Are We There Yet?

I have heard before that patience is a virtue; however, if you told me that when I was a little girl crammed in between my two brothers in my parents 1970s Pontiac Lemans on a 10 ½ hour drive to Disneyland, I’m no sure I would have been very receptive. I have learned that the amount of patience a child has is usually equal to their age. As we grow up we learn that good things come to those who wait. Life is a journey, not a destination, and we are all just a work in progress. Yet, how often do we find ourselves asking God, “Are we there yet?” Like little kids driving down the road called life, we often lose sight of the adventure in the journey. We focus on the long road ahead, and complain when things get uncomfortable. My most treasured memories of our first family vacation aren’t those of us in Disneyland, but rather the unplanned stops and detours that made our trip unforgettable. Life is like a never ending road trip, it is up to us to enjoy the ride.

"It is good to have an end to journey towards;but it is the journey that matters, in the end."
Ursula K. LeGuin

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."
Psalm 32:8-10

Sticks and Stones

The other day I came across a pageant bulletin board (Yes they do exist) and was broken hearted to find what a small group of strangers had to say about me. Masked behind the sarcasm was a piece of truth that pulled deep on my heart. My biggest fear for myself was staring at me through my computer screen. I was to some of them a failure. A has been. For the last four years I have battled with this very complex for myself. To see my own hidden fears written out for the world to see, I found myself feeling surprisingly inspired. It was almost as if for the first time I felt myself defending myself. At twenty-two, I am yet to have all of my dreams come true. How does that make me a failure? How boring would life be if we accomplished all our dreams on the first try? We are not defined by or successes, but by the character we develop through our failures. Yes, I have fallen many times, but I am proud to say that I always get up. I look at my life and see all the things I want to do, but sometimes it’s important for me to remind myself of all I have already done. I have been blessed with an amazing life. I am genuinely happy. No one can ever take that away from me. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”. Words do hurt, but take them with a grain of salt. A wise man once said, “Insults should be written in sand, compliments should be carved in stone”. Next time someone insults you, remember to words we used as children, “I’m rubber and your glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you”. If someone tries to bring you down this week, maybe it’s because they are trying to bring your down to their size.

“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2, NLT

The Wind

A friend of mine asked me last night why God allows people to hurt. He questioned my beliefs based upon his own past hurts. If there is a God, why does he let children die of cancer? Why do people say that when something goes our way it is a gift from God, but we are being punished or tested when something goes wrong? How do I know God really exist? The answer is simple, but hidden beneath the simplicity is a complexity that I too am working to figure out. There are many things that I do not know, but I will share with you what I do. I don’t have all the answers, but I do have faith. I know that this world is not a mistake. How can someone look to the evening sky and not feel inspired by the multiplicity of the stars? This world is so intricately put together, that even the moon serves a purpose. I don’t believe that God inflects pain and suffering without purpose. I know that without suffering we would not have compassion. Why a parent has to bury their child I do not yet understand. I think that every life is a gift, and though some lives are cut short, I believe they did indeed have a significant purpose. I think that our daily lives are both challenged and blessed. We all have a purpose and path to choose. God gave us that right of choice. People question religion, as do I. My faith is not blinded, but validated daily. I don’t stress about religion, but focus instead on a relationship. My prayers are more a conversation rather then a ritual. I have been asked multiple times why I believe in a God I have never seen. My answer is always the same. God to me is a lot like the wind. I cannot see him, but I can feel him and see what he is doing. He is a constant.

The Serenity Prayer
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. “
--Reinhold Niebuhr