Stained

We drive older cars. They are reliable and dependable for the most part, just old. When cars age some things happen that you just cant help and don’t really want to spend the money on to repair because it doesn’t effect the way the car runs or anything… We have been parking both of our cars on the street. The driveway on this house is beautiful and long, and the garage is full of boxes, so to keep the driveway from becoming spotted like a Dalmatian with the oil leaks our cars have, on the street they go! I really want to get the garage empty, then we can put down trays or something to catch the drippings under the cars, but until all the boxes are out, on the street we park.

People are a lot like cars. Most of us leave a little something behind in situations we encounter during the day. We leave a memory of an interaction with someone. We leave a bit of our personality in a conversation. Kind of like the oil dripping from my cars. I really want to be a person that leaves positive things in those situations… I don’t want someone looking back at our interaction thinking, “Now I have to clean up this mess!” I would rather leave a pleasant experience with someone than a negative one. But, that is something I have to work hard on. Yesterday a businessman trying to get more clients stopped by our house right as my wife was putting dinner on the table. My first thought was “get out of here, I am busy,” but as I tried to fight down that feeling, I learned he was a neighbor, trying to make a living just like me. Instead of him never wanting to see me again, we might wave at each other as we go in and out of our homes.

When I go through the rest of the day today, and the coming days, I want to keep this idea fresh in my mind… my attitude and comments can either pepper this world with stains that are hard to clean up, or they can offer encouragement, hope, joy and peace, and bring beauty to life. I am going to fight to be a person of joy, encouragement, hope and peace.

My First Blog

This morning I recieved a phone call from my wife while she was on her way to a meeting. she had just gotten off the phone with her friend that is on the Board of Directors for the charter school my kids attend. Apparently on Friday (today is Monday) a third grade student went home at the end of school not feeling well. The parents thought it was the Flu, and were horified later Friday to have their child die of a heart attack! This is one of the worst things a parent could ever imagine, and yet it is a reminder of how fragile life really is. We have no control over the things in life that can cause pain and suffering. We try, with excercise, eating right, saftey, to keep bad stuff away, but it can change in an instant. Are we living our lives in fear of these things, or are we living our lives in spite of these things? Living in fear means worrying about every little thing and trying to take extraordinary precautions against them. Bad things happen regardless of our planning and attempting to keep them away. Living in spite of them means we are thankful for the days that are good; we stand firm in the days that are not good; and we do not let fear keep us from reaching into our selves and being the best people we can be.

Surround yourself with people that can help you live in spite of all the bad things that can happen. No one expects you to do life on your own. We were created for community, friends, relationships, not for isolation and lonliness. Find people you can share your heart with. Find friends you can be yourself with. Celebrating ups in life and dealing with pain and hurt is not meant to be done alone. Hold on to your friendships, your family and your faith. These are the only things that will last, as life can change in the blink of an eye.