Cultivate Your Thoughts

Our reaction to change can either be positive or negative, depending on the mindset we choose to cultivate.

My church is in the midst of a building project that includes a brand new two-story children’s wing. Breaking ground this Spring, we have had to merge the nursery and children’s department together. This will allow us to demolish the current nursery and begin work on the new building. This is positive change.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to serve with the kids. During one of the lull periods, I found myself in a brief conversation with one of the volunteers.

“Those kids are so loud.” said the volunteer with disdain.

Now, I do not know this person at all, but I detected a consistent negative thread to our conversation. So, I changed the tone.

“Have you seen the new virtual tour video on the church website? I uploaded it yesterday.”

I went on to talk about how exciting it is that we are moving forward with the building project. I’m excited about where we are heading and I wanted to share that enthusiasm. Doing so ended our conversation on a positive note.

Funny how we get upset over temporary things and fail to look at the big picture. We can make the choice, with God’s strength, to view our current situations through a healthy lens. Yes, I’m preaching to myself.

Real Men Cry

My son is in kindergarten. Founts of almighty wisdom are usually dropped on the playground. I can’t imagine what he is learning, but last night he gave me a glimpse into what he is processing.

After a bit of wrestling on the couch, he looked at me and said, “crying means that you are weak.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“Oh, so-and-so at school says that.”

I quickly told my son that real men cry, that crying is not a weakness. Heck, I told him, even I cry.

Our conversation ended just about as quickly as it had began. I just wanted to make sure that my son knows that crying does not unmake a man.

**Just as a side note, on this blog, I am not going to refer to my son by his name. I would prefer to protect it.

Masks

I used to write with some frequency. The more people who came to read my blog, especially those who I am friends with in physical space, the more I felt like I couldn’t be myself. I became careful, almost cautious of what I was sharing. Part of me felt like I had to put up a front, a mask if you will, to project an image I thought people wanted to read and see. I began to write less and less. Dropping any personal vulnerability and focusing more on general items. This alarmed me. Writing is my outlet, a window to an inner world of thoughts rarely spoken.

“How can we be loved if we are always in hiding?” – Donald Miller, Scary Close (p140)

I have always been insecure with who God made me to be. Perhaps this is a fault. I have issues accepting God’s grace and forgiveness, even though I know that they are real. I find it easier to mentally beat myself up than accept something I cannot grasp. Wrestling with faith is not easy but necessary.

This is where I am today. I want to write. Be myself. Embrace who Christ has created and called me to be. Not worrying what others think, what their perception is of me. I am created with a purpose and a unique voice. I am tired of the negative thinking. I am tired of fear. Today I want to be free.

Blame the parents, if you can

Got up and went to the dentist this morning. Have had a tooth that has been bothering me that I wanted to get checked out. Turns out there was nothing wrong with the tooth in question. The dentist did tell me to quit clenching my teeth down, while at work, and that I should check into consulting an orthodontist. I then told the dentist that it was all my parents fault. That they should have paid for me to have braces. Of course I was joking, not sure the dentist took it that way. Had to explain myself. Oh well.

2.22.15weather

Sitting here listening to the rain hit the windows. Kind of a dreary day outside. Has rained non-stop. Wouldn’t surprise me if we have gotten 3-4 inches by the time this storm system has blown through.

Work has been slow lately. We currently have a bunch of projects on the horizon (April/May-ish) but a lot of prep work in the meantime. Trying to busy myself with lower tier office items that I neglect when we are running in full swing.

Not a bad day over all. How are things with you?

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