Mountain Climbing

"His peace is not the easy, natural peace of the level road. It is the peace of the steep and difficult mountain climb.

Make us Thy mountaineers;...
That undefeated we may climb the hill
As seeing Him who is invisible."
May 14, Edges of His Ways, Amy Carmichael
Hebrews 12:1-2 (New International Version)
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
This morning I read a little more from "How to Have That Difficult Conversation You've Been Avoiding," by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. The chapter was all about using the word "should." I've often heard about not beating oneself up with "shoulds" but I never thought about the way I've used it towards others.

The doctor duo said that the word should feels very parental and judging. When someone says, "you should, " people feel that their choices are going away. "Instead," they said, "you want the other person to freely choose to do what you are suggesting, to feel good about it, not forced into it."
The chapter was written about me, I thought. I may not say should, but I think it a lot, and I'm sure it comes through loud and clear.
I left the house, got into my car and began the drive to Huntsville for a meeting. On the way my cell phone rang. It was one of my team with some information and a question. Before I knew it, I could feel myself responding--reacting actually--in should mode--and battling against it valiantly. When we were through, I said, "I was trying hard--how did I do?" My coworker laughed and said, "It was funny--you started to splutter and stammer." Great!
I may just have to ask the people in my life to tell me to, "Assume the Lotus position," when they notice me veering off course--that will make me laugh.
I wonder how my coworkers who took the first part of the course with me are doing...
Revelation 1:5-6 (New International Version)
...To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Comments

Leann said…
I use to use "this is what Id do if I were in your shoes".with my girls.they would have a problem and when they got too big for me to fix it for them. that is what Id do.if they used it fine if not fine to.

some times God puts followers and leaders on this earth.and He uses them both.the trick is to find out who is who.

I still dont know who Iam.all I know for sure is Iam a fixer.
2:03 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Voyage

Image
Note from Belinda: I read this prayer yesterday and again today--and then I read it to Susan after cell group, when we were having our "second cup" of decaff coffee together. I knew that she'd love it. She has a framed picture on her office wall of a little blond haired girl in a sail boat on a stormy sea. A fatherly sailor,with a weather beaten face; in a gray sou'wester, holds her close, as he capably mans the tiller. This prayer reminds me of that picture and influenced what I wrote earlier today, when I used the metaphor of ebbing waves to describe a lack of consistency and my desire to crash over the sandbar into the peaceful pool on the other side.  ( Susan sent me a link to the painting, which was done by American impressionist Robert Reid in 1888.  It hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in NYC.) Be bless ed by the beauty of this prayer. OH LORD OF THE OCEANS, My little bark sails on a restless sea, Grant that Jesus may sit at the
Read more

Ere Zij God--Glory to God in the Highest! A Dutch Carol

Image
By Belinda This beautiful Dutch carol was shared today by a friend of Dutch ancestry, on Facebook. I had never heard it before but absolutely loved it. It moved me deeply, especially at the end after the crowd leaves the church and then breaks into spontaneous singing again around a brazier, with the sound of chiming church bells in the background. Listen to it with headphones or a good speaker to get the full effect of the harmonies. And happy first Sunday in Advent!
Read more

Samson Beaver and his Family

Image
I first posted this in 2009, a little show and tell about one of my favourite photographs. Back then it hung on a wall, but now it's in my bathroom where I see it every morning! I'd forgotten the history behind the story, researched when I first posted this and thought that current readers might enjoy it--a story from a time when this land was still being discovered, not so very long ago. This photograph was taken by Mary Schaffer; artist, photographer, writer and naturalist, in 1907. It is of a Stoney Indian named Samson Beaver, with his wife Leah and daughter, Frances Louise. I bought the photo on a postcard, on a trip to British Columbia and it hangs framed, on the wall I face when sitting at my laptop. I love it. Don't you just feel as if you could gather Frances Louise up in your arms and cuddle her? I get a deep sense of peace and happiness when I look at this family, sitting in the grass of a long ago fall. They are dressed in their best, beautiful c
Read more