Major in the Minor

Most of working America live an unbalanced life. Everyday we wake up with so many things to do. We are busy doing this and that yet mostly nothing gets done that we plan to do in a days time. Yet, the things we didn't plan for get done. I went to visit a friend after setting time aside to do so only to find that she was late to our meeting and it took her almost 30 minutes to calm down. After she'd calm down she became so needy in order to get in a state of relaxation, it was just about time to go when she hauled off and confessed to me, "I had a good time". Looking at her in shock, I could only image what she would do if she really had time. When I was working long hours each day, I found that the best way to really relax was to not allow my schedule to become too hectic that I didn't find the time to "smell the roses". It was my practice and still is to only have one major project that I work on at a time and two minor projects that I can accomplish within a days time. That way I walk away from my day having completed the minor and chipped away at the major. Yes, I majored in the minor. Now that I am no longer working outside of my home, I still practice this religiously. People seem to always have emergencies and last minute things do come up. But, don't allow someones inability to plan to become your emergency. Because once you allow it to happen it becomes the norm. Taking on a project that is not your own adds stress to your life and throws your balanced life off. Sometimes this isn't done consciously but because we have made a habit out of it it has become our personality, responsibility and job. We clean up other's mess and we call it multi-tasking or hyper-tasking. Believe it or not just look at your job description. Don't get me wrong helping others is part of being a team member, but each team member has their responsiblities and so do you.

Window Pane

Most of life is spent looking out a window. From the first crib you are placed in to the hurst window you take your last ride in. As a child there was a window seperating me from where I wanted to be, outside. As a teenager there were places I wanted to go and people I wanted to be with but could only look through the window of my bedroom and watch others interact. I wanted to be out there living among them interacting with the world as everyone else did. I wanted out of my side of the window thinking that life on the other side was much better. Although my grandmother tried to warn me I had no idea what I had to go through to interact with the world I desired to be a part of so badly. You see between me and the world was not just a window but pain (pane). Yes to live on the other side of the window I had to go through the pain to get to the other side. Pain is not something one really discusses but I didn't listen to all the warning signs. Girl, you really don't want to ____ or you really ought not to _____. I only had my eyes on the other side of the window and not so much what it would cost me to live on that side. As I looked closer at the people I so desperately wanted to interact with once I got on the other side of the window, I saw great dull pain on their faces. Something I had missed. It took me a while to realize that the dullness came from going through the window pane. I too had pain from going through the window, but I met someone who healed me and removed my dullness. His name is Jesus and you too can live a painless life. Once the he removes the dullness there is nothing you cannot do or be. I thank LaSandra Hill for a June 1, 1991 day in her dentist office. She saw my dullness and pain and she introduced me to the rest of my life. Although living life has it's own ups and downs I no longer live hopeless. Now the window that I look forward to is the window that God opens to pour out blessings.

Seasons Change

Seasons change and no one knows when they come or go but yet they change just the same. A sign of maturity is knowing when the change has occurred and that it's time to move. Over the last week of my life I left a season and I recognized it was time to change. The hard part about moving is the people around you don't seem to understand. We all know of people who get caught in seasons and moving becomes life threatening to them. I don't want to be a person who gets caught in between seasons. Today I move according to the season I'm moving into. I love days just before fall - the evidence of life and the knowing that the earth will make a gradual change due to motion. The retreat of the plants, the dying of the old to give way to the new, and the smell of life trying to survive. Today I know for sure I am a daughter and not an orphan. One person told me an orphan learns to depend on no one but learns to survive for themselves under their own power. They live in survival mode and nothing else matters. I am not sure how true that statement is but I am a daughter who depends on her Father to cover and provide. Today I left a place only to follow my father to a place he has made especially for me. Remember seasons change and nothing remains the same - only God is constant.

Overwhelmed? Then You Are Needed.

I'd been given a project at work and if you know me once I've started working on something I like to dig in 100% like a pit bull. Well instead of being allowed to just focus on the project, I get called into meeting after meeting after meeting. I was even put on on a team to head up another minor project. Well, while in one of those other side bar meetings, everyone seemed to have something to say about what needed to be done to move my main project along. Yet not one had the time to dedicate toward helping me successfully complete it. I sat in the meeting with my thoughts drifting from person to person remembering how I've stopped in the middle of a projects to assist others in achieving their goals or complete their projects with them. I'm usually a team player, but my thoughts were getting the best of me. As I thought about all the help given to others, I shook myself realizing I was getting self absorbed, caught up in pride and truly stirring my self righteousness up. Who am I that I should think more highly of myself than I ought to? Why should I get a pat on the back each time I did my job; no one else does. I was placed in this job to help others solve their problems and not the other way round. I am excellent at multi-tasking and project managment and thrive under pressure. Instead of complaining and grumbling I should be thankful that my skills are being noticed and optimized in areas needed. Think about it if they were not I wouldn't have a job. There is a need and I am there to meet that need. It feels so good to be needed even though at times it can feel a bit overwhelming. So when you feel overwhelmed and stressed, change your perspective toward others who ask for help. Look at it this way, you are wanted, needed and sought after by your colleagues and boss and your skill set is valued. Your opinion is valued. No one else can do your job better than you can. You were placed where you are to do what you do the way you do it. Fulfill that purpose because it's an honor.

Expand Your Circle

For those of you who are looking for new friends or new experiences, expand your circle. You know what circle I'm talking about. We all live in our own world with our close net family and friends. We often get so comfortable with our net we rarely cast it out to catch any new friends and God forbid we don't accept strangers into our family very well. It's safe and nonthreatening that way. I once read a book from Dr. Neil Warren - eharmony guy. In this book he challenges the reader that if you want to find a mate, you have to expand your circle of friends. Position yourself to find new friends. Volunteer with new people. Go to different places and do things different. Well, this year I made a pack with myself that I had to get out of the rut I was in. To expand my circle and step out of my comfort zone and make new friends and forge new relationships I had to act or propel myself forward. If you don't know, I am an introvert who plays and extrovert for the sake of being able to function in a world made for extroverts. I am very comfortable going days without leaving the house or talking to anyone but my husband. I once thought that I had some type of phobia but now I realize that I am just content. To make a long story short, today I really stepped out of my space and stretched my circle. I met someone today that made me want to become friends and to reach outside myself to bond. Before leaving to meet this person I really prayed that God would give me the patience to listen and the gentleness to be able to walk away if it didn't work. I really didn't want another freindship that would drain my joy or become so cumbersome that I withdrew even more. Boy, God made this connection and it was so clear in the first two minutes. Yes, my circle did grow today and so did I. Everyday I expect God to show me, me. I expect him to grow me out of me and help me to grow into him. It's hard to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and that's where I am with God. The more he shows me me, the more uncomfortable I am. What if God was an introvert and never forged relationships outside his close netted family and friends? Where would I be today. I thank you father for showing initiative. Thanks for modeling the way.

Love Dare

This week I began to take the "Love Dare" challenge after seeing the movie "Fireproof". I purchased the book and put it on my stack of books to read. Well this week I started it and it has proven to be a challenge for me in all aspects of my life. The dare is to help the reader strengthened their relationship with their spouse by using Biblical principles. Instead of helping with my relationship with my spouse it has proven to be something that I have used to help me improve my relationship with my coworkers and friends. The dare is basically broken down into days and the book is comprised of a 40 day challenge. I started this book on Monday. Today is Friday and I am still on day one. Yes, DAY ONE! Only today did I put a check by day one to say that I had completed the easiest dare in the book! 39 more dares to go. It's different when you are coaching others through their weaknesses and difficult seasons. So, so different and difficult when you face yourself and find you can be pretty ugly. Not only did I see myself in the mirror but I also got a good glimpse of how others see me. Talk about wanting to have some invisible moments. This week I had a few. Talk about growth moments.

United are We?

When I was a child we only had about five channels on our television and when the president came on all of the stations covered his speech. I really hated to watch those speeches and would find myself doing other things instead of watching him. Besides what he had to say usually only spoke to a certain class of people and guess what; it was not my class. Tonight was so different. I found myself actually looking for what channel would cover the president best no interruptions or commentaries that would distract. It didn't seem to matter that he was on several channels but the fact of which one did I want to watch. The anticipation and excitement was beyond anything I have ever held for any of our presidents. I don't know what the future holds for us but it builds hope in my 12 year old who is sitting here watching a man of color deliver a message of hope not such for my generation but for his. Prior to watching Obama tonight my son had to deliver his own speech to a group of Boy Scouts. He stated that he never would be comfortable giving a speech to anyone, it's nerve racking. Well I sat and watched him watch President Obama and his eyes were glued to the set. I even caught him mimicking some of his gestures and saying "Amen to that". I then asked him how did he (Obama) feel about having to get up and speak in front of a group of divided people - some supporting him and some who didn't. He said to me as the cameras revealed faces that he could tell easily the ones who were with him and the ones who even after tonight were not. He then made a comment that really made me wonder if we will ever grow up as a country. He asked if we are called the United States why aren't we? Wow, how can a 12 year old bring you to your knees. I was put in a box. Although it's good to see a man of color hold the office of President, it must also be a place of difficult. It's one thing to lead people who want to be led but it's totally different to attempt to guide a group of people who only want what they want the way they want it when they want it. So much for being united. God help us all.

Happy V Day

The day of love. Why just one day. We should love everyday.

Happy

Can a person be happy just because they are? There are people out there that have such bubbly personalities they make those around them either happy or irritated. A questions was asked of me why was I so happy and my reply was I'm just happy. Their response was there has to be a reason why. People are not just happy for no reason. I looked at the person and asked them why were they so sad and upset with life. It stunned them and their response was a quick angry response, "I'm not". Could of fooled me. Ask yourself why are you happy. Happiness comes and goes for many but no matter how you are feeling or what is going on in your life happiness is a state of mind. One in which you think and ponder on daily. It's like taking lemons and making the best lemonade possible. Life can give us many reasons to be sad and frustrated but it can also give us memorable moments that carry us through the rough spots.

Who Drew the LIne

Today I heard someone say that someone else had crossed the line. What line? Who drew it? What rules guide and guard the line? Some say it's when you go to far. I still say who has defined too far for every situation. Listening to XMNPT, one author was being interviewed about a book he wrote on Legal Bribery. He stated that some of the politicians had crossed the line. In my mind I said who drew the line that others were not to cross and who determines when the line is crossed? I personally think that lines are drawn by the ones who push morality just so far and once someone else comes along and goes farther then they went, then the line has been crossed because they (the original line pusher) didn't go that far. Line pushers cannot be out done without blowing the whistle on someone else who went too far. Think about this. What if we all used the Word of God/Bible as our line and if we don't cross the standards and principles given there we don't cross the line.

Worship

Looking out of the window this morning my eyes caught a glimpse of what the word dawn means. It was slow but yet steady the sun was and all the world seem to acknowledge it's presence. Where did the darkness go. Only God knows. But just as the sun rose over the city something pushed it out of the way, fog. But the fog didn't push away the light. The light remained even brighter than before. How can that be that one can still see in the midst of fog? Ramblings, Ramblings. Today I have Leadership meeting at church. What do I expect to gain or walk out with; Hopefully more of God. How good is that. Each time I am in his presence more of him comes into me. I love it. I once asked someone why do they go to church and their answer was because it's Sunday. I personally go to get answers to my pressing questions and for corporate worship. I love the worship services at my church. I get a sense of what heaven must be like. The music and the presence of God is so strong at times you can't do or say anything. How awesome is that. Sometimes I feel guilty that I enjoy it so much as I look around the sanctuary at others who don't seem as engulfed as I am. Why are they here? The more I get the more I desire.

I Was Sucked In By Facebook

Yesterday I signed up for a Facebook account. Before I knew what hit me I started getting invites from all over the world. I found myself consumed into this software and wanting to know more and more. I glanced up at the clock and hours had rolled away and it only seemed like minutes. Wow, now I know how people can spend hours on the computer without really accomplishing much of nothing.