3) Relationships do not need money or expensive pursuits to be relationships. Tea at home, a phone call, praying for someone, loaning them a book, reading out loud from a book, a walk in the sunshine, a drive, a quick note, speaking blessings into lives, smiles...the list is endless.
Relationships are built through time, love and connectedness. Money is icing on the cake and icing is often overkill.
2) I have limited control. Basically, the only control I have is over my own choices. Not my life, not my future, not even my present. Only the choices I make. I can even make all the "right" choices and end up with the unexpected. Or I can even make "poor" choices and be blessed with things I do not deserve and have not earned.
Bottom line. I am still responsible for what I say and what I do whether it's a "reaction," planned out pro-activity, or the best choice of three not so great options.
But, God does see the full picture, the tiny details and the outcome. And I can trust Him with all of those.
1) What we do today bleeds into all our tomorrows. Working out, passing up unneeded bargains, eating at home, praying for a loved one, or difficult one I should love. Every one of those choices has a cumulative effect that makes for a healthier life for me and my family. The opposite choices have an impact as well, negatively.
This reminds me of the C.S.Lewis quote. "every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that changes into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature."
Interestingly but not surprisingly, the six month Cut the Crapola journey ended up being 99% about the journey and 1% about the results.
That said. I was pretty arrogant to think I could just set out to "change" anything. Sometimes change is simply choosing the better option which moves us slowly in tiny, increments of growth, towards a very distant, long-term goal.
My goals were more nebulous and less defined than the 20 somethings. Even then, six months was not enough. Overall I will say I won't be running a 5K tomorrow but could walk one and run parts, exactly where I was six months ago. My body size has remained pretty much the same, but I think my heart grew a bit. I won't be playing violin at a concert anytime soon but I have slowly and deliberately taken time to reacquaint myself with an instrument I used to hate but now regret hating. My fingers and mind are reawakening to the idea of making music, someday, if I don't give up. My bank account acts as if it didn't know there had been a budget imposed on it. But less eating out has reminded us that what is prepared at home is actually better or at least as good as what is offered at restaurants.
I will be sharing the ten major things I took away from my Cut the Crapola fast over the next few weeks.
Romans 15: 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Once you choose hope, anything's possible. Christopher Reeve
Romans 15: 5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
William James
