Or two.. or three....

I've actually not been feeling too well, and that's part of the problem, but there's been more involed than that.

Have you ever faced certain events in your life that make you re-evaluate the entire way you're living? Make you wonder if you've been doing something all wrong? Make you wish you were someone else for a while, just so you could get away? Something happened this week and I ended up hurting a friend of mine, maybe two. But I didn't mean to. In fact, I was really trying to do things right, I just messed up. I tried, I really did, but it didn't work. And the worst part is, I'm not sure how to fix it. Was it just one of those things that happened or an indication that things need to change, that I need to change? I don't know.

I know I should just trust God in this. But how? In what way? Our faith, our trust, is not passive. We can't just sit around saying "Oh, God's will will happen." It requires action on our part. (Thanks, Mr. Mayes.) "Faith without works is dead." So how do we know when our faith requires waiting, ad when it requires action? And how do we know which way to walk until we start out and risk doing something wrong again, only to hurt another and say 'oops, my mistake"? I just don't understand. How do we know what to do? Messages and sermons are preached on knowing God's will. Sometimes we can seek truth and find it in the major decisions of life. But what about the little ones that affect us on a daily basis? What about the little hurts along the way? How do we know what to do about those? And is there a way to make them hurt less? Is there a way to keep from hurting those around you? Sometimes I just wish I could live safe, no risks, no chances. (No, I don't really believe that, but every once in a while, it sounds good.)

I guess this is the point where we just try again, huh? Take the risk of getting hurt, of hurting, learn from our mistakes and take one more step. Is there another choice? Is there another way to live? If there is, please tell me, for this life is the only one I know. I want to get it right, but I'm not sure how.  Pray for stregth, for wisdom, mercy, and grace, and then give it away. That's the only choice we have. That's my only hope.

Life is pain, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.

Jesus said, "Come to Me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest." He offers eternal life at the expense of His own life. Is that selling something?

It's from "The Princess Bride." I didn't remember that. But whoever wrote that, I hope you don't believe that. It's not true. It's really not. And if that's all that life has proved to you, then I am truly sorry. For, in spite of pain, there is joy in life. There is joy in living that heals any pain, that blurs any hurt, and that gives hope for the future. That joy is i God, and if you're missing that peace, that joy, then that is truly a tragedy.

I don't, but when anyone says anything about pain I say that

That is not a happy thing to say. Really, it's rather sad. Try to think of a happier phrase. Please? Don't let that be the theme of your mind. Dream again.