Approximately five years ago, we paid off our family vehicle. I, being the primary driver, advised my husband, "we should really baby this truck, it would be nice to get another year out of it." Since then, our three children have acquired their driver's licenses and we have put close to an additional hundred thousand miles on it. I have patiently waited for this vehicle to die, but to no avail. Every bell and whistle broke long ago. Even some mainstays (i.e., doors, windows, radio) are no longer functioning but, as long as the engine ran smoothly, it just didn't make sense to take on another car payment. Well, I finally drove my new used car home today. That old truck still runs like a dream, but it was just time for something different. I will enjoy my new wheels, but I developed a grudging respect for the pure endurance of the old family truckster. It's going to be hard for this new car to live up to. So long, old buddy. Here's to you:
ODE TO THE FAMILY TRUCKSTER
Oh, family truckster, sturdy and true, you took us everywhere,
Sticky floors, and broken doors, interior covered in dog hair.
That deer that ran into you put a dent in your side,
But still you were ready when we needed a ride.
Over 260,000 miles, to ask for more would not be fair.
You hauled materials for our house, towed our camper and boat,
The children, the groceries, with no fuss at all, you would tote.
And even though you are being replaced,
Your favors and feats will never be erased.
For the best car ever, you have my vote!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
"One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things." - Henry Miller
Once again, I am faced with the realization that spiritual enlightenment and grace are far from my grasp. My number one priority in life is to treat people with the utmost honor and compassion, yet, the people closest to me are too often exposed to the ugly fallout of my neuroses and insecurities. When I am lost in self-pity and contempt, the Truth is easily forgotten, and hope is buried beneath a pile of excuses and blame-shifting. I know enough to understand that I am my only problem. I just don't know how to communicate my problems to the people that care, without making them feel responsible. Especially as I, and naturally everyone else, gets older, the dynamics change so drastically. I never want to get so set in my ways, that I put them before the feelings of another human being. I want to be able to express my needs and still be considerate of the wants and needs of others. I want to clearly see that line between being supportive of the people I love without enabling them to live unhealthy, unbalanced lives. I know the only time you can truly help someone is when they are asking, yet we ourselves are reluctant to ask for help. As we grow older, we are supposed to grow wiser and surer, but there comes a huge responsibility with age: the pressure to have the solution. The Truth is, the solution is not the answer. As soon as one problem is "solved", you can be 100% certain that another problem will present itself. The answer is staying centered and being at peace with it all. Our Father God takes delight in every step and misstep that ultimately brings us closer to Him. I will keep seeking, and remember that while seeking is the path, it is simultaneously the destination.
Once again, I am faced with the realization that spiritual enlightenment and grace are far from my grasp. My number one priority in life is to treat people with the utmost honor and compassion, yet, the people closest to me are too often exposed to the ugly fallout of my neuroses and insecurities. When I am lost in self-pity and contempt, the Truth is easily forgotten, and hope is buried beneath a pile of excuses and blame-shifting. I know enough to understand that I am my only problem. I just don't know how to communicate my problems to the people that care, without making them feel responsible. Especially as I, and naturally everyone else, gets older, the dynamics change so drastically. I never want to get so set in my ways, that I put them before the feelings of another human being. I want to be able to express my needs and still be considerate of the wants and needs of others. I want to clearly see that line between being supportive of the people I love without enabling them to live unhealthy, unbalanced lives. I know the only time you can truly help someone is when they are asking, yet we ourselves are reluctant to ask for help. As we grow older, we are supposed to grow wiser and surer, but there comes a huge responsibility with age: the pressure to have the solution. The Truth is, the solution is not the answer. As soon as one problem is "solved", you can be 100% certain that another problem will present itself. The answer is staying centered and being at peace with it all. Our Father God takes delight in every step and misstep that ultimately brings us closer to Him. I will keep seeking, and remember that while seeking is the path, it is simultaneously the destination.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Humor Me
"Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand."- Mark Twain
I am torn between jealousy and fascination with people who have a big hearty laugh. We are so drawn to those from whom emanate loud chortles, chuckles, guffaws, and sincere mirth. It is not from me. My laugh is slow to surface, quiet and timid when it finally does. Occasionally, something will strike me as funny and I get a good giggle going. I'm not sure why, but it usually feels out of place and I end up trying to suppress it. That stinks. It saddens me to realize how few moments come to mind when I try to recall sharing uncontrolled laughter with friends or family. How authentic and glorious and precious those moments are. If you are blessed with the ability to laugh easily and unreservedly, then please take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate it. If, like myself, you yearn to be so well off, then let us take the time to seek that for ourselves. There are actually classes that teach laughter and laughter therapy. I intend to find one, participate, and inform you of the results. As I continue to grow in faith, hope, and love, I expect to laugh more. I truly believe it is the best medicine, and that each of us needs a constant intravenous dose. Can I get a hook up?
I am torn between jealousy and fascination with people who have a big hearty laugh. We are so drawn to those from whom emanate loud chortles, chuckles, guffaws, and sincere mirth. It is not from me. My laugh is slow to surface, quiet and timid when it finally does. Occasionally, something will strike me as funny and I get a good giggle going. I'm not sure why, but it usually feels out of place and I end up trying to suppress it. That stinks. It saddens me to realize how few moments come to mind when I try to recall sharing uncontrolled laughter with friends or family. How authentic and glorious and precious those moments are. If you are blessed with the ability to laugh easily and unreservedly, then please take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate it. If, like myself, you yearn to be so well off, then let us take the time to seek that for ourselves. There are actually classes that teach laughter and laughter therapy. I intend to find one, participate, and inform you of the results. As I continue to grow in faith, hope, and love, I expect to laugh more. I truly believe it is the best medicine, and that each of us needs a constant intravenous dose. Can I get a hook up?
Monday, June 3, 2013
Reach Out Your Hand
"nearly 10% of the population [suffers] from a depressive disorder at any given time"-DepressedTest.com
"More than one out of every ten people battling depression commits suicide"-WebMD
"Recent surveys indicate that as many as one in five teens suffers from clinical depression."-Mental Health America, www.nmha.org
The statistics are scary. No doubt about it, depression is rampant in our society. We are bombarded with every type of media nearly every second of our waking hours. As a result, we have unrealistic expectations for what our relationships, our bodies, our homes, and our 'success' is supposed to look like. There's no way we can live up to it, and so we claw and scratch our way through each day, hoping to inch closer to the proverbial 'pie in the sky'. I have been sucked in myself, however, -fortunately my case is mild enough to keep my head just out of the clouds. For now, moments of peace outnumber moments of despair. If you are struggling, (something tells me you do from time to time), I vehemently urge you to try meditation. The benefits and means of meditation are far too extensive to introduce here. Your best bet is to google 'meditation', and let intuition guide you to your first step. Meditation can be a powerful coping tool, but please, please, please, do not take on the burden of curing yourself if you are suffering from depression. Your ship will likely go down if you exhaust yourself bailing out water with a teaspoon. With professional help, depression is manageable, and even curable. And best of all, when you have landed on solid ground, you can throw a lifeline to someone else. Hold on to hope, know the Truth, -God is good, and be kind to yourself as you would to any loved one who was ailing.
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
Helen Keller
"More than one out of every ten people battling depression commits suicide"-WebMD
"Recent surveys indicate that as many as one in five teens suffers from clinical depression."-Mental Health America, www.nmha.org
The statistics are scary. No doubt about it, depression is rampant in our society. We are bombarded with every type of media nearly every second of our waking hours. As a result, we have unrealistic expectations for what our relationships, our bodies, our homes, and our 'success' is supposed to look like. There's no way we can live up to it, and so we claw and scratch our way through each day, hoping to inch closer to the proverbial 'pie in the sky'. I have been sucked in myself, however, -fortunately my case is mild enough to keep my head just out of the clouds. For now, moments of peace outnumber moments of despair. If you are struggling, (something tells me you do from time to time), I vehemently urge you to try meditation. The benefits and means of meditation are far too extensive to introduce here. Your best bet is to google 'meditation', and let intuition guide you to your first step. Meditation can be a powerful coping tool, but please, please, please, do not take on the burden of curing yourself if you are suffering from depression. Your ship will likely go down if you exhaust yourself bailing out water with a teaspoon. With professional help, depression is manageable, and even curable. And best of all, when you have landed on solid ground, you can throw a lifeline to someone else. Hold on to hope, know the Truth, -God is good, and be kind to yourself as you would to any loved one who was ailing.
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
Helen Keller
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