Saturday, July 13, 2019
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Pain Points
Reaching another year not only means survival, growth, success to some but also comes with signs that you are getting older - obvious manifestations. Positively you become wiser to say the least.
Pain point #1
Reaching mid 40's comes with totally different perspective. Some say “the mid-life crisis". A psychological introspection of "who you are", "what you are" and "what you really like to become" holistically speaking. Kind of reaching a point where you question yourself "Is this it?", "I quit for I have no pleasure in this anymore” and “Can I try something different?".
You start evaluating your successes, failures, the short term and long term goals. Then you make inventories of your skills, hobbies and the things that you are passionate about outside of your routine and even your comfort zone. You want to try something new but indecisiveness and fear holds you back - a pain in the neck - you are confuse thus the term "crisis" comes in. You feel like you are in the crossroad and in the dilemma of what directions to take, new investment to make, going back to school, write a book, doing mission work or just go through your bucket list. Psychologically an analysis-paralysis stalemate - will have a lifelong consequence.
Pain point #2
The breaking down of the physical YOU. The drain and toll from life's toils and battles starts to creep up in a painful way. In my case, waking up on my birthday in a beautiful Sunday morning. I've got a painful birthday surprised - a lingering Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis). I was literally disabled on my birthday. Limping my way to Church but also gives me the new experience to feel this way. I felt like I will trade all my gold just to regain my strength.
In reality we are traveling in one direction and one destination alone - there's no turning back.
Thankful - I embraced these life's pain points for I am not alone. I have a Helper to comfort and soothe my aching soul and body with a “Balm of Gilead”.
Pain point #1
Reaching mid 40's comes with totally different perspective. Some say “the mid-life crisis". A psychological introspection of "who you are", "what you are" and "what you really like to become" holistically speaking. Kind of reaching a point where you question yourself "Is this it?", "I quit for I have no pleasure in this anymore” and “Can I try something different?".
You start evaluating your successes, failures, the short term and long term goals. Then you make inventories of your skills, hobbies and the things that you are passionate about outside of your routine and even your comfort zone. You want to try something new but indecisiveness and fear holds you back - a pain in the neck - you are confuse thus the term "crisis" comes in. You feel like you are in the crossroad and in the dilemma of what directions to take, new investment to make, going back to school, write a book, doing mission work or just go through your bucket list. Psychologically an analysis-paralysis stalemate - will have a lifelong consequence.
Pain point #2
The breaking down of the physical YOU. The drain and toll from life's toils and battles starts to creep up in a painful way. In my case, waking up on my birthday in a beautiful Sunday morning. I've got a painful birthday surprised - a lingering Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis). I was literally disabled on my birthday. Limping my way to Church but also gives me the new experience to feel this way. I felt like I will trade all my gold just to regain my strength.
In reality we are traveling in one direction and one destination alone - there's no turning back.
Thankful - I embraced these life's pain points for I am not alone. I have a Helper to comfort and soothe my aching soul and body with a “Balm of Gilead”.
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Whirlwind Week
It’s a whirlwind week.
Yes, your favorite team wins but that’s only a minute fraction of what’s going on in life. In reality we face all kinds of trouble and distress.
Yes, happiness is there but for a moment - a fleeting euphoria and it’s gone.
How do we cope up life’s wear and tear of emotions? How do we adjust to seemingly endless life’s ebbs and flow of situations? How do we recover from the physical and mental toll of the daily grind to stay a OK?
This hymn helped me peek through life darkness and see the light of hope.
“♪ O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see
There’s hope in the face of the Savior
For life’s more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of the earth
Will go strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace. ♫”
Yes, your favorite team wins but that’s only a minute fraction of what’s going on in life. In reality we face all kinds of trouble and distress.
Yes, happiness is there but for a moment - a fleeting euphoria and it’s gone.
How do we cope up life’s wear and tear of emotions? How do we adjust to seemingly endless life’s ebbs and flow of situations? How do we recover from the physical and mental toll of the daily grind to stay a OK?
This hymn helped me peek through life darkness and see the light of hope.
“♪ O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see
There’s hope in the face of the Savior
For life’s more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of the earth
Will go strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace. ♫”
The Wisdom of John D. Rockefeller Jr.
John Davison Rockefeller Jr. (January 29, 1874 – May 11, 1960)
I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.
I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people and not their master.
I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.
I believe that thrift is essential to well ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure, whether in government, business or personal affairs.
I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order.
I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character—not wealth or power or position—is of supreme worth.
I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.
I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and that the individual’s highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will.
I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.
I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.
I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people and not their master.
I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living.
I believe that thrift is essential to well ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure, whether in government, business or personal affairs.
I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order.
I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character—not wealth or power or position—is of supreme worth.
I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.
I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and that the individual’s highest fulfillment, greatest happiness, and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will.
I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.
Self Reflections
Christian life stays focus on Christ in all seasons, whether in abundance or in want, whether in peril or in safety, whether in the best of health or perishing, whether love is frolicking or feels like running in the opposite direction, whether you are on top of the world or when it feels crumbling, whether hope is realize or remains a wishful thinking, whether you are victorious or in the losing end of a bargain.
Life of a Christian is not dependent on luck or in any worldly, careless and hopeless endeavors but in a deliberate, discipline and transformed life centers on Godly belief of truth, love, honor, virtue, faith, hope, perseverance and all fruit of the Spirit.
Remember this, abundance is not that you get what you want and have all at your fingertips because you work hard and prospering with sheer skill and talent, safety is not that you live in classy house in a posh neighborhood in a relatively peaceful environment, you are in total control of your life and your vitalities are almost perfect because you strictly follow your gym routine, have enjoy the discipline of diet and have access to the best medical care in the world, security does not mean you are on top of everything and feels like nothing can go wrong against you.
In all of these are false assurances.
For being secured is like an eagles nest sitting in a cliff of a rock, being truly loved is in humility and able to accept the difficulties of life, pure joy is in the presence of suffering and still singing to the praise of Christ, contentment is not having all but thankful for all that you have, that life is also about others, sharing, encouraging, lifting up the downcast.
Hopeful that in all of life’s journey whether good and bad, there’s a bright day coming all in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
So look up to Him and turn your eyes upon Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.
Life of a Christian is not dependent on luck or in any worldly, careless and hopeless endeavors but in a deliberate, discipline and transformed life centers on Godly belief of truth, love, honor, virtue, faith, hope, perseverance and all fruit of the Spirit.
Remember this, abundance is not that you get what you want and have all at your fingertips because you work hard and prospering with sheer skill and talent, safety is not that you live in classy house in a posh neighborhood in a relatively peaceful environment, you are in total control of your life and your vitalities are almost perfect because you strictly follow your gym routine, have enjoy the discipline of diet and have access to the best medical care in the world, security does not mean you are on top of everything and feels like nothing can go wrong against you.
In all of these are false assurances.
For being secured is like an eagles nest sitting in a cliff of a rock, being truly loved is in humility and able to accept the difficulties of life, pure joy is in the presence of suffering and still singing to the praise of Christ, contentment is not having all but thankful for all that you have, that life is also about others, sharing, encouraging, lifting up the downcast.
Hopeful that in all of life’s journey whether good and bad, there’s a bright day coming all in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
So look up to Him and turn your eyes upon Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.
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