Blog has Moved

Hey there everyone,

I've moved the blog to http://inspirationwithkirk.wordpress.com because I like the features WordPress offers . . . so, update your bookmarks and RSS feeds and come along!

Kirk

Hurried

Sorry I've not been here for a few days; life gets busy and I'm having a hard time keeping up.  Much like the woman I saw driving to Harrison this morning, it feels like no matter how much I hurry it doesn't matter.

I first noticed here in my rear view mirror weaving behind cars trying to find a clear path on I-74.  It was obvious that she was in a major hurry and her impatience was causing he to be reckless.  You've seen car chase scenes in movies where the person is riding their gas and brake and the vehicle is almost bouncing as a result.  Well, this minivan was bouncing all over the highway.

She got ahead of me and then I saw her brakelights.  I was in the right lane and she was in the left but it was still unsettling to see a car start backing up - going in the wrong direction - on a busy road. I assume she was going to make a U-Turn in the place I've seen many patrol cars but as I got close to where she was she changed her mind and began taking off again.  Unfortunately for her, now there were more cars in her way - in fact, it was many of the same ones she'd dodged a minute ago.

I pulled off my exit and she followed behind.  She pulled up next to me in the right lane and she was waving her arms and screaming into a cell phone.  She put her head in her hands and started screaming again.

Now, my friends make fun of my for having an overactive imagination but I often create backstories for the people that I see in the world.  Was her child in an accident?  Was her home on fire?  Did someone tell her they saw her boyfriend cheating on her?  Whatever it was she was in a big hurry to get wherever she was going.

But then she put the phone down and calmly lit up a cigarette.  The light turned green and we both pulled out.  She was no longer driving erratically, though she had pulled up the furry hood on her jacket.  Crisis averted, I guess.

I've had days were I've driven like a maniac.  Usually its when I spend too much time talking to friends and am running late to get to work, afraid I'm leaving a client locked outside my door in the cold wondering if I've forgotten them.  I've screamed at traffic and I've dodged a couple cars.  Not often, mind you, but too many times.

I can justify that kind of hurry because it affects people.  But what about the times I've rushed to get to a movie?  Or just didn't want to wait behind some slow person in their beater on my way to shop at Best Buy?  What have I missed in life by hurrying through it?

I discovered last March while at Disney World what it meant to "slow down and smell the roses."  I waited at the turnstiles with anxious families who ran when the rope dropped to stand in another line at a ride.  Meanwhile, I got out of their way, walked calmly to the bakery, and ate a crossiant in front of the castle.  (Later, I walked on those same rides with no wait, by the way).  For the first time at Disney, I relaxed.  And I enjoyed myself so much more than I had on the dozen trips before where I hurried from place to place and ride to ride.

What are you hurrying through?  What opportunity to be a blessing to someone are you missing because you're too busy?  Hurriedness equals unapproachableness, you know.  Think about this today and share your thoughts in the comments section.

Snow Day

I used to love snowy days like this.  When I was a kid, of course, there was nothing better than a day off from school and even better a day where there were no outside projects that could be completed.  Sitting in the warm, toasty house playing the piano, reading a book, watching TV, or doing something fun and creative was right in my wheelhouse.

Now, though, since my paycheck is tied to who comes to see me, I'm not such a big fan.  Fortunately today I only had a couple of people scheduled anyway so I'm home bemoaning the loss of money like I might have had this storm come earlier in the week.

I am actually looking forward to being stuck in the apartment today.  I've got several creative projects I'm working on and frankly I could use the rest.  What are you going to do today if you are like me and have an unexpected day off?  Here are some suggestions:

1. Read that book that you've been staring at for months.  You know the one - it sits over there on the end table, calling to you, but you've been too busy to start it.  Give it a go today.

2. Go through your old photographs and organize them.  I've got some old pictures that I need to scan into my computer but have been putting it off.  I'm sure you have some of those, too.

3. Go outside and play in the snow.  Is there anything more relaxing than laying on the ground all bundled up making a snow angel while the snow falls gently on your face? The kid in me loves this image.

4. Start a blog.  If you're reading this one, then you obviously know what a blog is.  The world would love to hear from you and its a great exercise in expression.  It forces you to think about things.  One of our readers, Stacey, commented yesterday that she is grateful for the "deep thinking" that this blog helps her to do.  Can you imagine if she had one of her own?

5. Take a nap.  Make it a short one and make it before 3PM, but enjoy a restful hour.  You deserve it.

I'm going to write a few things and catch up on some work related things today.  I might also trek out into the snow just to see it, maybe take some pictures if I can find some beautiful things to make into art, and yes, I will most likely take a nap.

You guys have any ideas?

Uninspired

Its only January 6th and I already feel uninspired.  I feel as if I have nothing profound to say today and nothing is important enough to share with you, faithful readers.  My lack of motivation, though, has given me an idea.

An inspiration, I guess!

How often do you feel like you are asked to do something by someone that you don't really want to do . . . but you say yes anyway?

Why do we do that?

For me, its usually because I don't want to let anyone down.  I don't want to upset anyone and I can't bear the thought of someone not liking me.  I am a people-pleaser at the core and this is a seriously dangerous affliction.

Some of you might do it because your sense of "doing the right thing" is actually tied to doing everything.  But doing everything makes a person weary and burn out comes quick as a hiccup.

I have another problem of pouring myself into a project or an opportunity with such aggressiveness and passion that I tend to burn out quick.  I'm a member of WhiteWater Christian Church and have been for a couple months now.  I had lunch with my pastor yesterday and those conversations with him are really good for me.  They're encouraging and inspiring. In fact, when I leave our worship services or interact with the staff at the church in anyway I always feel good.  I feel so good, in fact, that I start to think about all the things I can do to get involved.  I think about all the gifts that God has given me and all the interests I have and I start to almost fantasize about the things I can be doing there.

Luckily, the gray on my temples is slowly coming in and I'm able to also sit back and tell myself to slow down and not be so impulsive.  One, I need to be doing those things for the right reasons.  I do not need to be doing anything to impress anyone with how helpfulandwonderfulandkindandsmartandalentedandgenerous I am.  I don't need to do anything just because they asked me to, though I have been very good about being honest about my current limitations.  I have agreed to do some things that I feel I'm ready and able to do and I'm excited about those opportunities.

So, what about you? Do you find yourself agreeing to do things because you want to please someone?  Do you like to impress people as much as I do?  Or maybe you are feeling uninspired?  Perhaps something is burning inside of you right now to do something but you don't know how to channel it?  I'd love for you to share with all of us in the comments section.


PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to you this morning with Thanksgiving.  Thank You for blessing me with talents, gifts, and opportunities.  Thank You for allowing me to discover those gifts and thank You for giving me a mother and other encouraging people who have pushed me to explore and share those gifts.  Thank You also for the moments of humility where things don't turn out so good and it reminds me that reliance on You is of utmost significance.  Be with those out there who feel that they don't have any gifts or talents, Father, and allow others to come into their life who will speak encouragement to them.  Allow them to find someone in the world who can share with them how special they are and reflect Your special feelings for them in human form.  Inspire us all, God, and remind us to use that inspiration for the betterment of Your Kingdom.  In Jesus name, Amen.

READING: The Seven Seasons of a Man's Life by Patrick Morley - Chapter 5 "How Can We Know God Personally", Moments with the Savior by Ken Gire - "An Intimate Moment with Mary and Joseph", Getting Fired for the Glory of God by Mike Yaconelli - "Hurried Discipleship" and "The 'Trouble' With Youth Ministry"

Submission Only Counts if You're Strong Enough

Before I begin with today's thought, I have to tell you that while I'm committed to finishing the book I've been reading (Seven Seasons of a Man's Life), I'm having a difficult time focusing on it.  Frankly, its boring.  But I'm going to continue and glean what wisdom I can from it.  The devotional I'm using (Moments with the Savior) is minimally better and at least each day's reading is short.  I felt like I needed to add something to my daily reading that would inspire and cause me to feel something (because I'm in the feelings business after all) so I am adding a chapter or two from Mike Yaconelli's Getting Fired for the Glory of God.  And am I glad I did.

Today I read the story of a volunteer who reluctantly went with his youth group to the nursing home and fell in love with an old man who was dying.  I'm a sap for stories like this anyway, but man oh man did I weep at the end of it.  You should really check out all of Mike's books.  Its a shame he passed so soon.

OK, so this idea of submission has been recurring over and over the last few days in my reading and in my thoughts.  God has called us all into submission to His will and into obedience to Him.  That should not be news to any of us.  But sometimes I think my mental health perspective brings a unique idea to the table that many Christians and our leaders don't fully grasp.

Submission only means something if you have an modicum of self-esteem.

See, many people that grow up in the church have their self-worth beaten out of them in the name of God.  I can't tell you the number of clients that have come to see me who struggle with issues of shame over who they are because religion made them feel bad.

Guilt is what you feel when you've done something wrong. Its healthy and its what keeps us morally centered.  But shame is when we feel bad about who we are. 

One of my very best friends in college and I would debate the idea of free will vs. predestination.  He wasn't entire Calvinistic in his belief system, but his lack of self-esteem caused him to believe the misnomer than he - as a man - was unable to make the choice to follow God on his own without God doing it for him.  I take exception to that viewpoint for a couple of reasons.

One, if man is created in the image of God then I believe its fair to assume that we can and should be able to do good things.  On our own.  Out of our own free will.  Secondly, while it feels nice to have a dog love you so so much its not the same as when a spouse or best friend does the same.  That dog really doesn't have the mental processes that a human does in making that choice.  I believe that God - in his infinite wisdom and because we are similar to Him in many ways - also wants us to CHOOSE to love and follow Him.  He could make us do it but I imagine it is nicer for us to choose to do so.

I totally value the ideas my friend was holding to.  He was submitting to God as supreme ruler.  I, of course, believe that to be true.  But I also believe that God created in us the ability to make choices and to good or to do bad.  And as such when we choose to submit to Him out of a place of strength it means a whole lot more than someone who has had their self-image devastated by the world.

We need to get ourselves to a place of healthy self-esteem in order that our choice to live humbly in accordance with God's desire and commands will truly be one of submission.

PRAYER: God, I come to you this morning in awe of your mighty power.  I look outside and see the snow on the ground and hear the school closings and think about how You have the ability to change our world upside down through nature.  Yet You choose to allow us to continue to live in this sinful place in the hopes that we will accept Your grace.  Give us the strength to see ourselves the way You see us, Father, as good people who often times do bad things instead of bad people who can't do good things.  Heal our shame, God, while keeping our consciences intact.  Keep us safe from the ourselves and from each other and continue to bless us as You do so often.  In Your Holy Son's Name, Amen.

READING: The Seven Seasons of a Man's Life by Patrick Morley - Chapter 4 "The Search for Meaning and Purpose", Moments with the Savior by Ken Gire - "An Intimate Moment with Mary", Getting Fired for the Glory of God by Mike Yaconelli - "Ten Easy Steps to Guarentee a Successful Youth Ministry" and "Please Say Goodbye to Jesus for Me"