I love that title, don’t you?
But really, please don’t feel sorry for me regarding my last post. I don’t feel sorry for me. When we are confronted with the not-so-pleasant details of others’ lives, we should remember that for that person, it is their life and so it’s never quite as bad as it sounds to someone else. It’s the “mud is always stickier on the other side of the fence” syndrome. I’d rather have my life any day than to suddenly be plopped down into yours. I am doing great, really! I don’t share my struggles to make you feel sorry for me. I share them because I want to share the examination process I go through with myself. I really agree with Socrates: The unexamined life is not worth living.
The more I can figure out the “whys” of my behavior, the more I can respond to the events of life instead of reacting to them. The more I can be ready to take every thought captive and give it to Jesus. I’m just not one to float shallow down the river of life. I know there are people who do that and who are very happy and living productive lives and growing in Jesus. I just happen to believe that for me, there is a whole lot more down under the surface if I am willing to do the hard work of digging and getting muddy. My life is truly a journey of discovery. Under the surface, beneath the mud, there are treasures to be found that I would never know if I just stayed in the raft.
With that said, I will probably have another post or two about the “whys” of some of my struggles. I hope that by sharing my struggles and the reasons I have them, others will be inspired to do some digging for themselves.
Tags: evita peron, introspection, Jesus, shallow, sin
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
One of the many things I love about you Tina, is what you’ve shared in this post. You aren’t afraid to go deeper in order to grow. I admire that about you. It inspires me to dig deeper in my own life.
I love you.
Amy
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Wow.
Each time I read one of your posts I find something that confirms the depth that I admire in you as a sister Christ-follower. It is this transparency that draws people to you and your Blog. They feel safe with you.
God never blessed my wife and I with daughters, but we have tried to train our sons to treasure the women in their lives. Coming from the South, we pass on the gentlemenly traits of opening doors and saying “yes, Mam”, please and thank you. Even to their peers.
One of the gifts of middle age is reflection and freedom of thought and speech. It is good for parenting and grandparenting. It also makes us good mentors for the younger generation if they will listen. Often, that comes when they hear stories of our pain, like you had the freedom to share.
Bravo
June 5th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I have several close friends with tremendous faith in their religion, and I always admire them - their steadfastness.
You remind me of them.
(just wandered in from Blog365 btw - great blog!)