Thought for the Week of June 25, 2012

"Comfort Zone"

.."yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." ~James 4:14

"What's holding your back?" Said my mentor, friend, and confidant. "What are you afraid of?" he continued. "Come on man, you don't want to be one of the meek, scared people in this world that never learn to push themselves, then live a life full of regrets do you?" That was enough for me to re-set my resolve, and continue without giving fear a foothold in my mind. I never will forget that conversation, and remember that moment as the day I took responsibility for my successes and failures, finally realizing it was my choice, and only my choice to make.

I have found myself avoiding things that would take me out of my comfort zone several times in my life, sometimes I still do, but for different reasons than the fear of the unknown. Of course we all have to balance risk and return, weigh the positive and the negative outcomes, but I can't tell you how often I let my mind create a justification for not doing something, then later wishing I had summoned the courage to move forward. When I look at life from the perspective of being "a mist that appears for a little time.." I recall the old saying of "Who's going to care in a hundred years". With faith in God, and an ear in tune with the Holy Spirit, courage to move forward with what is presented, is not nearly as hard to choose.

Choose to let God's love shine through you this week. Tell someone what you love about him or her today. Take that chance; you may be surprised at the return.

Peace and Grace!!


Scott

Thought for the Week of June 4, 2012

“Impedance”

I was very blessed to grow up on a working cattle ranch in Texas. As a child, I thought it was just horrible being way out in the country, not having other kids to play with all the time, and having to go work with the grown men. I had no idea the life-long lessons I learned then, would be with me, and influence decisions to the degree, which they have.

The experience of working with large animals was something most kids in my community shared. There was a learned respect for cattle and horses simply because they were ten times larger than the average person was, and if you were not careful how you moved and handled yourself, you would probably get hurt, possibly even killed. Being in a position where it was you and that animal in a pen, the threat of injury or death very present, and being tasked with accomplishing something with that animal that might not be natural for the animal, presented a daunting challenge to a young person. Learning to position yourself, carry a certain posture, and make the right amount of noise at the right time, accompanied with appropriate arm waiving, was critical to the successful disposition of the animal.

We had a few renegade head of cattle that seemed to have an attitude of obstinacy. You could follow all of the methodology you had learned from watching the adults, and sometimes be successful in manipulating the old cow into the proper alley, then to the proper pen. However, some would rather run over you than follow your direction. It was important to read the body language of an animal, to know when it was time to head for the fence, and get to safety. Thankfully, those animal personalities were the exception rather than the rule. I always wanted to find a way to communicate with the animals that what I was trying to get them to do was not going to hurt them, and that in fact, it was in their best interest to follow my instructional gestations. It was highly frustrating at times to be making a substantial effort in a hot, dusty, and odor rich environment and not achieve the result desired. The cattle became frustrated or at least agitated as well, because they had to start over, and go through the process of being sorted into the right area.

I had a God moment back then, and realized that what I was trying to do with the cattle was exactly what God was doing by sending His Son to live and walk among us. God can’t force us to go the direction He wants us to go, but He sure can waive His arms, make noise, and position Himself in a way to help guide us to a better place. I’ve spent years of my life playing the role of the obstinate cow, not looking for God, my head down, and headed to where I wanted to go. I’ve even run over, knocked down, and kicked at, a few people that I didn’t see as re-presenting Christ.

At the end of the day, my pain, frustration, regrets, and emptiness, were because of not following God’s will for my life. Do not get in your own way in your journey. The cliché “Let go and Let God” is ever true in my life. When I have attempted to shut God out, and take it from here, I end up having to go through a process again. It was frustrating, but necessary. God will win, as it should be, so kick up your feet and go with the stream of living water that is taking you to His will for your life.

Peace and Grace!!

Scott