An ordinary guy on a supernatural journey.
RSS icon Email icon
  • A New Path

    Posted on August 21st, 2012 michael No comments

    Rhonda (BoW member) again inspired me to write this post in her post entitled “Created for a Purpose”. I commented on her post, but I wanted to keep record of my thoughts in my own blog and would certainly welcome comments from anyone who reads my posts as well.

    In this time of economic uncertainty, I have been very blessed to have been steadily employed. At the same time, I am feeling called to entreprenuership, and the calling is growing in strength. My unrest lies in having the strength and courage to do what I am feeling I have been created to do, but that would mean giving up the ‘security’ of the steady employment, which feels irresponsible for the sake of providing for my family. I battle between the notions of “doing what’s appropriate” and “trusting God”.

    I honestly feel lulled by the apparent “safety” of the steady employment. I feel it’s actually keeping me from doing what I am most passionate about, and how I can make the greatest positive impact in people’s lives. I feel like I’m on a precepice, about to launch in a new direction, but clinging on to the familiar.

    Is it appropriate to “seek a sign”? I trust in the notion that I could be successful in this new path, and I trust in God’s protection as His child, but giving up the success I’ve had so far in my career is very unnerving. 

    So far, I’ve toyed with exploring the new path on a part time project-oriented basis, but my heart is definitely being pulled in this new direction, and I feel that I could gain ground much more quickly if I dove in fully.

    Please, please share your experiences and wisdom with me!

  • Feel, Learn, Respond

    Posted on August 21st, 2012 michael No comments

    Rhonda (a BoW member) inspired me to write this with her post “It’s Okay to Feel Your Feelings”. I commented on her post, but wanted to share with anyone who may be following my posts as well as retain my thoughts about the subject on my own blog. Thanks Rhonda for a provocative post.

    Side note: If you’re not already following my blog, I encourage you to do so (or follow others’ blogs) by clicking on the “Follow” button on the right sidebar. You will see your profile picture (avatar) show up under the “Subscribers” section. There are associated features in the top menu bar (see the “My Favorite Christian Blogs” menu item), as well as exciting things planned for the future!

    On to my post…

    I view emotions as symptoms, but I think many people see them as problems or blessings. As symptoms, emotions tell us what’s really going on inside of us, when most of us are busy putting on masks for others (and even try to fool ourselves), our emotions (as long as we’re willing to feel them) clue us in to our true reality, which allows us to learn from them and do something about it.

    As a parent, my responsibility is not to teach my children not to “cry” (or feel other emotions). My responsibility is to teach them how to appropriately express their emotions, how learn from what those emotions are teaching them, and how to figure out what to do about it. For example, it’s ok to feel anger, but how my children express that anger, learn from that anger, and respond to that anger is my responsibility to teach.

    Feel… Learn… Respond

    To try to convince yourself that you’re not angry (or sad or whatever) is simply repression – it doesn’t deal with the root cause of the emotion. As Christians, a healthy response is to recognize the anger, and then seek out council (Bible, prayer, pastor, etc) on the root cause of the anger and how to deal with that specific situation that is creating anger within you. Repression is only a temporary tactic – you will deal with the emotion sooner or later.

    On the other side of the emotional spectrum, joy and peace are examples of symptoms of a state of connection with our Lord. They are natural “fruit” of our relationship with Him. We don’t seek peace, we seek Him and peace is produced. We don’t seek joy, we seek Him and (true) joy is produced.

    In a personal relationship, happiness is not the blessing, the healthy and fruitful relationship is the blessing and the emotion (happiness) is the symptom (fruit – and rotten relationships produce rotten fruit).

    What do you think? 

    How would you expand on what’s written above? Do you have any examples from your experience? Please use the comments to let me know!