Great Wall of China

Let me start by saying that I am no history buff. I would incorrectly answer the year the War of 1812 was fought if asked. I never had an interest in history when I was in school and still to this day am not very good at remembering random facts about anything past 5 minutes ago.  So forgive me if I am wrong in what I am about to say.

The Great Wall of China is a beautiful structure that took many men a very long time to create. It was designed to keep what was good in and the bad from entering. It was a solid, well built pile of rock that to this day is still mostly standing. People from all over the world travel to see it, take pictures of it, and attempt to bring a piece home with them.  I can’t say that visiting the Great Wall of China is on my list of top things to see in my lifetime, but I do think it is an impressive piece of history.

The wall was a brilliant thing built by people with good intentions and a clear purpose. As I was thinking about the Wall it made me think about the walls I have put up in my own life. They aren’t physical walls because just as I am not a history buff I am also not a very good construction worker, but emotional walls. Like the Great Wall in China, the walls protecting me were put up in small sections over a long period of time. Now they are winding and connected all around in order to keep out the bad.  

Most people don’t enjoy suffering, and I am certainly in that category. I love living life with a smile on my face. I enjoy being happy and making other people laugh. Keeping out any negative things is a way that I am able to live my life with a smile stretched tightly across my face.  New sections are continually being added to protect from pain and suffering. But as I get older, which is happening much too fast recently, I wonder if the walls are worth it. Am I truly happy? Do I know true happiness?  And how can I answer those questions when I haven’t allowed myself to live life as it is meant to be lived?

My long winding walls are safe and comfortable. Is it true that without the experience of pain there is no room for finding new joys? Without allowing one ’s self to live life and fully experience how can you determine what is worth keeping out? I am not sure that I am ready to give up my protective walls just yet but as I begin to process all this I am very curious to learn just how green the grass is on the other side.

                                                                                                                                     

WHOA

Ever feel as though no matter how hard you try you can never live up to the expectations other people have for you? It could be the expectations of friends, family, employers, or complete strangers. This is a bit how I have felt this past week.

It seems that friends always have someone else they'd rather hang out with or share their life with. Family has the expectation to be everywhere at once and to move on with my life. Employers expect that employees will pick up the slack of those other employees.

The world is getting to me this week. Somethings that wouldn't normally be a big deal, are getting me down. It seems like the world is spinning too fast and I just can't keep up.Maybe it is the added stress I have been under this past week, the fact that I am getting sick, or the dreary weather. I am not sure. But what I do know is that I am praying that life will soon slow down and those things that I can't control or change on my own begin to work themselves out.

"For I know that plans I have for you says the Lord!" That is a great deal of hope as I struggle with ways of the world this week.

Smile, for there is ALWAYS something worth smiling about!

AWE

You stood before creation
Eternity in your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
And carried the cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to you

So I'll walk upon salvation
Your spirit alive in me
This life to declare your promise
My soul now to stand

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to you

I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand
My soul Lord to you surrendered
All I am is yours

footprints in the sand

ou walked with me,
Footprints in the sand,
And helped me understand,
Where I'm going,

You walked with me,
When I was all alone,
With so much unknown,
Along the way,
Then I heard you say,

I promise you,
I'm always there,
When your heart is filled with sorrow,
And despair, I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand.

I see my life flash across the sky,
So many times have I been so afraid.
And just when I, have thought I lost my way,
You gave me strength to carry on,
That's when I heard you say,

I promise you
I'm always there
When your heart is filled
With sorrow and despair
And, I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand.

When I'm with you,
Well I know you've been there,
And I can feel you when you say,

I promise you (you)
I'm always there
When your heart is filled (when your heart)
With sadness and despair (and despair)
I'll carry you when you need a friend (need a friend)
You'll find my footprints in the sand. (I promise you)

Ohh. (I'm always there)

When your heart is full of
Sadness and despair, (and despair)
I'll carry you when you need a friend. (I'll carry you)
You'll find my footprints in the sand.

I had a pretty rough day today. It was one of those days when nothing seems to go right and everything seems to go wrong. I did a fair amount of whining and a lot of sulking.
Then after I finished complaining to a friend I realized that life could be so much more challenging. I could have a medical scare or a serious condition. I could have family issues or many other more serious things to work though.
And here I sit whining and complaining and stressing out over petty things that don’t really matter. So today I am choosing to have a better attitude when things just seem to be falling apart. I will find the bright side of things and look for the positives. Today is the first day of the rest of your life…

i'm dancing but my feet are all tangled up

You know when you are little and you want something so badly but you know you will never get it? Perhaps it is a new toy, a puppy or having your birthday party at sea world. You continue to ask… beg…for it over and over again until you have gotten either 1 of 2 results. You either have annoyed the person so much that they have given in and just let you have it. Or you have annoyed that person to the point where you will NEVER get you what you are asking for.
As an adult we continue to do this, maybe not in the same repetitive manor or for the same childhood desires but rather seeking life necessities along with the occasional materialist items. I have recently found myself mentally doing the same thing that I once did as a child. Over and over again I tell myself I want/need this or that. One of the many perks of growing up is you get to be in control of your choices… to a point. You get to live your life and make the arrangements necessary to live it as you want to.
But what happens when you don’t know how to obtain the things in life that you want/need? What happens when the same desires swirl around in your head and you can’t seem to work out any practical way of achieving your goals? Is it time to start fresh and new? Do you seek the advice of a friend? Is there a solution you may have missed? Are there answers?
I wish I could tell you that I have found the solution, but sadly I have not. Unfortunately, as an adult the 2 outcomes that could have applied as a child no longer work when you become an adult. So if you have any words of advice I would love for you to share.

Be strong

"Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the LORD and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the LORD and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the LORD and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say"

That about sums it all up!