Anyway

Ever think about why you actually do the things you do? There are a few things in my life that I occasionally sit back and just ponder. 

Some of them have to do with relationships. Let's face it building into and with people can be difficult. It takes time, energy and patience. Honestly, sometimes it would be easier to walk away. Even if the tie is strong, people leave us and our hearts break with the parting. The separation may be due to a broken relationship, but could also be that our lives have taken different paths, or perhaps because of death. So why do I continue to do it? Well, because I've learned that loving people is worth it. It's hard and it can painful, but my life would be empty without them. 

There are some other things I do though, that may not be as important, but I still am compelled to do them. Playing the piano (taking lessons) and writing songs are two examples of these for me. Why now? Why at this point in my life? To what end? The answers for me are not complete. They do however lead to another question...why not?

I hope there are areas in your life that you ask yourself the same thing. If you never stop to ask the questions, then maybe you are barreling through your life, letting it sort of come at you, reacting to it, but not really living it. Or maybe you've gotten stuck in the "why bother" mode. Don't do that! Live! Ponder! Ask questions! Live some more!

I've included a song lyric, that you may not have heard if you don't listen to country music. It would be a shame to miss it. I must confess that it does leave me with another question, though...why didn't I write it? Enjoy!

Anyway

(Martina McBride)

You can spend your whole life building
Something from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
It's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yea - I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yea, sing it anyway
Yeah, yeah!

I sing
I dream
I love anyway

It's Quotable.....

"God has two dwellings: one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart."

                                                                                         Izaak Walton (1593 - 1683)

Can't Always Have What You Want

I discovered something yesterday that I didn't know existed and I fell in love! All the non-cat-lovers in the world are rolling their eyes at me right about now. That's fine, I don't expect you to understand. I hope you can at least appreciate the beauty of this creature.

This is an ashera cat. It is part African Serval, part Asian Leopard and part domestic cat. Beyond his beauty and the fact that I love cats, I believe I am drawn to him because I've always thought it would be great to own a BIG cat. I'd really like to have a black leopard. I picture myself putting a harness on the cat and walking through the park with him. I could walk through even the deepest of woods, and I don't think anyone would bother me. Ashera's aren't quite that big, as their average weight is around 25 lbs., though they can be up to 40 pounds. I wouldn't really take him to the park. (On a side note, I actually tried to take my cat to the park once. That is another story, but not a very happy one. Best left for another day.)

Since discovering this magnificent feline, I've even entertained the thought of breeding them. What am I thinking? The truth is I will never even own one. Their selling price starts at $22,000 and goes upward to $165,00. I couldn't consider taking that kind of investment for a stroll on the local pathways. The labs and retrievers just wouldn't understand his incredible value.

Yeah, my own little felines (as they would certainly be in comparison) wouldn't have much appreciation for this guy either. Maybe to straighten out my thinking and to let go of my longing, I should consider food costs.....oh, and there is the litter pan issue.......BIG kitty = BIG pan.

Time Flies!

The other day I had the craziest thought. I started thinking that in 30 short years I would be my mother's age. That is scary! What happens to time anyway? If that wasn't enough, I then realized in the very same 30 years my youngest child will be my age. That feels ridiculous!

It is easy to do the math. I was born when my Mom was thirty and my youngest was born when I was the same age. That isn't the point, though. The last 30 years have flown by!!!! I believe it is true that the older you get the faster the clock ticks. That isn't fact of course, but it sure seems to be true. I've already experienced this phenomena. How quick will the next three decades go?

All that being said, I know that my life is in the hands of God alone. Who but He knows that my lifespan may be shorter than those next thirty years. He chooses the amount of days. I choose how I live them. Time is indeed slipping away. What will I do with it?

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Ps. 90:12 & 14

It's Quotable

"What comes to our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us....Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason, the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself and the most portentous fact about any man in not what he may at any given time say or do, but what he in his deep heart convceives God to be like." --A.W.Tozer

If this is true, then I have to ask myself some pretty hard questions: What do I believe (and say) that God's character is like? How do I come to know Him? If I do not worship Him in the fullness of who He is, not just for what He does or has done, is my offering giving him the worth and love He deserves?

I've been trying to....

I haven't written in a while. It isn't because I don't want to, it is just other things have been occupying my time. I've been spending a lot of time playing the piano....or trying to play the piano. I've been spending time writing songs....or trying to write songs. I've been going to meetings about writing songs. I've been trying to keep the house in order. I've been trying to clean up my scrapbook room. I let it fall apart over the holidays. It became the project room and catchall.

I've been trying to stay up on my job (okay, so it is volunteer work, but it still takes just as much time.) I've been trying to exercise more. NO! I have been exercising more. That is one of those things you either do or you don't do. AND it takes time....time I don't enjoy all that much. It's like medicine. You choke it down....you push through.

I've been trying to be hospitable by having people over more often. I guess my guests would have to answer for my hospitality, but I invited and they came. I enjoyed the time and I hope they did, too. I've been trying to organize several other events for people to get together for meetings or fellowship. Some of those will be here and some at other venues. It all takes time....

I suppose I could have tried harder to write in my blog. I would have had to choose this as how to use my time. I enjoy writing in it, it gives me an outlet to say what's own my heart and mind. Those two can run the spectrum of feeling and thought. Watch out, reader!

Well....I tried to write in my blog tonight and I succeeded. It is pretty much a crazy bunch of nothingness, yet it's written all the same.

Let me at least leave you with something to ponder. Tonight I ate a fortune cookie. My fortune said, "Remember three months from this date. Good things are in store for you." That is all fine and good, but I'm not waiting three months. Good things could happen to me tomorrow!!

BTW, if my kids are reading this: I ate my whole cookie before I read the fortune! :)