Nonsense and Tomfoolery

Encourage one another and build each other up.
-1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

I know that picture to the left is completely contradictory to the above scripture...but it makes a great point!

Sometimes in life it is so much easier to see the lemons, the glass half empty, and/or see the rain clouds.

It amazes me how each day people can wake up and see the big rain clouds. Instead, of seeing that the rain waters the plantation, gives animals something to drink, but more so cleanses (unless it's acid rain, but that's a whole another story).

Why is there so much unhappiness? I look around and I see God's beauty everywhere. There's lemonade stands, glasses half full and rainbows. I know all so cliche's but so true. When in our life, someone asks us to do something, maybe we should be more like the Kappa Phi club, and our response be, "I'd love to!"

A lot of times, we are just talk. We aren't actively seeking to be something more. Instead, we like to tear people down. We make excuses and we fuss. As Christians, we are called to try and encourage. If someone is having a tough time, then we try to focus on the positive. Yet, we don't always.

I'm just agitated that people are agitated about working. Yes, there is a limit. There is a time that no is the answer. I struggle with that, but I get it. However, there are some things that are pretty clear. So, why is that we complain about a job that we are paid to do? I'm not sure.

I like that picture and the saying. Because sometimes, that would be so much easier is to cut out the blister. Those unhappy people would be better off complaining elsewhere.

However, as Christians, that's not what we are called to do. It's tough. But, we are to encourage and try to empower one another. Anne Lamott states, "You do what you can. Then you get out of the way, because you're not the one who does the work."

This was such a powerful statement to me. We have to be willing to allow others to step up and lead. You hope for the best. But, if you're leading, then sometimes, we have to get out of the way. We talk about sabbath, yet, we don't do it. This plays into all of that. We don't encourage others around us to help with the different jobs by showing appreciation. Then, the "unhappy" people will either, 1. stay and be continually unhappy or 2. leave and not have learned anything from that experience.

It's important to know that everyone is a community. This means that we are to be uplifting as much as we can to those around us to build them up. So, wherever you are, encourage one another and take time for yourself.

*I know kind of loopy. It's late. But those are my rants at 2:00 in the morning.