How many shoes do you own?
I had to check on this one. I have 5 pairs of closed toed shoes including sneakers & tennis shoes, 4 pairs of sandals, 3 pairs of flat dress shoes, 2 pairs of heels, 2 pairs of slippers, a pair of work boots, and a pair of ghillies (Scottish country dancing shoes). A lot more than originally thought! But I'm sure many of you have me beat.
Naturally the shoes we're wearing match the occasion. When I'm wearing the flat soled dress shoes I'm in work-mode. If I'm going to be walking around all day, tourist style, I'll put on the sneakers. If I'm checking the mail I'll slip into a pair of sandals.
On the flip side, there are shoes that you would certainly never wear in some settings. I would never have worn sandals or sneakers to work unless I was coming in on the weekend (I understand that this is different for professions such as farming, nursing, and graphic design). Likewise I would never lace up the ghillies to check the mail.
Putting on your shoes is pretty much the last thing you do before you're ready to go. I had an uncle who would run around, stressed out, getting ready to go on vacation. You know- last minute packing and errands. But once he put his "vacation shoes" on, he relaxed. Now he was on vacation.
Perhaps this is the reason that shoes are identified with a viewpoint. Vacation shoes, work shoes, dancin' shoes.. they each represent a different outlook.
Have you ever paused to take off your own shoes, and then put on someone else's?
It would be nearly impossible to get to know someone without having stepped into their shoes at some point. Sometimes people say or do things that just don't make sense. Try on their shoes for a moment. Look at the situation from their perspective. Empathize. You may still not understand, but it's a start. And they will appreciate you for it.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Reconciliation
What comes to your mind when you hear the word reconciliation?
An estranged relationship, justification before God, or agreeing your checking account to the bank statement?
I enjoy thinking about this word because there are so many various examples, but the word basically means the same thing in each case... to harmonize.
Disharmony is a stressful concept to deal with.
As an auditor, there were many times that I had to try to figure out or ask the client why their figures did not reconcile. The number should tie out, but it doesn't. There is an unknown issue that must become known and corrected in order to issue a clean opinion on the financials.
Maybe you are in middle school or high school and you are annoyed with a friend. You decide to put that friENDship to an end because you feel disharmony around this person.
You may get into a heated discussion with another about a current event. You don't consider yourself a confrontational person, but you need to speak up, and it makes you so uncomfortable that you are exhausted when the discussion coms to a close.
You start seeing someone and develop a completely different outlook on the relationship than that person holds. Maybe you let imagination get the best of you and you fall into a pattern of cognitive dissonance where logic strikes a cord with emotion. It doesn't matter where you met: school, church, E-Harmony; this is a classic case of Dis-Harmony.
You mess up again. A fool repeating his folly. A dog returning to its vomit. Hurting first youself, then others too. You've done wrong in the sight of God.
In all cases, there must either be disharmony and stress or reconciliation and freedom.
Find that childhood friend on your social networking site of choice and make amends.
Try chatting with Ms. Heated Discussion about her life and forget the current event which has already come to pass.
Say "So long old dreams! I'm creating new dreams."
Ask for forgiveness, turn away from the old ways, and start walking towards God.
Easier said than done? That depends on your level of stubborness. Make your choice:
A. Disharmony and Sress
B. Reconciliation and Freedom
An estranged relationship, justification before God, or agreeing your checking account to the bank statement?
I enjoy thinking about this word because there are so many various examples, but the word basically means the same thing in each case... to harmonize.
Disharmony is a stressful concept to deal with.
As an auditor, there were many times that I had to try to figure out or ask the client why their figures did not reconcile. The number should tie out, but it doesn't. There is an unknown issue that must become known and corrected in order to issue a clean opinion on the financials.
Maybe you are in middle school or high school and you are annoyed with a friend. You decide to put that friENDship to an end because you feel disharmony around this person.
You may get into a heated discussion with another about a current event. You don't consider yourself a confrontational person, but you need to speak up, and it makes you so uncomfortable that you are exhausted when the discussion coms to a close.
You start seeing someone and develop a completely different outlook on the relationship than that person holds. Maybe you let imagination get the best of you and you fall into a pattern of cognitive dissonance where logic strikes a cord with emotion. It doesn't matter where you met: school, church, E-Harmony; this is a classic case of Dis-Harmony.
You mess up again. A fool repeating his folly. A dog returning to its vomit. Hurting first youself, then others too. You've done wrong in the sight of God.
In all cases, there must either be disharmony and stress or reconciliation and freedom.
Find that childhood friend on your social networking site of choice and make amends.
Try chatting with Ms. Heated Discussion about her life and forget the current event which has already come to pass.
Say "So long old dreams! I'm creating new dreams."
Ask for forgiveness, turn away from the old ways, and start walking towards God.
Easier said than done? That depends on your level of stubborness. Make your choice:
A. Disharmony and Sress
B. Reconciliation and Freedom
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Encouragement
Have you ever received a random gift from a friend, a kind word from a stranger, or a much needed massage from your best friend?
It's so wonderful to be encouraged, and it feels really good when you are overflowing with encouragement for others. It's easy to sit idle but it's more fulfilling to tackle life with purpose, to be at the top of our game. I believe that encouragement is both a gift and a command. It may come naturally to some and may take more work for others.
Today I was encouraged by a little Facebook wall post. One of the nursery regulars was a little fussy today. His mom and I are Facebook friends so she wrote on my wall to thank me for holding and loving on her son. Then the children's ministry coordinator who is always on the ball with encouragement further comments on this thread to say thank you. How sweet they are.
How can I encourage someone today?
Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
It's so wonderful to be encouraged, and it feels really good when you are overflowing with encouragement for others. It's easy to sit idle but it's more fulfilling to tackle life with purpose, to be at the top of our game. I believe that encouragement is both a gift and a command. It may come naturally to some and may take more work for others.
Today I was encouraged by a little Facebook wall post. One of the nursery regulars was a little fussy today. His mom and I are Facebook friends so she wrote on my wall to thank me for holding and loving on her son. Then the children's ministry coordinator who is always on the ball with encouragement further comments on this thread to say thank you. How sweet they are.
How can I encourage someone today?
Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
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