The truth of who God is and who we are in Him transcends our fear and worry and even our deepest hurts. Following His calling is intricate, trying and wonderful. Less of us and more of Him brings about matchless peace and joy unfounded in mere circumstance; outside of legalism and tradition and outside of liberal, wanton selfishness.
With Him we experience the very best of our broken selves and find healing and hope in the moments we are at our worst. In our anxious times of doubt He calls to us not just as father, not just as friend but as the holy, saving God; beckoning us to Him. May we all hear and respond accordingly.
Mr. A
Friday, August 5, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Irrational thoughts
When I am stressed out I think about bad things I would never do. Here’s a list of today’s irrational thoughts:
1. Making a gigantic salad at a salad bar only to proclaim ‘I hate this stupid salad!’ and throw it as high in the air as I can.
2. Forcing this guy who is mean to my sister to drink a Route 44 size barf milkshake. I’m not specific on whose barf it is.
3. Picking up an orange in the produce section of Whole Foods and seeing how far I can throw it (I would base the distance off of how many aisles I cleared with one throw).
4. Choking and ruining a big presentation at work in front of everyone I respect.
5. Getting fired for wearing something really inappropriate to work. Like chaps…just chaps.
6. Forgetting my social, address, phone number and where my office is.
7. That God is just fed up with me and knew I would go to hell all along but lets me pretend like everything is ok but we both know it isn’t.
8. That some people who are really mad at me will come find me and make me blind or mentally impaired.
Yikes. I’m glad none of those things will happen. The thing about thoughts is we can choose to dwell on them or let them float away. But maybe the barf milkshake thing should still happen. It would be easy to make. Vomit, ice cream and milk. Probably wouldn’t even need a blender because the vomit would melt the ice cream. That’s gross.
Mr. A
When I am stressed out I think about bad things I would never do. Here’s a list of today’s irrational thoughts:
1. Making a gigantic salad at a salad bar only to proclaim ‘I hate this stupid salad!’ and throw it as high in the air as I can.
2. Forcing this guy who is mean to my sister to drink a Route 44 size barf milkshake. I’m not specific on whose barf it is.
3. Picking up an orange in the produce section of Whole Foods and seeing how far I can throw it (I would base the distance off of how many aisles I cleared with one throw).
4. Choking and ruining a big presentation at work in front of everyone I respect.
5. Getting fired for wearing something really inappropriate to work. Like chaps…just chaps.
6. Forgetting my social, address, phone number and where my office is.
7. That God is just fed up with me and knew I would go to hell all along but lets me pretend like everything is ok but we both know it isn’t.
8. That some people who are really mad at me will come find me and make me blind or mentally impaired.
Yikes. I’m glad none of those things will happen. The thing about thoughts is we can choose to dwell on them or let them float away. But maybe the barf milkshake thing should still happen. It would be easy to make. Vomit, ice cream and milk. Probably wouldn’t even need a blender because the vomit would melt the ice cream. That’s gross.
Mr. A
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Blah blah blah
Words
These are overused phrases at work that I have been guilty of using. Just like everybody else.
‘At the end of the day’ – can we all agree to let this one go?
‘Reach out to’ – from now on I will use ‘contact’, ‘call’, ‘email’, ‘invite’.
‘Put that/this on the table’ – there is no table. Let’s just say ‘would like to discuss this issue/thought/idea’.
‘Absolutely’ – I physically cringe when I hear this one. Just stop. Say, ‘yes’ or ‘I strongly agree’ or ‘unconditionally’.
Mean
There was a boy who was lounging and thinking and enjoying a beverage by the pool. There was a girl who invited herself to sit in the chair next to him. Even though there were others available. Creepy. The boy is in transition. The boy does not like to be bothered.
The girl wanted to talk. The boy obliged for a few minutes. The boy asked the girl to watch his belongings while he went back to his place to grab some beverages. The girl agreed and seemed excited.
The boy came back and did not share. He is mean. He does not care.
Addiction
I have an emerging addiction. Food. Which I eat after 8:00pm on a ‘table’ I made (turned upside down) with a cardboard box. Last night it was three pieces of pizza… and beer. But they were organic. So that was probably as good as a salad and fish. Problem solved. There. That’s better.
Worry
I worry more than most. I worry about relationships, spirituality, family, friends, career, traffic and illness. It never helps the situation and it never helps me sort through the problems. I hate that I worry. It is unlikely I will stop. But maybe I will.
These are overused phrases at work that I have been guilty of using. Just like everybody else.
‘At the end of the day’ – can we all agree to let this one go?
‘Reach out to’ – from now on I will use ‘contact’, ‘call’, ‘email’, ‘invite’.
‘Put that/this on the table’ – there is no table. Let’s just say ‘would like to discuss this issue/thought/idea’.
‘Absolutely’ – I physically cringe when I hear this one. Just stop. Say, ‘yes’ or ‘I strongly agree’ or ‘unconditionally’.
Mean
There was a boy who was lounging and thinking and enjoying a beverage by the pool. There was a girl who invited herself to sit in the chair next to him. Even though there were others available. Creepy. The boy is in transition. The boy does not like to be bothered.
The girl wanted to talk. The boy obliged for a few minutes. The boy asked the girl to watch his belongings while he went back to his place to grab some beverages. The girl agreed and seemed excited.
The boy came back and did not share. He is mean. He does not care.
Addiction
I have an emerging addiction. Food. Which I eat after 8:00pm on a ‘table’ I made (turned upside down) with a cardboard box. Last night it was three pieces of pizza… and beer. But they were organic. So that was probably as good as a salad and fish. Problem solved. There. That’s better.
Worry
I worry more than most. I worry about relationships, spirituality, family, friends, career, traffic and illness. It never helps the situation and it never helps me sort through the problems. I hate that I worry. It is unlikely I will stop. But maybe I will.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Weekend Balance
I’m typically a connoisseur of the weekend. I understand how to get the perfect balance of activities and rest. Recently I conquered the ‘Sunday Night Blues’ by realizing after 20 years of them that I was just done being a wuss about it. Here are a few thoughts/highlights from the weekend:
- Self discipline is a funny thing to me. I don’t have enough of it to not order and consume a fried chicken sandwich at 9:00pm but I do have the wherewithal to force myself out of bed the next day and pay for that sin in the gym.
- Shopping – I love to shop (no I’m not a girl…hahahah…shut it) but it has to be the right time. Saw a few things this weekend I wanted but when I thought about where I would put those items or what I would do with my old stuff I decided to just walk away.
- Jersey Shore – makes me feel bad to be a human being in 2011.
- Customer Service and WIFI – there is nothing better than starting the weekend mornings off with a great cup of coffee and then to casually surf the net in a comfortable, clean chair. Hats off for a good attitude Tim.
- Church – strong message in such a welcoming place. We are moving our services to House of Blues on Sundays to make room for the growing number of attendees. I wonder if I can get a burger and beer during service…
- Sunburn – I know. I know. All I’m saying is I got caught up in an eerily on point conversation and realized an hour or so later I needed to get inside. I’m not burned to a crisp. But I am a lobster in wingtips today.
- Pei Wei and PBS- Love Masterpiece Mysteries and food enough for two. Speaking of which, excuse me please.
Mr. A
- Self discipline is a funny thing to me. I don’t have enough of it to not order and consume a fried chicken sandwich at 9:00pm but I do have the wherewithal to force myself out of bed the next day and pay for that sin in the gym.
- Shopping – I love to shop (no I’m not a girl…hahahah…shut it) but it has to be the right time. Saw a few things this weekend I wanted but when I thought about where I would put those items or what I would do with my old stuff I decided to just walk away.
- Jersey Shore – makes me feel bad to be a human being in 2011.
- Customer Service and WIFI – there is nothing better than starting the weekend mornings off with a great cup of coffee and then to casually surf the net in a comfortable, clean chair. Hats off for a good attitude Tim.
- Church – strong message in such a welcoming place. We are moving our services to House of Blues on Sundays to make room for the growing number of attendees. I wonder if I can get a burger and beer during service…
- Sunburn – I know. I know. All I’m saying is I got caught up in an eerily on point conversation and realized an hour or so later I needed to get inside. I’m not burned to a crisp. But I am a lobster in wingtips today.
- Pei Wei and PBS- Love Masterpiece Mysteries and food enough for two. Speaking of which, excuse me please.
Mr. A
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Silver Lining
Someone close to me has a game called ‘silver lining’ where they look for the good in difficult situations. Everyone goes through challenging times but the best ones find ways to do it with grace and dignity. They develop(ed) character by moving through challenges without being whiny.
But the past few months have been a challenge for sure. I left a significant relationship, I moved to the city, I started a new role at work and I joined a new church. I’m an INFJ and typically we don’t handle that amount of change at once very well. I’m grateful to those that have been there to assist and I’m proud of myself for doing some of these things on my own.
Here’s my Silver Lining list:
-great friends and family
-a God that comforts me
-a place to call home
-a church that welcomes me
-a company that believes in me
I’m always learning something. Right now I’m learning that some people lead healthy and happy lives on their own -without the house, the spouse, the 2.5 kids and the SUV. I am one of those people. And I’m glad to be back.
Here's to the future,
Mr. A
But the past few months have been a challenge for sure. I left a significant relationship, I moved to the city, I started a new role at work and I joined a new church. I’m an INFJ and typically we don’t handle that amount of change at once very well. I’m grateful to those that have been there to assist and I’m proud of myself for doing some of these things on my own.
Here’s my Silver Lining list:
-great friends and family
-a God that comforts me
-a place to call home
-a church that welcomes me
-a company that believes in me
I’m always learning something. Right now I’m learning that some people lead healthy and happy lives on their own -without the house, the spouse, the 2.5 kids and the SUV. I am one of those people. And I’m glad to be back.
Here's to the future,
Mr. A
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