Sunday, February 3, 2013

It is one dimensional to think everything revolves around your kids and your job (no matter how interesting they are to you, most people just don't care). Expand your life experience today, take a risk, stretch outside your comfort zone, serve somebody, create or learn something that interests you on a non-professional level. Do something new or rather don't do what you always do.

As a former pastor, I can understand the angst and the feelings of personal failure when the crowd is thin or attendance is spotty at church. But as a believer, I can tell you that I have to push back against the urge to go to church some times just to feel I've "done my bit" and to check it off my list like a passive ritual. I am not going to church today but I have been very intentional about my relationship with God and his people this week. Every day I am making progress in some way.

  • "Each one of us can increase our peace by simply minding our own business and not giving our opinion when it's not requested." ~ Joyce Meyer

    What I learned this week:
    1) Arguing/ persuasively presenting an opinion is an important part of cognitive development in young adults. It should be nurtured and directed so it is appropriate.
    2) Sometimes you have to let a relationship "blow up" before it can move forward.
    3) If you put something on the stove, don't leave the room.
    4) In a world of almost universal deceit, telling the truth really is a revolutionary act.
    ... 5) It is easy to forget the fantasies, lies and desperate stories we told to ourselves and others as teenagers.
    6) My job isn't about filling heads with information but about helping kids learn to deal with obstacles, live intentionally and develop the character to be a good citizen.
    7) Most people live tethered to an existence of house/job/obligations like a dog chained to up to a doghouse. I don't want to live a life based around material and social dogma.
    8) I like to learn by doing.
    9) Hothead burritos was better than I expected, next time I will ignore the critics and find out for myself.
    10) Every once in a while, things work out better than you expect.
    and finally,
    11) While I am glad to be back to work, my heart really misses all the time I was able to spend with my wife and son while I was unemployed.