Skip to main content

Snow Is Like Your Problems...

Last week, I wore chacos. I had to wear a sweatshirt too, but that's not important. The important part is, it was warm enough for CHACOS. (If you don't know what chacos are, you need to look them up. They are the only summer footwear you'll ever need.) Today, there is three inches of do-not-wear-chacos-if-you-value-your-toes on the ground. And it's still coming down. I guess it's back to the boots.

At first I was frustrated. I mean, come on. Why the tease of summer if it's only to be snatched away again?! But as usual, God was like, excuse me, there's a lesson here if you're paying attention...

The snow is like our problem(s). We can either be frustrated by it, and consequently nothing will be happy today, or we can see the beauty in it, take it for what it is, and choose joy.

And now for a string of Maxwell Smart-like "Snow is like your problems because...." (see the Get Smart episode "A Tale of Two Tales" if this makes no sense):

Snow is like your problems because you can either look for the good in them (snow is pretty), or be blinded by the obvious bad (you have to shovel snow).

Snow is like your problems because if, while driving in it, you grip the wheel and stare straight ahead in sheer terror (focus only on your problem), you miss the peacefulness of still trees heavy with snow (the benefits of your problem).

Snow is like your problems because it slows you down. You can be annoyed that you're slowed down, or you can enjoy it, and maybe even stop here and there to see the sights.

So basically what I'm saying (and mostly to myself) is that if you take your focus off everything that's wrong, and focus on the good stuff that God has given you (and that good stuff may be the consequence of your problem, so really, be thankful for it), your frustration level will drop significantly.

Now excuse me while I go dig out the clunky boots and shovel the now four inches of spring off the walk.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Note About My Siblings

The Original Siblings These are the "siblings". With the last three of the bunch graduating high school this year, I think it's an appropriate time to introduce them. On the left is Liz. An accounting major, she provides the common sense in the bunch. And thanks to her love of musicals, we all are a little more cultured. Next is Aaron. If you're ever in a jam, he'll be the first to help you out. And he'll make you laugh very hard in the process. Then Steph. Whether you've known her for 10 minutes or 10 years, she'll make you feel like an old friend. And she's often responsible for the-- never mind. It's classified. And Nick. Nick can hack your database or take a perfectly composed picture of a sunrise, depending on the day. And he's also got car ride composition covered. Abby. You'll know Abby's been there by the trail of little children tagging along after her. And she keeps us classy in word and deed. Finally Mica...

Is Caution My Excuse for Convenience?

 If I truly lived to serve Christ with no regard for myself, today I would have... -Had a better conversation with the bank teller -Asked the elderly lady walking down the road in the cold dark if she needed a ride somewhere  Do we as a Christian culture train our kids improperly? Every time I see someone walking down the road, I don't see someone needing help, I see someone who is a potential danger to me. When the bank teller is grouchy, I am offended that they weren't more pleasant and conversive with me. Me. When is it time to stop focusing on the possible dangers of an action, and trust God for the possible encouragement and healing that could come from it? What things do we actually need to consider, and what to we use as an excuse to avoid doing something that's "inconvenient" to us?

I Planned.

I think I realized the fundamental problem with my life. I generally begin statements with "I plan..." or "I will..." or "I won't..."  Notice a pattern?  " I ".  As long as "I" is the central part of my decision making process, I'm going to fail.  His power is made perfect when I am weak.  Which is now. Then I add qualifiers to those statements, especially when I'm talking to God: "I will.... if you would just.. ."  as if I can tell him that what I'm going to do that depends on him keeping a bargain he never agreed to. When I actually pay attention to the details of the biblical "heroes", I realize that they're not heroes at all.  They are humans with many, many faults.  Moses had a speech impediment, and God called him to be the spokesperson for the entire Israelite nation.  Gideon was a coward, and God chose him to lead an army.  How ever reluctantly it happened, they allowed God to work ...