Out of the Hamster Wheel, Into God's Hands 8/19/13 (449)

       Good evening everyone,

My Gratitudes: 

1. This evening, I slowed down.  Nurturing ourselves, is critical.  Doing nothing is a virtue, not a fault.  If not careful, redlining our lives destroys our serenity; living in a hamster wheel gets us nowhere but out of touch with ourselves.  When assaulted by a multitude of distractions, demanding our attention, our feelings lose out.

2.  I'm thankful for making time to ponder.  Doing an inventory of our lives helps us notice areas requiring loving care.  How many people do you know take time to do this?  For that matter, when was the last time we thought of the word, "ponder"?  It's rarely done, a challenge to do, nowadays. The temptation to plug in with iPods, iPhones, to text, or surf the internet entices us away from spending time with our inner selves---in silence, free from distraction.

     Scrupulously doing our inventory, gently, lovingly---not critically----develops awareness of what is going on within us.  Reviewing our behavior, thoughts and needs, and those things that create the driving momentum of our life is a terrific, but oft overlooked activity.  Highly recommended.  Many thoughts are squatters, occupying territory in the property of our mind, only adding the squalor of anxiety, bitterness, depression, fear, resentment and self-loathing, among other mental detritus.  This is where doing an inventory with a mentor or Balcony Person helps: they help us to play nice, with ourselves.

     These individuals have emotional and psychological distance.  They are not embroiled with the issues imperiously demanding our immediate attention.  This supportive network empowers us to consider applying positive alternatives, antidotes, to harmful thinking and behavior.

         Balcony People are not critics.  They are cheerleaders who root for us, providing support when our energy flags. They run along side us, with paper cups filled with the cool water of encouragement, while we run the hilly marathon of life.  They remind us why we were never meant to live in isolation.

Caution: God at Work!

     I'm mindful that our thoughts affect the words we use, our words influence our actions, our actions shape our character and our character determines our destiny.  I've learned it's best having our mind filled with whatever is good, lovely or compassionate.

        Having our heart conform to God's character, seeking his help, is our best option.  Receiving aid from an austere, judgmental, unloving God is not what I'm suggesting.  The Higher Power I know is gentle, gracious, patient, kind, empathetic and loves unconditionally.  If you don't know this kind of God, you can. For more on this, you can read here first and then this place, too. Or, if you want, you can call me, no fee, and we can talk. My number is listed in the contact section above.

        Conforming to the nurturing qualities of God's character is impossible to arrive at, by our efforts, alone.  Positive thinking doesn't cut it.  Growth, and healing, happens when we rely on His strength and forgiveness.  It's best turning over the areas needing growth, to Him.  That's our part.  Letting Him deal with the results, is His.

Remind me each day that the race does not always go to the swift. There's more to life than increasing its speed. Let me  look upward into the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.       Orin Crane

3. I'm grateful I'm learning the value of  yielding to God, being patient while He's transforming this once scarred acorn into a beautiful tree.