The Act of Following the Simplest of a Rule and How it Drastically Changed How I Think

"Gerald and I have been taking a class at church called 'Starting Point' by Andy Stanley. Every week we are given a challenge.

Last week was to begin to take steps to reconcile a broken relationship. I believe that many of us thought about things and people, but are still processing and have not taken the step to completion to full reconciliation. I believe that takes more time.

BUT!!
Today's challenge for the week was about following God's rules for our lives. As odd as I thought it sounded our assignment is to 'obey all traffic laws to the exact letter of the law'. I thought it was a strange assignment, and my comment was in a very whining voice, "55 mph?" And knowing I had to drive 6 hours today, I wasn't a happy camper.

When I left home though, I was compelled to connect with God in this manner. Because it seemed such a bizarre assignment, I couldn't let go of the thought of trying it. And in God's perfect timing - he knew I had to drive 6 hours today.

The most amazing thing happened, I drove the exact speed limit 3 hours up and three hours back, fully stopped at all stop signs and as every mile went by I kept feeling a freedom building in me. And with every mile, the intensity to follow the rules increased. Something that seemed so odd to me was actually helping me recognize that I must attempt my best to follow the rules and in turn taught me such a powerful lesson.

What an amazing God we serve. And what an amazing lesson I learned today using something that I never would have thought of.

It is all a journey though, because at a couple of points I found myself saying out loud, things like; "What the heck are you thinking?" or "Get off my axx." And when only ten miles from home when I stopped at a T-road to turn right, I did not dim my lights. Even though I knew no one was coming, it still nudged in my spirit the truth, you are supposed to dim your lights at intersections.

Amazing....."

Point of Grace

A Confused Mind

I have been faced with a couple of incidences lately that baffle me and due to the fact that I can't figure them out, causes me some distress. I am usually quite perceptive when it comes to the human mind; but there are a couple of circumstances that I am not able to put my mind around.

I must not expect myself to understand all that goes on around us in life, but for some reason I haven't been able to let these go. I am a researcher and so very analytical that I want to dig until I can find out the reason why. Am I trying to fix something? No, not really, because it is certainly out of my control. Can I say anything? At this time, no. So I am left to think and pray and ask God for wisdom. But the fact of the matter is, that I may never know or understand.

The actions are so unbelievable and the deception so great that I am stunned. I guess I need to examine myself to make sure that I am not living my life in a manner that would have people wonder this about me.

 

 

My "Me Vacation"

 

 

Life goes around us so quickly that it is, at times a stressor that you just can't get away from. The demands put upon us seem insurmountable at times; and if our boundaries are like rubber bands, we tend to get caught up in the insanity of always 'doing' because we can't say no. I am learning to get better at this, but still have not quite learned how to do it without feeling some pangs of guilt.

 

I have learned over the years that I need time alone; so I planned a vacation for myself. It is a way that I relax, refocus and regenerate. I must admit that there were times prior to my departure that I become somewhat apprehensive, but I knew in my heart I needed this. After I was on the road and heading north, I began to feel the layers of stress dissipate and the anticipation of what was to come rise in my heart.

 

The 4 days I spent ended up to be different than I had planned, but yet I loved what I did. Adaptability was accepted and I went on my way experiencing the steps to refreshing my soul.

 

The ways of the world and the perception of another's being is often confusing in my mind as I focus on something I may have missed or not achieved in life. I met people from such different backgrounds and while I felt some anguish thinking I missed out on something, or that my life had been so deprived of an arena of life I could only imagine; I realized that my worth comes from God and God alone.

 

Was it envy or inquisitiveness to hear their stories? My story is so different, but it is not one where I would want a person to shelve me in the pity section of the book store. Such abandon to the world of the lowly shook me a tad, but at the same time I felt as though I was the hero. My work, my life, my world; failures and successes; have not all taken place for the world to see. My mind is the script and paper is my stage.