More than Understanding

The DEEP CHASM between sympathy and emphathy 

My Dreams

I have an order to my life.  This shall happen, then this.  I have been told to decide my dreams and make them happen.  The huge flaw in that advice is that I can't control others or even my own body.

I wanted a second child.  I did everything I was told that would give me another child.  I took all the common and uncommon advice: take tests, stop trying, go to the doctor... No baby.  They saw my first born and asked where is the second.  I lost my composure and avoided.  I had decided my dreams and couldn't make them happen.

I wanted to be successful and others to know it.  As a first born of a first born of a first born, I work hard until I achieve.  I plan and cover all my bases, not leaving anything undone. Perfection is my only option.  Within 13 years of competitive running, I have strived to perfect my body and mind. Read all the books, done every workout, ate the right foods, envisioned all my races, I had come to accomplish.  However I never was good enough for my dreams.  I could never win the top prize.  My highest is second place.  I am always number two.  I had decided my dreams and can't make them happen.

"So scale down the dreams, you made them too high," You say.  Fine. Then all I want is to enjoy life fully and be able to participate in the world that surrounds me. That dream has crushed me over and over: injuries put me on my back, money flies away leaving me worried, or rejection from those around me burns my heart. I still can't make a dream come true.

Since I obviously don't have control over what surrounds me or even my own body, I go on to understand that I will have to focus on my reaction to life.  Can I make lemonade when given a lemon?  Can I smile in the face of fear? Can I be satisfied with what is in my hand?

Life is not about making dreams come true.  It is about accepting the journey that God has so carefully designed for me. The journey is still one of delights and wins.  Embracing the circumstances and seeing either how I can grow from the experience or how I can help others grow.

It is not about what I am wanting life to give me but what I can give life.  I can love no matter what.  In every circumstance, tragedy or delight, I can choose to care deeply: pouring out acceptance, grace, understanding, and wisdom. It is not my dreams that I can impact but other's hearts through love.

This marks 17 years since they handed me my high school diploma and said go make your dreams come true. I wish they would have charged me with the challenge to go love others.

Overtaken

The stirring within me swells and then breaks as a crashing wave.

Fall

"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." Luke 20:18

I shall fall and be broken into pieces, put back together anew by Jesus. 

Flying Time

I am trying to halt time.

I won't let go

Holding onto hope. 

The fine line between grace and enabling. 

Stop expecting perfection

Grace

It is so much easier to be mean. 

Where to put the spotlight

Value attributes, not accomplishments 

Praise qualities, not awards

Encourage who they are, not their success

A Rich Worker

I don't work for money, I work for smiles. 

Smiles don't burn in fires.

Smiles don't disappear in the stock market.

Smiles don't rust.

Each one I receive gets tucked in my pocket, captured by my camera, or shared right back. 

I am truly rich. 

A day without disappointment

When you wake, choose the task that is most important for you to complete that day. Do that task at your first opportunity.  Afterwards the success will either spur you on to complete other tasks or will be your win of the day!