The synthesizer in me is always trying to simplify.
What would it be like if, instead of trying to remember a few hundred things every day, I could boil it down to 3 or 4? That's really attractive because it stresses me out to think I may be forgetting something. So there are many levels of application here: the most obvious, external is the to do list- calls to make, things to do, bills to pay, places to go, etc. My answer is to remember Outlook and my notebook. Outlook has appointments and general recurring tasks. The notebook has specific recurring tasks and somewhat of a journal. So I can "remember" thousands by just remembering 2 things. That was easy. It just involves the habit of learning to enter info into the appropriate document. Organization 101.
Now move to a more philosophical level. How can I remember all the "beliefs" and "ought to's" that I should? Since this is not a tangible, "check it off" realm- it's a bit more slippery but because it affects my life on a deeper level and drives the life of the paragraph above, it is essential that my 'system' for remembering here is very purposed. I'm not suggesting that I can put my spiritual life in a box with a system and be content. What I'm searching for is the "one thing" that is the core, the starting point, the foundation, the first grid which all succesive layers of the grid must be true to. It has boiled down to this for me: Be right with God. Boy, that sounded really profound. Here's my thought behind the word "right"- I can determine right from wrong based on design or original intent. God has made everything on purpose with a design and the best I can do is to be completely in line with that- right. The first "right" is that I was made to be in relationship with Him. Any sense, idea, or act of independence is flat out wrong. Because this is not the state that I was born into, I have to reprogram and acknowledge this on a continual basis. The first time that I "connected" was an amazing experience- the thought of being right where I was made to be was overwhelming in a good way. My nature is not to stay there though and so part of the "one thing" is to remind myself of this truth: I am desperate and hopeless without God, I am fully alive (what I was made to be) when He lives in me and through me. A mystery yes, but a true and right one. The fact that He designed us to recognize, desire, and enjoy this is true love- I'm so grateful right now just thinking of that.
The second part of the "one thing" is that, in our relationship we are not equals- he rules and i submit. In this relationship it's a beautiful thing. In others it gets a bad rap because no one is perfect and there is much abuse. The kingdom is all about ruling, it's all about soveignty, it's all about God being the creator and me being the creation. When this is as it should be, my life is right! The core is in place and so my preoccupation can stop about all the lists of do's and don'ts and shoulds and shon'ts (just go with it for the ryhme). I may be able to stop asking WWJD and actually observe Him through me.
That's the "one thing" for me. I need to be connected to and ruled by my Father, the King of Kings. It's just amazing that what I need I also crave and any other option is so empty.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The bridge
| Allow a few minutes afterward to ponder...
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Sunday, October 19, 2008
An interview on community
Jen Lemen was on the same plane to Africa that I was, but had a different itinerary while there. I got to know her on the plane and just found this interview with her about community. This is attractive and if the economic conditions speed this up, well then..... bring it on:
http://www.letterstomydaughters.com/2008/07/whats-your-idea-of-community-interview.html
http://www.letterstomydaughters.com/2008/07/whats-your-idea-of-community-interview.html
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Exhaling (and other personal notes)
When I post like I just did below, it feels like a big exhale. It's a similar feeling that I have right after completing a proposal for a major project. WHEW!!!!!!!
I took an online test from a book called "now, discover your strengths". What I discovered was my 5 themes. Out of the 34 strengths these were determined to be mine: Intellection, Connectedness, Input, Achiever, and Responsibility. The point of the book is to concentrate on strengths and don't put so much time into trying to strengthen weaknesses. I like that! and it seems like that aligns well with reality.
Starting this blog was a good outlet for "intellection" (did anyone tell those authors that spell check does not appreciate that word?) Writing down my thoughts helps me to articulate and crystallize ideas. Reading (and now, multiple books at a time) is huge for my mental health- I could read all day.
Getting on Facebook is a great outlet for connectedness (and I'm really surprised that spell check buys that word- maybe I already added it to my dictionary). My brother Todd and I share this connectedness- we tease about his 'small world' theory, but deep down inside I'm a subscriber as well. I love watching people connect, hearing about people connect, to each other and their creator.
Acheiver and Responsibility find plenty of outlet as the owner of a remodeling firm. It's the Input label that has me a little confused. I may need to reread that part but if it's about organizing and systemitizing then I get it. My email folders and internet bookmarks look like the library of congress- it may be borderline OCD. When my physical world is organized I have peace. Isn't everyone like that? (ooops, a little tounge in cheek. sorry)
Speaking of PEACE, it's super high on my values. Probably right under TRUTH. I love peace but will not, can not sacrifice truth for it. (eternal, absolute truth- not temporary or relative truth)
Peace, J
I took an online test from a book called "now, discover your strengths". What I discovered was my 5 themes. Out of the 34 strengths these were determined to be mine: Intellection, Connectedness, Input, Achiever, and Responsibility. The point of the book is to concentrate on strengths and don't put so much time into trying to strengthen weaknesses. I like that! and it seems like that aligns well with reality.
Starting this blog was a good outlet for "intellection" (did anyone tell those authors that spell check does not appreciate that word?) Writing down my thoughts helps me to articulate and crystallize ideas. Reading (and now, multiple books at a time) is huge for my mental health- I could read all day.
Getting on Facebook is a great outlet for connectedness (and I'm really surprised that spell check buys that word- maybe I already added it to my dictionary). My brother Todd and I share this connectedness- we tease about his 'small world' theory, but deep down inside I'm a subscriber as well. I love watching people connect, hearing about people connect, to each other and their creator.
Acheiver and Responsibility find plenty of outlet as the owner of a remodeling firm. It's the Input label that has me a little confused. I may need to reread that part but if it's about organizing and systemitizing then I get it. My email folders and internet bookmarks look like the library of congress- it may be borderline OCD. When my physical world is organized I have peace. Isn't everyone like that? (ooops, a little tounge in cheek. sorry)
Speaking of PEACE, it's super high on my values. Probably right under TRUTH. I love peace but will not, can not sacrifice truth for it. (eternal, absolute truth- not temporary or relative truth)
Peace, J
Aligning with Reality
I had to get new front tires (and brakes) on Thursday because I just noticed that one was showing steel on the inside. The cause? The tires were not aligned. So off to another shop to take care of that. And as "ounce of prevention, pound of cure" would have it- I spent $ 70 for the alignment and $ 400 for two tires (fairly big truck). Yeah- I could have put off that tire purchase for another x months if my alignment was good. Here's where I'm headed- it's always good to be aligned.... but there a lot of ideas, philosophies, religions, etc. to align to, right? How can I know if I'm aligned to the right one? Again, this another subject that can get really deep and theoretical but I'd like to keep it practical. Ha. Well, it's worth a try.
There are universal principles in so many threads: the physical sphere, the mental, emotional, spiritual, etc. We know that if we choose to violate these "laws" we will suffer the consequences. (how many examples should I list before I continue?) Man has learned to overcome some laws (say gravity) by using another law in a more powerful way (lift of an aircraft wing from air pressure differences). Is it possible to overcome all laws by using some other law in a more powerful way? That depends on what we mean by 'overcome' and 'powerful' I suppose, but to keep it practical- if a law is a universal principle, it will always be in effect. The effect of that law may not be apparent or obvious if another law has greater influence over the effects of the first law. Stay with me. Ok, 5 minute water break. Could it be that we have fooled ourselves about this in more important, eternal matters? What if we admit that there are spiritual laws and yet the reason that we choose not to live by these laws is that we invoke other laws that have a more perceived, temporary benefit or effect that nullifies (from our perception, or in our economy) the effects of the laws that we're not too hip on? If I lost anyone at this point, write me. What I'm doing here is mostly introspective analysis and letting you in on it. I do believe that this is a universal issue though.
Now to get personal- I know that there is a law of connection, I'll call it. We were made to be connected to God. He made us to function in relationship with Him. Different words help different people, so we can talk about 'abiding' or 'dependence', whatever the word- the idea is that we were made for this and He has made it possible. Our souls crave this and we crave with an intensity that will not give up easily. The problem is that we mislabel this craving, or 'feed' the craving with a poor substitute, or even deny the craving- either out of hopelessness or a sense of (false) spiritual piety. Any of these will wear my tires wrong, so to speak, because they are not aligned with Reality. (I capitalized on purpose because the ultimate reality is God, who defines the rest of reality) If we live out of alignment, there will be consequences. They may not be apparent or obvious right away but they will be present. Cars don't drive the same when the alignment is out. Lives don't live the same when the alignment is out. And yet, I know this and choose at times to ignore or suspend the law of connection (gravity) in favor of the law of independence (difference in air pressure). The aircraft called 'self' works like this but it does take a lot of energy and at some point gravity will win. My point in this confusing car tire/airplane wing picture is that when I choose to buck the universal principles of life, it will have effects; some are perhaps desirable (at least temporarily) and some not. Why would I think about bucking these laws- why even entertain the idea of independence? One reason is that I don't so much entertain and then consciously decide- it's more of a reaction or impulse, it's the natural human tendency. The other reason is that I'm believing a lie- something else is better than God, to put it bluntly. How do I live then, like I know I should when I have these natural tendencies and attractive lies? This is where a change in belief systems is needed. If I'm living misaligned, then I'm believing something not true, something that doesn't exist in the ultimate Reality. So how do I change my belief system? (not a wholesale change, because there must be enough of a solid core to be able to even realize that some of the outer layers aren't right)
A good place to start changing the 'bad' is to name and confirm the good. I won't try to build a comprehensive list here. Let's do the bare bones for now, we can always go back and add. The important thing is to get it right. This is my core: God created everything for a purpose, including me. He has made me to live, truly live, when I am in right relationship with Him. He has also made the way for this to be possible. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Connecting to God (being in right relationship) requires that I accept, acknowledge, and live the simple reality that He is Lord. His proper place is Ruler, King. He is Sovereign and whatever he reigns is right- fulfilling design=right and when I put myself under his dominion, I am living like l was created to live. Seeking first the kingdom of God is really nothing more than aligning myself with Reality- understanding that God is King, He deserves to rule, and it's in the best interest of the universe to allow Him to rule. That is my core. It's solid and it will not change, so help me God. I'll confirm this (til kingdom come!) and it will help me to identify the beliefs that need to be changed. (sidenote on 'allowing' God to rule-this sounds like the mother of all paradoxes and so I will let it rest for now, be OK with it and address it later? yeah)
There are universal principles in so many threads: the physical sphere, the mental, emotional, spiritual, etc. We know that if we choose to violate these "laws" we will suffer the consequences. (how many examples should I list before I continue?) Man has learned to overcome some laws (say gravity) by using another law in a more powerful way (lift of an aircraft wing from air pressure differences). Is it possible to overcome all laws by using some other law in a more powerful way? That depends on what we mean by 'overcome' and 'powerful' I suppose, but to keep it practical- if a law is a universal principle, it will always be in effect. The effect of that law may not be apparent or obvious if another law has greater influence over the effects of the first law. Stay with me. Ok, 5 minute water break. Could it be that we have fooled ourselves about this in more important, eternal matters? What if we admit that there are spiritual laws and yet the reason that we choose not to live by these laws is that we invoke other laws that have a more perceived, temporary benefit or effect that nullifies (from our perception, or in our economy) the effects of the laws that we're not too hip on? If I lost anyone at this point, write me. What I'm doing here is mostly introspective analysis and letting you in on it. I do believe that this is a universal issue though.
Now to get personal- I know that there is a law of connection, I'll call it. We were made to be connected to God. He made us to function in relationship with Him. Different words help different people, so we can talk about 'abiding' or 'dependence', whatever the word- the idea is that we were made for this and He has made it possible. Our souls crave this and we crave with an intensity that will not give up easily. The problem is that we mislabel this craving, or 'feed' the craving with a poor substitute, or even deny the craving- either out of hopelessness or a sense of (false) spiritual piety. Any of these will wear my tires wrong, so to speak, because they are not aligned with Reality. (I capitalized on purpose because the ultimate reality is God, who defines the rest of reality) If we live out of alignment, there will be consequences. They may not be apparent or obvious right away but they will be present. Cars don't drive the same when the alignment is out. Lives don't live the same when the alignment is out. And yet, I know this and choose at times to ignore or suspend the law of connection (gravity) in favor of the law of independence (difference in air pressure). The aircraft called 'self' works like this but it does take a lot of energy and at some point gravity will win. My point in this confusing car tire/airplane wing picture is that when I choose to buck the universal principles of life, it will have effects; some are perhaps desirable (at least temporarily) and some not. Why would I think about bucking these laws- why even entertain the idea of independence? One reason is that I don't so much entertain and then consciously decide- it's more of a reaction or impulse, it's the natural human tendency. The other reason is that I'm believing a lie- something else is better than God, to put it bluntly. How do I live then, like I know I should when I have these natural tendencies and attractive lies? This is where a change in belief systems is needed. If I'm living misaligned, then I'm believing something not true, something that doesn't exist in the ultimate Reality. So how do I change my belief system? (not a wholesale change, because there must be enough of a solid core to be able to even realize that some of the outer layers aren't right)
A good place to start changing the 'bad' is to name and confirm the good. I won't try to build a comprehensive list here. Let's do the bare bones for now, we can always go back and add. The important thing is to get it right. This is my core: God created everything for a purpose, including me. He has made me to live, truly live, when I am in right relationship with Him. He has also made the way for this to be possible. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Connecting to God (being in right relationship) requires that I accept, acknowledge, and live the simple reality that He is Lord. His proper place is Ruler, King. He is Sovereign and whatever he reigns is right- fulfilling design=right and when I put myself under his dominion, I am living like l was created to live. Seeking first the kingdom of God is really nothing more than aligning myself with Reality- understanding that God is King, He deserves to rule, and it's in the best interest of the universe to allow Him to rule. That is my core. It's solid and it will not change, so help me God. I'll confirm this (til kingdom come!) and it will help me to identify the beliefs that need to be changed. (sidenote on 'allowing' God to rule-this sounds like the mother of all paradoxes and so I will let it rest for now, be OK with it and address it later? yeah)
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