Just words or more life

It is easy sitting here writing.

It is not that easy being out there in the world and doing.

I know all that I wish the world to be. I know all the wise approaches that will make my relationships better and will most probably help me achieve my dreams.
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I know it all. In my head.

But doing it…that’s hard.

Doing it means that I make choices according to priorities, not whims.
Doing it means that I have to stand by my convictions, even when there’s adversity.
Doing it means that I proclaim my beliefs, no matter who is staring me in the face.

And that is hard.

I chase a dream of doing good and I hit a speed bump. The going was easy and suddenly there’s a mud pool that makes me feel uncomfortable, doubting myself, making me feel embarrassed.
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It can be easy to cancel the path taken. I can just sit in front of my computer all day and spew my message out from here. It is comfortable. It doesn’t offer many challenges in terms of finances or in terms of dealing with people.

But that’s not enough.
It is simply not enough for me to write a thing and not live it.

I can not dream of giving my children wise advice one day…but having to hide away the fact that I never attempted what I want them to pursue.

Writing is easy.
Living is hard.
But doing only number 1 just isn’t enough.

He made me for more than that.

I cringe at the feeling of having my beliefs challenged, some of my plans crash, having no answers when everything I try fail. But I’m not dead yet. So failure is only a temporary feeling. And isn’t it subjective? Not thing attempted doesn’t at least have a lesson as result or at least one life influenced. So I choose what I define as failure (still processing that thought…)

So I will face the discomfort and push through. I will attempt to reach the other side, the dream, the ideal.
Even half of it is better than only talking about it.

That’s just me.

What we are vs WHAT WE CAN BE

I scroll past the pictures of the students who fight and loot and destroy in our country. I scroll quite quickly. I do not want to see it.
Part of me doesn’t want to give chaos leeway in my psyche…but the rest of me is just plain startled. Startled to see that what I believe isn’t happening. And if it doesn’t happen…will I lose my belief?

Because I believe that this is a great country. I have a belief that God had and has a plan for our colourful nation. And those pictures do not represent that.

I am not proud for running away from the glimpses of tragedy.
But I did stop in my tracks this morning and face my fear and face my insecurity.
And I chose a mindset.

What I see is not what I hoped for when in 1994 my country stood up for something great. Am I the typical patriotic South African who braais a lot and will never leave her roots? NO. Not at all. Simply out of curiosity I would love to experience the world out there as home.
But that does not diminish my faith in my first home.

And my faith has always been that we were destined to stand up for something worthwhile. The world looked at us and saw a miracle. Our great leader became the reference of many in the same situation. Is that not something to be proud of? To get chills about? That is how powerful our small country chose to be in the WORLD.

And now a few simpering idiots decide that they are not happy. They destroy precious items, lives and they destroy time.

I can keep on scrolling past and seem naive. Naive in that I do not want to admit that there is outrage and ghastliness out there in my country. Naive that I don’t want to admit that something is WRONG.

But I am not naive. I see all the darkness that challenges light. I see daftness challenging wisdom. I see greed overcoming goodness.

But I do not have to buy into it.

I have a voice and a pen and if we could stay afloat in 1994 and create a miraculous society instead of civil war, then I know:
In this country there are still good people…so our country is still good
IN this country there are still people with morals…so we will not succumb to the worst
In this country there are people who believe…so our prayers will forever echo

And does the presence of darkness and stupidity now show me that my faith was ungrounded?

Certainly not. Light and wisdom travels in me, so I am the keeper of what we need. I am the presence of all that I believe in. And as long as I stand (even just to stand for hope and truth and morals and kindness to those around me), that Presence prevails.
I am the answer to this country…every day answering the call by living what I believe and cherish and was taught by good parents. By living what I believe God requests of us all, I am an anchor to that which is light in the darkness. And there are many of us. I know it.

I will not stop living what I know to be wise and good and under leadership of the Light…so how will the darkness then ever win?

I see the horrible truths of our country and my heart breaks for it (maybe the true reason why I scroll past?)…but I LIVE what I know is good and right and what will bring hope to others…and then the horror will not triumph.

Their actions do not determine His presence or my actions.

But my actions can have impact just as those pictures influenced me.cropped-2015-06-02-16-20-08.jpg

That’s just me.

Offramp

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I often ask myself the question: am I going the right way? Is what I am busy with getting me closer to where I’m aimed at. Sometimes I have to re-align and ask…what am I aiming at?

I was driving on the highway, talking to God about all the changes taking place in my life. I am moving into a new business which I love, but from my perspective it moves away from my ultimate goal. In the logical sense of life, where I was is supposed to get me where I am going. The mindset, the resources, the workforce were all there. But I just wasn’t happy there. My season came to an end as I at last made the decision to move. But I am left with many questions. Somehow, the place which made sense didn’t move me to the next base.

So we are driving on the freeway. I am asking many questions. I am fearful of not reaching the place where my dreams, skills and purpose meet up and create a glorious monument of all He has placed in me. Because that’s the goal: using what He has given me.

So we are searching for the way there. And as I am taking the offramp that directs me to my (new) house I sense the idea of being directed in a certain way. Taking a specific offramp for a special specific reason. A direction that seems to have no reason, but one that He knows the layout of.

So I will trust that.

That is all I’ve got.

This idea of Him creating offramps for His precious beings to guide them towards their destinies that He dreamed of first. And He smiles as I have the guts and take the effort of leaving the mainstream traffic for now. Because sublime journeys are waiting.

Off course… of course.

Because that’s how He rolls.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD

Honestly: I struggle to live by this. I believe it, but its still scary driving alone on a road…good luck with YOUR journey

Flip the switch

Its like when the electricity goes. Its one little switch, but it determines whether there’s light or not…whether there is life or not…whether I can see or not…whether I can see the TV’s images or not…whether I stub my toe or not.

The switch does not change the set-up of my living room, neither does it blind me. It just takes away the illuminating, life-giving factor.

I prefer my soul to be illuminated. Illuminated, my soul and mind knows and accepts, responds to and lives according to the truth. The truth that my strengths outweigh my weaknesses…The truth that God’s promises are real enough to anchor to…the truth that I am capable…the truth that I am blessed with talents and good instincts…

But boy oh boy…do not let the switch flip down.

A whole garrison of lies dive down into my mind sometimes. Fear or a challenge makes the switchboard malfunction and all illumination is stolen for a second…or two…or three…
And the longer I let it stay that way, the longer it takes to push the switch into the upright position again.

The longer I take, the more I doubt myself…doubt the future…the more I wallow in pain…the more I judge others…

It is a simple thing of choice; one which has become easier in certain situations (but alas not always and everywhere the quickest thing to do). The choice of switching to peace right after the moment of panic…of choosing to remind myself of all He has done in the past, and will do again (no matter what the current circumstance tells me).

The truth of me and Him does not change the people around me or even necessarily the circumstances I find myself in. Like a well-known living room that descends into darkness in a blackout, my life can seem dark due to a challenge I find myself in. But it is my choice of whether I am going to grab hold of His luminance…or carry on stubbing my toe in fear.

The switch is quite close. I am able to reach it any time I choose.

I love the moments when simply by pulling a positive thought my way, the source of light and life is reigning in my life again.

I do not win every time…but the victories are more now than yesterday or a year ago…and so the sources of truth-stories and memories become more and more.

Him…Him in me…me with Him…we are a winning team. That is my truth. The one I will again and again try to switch to, whatever the reason for momentary loss of current.

Is 41: 13

For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”