two fingers
Well-Known Member
TL
R - There's a recommendation for a very good book that will help you chill out and get closer to God a few paragraphs into this post.
I've been on a journey as of late to "find peace". Yes, the last year took its toll on me just like everyone else. COVID, the "election", all of it.
I've been on top of my health and nutrition for a couple of years now. But my spiritual walk has been lacking...which is ridiculous being that I have been truly blessed through all of this madness. (Mrs.Fingers and I didn't miss a single day of work, and I barely know the name of anyone who died from COVID. Even my church has grown and finally acquired our own building after 11 years of being a portable church.)
With all my good fortune, I still manage to complain. I b!+@# and moan about the silliest little things.
But for the past couple of months I have been carrying around an "attitude of gratitude". I've found some perspective. I've been in a much better place. I've been a soft place to land for those around me instead of just another source of stress.
I'm still keeping my powder dry, and bracing myself for whatever madness is next. I'm not blind to what is going on around me. But I'm not walking around in fear of all of it anymore. I'm not peeking through the blinds looking for protest marches to make their way down my suburban street. I'm loving on my family and friends and celebrating life.
A few weeks ago my pastor started a sermon series on navigating through these strange times. He mentioned a book someone had loaned him. It's called "Anxious For Nothing" by Max Lucado.
It dives right in on Phillipians chapter 4. But it bounces around the Bible offering countless reminders of why we, as Christians, should he able to (in essence) "chill out". I already had momentum in this direction. But that book helped me to spring forward even more.
I'm fortunate in that I'm able to listen to audio books at work. I've had this book on loop for about two weeks. (I took a three day break to run the set list for my band over and over again for our first gig in over a year Saturday night.)
People around me are noticing my newfound "peace". And I've been happy to share with them how/where/why I found it. Without even trying I've been able to get several friends to swing by our church. One couple that hasn't been to church in a decade is dedicating their baby at our church next week. Things are "opening up" right in front of me constantly. It's been a pretty fascinating experience.
Do I still get cranky from time to time? Of course I do. I may be one of God's most spoiled rotten children. But, for the most part, I'm finding peace like I haven't felt in decades.
Yep, I'm rambling. Check out the book, especially if you're in constant freak out mode over the events unfolding around us. Nothing happening today is new. It's all happened before. And it's nothing God can't handle. Paul reminded us of all of this from prison.
R - There's a recommendation for a very good book that will help you chill out and get closer to God a few paragraphs into this post. I've been on a journey as of late to "find peace". Yes, the last year took its toll on me just like everyone else. COVID, the "election", all of it.
I've been on top of my health and nutrition for a couple of years now. But my spiritual walk has been lacking...which is ridiculous being that I have been truly blessed through all of this madness. (Mrs.Fingers and I didn't miss a single day of work, and I barely know the name of anyone who died from COVID. Even my church has grown and finally acquired our own building after 11 years of being a portable church.)
With all my good fortune, I still manage to complain. I b!+@# and moan about the silliest little things.
But for the past couple of months I have been carrying around an "attitude of gratitude". I've found some perspective. I've been in a much better place. I've been a soft place to land for those around me instead of just another source of stress.
I'm still keeping my powder dry, and bracing myself for whatever madness is next. I'm not blind to what is going on around me. But I'm not walking around in fear of all of it anymore. I'm not peeking through the blinds looking for protest marches to make their way down my suburban street. I'm loving on my family and friends and celebrating life.
A few weeks ago my pastor started a sermon series on navigating through these strange times. He mentioned a book someone had loaned him. It's called "Anxious For Nothing" by Max Lucado.
It dives right in on Phillipians chapter 4. But it bounces around the Bible offering countless reminders of why we, as Christians, should he able to (in essence) "chill out". I already had momentum in this direction. But that book helped me to spring forward even more.
I'm fortunate in that I'm able to listen to audio books at work. I've had this book on loop for about two weeks. (I took a three day break to run the set list for my band over and over again for our first gig in over a year Saturday night.)
People around me are noticing my newfound "peace". And I've been happy to share with them how/where/why I found it. Without even trying I've been able to get several friends to swing by our church. One couple that hasn't been to church in a decade is dedicating their baby at our church next week. Things are "opening up" right in front of me constantly. It's been a pretty fascinating experience.
Do I still get cranky from time to time? Of course I do. I may be one of God's most spoiled rotten children. But, for the most part, I'm finding peace like I haven't felt in decades.
Yep, I'm rambling. Check out the book, especially if you're in constant freak out mode over the events unfolding around us. Nothing happening today is new. It's all happened before. And it's nothing God can't handle. Paul reminded us of all of this from prison.
