowl of water as the Barmecide ordered an invisible house boy to bring in the dinner.
The Barmecide sat down and and invited Shacabac to eat and he began to eat the invisible dishes one by one. Shacabac could see nothing, but he pretended to eat just the same.
"Oh, try this mutton and couscous," the old man said. "You must be very hungry."
Or, "Try this chicken stuffed with pistachios and sauce. Have you ever tasted anything like it?" the Barmecide asked.
"No, never!" cried the barber's brother who was ready to pass out from hunger. Though the brother could not see anything, he made all the motions of eating and drinking. He continued to pretend to enjoy every bite and to praise each invisible dish more heartily. And as he began to think of ways he could escape and perhaps find some real food, he declared that he couldn't possibly eat any more.
"Oh, but you haven't had an sweets or wine yet!" the Barmecide claimed and went on urging the brother to eat more of the invisible foods like dates and honey cakes.
Finally, Shacabac grew tired of the game and thought, "I'm so hungry that I'll make the old man pay for making me go through all this pretense and fooling me." So when the invisible servant brought in the invisible wine, Shacabac pretended to drink more than one glass of wine. And when the old man lifted the invisible glass to his lips again to drink the invisible wine, Shacabac smacked him so hard that room echoed with the sound.
The old man was shaken and trembling with rage when he shouted, "What do you mean by hitting me?"
Shacabac answered, "Oh, my lord, the wine was too much for me and I got carried away. It made me act like a crazy person."
At that, the Barmecide began to laugh out loud. "I've played this trick on many men through the years, but you are the first I have seen who could put up with it so long. So I forgive you. Let's eat for real!"
And so he clapped his hands loudly and servants appeared which brought in a delicious supper of all the things the Barmecide had pretended to offer Shacabac earlier. They enjoyed each other's company so much, that the barber's brother and the Barmecide became close friends. Shacabac stayed at the palace for twenty years.
It reminds me of another story... A man once told this story to his friends to remind them that they should pray and not give up: Once there was a judge who lived in a small town. The judge was known for being harsh. He didn't care about God or people.
Now in that same town, a poor widow lived. She kept coming to the judge and asking him to settle a case for her in her favor, saying, "Grant me justice against my adversary."
He refused to hear her case for a long time. But he finally gave in, saying to himself, "I don't care how this case turns out, but this widow will not stop bothering me! So I will see that she gets justice, just so she won't wear me out by pestering me to death!"
Now if the unjust judge will act on behalf of the woman's many pleas, won't our heavenly father bring justice for those who cry out to him night and day? Will he keep putting them off? No, he will see to it that they get justice, and quickly!
He also told the story of a man who had a friend. Now the man had guests arrive at his house unexpectedly, so he went to his friend's house at midnight and knocked on the door, saying, "Hey, I need you to loan me some bread because a friend of mine on a journey has just arrived, and I have nothing to give him to eat."
The man inside answered, "Don't bother me. The door is already locked and my kids are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything."
But even though the man inside wouldn't get up and give his friend anything just for the sake of friendship, he will get up and give him as much as he needs because of his boldness. That's why Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to whoever knocks, the door will be opened."
He said over and over and over again, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Maybe it seems that I am going through the motions to some. They think I have put my faith in some invisible provision or a trick. They think I am deceived and deceiving myself. But I know that faith sees what is invisible and speaks the word through prayer which makes ALL things possible.
Sometimes I feel as though I am only going through the motions. Does that make me a fake? Am I only resorting to a futile attempt at manipulation? Or am I really participating WITH God when I act on what is in my heart and mind? or when I speak my dreams?
I was thinking of this subject this morning when I opened an old storybook to the shortstory of Sheherazade from 1001 Arabian Nights and the Tale of the Barber's Sixth Brother (or the Barmecide's Feast). As the story goes, Shacabac had once been wealthy but had lost his fortune and was reduced to beggary. One day he went to an imposing home with guards at the door to beg them for alms. The guards opened the door and encouraged Shacabac to ask the master of the house for anything he needed, saying, "You shall get whatever you need from the master himself."
So Shacabac entered and found himself in the beautiful palace of the Barmecide, an Arabian noble man. As he wandered along , Shacabac soon stumbled into a great hall where an old man with a white beard sat. The old man jumped up to greet the brother kindly and asked what he could do to serve him.
Since the brother of the barber, Shacabac, was hungry, he asked for food. The Barmecide immediately promised food and began calling for his house boy to bring in water to wash their hands. Shacabac began to tell the man how grateful he was when he noticed that the old man seemed to be washing his hands in an invisible bowl of water. Not wanting to offend the old man, Shacabac pretended to wash his hands in the invisible bowl of water as the Barmecide ordered an invisible house boy to bring in the dinner.
The Barmecide sat down and and invited Shacabac to eat and he began to eat the invisible dishes one by one. Shacabac could see nothing, but he pretended to eat just the same.
"Oh, try this mutton and couscous," the old man said. "You must be very hungry."
Or, "Try this chicken stuffed with pistachios and sauce. Have you ever tasted anything like it?" the Barmecide asked.
"No, never!" cried the barber's brother who was ready to pass out from hunger. Though the brother could not see anything, he made all the motions of eating and drinking. He continued to pretend to enjoy every bite and to praise each invisible dish more heartily. And as he began to think of ways he could escape and perhaps find some real food, he declared that he couldn't possibly eat any more.
"Oh, but you haven't had an sweets or wine yet!" the Barmecide claimed and went on urging the brother to eat more of the invisible foods like dates and honey cakes.
Finally, Shacabac grew tired of the game and thought, "I'm so hungry that I'll make the old man pay for making me go through all this pretense and fooling me." So when the invisible servant brought in the invisible wine, Shacabac pretended to drink more than one glass of wine. And when the old man lifted the invisible glass to his lips again to drink the invisible wine, Shacabac smacked him so hard that room echoed with the sound.
The old man was shaken and trembling with rage when he shouted, "What do you mean by hitting me?"
Shacabac answered, "Oh, my lord, the wine was too much for me and I got carried away. It made me act like a crazy person."
At that, the Barmecide began to laugh out loud. "I've played this trick on many men through the years, but you are the first I have seen who could put up with it so long. So I forgive you. Let's eat for real!"
And so he clapped his hands loudly and servants appeared which brought in a delicious supper of all the things the Barmecide had pretended to offer Shacabac earlier. They enjoyed each other's company so much, that the barber's brother and the Barmecide became close friends. Shacabac stayed at the palace for twenty years.
It reminds me of another story... A man once told this story to his friends to remind them that they should pray and not give up: Once there was a judge who lived in a small town. The judge was known for being harsh. He didn't care about God or people.
Now in that same town, a poor widow lived. She kept coming to the judge and asking him to settle a case for her in her favor, saying, "Grant me justice against my adversary."
He refused to hear her case for a long time. But he finally gave in, saying to himself, "I don't care how this case turns out, but this widow will not stop bothering me! So I will see that she gets justice, just so she won't wear me out by pestering me to death!"
Now if the unjust judge will act on behalf of the woman's many pleas, won't our heavenly father bring justice for those who cry out to him night and day? Will he keep putting them off? No, he will see to it that they get justice, and quickly!
He also told the story of a man who had a friend. Now the man had guests arrive at his house unexpectedly, so he went to his friend's house at midnight and knocked on the door, saying, "Hey, I need you to loan me some bread because a friend of mine on a journey has just arrived, and I have nothing to give him to eat."
The man inside answered, "Don't bother me. The door is already locked and my kids are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything."
But even though the man inside wouldn't get up and give his friend anything just for the sake of friendship, he will get up and give him as much as he needs because of his boldness. That's why Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to whoever knocks, the door will be opened."
He said over and over and over again, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Maybe it seems that I am going through the motions to some. They think I have put my faith in some invisible provision or a trick. They think I am deceived and deceiving myself. But I know that faith sees what is invisible and speaks the word through prayer which makes ALL things possible.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Silliness Reigns
woo hoo! I wrote 8 new silly poems for children on my poetry blog this week. What can I say? It makes me happy, so I reign in the kingdom of fools. I discovered this week that Beatrix Potter and I share a birthday, July 28. She was born more than one hundred years before I was, but I find myself relating to her life so often.
If only I could draw and paint as she did. I would love to illustrate my poems and rhymes. I've written more than 70 now and will begin collating a sample for publishers soon. I've determined to name my first storybook cottage 'Castle Farm Cottage', after Miss Potter's final home in the Lake District. Hill Top, the first home she purchased with the money from the sale of her first book, is perhaps her most famous home, but I confess, the name is a bit dull.
I hope to visit her estate after the publication of my children's rhymes. I long to wander the Lake District which has inspired so many poets and bards through the ages.
If only I could draw and paint as she did. I would love to illustrate my poems and rhymes. I've written more than 70 now and will begin collating a sample for publishers soon. I've determined to name my first storybook cottage 'Castle Farm Cottage', after Miss Potter's final home in the Lake District. Hill Top, the first home she purchased with the money from the sale of her first book, is perhaps her most famous home, but I confess, the name is a bit dull.
I hope to visit her estate after the publication of my children's rhymes. I long to wander the Lake District which has inspired so many poets and bards through the ages.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Storybook Endings
I am believing for my own storybook ending..., uh, the good kind, not the Grimm's Brothers kind of ending which usually involves gouging out of eyes or some brutality. Ha ha ha! I hope you find happy endings for each day.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
My Birthday and Shiny Stars
What a great day to be alive! I'm quietly celebrating my 12th ANNUAL 29th Birthday today. After all, if Lucille Ball could be perpetually 29 years old and a "natural" red head, why can't I? ha ha ha
I awoke this morning with the phrase "shine like the stars" stuck in my brain. I had been mulling it over in my sleep for some time apparently. So when I got up, I looked it up in the Bible (I remembered reading it there before). I came across 3 references to the phrase in Daniel chapter 12, Matthew chapter 13, and in Philippians 2.
The first reference is in the context of a vision which came to Daniel. It talks about the end of days
when "those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3)
The second comes from the context of Jesus explaining the parable of the weeds to his close friends. It also speaks of the end of the age when the world is finally sorted and "the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matthew 13:43)
The final reference comes from Paul's letter to the people at Philippi where he admonishes them to "do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..." (Phil. 2:14-16)
I want to shine, to hold out the word of life to others. Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 3-4 that we are not like Moses whose face became radiant after meeting with God, but whose radiance eventually faded. Ours is a radiance which increases more and more.
"We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
John wrote that "the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." I keep thinking of that story of Moses from Exodus 34.
"When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him." But Moses called to them and met with all of them and told them what God had said.
"When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord."
Can you imagine? If the glory that came from Moses' face-to-face encounters with God literally made his face so brilliant that people could not look at him, can you imagine what our countenances would be since we have been given a covenant relationship with God which is eternal?
Paul writes: "Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at Moses' face because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!"
And we get to do this: Hold out the word of life to others! YAY! Again, I find myself praying: "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer." As we participate with God, we begin to shine like the stars in the universe and no amount of darkness can extinguish or block its light forever. Woo hoo!
I awoke this morning with the phrase "shine like the stars" stuck in my brain. I had been mulling it over in my sleep for some time apparently. So when I got up, I looked it up in the Bible (I remembered reading it there before). I came across 3 references to the phrase in Daniel chapter 12, Matthew chapter 13, and in Philippians 2.
The first reference is in the context of a vision which came to Daniel. It talks about the end of days
when "those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3)
The second comes from the context of Jesus explaining the parable of the weeds to his close friends. It also speaks of the end of the age when the world is finally sorted and "the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (Matthew 13:43)
The final reference comes from Paul's letter to the people at Philippi where he admonishes them to "do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..." (Phil. 2:14-16)
I want to shine, to hold out the word of life to others. Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 3-4 that we are not like Moses whose face became radiant after meeting with God, but whose radiance eventually faded. Ours is a radiance which increases more and more.
"We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
John wrote that "the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." I keep thinking of that story of Moses from Exodus 34.
"When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him." But Moses called to them and met with all of them and told them what God had said.
"When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord."
Can you imagine? If the glory that came from Moses' face-to-face encounters with God literally made his face so brilliant that people could not look at him, can you imagine what our countenances would be since we have been given a covenant relationship with God which is eternal?
Paul writes: "Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at Moses' face because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!"
And we get to do this: Hold out the word of life to others! YAY! Again, I find myself praying: "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer." As we participate with God, we begin to shine like the stars in the universe and no amount of darkness can extinguish or block its light forever. Woo hoo!
Friday, July 24, 2009
And the winner is....
GRATITUDE! Yep! I'm back to that old theme. Gratitude is the foundation upon which we build our lives; fulfilled lives. Think of someone you know who always sees the glass half empty. They may make more money than they have ever made in their lives, have a nice house and cars, a family, a good job, but they are unhappy because they are always waiting for the ax to fall. They are always waiting for bad news. And when bad news comes, they think, "AHA! See? I was justified in thinking the worst would happen."
Now think of the person you know who sees the glass half-full. Some people might accuse them of being unrealistic. Not at all! It's just that they CHOOSE to focus on the good rather than the bad. When some thing bad happens to them, they look for the silver lining. Sure, they experience disappointment, just like the "realists". But they learn that life is not all heart-ache and disappointment. They find stuff to rejoice in even at the worst of times!
But how do they do that? What if you've been a half-empty bloke your whole life because you thought it was the "realistic" viewpoint? What if you want to change that habit, that attitude now? How do you change an attitude of skepticism to a positive outlook?
You start with gratitude. Think of all the things you are grateful for. I'm working on my list today too.
I'm grateful for a cup of coffee and a quiet house to do grant research and a computer with internet connection.
I'm grateful for the word of God.
I'm grateful for encouraging friends and not-so-encouraging family. Because the Bible says "faithful are the wounds of a friend" and a "brother was born for adversity." My family tells me stuff about myself that I don't want to hear sometimes. It can be pretty brutal at times, but I'd rather they were honest with me than have them lie to me. This way, I can grow and mature, as painful as it is at times.
I'm grateful for good health.
I'm grateful that God promised to supply all my needs according to his amazing riches.
I'm grateful that God calls me friend, even though I don't deserve it.
I'm grateful for good words and honest teaching from guys like Ed and Mark Gungor. I caught Mark on TBN last night while flipping through the channels. It was good to laugh.
And now comes that part that I sometimes have to live by faith, though I don't know how or when or any details:
I am grateful that God has already prepared a home for me in Portland and that he is making a way for me to go to grad school, because he said, "those he calls he also equips." And he told me not to worry about tomorrow or what I'll eat or drink or wear. My heavenly Father already knows what I need and he won't abandon me. I am grateful that
the creator who keeps the planets and stars spinning in space also cares about me. He is opening a door that no man can shut. He will open the heavens and pour out a blessing that no man can contain.
Gratitude is like a pair of prescription glasses which help us see the glass half-full because we change our focus from what is not there (or lack) to what is there (abundance). You can call them rose colored glasses if you want. But seeing the world as rosy doesn't seem to be a bad thing to me. Now where did I put those glasses again?
Now think of the person you know who sees the glass half-full. Some people might accuse them of being unrealistic. Not at all! It's just that they CHOOSE to focus on the good rather than the bad. When some thing bad happens to them, they look for the silver lining. Sure, they experience disappointment, just like the "realists". But they learn that life is not all heart-ache and disappointment. They find stuff to rejoice in even at the worst of times!
But how do they do that? What if you've been a half-empty bloke your whole life because you thought it was the "realistic" viewpoint? What if you want to change that habit, that attitude now? How do you change an attitude of skepticism to a positive outlook?
You start with gratitude. Think of all the things you are grateful for. I'm working on my list today too.
I'm grateful for a cup of coffee and a quiet house to do grant research and a computer with internet connection.
I'm grateful for the word of God.
I'm grateful for encouraging friends and not-so-encouraging family. Because the Bible says "faithful are the wounds of a friend" and a "brother was born for adversity." My family tells me stuff about myself that I don't want to hear sometimes. It can be pretty brutal at times, but I'd rather they were honest with me than have them lie to me. This way, I can grow and mature, as painful as it is at times.
I'm grateful for good health.
I'm grateful that God promised to supply all my needs according to his amazing riches.
I'm grateful that God calls me friend, even though I don't deserve it.
I'm grateful for good words and honest teaching from guys like Ed and Mark Gungor. I caught Mark on TBN last night while flipping through the channels. It was good to laugh.
And now comes that part that I sometimes have to live by faith, though I don't know how or when or any details:
I am grateful that God has already prepared a home for me in Portland and that he is making a way for me to go to grad school, because he said, "those he calls he also equips." And he told me not to worry about tomorrow or what I'll eat or drink or wear. My heavenly Father already knows what I need and he won't abandon me. I am grateful that
the creator who keeps the planets and stars spinning in space also cares about me. He is opening a door that no man can shut. He will open the heavens and pour out a blessing that no man can contain.
Gratitude is like a pair of prescription glasses which help us see the glass half-full because we change our focus from what is not there (or lack) to what is there (abundance). You can call them rose colored glasses if you want. But seeing the world as rosy doesn't seem to be a bad thing to me. Now where did I put those glasses again?
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Still focused
I'm still focused on the power of my words and my attitudes. Fear has been creeping around lately, but I refuse to give in to doubt! I will not submit to its crippling influence.
I am determined to live this one life to the full, by faith in God's word and holding on to his promises.
I am determined to live this one life to the full, by faith in God's word and holding on to his promises.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Naysaying the naysayers
What does one do with the naysayers which surround us? Daily, well-meaning people ask me HOW I will pay for graduate school. How will I afford to live? Why don't I settle for a job as a substitute teacher elsewhere (mind you, it IS summer time now)? Why would I possibly go into debt to get a graduate degree or degrees at this stage of my life? These are legitimate questions.
I have answers. I have the most sound, logical arguments, but they do not hear. I am a silly woman in their eyes; nice, but a bit batty or eccentric. Worse, a dreamer. And yet, dreams lead us to aspire to something greater than what we currently are or maybe to aspire to the greatness that lies within us.
I have no magic carpet or magic lamp with a genie to grant my wishes, but I do have a dream and Hope! I recently re-read the story of Pandora's Box as told by Nathaniel Hawthorne. He ends the tale with this line:
"And all the rest of their lives when Troubles would come back and buzz about their heads, they would wait patiently till Hope, the fairy with the rainbow wings, came back to heal and comfort them."
I have answers. I have the most sound, logical arguments, but they do not hear. I am a silly woman in their eyes; nice, but a bit batty or eccentric. Worse, a dreamer. And yet, dreams lead us to aspire to something greater than what we currently are or maybe to aspire to the greatness that lies within us.
I have no magic carpet or magic lamp with a genie to grant my wishes, but I do have a dream and Hope! I recently re-read the story of Pandora's Box as told by Nathaniel Hawthorne. He ends the tale with this line:
"And all the rest of their lives when Troubles would come back and buzz about their heads, they would wait patiently till Hope, the fairy with the rainbow wings, came back to heal and comfort them."
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