Be Still and Know

This time of year is filled with business in enormous proportions.  Many of the retailers are sick if not on their way to crashing.  Parents are frazzled. Children are anxious.

Ironic that this is the time of year that is supposed to be filled with peace. Joy. Love. Laughter.  But the way our society has it, it is very much the opposite.

We scurry to get gifts.  We struggle trying to figure out what to give.  Then we wrap it, ship it, hope they like it, maybe have to make returns.  Why gift giving can bring much joy, it can bring a lot of stress.

I was stressed and worried when it took almost over hour and twenty minutes to package a bowl I made.  While, I'm entirely thankful for the care the shipper took to secure my package, I was stressed as I surrendered my piece to be mailed, had other things to do, had someone waiting on me, etc.  I really just wanted to go home and rest.  Don't we all?

Winter is a natural time to hibernate, per se.  It's a time to get out of the cold and sit by the fire snugged up with a cup of hot goodness to warm the soul.  It's a time of reflection.  A time to pause.

One of my favorite verses is "Be still and know that I am God,"  Ps. 46:10.

It is a verse that speaks peace over any situation I face.  It transfers the control of the situation to the Omnipotent.  It puts layers of peace over my perspective.  

Further, it clarifies my role, what I should do and the stance I should take.  Simply put, I should be still.

Course when there are celebrations about to commence, physically being still is hard to come by.  However, if we incorporate this verse into our lives, the focus of our celebration will be shifted.

Let's break down these words and look more deeply at what the verse is saying.

Be- a present and active tense.  It means to exist.  To be can also be referred to as to abide, act, prevail, remain, rest, stand, stay.  To be is a command by God, commanding His audience to exist. 

Still- present tense.  Can be active or passive.  Still is defined as calm, motionless, quiet.

And- a conjunctive word meant to tie two ideas together.  And is used in ways to describe "there's more to say."   (Notice that the words still and know are tied together, not apart.  Much like peace and joy.)

Know- present tense. To know is to have knowledge or be congizant or aware.   It is to understand.  It is also used, especially in the Hebrew context, as to have such a familiarity, that it presupposes intimacy.  To know is also to experience.

That- used as a qualifying word which modifies the word "know".  It's predicating the object of knowledge.

I- singular first person pronoun that describes God speaking.   Here God is pointing out that He is the One and Only, actively making known His name throughout the earth.  He is telling us to sit back and watch the demonstration.  

Am-  This is the second usage of "to be" in this verse.  Here, the usage of Am is used almost as a reflective parallelism of the un-mentioned word "you" before "Be still." 

It is like God is saying: "You be still while I am..."   This usage of Am is similar to that of Hebrew poetry where they'd weave together two thoughts that would reflect each other, like a mirror and its image.  

God is juxtaposing together His command of being still with His declaration of His ability to make Himself known through His actions.  

It is also suggesting that God is speaking firmly without wavering.  He isn't saying: "I am sort of God".  No, He is proclaming I AM God.  

God- The One who is in control, Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, capable of the impossible, the One who is to be worshiped for His greatness.  


Overall, the present tense of all these words show that these actions are to be done continally, not just one time. 

In addition, God's not just saying be still, He's actually commanding it. The way the verse is structured in the Hebrew, "be still" is an imperative command.  Imperative is defined as something that is necessary.   So, to God, being still is necessary. 

And bonus, to know in this verse is also an imperative command.  Thus, to know is also necessary.  

Since be still and know are tied together as one, they are both necessary. 

So, let's take one more step and apply this verse to life at Christmastime.

Be still and know that I am God says.... 

When I'm stuck in lines, trying to mail stuff out, find gifts, etc., I can worry my brains out, but worry won't do me any good.

That God will take care of everything because everything can't take care of itself.

That we are called to stop and be still.  We are called to watch God be glorified during this time of Christmas, for He will be glorified.  

It isn't about the gifts, the hustle, the bustle, the long lines, although that affects us all.  It is about in whatever situation we face, we should exist in a state of being still and knowing while God exists in a state of showing His glory, making known and revealing.  

And ultimately, that we should stand back and watch God as He takes care of us.  He will work it out.  He will make what is supposed to happen, happen.  He will not let something happen if it isn't meant to be.  

So be still and know that He is God.  Be at rest. Be assured. There is no other, there is only One and if it is His will, He will bring it to pass.  

Now go grab that hot cup of goodness and be still by the fire.  Reflect and be restored as God makes Himself known. 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!!!

*dictonary. com

Special thanks to my husband for his help on this article!!!

© Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved.

Forget the Foreign Lands, The T.V. Show Survivor Should Just Go To Wal-Mart!

WHEW! 

Dodged a cart about to t-bone me.

ERRRRR! 

My cart brakes slam to a halt 

as the person stops suddenly in front of me.

And but of course...

WHACK! 

Does my hand go on the steering wheel when the car in front of me just. won't. move!

AGH!!!

It wasn't any wonder that Brother Homer's mention of Proverbs 12:16, "Fools show their annoyance at once," rang over and over in my head on the recent excursion to Wal-Mart.


Because yes, it was an excursion.  

Know the feeling? 

Part way through I stopped myself and said: I'm tired.  What? 

Yes, I was out of breath and ready to get the heck out of dodge for this trip was nothing less than pure stressful.



The prologue of my story begins with me wearing heels.  Need I say more? 

Why in the heck would I not pack tennis shoes for the journey? And boy did my feet hurt!

I really should have planned for this because I know I'm going to walk at least 1.5 miles throughout the store and then another half mile after I've been in the long check-out line when I remember: "Dang. I forgot the creamer" and have to go all the way to the back of the store to hunt it down.

**Note to self**: pack stupid tennis shoes in the car.  Or spend the $5 and get them at Wal-Mart.


So, without further adieu, here is:

 Candice's Top Five Rants 

on Trying to Survive Wal-Mart  

See if you concur.  (:


First.  Too much stuff, too many people.

The aisles that are needed to actually, you know, move around in are filled with tons of stuff.  It is near impossible to maneuver down the current of people and into a lane.  Then, once you've successfully made it into the lane without getting hit, (or so you thought), you find yourself starring ahead to a full aisle of people wondering how to weave around everyone.  


On this particular trip, I came across a blank aisle and had no need to go down it, but went forth just to take a breather. 

But soon enough, the crowds cometh.  I had to get out.

Second.  When shopping at Wal-Mart, my patience somehow wears thin fast.  

There is nothing that drives me crazier than people who stand in my way and are completely and utterly clueless as they gaulk at all the pretty lights (a.k.a. whatever is in front of them).  

Move people.... plllllleeeaasse?  

(Ok... I know this is selfish and I should be more patient, kind, resilient--anything but how I am acting--... but somehow all of this evaporates after about 5 gawlkers.  Maybe next time, my threshold will reach to 6 gawlkers.......  Likelihood? Fat Chance.)



Third.  Oh, third.  I just don't understand third.  

Why, tell me, WHY, in the samhill is one of the biggest and richest companies in the world ALWAYS short staffed?  Is this how they cut corners and make the dough? I mean SERIOUSLY!  Could you hire like 2 more people and put them in the checkout lanes? 

It seems that every single time I go to whichever Wal-Mart throughout the nation that they have 28+ lanes with 5 cashiers open.  Sometimes I'll give you 10.  

It makes absolutely NO sense why THIS would be the corner Wal-Mart cuts.  They could boost the economy that they benefit so highly off of by just giving 2 more people a job.  


PLEASE.  I BEG OF YOU! HIRE MORE ASSOCIATES!!! 
(Or just give the ones you have more hours!)

Four.  Yeah. Well. 

Then we head to the parking lot and all bets are off here.  If my blistering frustration wasn't enough by the time I get to my safe zone (my car) where I can sigh a humongous breath of relief, the EXACT moment I want to reverse my car--even if I'm in the furthest parking spot away--someone walks RIGHT BEHIND my car.  AGH!!!!  

To boot, they have three kids.  
Kids that are going everywhere.  
Kids that they aren't watching.  


Just let me out people, please.  

Just let me out! (Pathetic whimpers are cried here...)

My thoughts exactly. 

And then there is FIVE.  The battle of the carts.  

It's like the freight train of carts decides the best time to wheel through the parking lot is right after I'm trying to reverse yet again which is finally after the family took their sweet ol' time to pass my car.

All I want to do is go.  Just let me out!!!  

But no.  



100 carts + cart tower + cart associate needs to get by. ...    

....   .....   .... 

....   ..... ....
..................................

.......................

(that's me staring blankly in disbelief).  

I mean, what is Wal-Mart really trying to do? They already sucked me in once! I already have purchased more than I came to get!!! You have my money!! Why are you now trying to keep me here?

Why me?? Why? Why? Why?!?!?!?!!!!

(More pathetic whimpering...)



Ok, ok, ok..... So after I've somewhat gotten a grip and removed myself and my vehicle off the premises by speeding as fast as I could out of the windy lot (dodging more people and more carts and hopefully not getting a ticket), I find relief as I get on the road home.  Until there is traffic, or one more red light, or.... sigh.  I give up.  I only have so much hair to pull out!!! 

You know what I mean?? 

Sadly, yes.  You do know what I mean because it is on any given Sunday, day around a Holiday, day around a major weather system or frankly just any day, Wal-Mart is like this.  Surviving the Supercenter seems to be an American experience that while is supposed to be pleasurable, it just downright difficult.

But it shouldn't be so bad.  We are SO INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE that a major distributor stocks all this stuff for us to purchase so cheaply and even puts a grocery store in at the same location for our convenience.  

They offer flu shots, kind nurses to administer the shots, eye exams, hair salons, to-go food and more.  There are a lot of good things that happen at Wal-Mart.

In fact, there really isn't anything that can truly match Wal-Mart and a store like this really doesn't exist isn't everywhere in the world.  I didn't see one in Zimbabwe when I was there filming a documentary. Didn't see one in the Ukraine either.  Nor on the rivers of the Amazon... although that might be rather unique... sailing to the Wal-Mart entrance... I digress.  

We are very fortunate that we, as Americans, can have access to all this stuff.  We are blessed without measure and we don't even realize it.  

Maybe since we see it all the time, we don't even consider that people can't even get the opportunity to go to Wal-Mart if they wanted to.

Further, the funds we have to purchase anything at Wal-Mart, that is a blessing too.



All this to say...

I want to love to go Wal-Mart.  

It's true! I want to come out of there feeling like "Gee, what a refreshing time" instead of trying to talk myself out of pulling a Madea because of the fifteen other unmentioned grievances from just trying to get by.

Mabel "Madea" Simmons about to go get somebody. 

You need to see this too.  I promise it will make you feel better. At least you'll crack a smile.

People of Wal-Mart!  I ask you, why does this have to be a love-hate relationship? Why can't it be love-love?  Just like Target.  I'm sorry W-M, I have to say that I love going to Target.  I don't feel stressed--for whatever, unbeknownst reason-- and enjoy it. I get this "ahhh" zing! feeling just thinking about it.  It's kind of that feeling when a peppermint first hits your mouth.  

Ahhhh... circles of happiness.

Now that I'm thinking about a peppermint and Target, doesn't the photo somewhat resemble one? 

Bottom line....


For all of Wal-Mart's marketing, merchandising and moving the stuff back and forth all over the store, I wish the Wal-Mart experience wasn't: "I gotta go to Wal-Mart" (cue soundeffects of feet drudging to the door).  I wish it was more like the zing! peppermint feeling.  

Not to mention some of the rudest people shop there and there are rarely associates available or even findable to help you.... and when they do, they hardly know where to find the mound of stuff.... Ugh, I digress yet again....


So if I haven't said enough, you probably already know what else needs to be said from your own experience.  


But let us join together and ask Wal-Mart..... PLEASE HELP OUR SHOPPING EXPERIENCE BE BETTER.  WE ALREADY LIKE SO MUCH OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER... EXCEPT FOR ACTUALLY HAVING TO BE THERE. 

And one more thing...


I seriously think the t.v. show Survivor should save budget money and staff themselves at Wal-Marts during a Black Friday or during the first of the month when paychecks are cut.  
That would be a real reality show.

I think the show's ratings would even hit the roof because you want drama? 

FIRE! 

There goes the customer torching 

another for walking in the wrong way.  

You want comedy? 

SLAM! 

There goes my cart wheels locking up and 

sailing right into the paper kiosk stand 

knocking down the whole thing over.  

Or how about action? 

SNAP! 

There goes my side when I get T-Boned 

after looking both ways and 

turning my cart into the intersection of the three aisles.

Ambulance anyone?

Get the picture?

Exactly. 

It ain't pretty.

So, Survivor, ditch the bug/insect eating and please go somewhere from where we can all learn.... 

How to Survive the Supercenter!

Or, in the meantime, take Brother Homer's advice: 

Fools show their annoyance at once,

but the prudent overlook an insult.

Proverbs 12:16 

                        

A Quick Thought

The post Thanksgiving fridge is getting empty. However, the strawberries that I paid a lot for were still there.

My internal dialogue went a little something like this:

Do I eat them? Do I not? Ugh. I am not feeling the berries today....

But... I paid a lot for them, therefore I am responsible for them.  

Click.

I believe that the Lord sees us in the same way because He paid a lot for us and because of that, we are His responsibility.  He takes great pride in this by promising to take care of us...to wash us clean and to release us from the molds of life we so easily find ourselves in.

With that, I washed my strawberries and enjoyed their goodness!

"See what great love the Father has for us, 

that we should be called children of God!  

And that is what we are!" 

1 John 3:1 NIV

Content and Photography © 2013 Candice Irion. All Rights Reserved. 

Turkey Day: Looking to the true meaning versus what's actually going on. Plus, cool photo tips for the day!

I had the honor of being a guest blogger on Wrought Ink's site, which is a professional writing and resume website offering professional coaching for your career.  Check out the below article on the site as it should be posted soon.  I wrote with you all in mind too!  Thanks Wrought Ink!

~

For weeks you’ve been thinking about it.   For a period of time, you’ve worked to set the table, make preparations and now the time has hit.

You’re in the homestretch, prepping your turkey for its defining moment: The Thanksgiving Dinner.  The turkey is about to hit the oven for it’s destined 4+ hours and before you send it on it’s way, you snap a couple of pics to document your success. 

     www.texannewyorker.com

Now, some choose to wait till after the turkey has been baked to take a moment for photography. Either way, here are some helpful hints on how to capture your turkey in all its glory as well as the rest of the day’s photos.

Ways to Achieve The Ultimate Turkey & Thanksgiving Selfie

Make sure you have enough light.

Many times, photos taken in the kitchen (or inside) are under tungsten lighting, which emits a yellow light.  Sometimes, this yellow light gets to be too overpowering.  So, look around, if there is a window nearby, adjust the blinds to allow the daylight to come in. 

Daylight emits a blue hue, which helps to balance the yellow.  Watch out for hotspots though, where there might be too much light on the subject and create a white spot on the surface.

     lew-cabintalk.blogspot.com

Another idea is to turn on your flash, which can remove some of the yellow as well as reduce the noise, or grainy-pixels found in photos that don’t have enough light.  You may also need to use your red-eye setting, depending on your environment.

Position your bird.

Swivel your bird around to where it looks the best and put some fruit or décor of some sort around it.  It only takes a moment and gives a more aesthetic presentation. 

You could also place the turkey on the table before anyone sits down to capture those last quiet moments before the mayhem of the feasting begins.

                                           www.atipt.com

Look for obscurity.

Interesting enough, tons of action happens just out of the corner of our eyes.  Sometimes it is the three-year old dancing away, sometimes it is the cat laying in the windowsill about to fall off, or maybe it is the cranberry sauce with rosemary that looks so good.  Whatever the case, capture these! 

     © Candice Irion

In technical terms, these photos would be called “B-Roll” shots.  It’s these photos that tell different parts of your story and help your premise come alive.  Look for these.  Get up close and personal.  Shoot tight shots.  Snap photos of your Granddad laughing or your Mother’s hands.  These documentations relay a far greater story and emotion than you’d ever expect.

Course, your turkey may steal the show with its fantastic golden butter façade.  Capture that too!

    myrecipes.com

Make a funny face.

Let’s be honest.  After baking, sometimes the turkey may not come out just how you wanted it. 

Never fear! Laughter is near! 

Take a step back and try to remember, it’s ok.  The moment can turn around, if you just add some laughter, which is one of the most important ingredients of the day. 

Even though you might have feelings of inadequacy, frustration or stress, try to see that these are still timeless moments to be had.  Know that the perfection isn’t in the turkey but in the being together with those gathered around. This recalibration is essential and a day changer.

So take a breath, look at the smoke seeping from what could have been the biggest masterpiece of all Thanksgiving in all of history and just laugh.  Wipe away the tears, make a funny face and snap the photo.  The moment of glory is still yours; for you will have overcome and will continue to press on.  And don’t forget… everyone who has ever attempted making a turkey has been there too! 

Plus, regardless if the turkey is moist, chewy or charred, the photos of when you were cracking the jokes or jousting with the celery will conjure up warm memories for years to come.  And that’s what lasts.

Just Think Tur-key.

It is one thing to take photos with smiling, happy people who are truly happy on the inside and out.  It is another to take photos of grumpy people who plaster a fake smile just for the camera.  When another takes a photo of you, which side of the smile are you on?

In the face of whatever is happening, it is so important to keep a temperate disposition and to focus on what the day truly means versus what is actually going on.  Thus, probably the most important ingredient you can add to Thanksgiving photo, or any Holiday, really, is love.  Granted, it is probably the hardest one too. 

Let’s face it.  Loving others is hard work on any given day, especially on any given Holiday when the heightened festive time can rapidly turn fragile just as easily as the football game you’ll probably end up watching can go south.   In an instant, you can find yourself, phone in hand dialing 911 thinking: “Get me out of here, now!!”

That’s where “Just Think Tur-key” comes in.

As the going gets tough, remind yourself that you can be the key to turn things around.  Get it? Tur(n)-key or said with a silent “n”,  Tur-key!  Course, a turkey usually is in reference to a coward, but in my proposal, it is a one of a steadfast difference maker. 

Now, you may not be able to fix whatever is going on, but a hug, a decision to hold your tongue, making positive impacting choices instead of negative ones, can be hugely pivotal to your day.  Arguments, fights, spouts, demands can all be made later. The dog yack or baby spit up can be cleaned.  The clothes can be changed. The visitors will, at some point, leave. 

And while emotions can be sequestered, the precious time cannot.  Time will continue to run and the 24 hours of celebration will quickly pass if you aren’t careful.  Everyone around you has made a personal and financial investment of some sort to be there; even if it was just a gallon of gas… it was still something.  Their presence is the direct result of a personal decision to be in attendance with the rest of those gathered around, specifically you.  So, remember to honor people’s investment with wise, respectful choices: ones that elevate, uplift and encourage. 

“Dear Friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another,” 1 John 4:11.

So, as you snap your treasured photos and are in others snapshots, remember to be the tur-key this Thanksgiving season and may it benefit the many around.  After all, love is what truly matters and it will be remembered far above the taste of the food or the logistics of the day. 

                                               www.nyip.edu

You can make the difference… just think tur-key!

Copy content and respective photography © Candice Irion. All Rights Reserved.

It is God Who Brings The Rain: Frustrated in your circumstances? Why hasn't the dream happened? Yes, me too.

"But time and chance happened to them all," (Ecc. 9:11)

This morning, I watched a nice fall rain pour into my backyard.  It was soothing and pleasing.  Our dry grounds need it.

I caught a few rain drops in this image...

                                     

I looked back to my reading in Ecclesiastes 9, and stumbled upon today's Scripture verse.

"The race is not to the swift

or the battle to the strong,

nor does food come to the wise

or wealth to the brilliant

or favor to the learned; 

but time and chance happen to them all."

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I find this passage of Scripture affirming because for all my efforts successful or not, it reminds me that there is a greater One who is in charge of it everything.  It reminds me that the dreams of my heart that have come to fruition as well as the ones that have not, all of them lay in the hands of God. And if He sees fit, they will occur.

"The mere possession of speed, strength, wisdom, cleverness, and skill does not in itself guarantee success.  We cannot bulldoze our way through life, " (J. Stafford Wright*).  Wright goes on to say that there are proper times for each action and we must continue "to use our gifts in the light of what we think the future will bring."

As I watched the rains hit the ground, a thought occurred to me.

It is God who brings the rain, not I.  

There is no way that Candice can make or force the clouds to rain, but it is only God, His power, plan and will.  There is much comfort in that because I find myself continually frustrated by the "make it happen" push our world speaks.  There are so many major things I'd like to achieve, but absolutely can't on my own.  While I might be a catalyst, far be it from me to poof! bam! voilà! it's done!  Granted there are plenty of things that poof, bam and voilà can pertain to... but when it involves others, their thoughts, decisions, and a team full of efforts, the notion of "make it happen" can and is very much out of my hands.

It has been a huge struggle to leave my dreams in the hands of God.  I am really good at saying, "Ok, thanks for the surge of energy, I'm going to take it back and go try to get er' done." Swipe! There I go taking the dream again out of God's hands.  Then there was the season I just left it there.  It was peaceful until I got frustrated with that too.  So on again and off again it has been.  In His hands, out of His hands, back in His hands, back out.  Ugh.  Know the feeling?

I think we'd all admit waiting is INCREDIBLY HARD.  Whenever I have to wait on something or someone, I get really fidgety.  I can't just stand around waiting, I feel like I have to do something! So what do I do?

I find myself doing stupid stuff.  Or I find myself depressed and saddened about the situation.  Or I find myself being idle and in denial.  Or I go try to make something happen on my own.  But it's when I find myself doing the two things that will actually get me somewhere is when I find progress.

It's when I worship and prepare that I find peace.  It's when I look to God and say, "here you go" that I can trust Him to take it and do something with it.  I know that if it is meant to be He'll make it happen.  I lay down my desires and trust in His.  Then, I prepare.  I seek where He wants me and work where I feel called.  Typically, it's to go back to my drawing board and tighten the loose holes.

It's kind of like Noah preparing for the flood.  It took the man 140 years to build the ark for an event that had never happened before.  These people had never seen rain.  So, picture this older gentlemen building and building for an event that no one has ever heard of.  Can you imagine the ridicule?  The disbelief?  What about his own doubts, fears, struggles?  These aren't mentioned in the Bible, but since he was technically human, it seems like he'd face some of these.

But what do we find?  We find this aged man striving in his belief in God, worshiping by preparing; continually chipping away at the ark, building it one wood log at a time.

                                          www.rabbimoffic.com


So, if you struggle with a dream and are at the end (or way beyond the end) of your rope, just lay your dream down upon God's altar and see what happens.  Some dreams may end there.  Some dreams may begin there.  Either which way, there is an acceptance of what God wants over what you want.  This exchange is key, for it is the difference in striving against a dead end, versus peacefully and joyfully progressing through life.  Continue to worship and prepare one wood log at a time and see where He leads you.

For it is only God who brings the rain.  It maybe different how you imagine, but if it is meant to happen, it will happen.  Rest in this acceptance and find the peace to persevere. 

                                          www.digitaltrends.com




Content and First Photo © 2013 Candice Irion. All Rights Reserved.
* (Wright, J. Stafford. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Vol. 5.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991.)

Old Habits Die Hard

Where is the butter knife? I wondered.  Like all of us, I am a creature of habit. I have my morning routine where certain items make me happy and get me going, namingly my flavored coffee, quirky pottery and my wooden butter knife.  

"Ah" I remembered.  It's in the dishwasher with the other dirty dishes.  So, when I reached for the dinner knife, I reasoned: "this isn't so bad. I'll try it."

Then my eyes looked up.  I realized that many times new experiences come when the old is finally relinquished.  

I think that is the season I'm in.  It's one where not only am I having to let go of a lot of things, but also, my old habits are crashing and burning like never before.  Moreover, I'm gaining an understanding of how repetitive we, by nature, are and how sometimes, it is by forceful determination that an old habit must be thrown out the door.

The Lord has demonstrated this for me through pottery making.  As it turns out, also in this season, I've rekinded my love of making ceramic bowls and what nots.  It really happened by a spoof, actually.  

I was sitting in an orientation and the speaker mentioned an independent bookstrore that participates in a fundraiser by making and selling ceremic bowls then using the proceeds to benefit the local food pantry.  I was intrigued.  I have always loved pottery and took two semesters in ceramics in college.  But that was many moons ago, a.k.a. fourteen years ago.  

So, one day, I found myself downtown and decided to stop by to offer my meek, but "hey, it's something" services.  To my surprise, she took me on.

After such a long period of time of completely nothing, I couldn't believe it when I sat at the wheel and my hands instantly went to the place where I was taught.  I didn't think "now where do I put my hands?"  It wasn't anything like that.  In fact, I wasn't even watching my hands because I was talking!  I had just rested my hands on the bowl as it spun on the wheel.  When the conversation ended, I got set and then did a double take.  My hands were in the right position!  This realization started me on a course of examining muscle memory.  Then, my course extended to examining muscle memory in regards to how we think.  

The first series of my bowls.

Our thinking develops right from the womb.  There are countless studies proving that so much is determined at such young ages.  Then in our adulthood, when we face difficulties, we have to do this huge mind trek back to our earlier days gruesomely hunting down a particular line of thinking that has now postured itself into our lives and is wrecking much!  Ugh. What a laborious journey it can be.  But, ultimately, it's a worthy one for it's like spring cleaning... it's time to get rid of the old and clean things up a bit.  The new has come.

In addition, when it comes to our muscle memory and thinking the same (usually poor) things over and over again, we must take a radical stance and say: 

"NO MORE." 

We must recognize the thinking for what it is, then respond and refuse to accept it, then replace it with the truth.  

Unfortunately, musle memory regenerates itself.  Sometimes, its life cycle will eventually pitter out, other times, it comes back in full force.  The battle can be short lived, or it can be an ongoing struggle, of which, many of us find ourselves.  The important part is to avoid getting yourself tangled up into it.  This is also hard because sneak attacks can happen quite often, just like "a lion on a cheetah," as an old friend used to say.  But, thankfully, as we grow and chip away at the journey, it can become more and more manageable.  

However, (and thankful so!), there is One above who has given us access to renew our mind by the transforming power of His word.  In addition, our Lord took action.  His Son journeyed to earth, and battled mind games with the evil one probably more so than we realize, for He has power to see into the Spiritual realms far beyond we will ever be able to.

But in His journey, He gave us the ability to having "living water" (John 4:10) pour into our empty cisterns and renew our broken vessels.  By His Spirit, we are able to be comforted and assured of His love for us, though we are such a misfit of people.  

My bowl evolution for the past two 

months.  One of the first ones is on the left, to one of the more recent ones on the right.  I also "graduated" myself from ceramics low fire clay to 112 hire fire clay(: 

So, if today, your old habits are in the way, it might be time to allow them to crash and burn.  It might be time to recognize the muscle memory that is causing you havoc and respond to it by refusing to believe the trash and replacing it with truth. Then look ahead for the new to come and all the refreshment it entails.  

My most proud bowl endeavor.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind," (Romans 12:2, NIV).

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life," (John 4:13-14, NIV).

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal," (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 NIV).

 

It’s Time to Face the Music: It’s Time to Take the Dog to the Vet

I’ll cut right to the chase.  There are certain issues that I don’t like to face head on-- or at all.  But, when the issue hoists itself right in front of you with no leaving in sight, the time has come.  The issue must be dealt with.

I’ve finally come to the point where I have to take my doggie, Nala, to the doctor.  

Every now and then, she gets this limp in her front left paw.  She hasn’t sprained, broken or hurt it.  It’s just for some reason or another, it affects her for a few days then passes.  That’s not the case now.  Her limp has now lasted for three weeks.  I was hoping after two it would be gone, which is the longest it would have ever been around.  Last week, it looked like it was getting better.  So we decided to give it one more week.  But it is still here.

Then, a few days ago, I discovered a mass on Nala’s back left thigh.  A mass?  It just swelled out of nowhere.  We reasoned that maybe it was a result of Nala’s limp and the extra strain on her other legs.  We hoped that would go away.  It’s gone down, but it’s still there too.

So, I made the appointment.  It was time.  And I have to say, I’m nervous about the issue.  I’m nervous of the cost.  I’m nervous of the road ahead.  I’m nervous for my poor Nala….

She’s such a sweet dog.  Sometimes I call her “Mama Nala” for she loves to give her big sister kisses, loves to cuddle up next to you and if you are sad, she knows it.  She is a caretaker. She’s the type who just wants to sit in your lap and is completely content doing so. 

Ever since the day I met her, that’s just how she was.  

I also call her “My Little Shadow” because she walks alongside me everywhere.  Many others have their own names for Nala, although, they are not so nice because they make fun of her for being shy and a chicken at times, especially when the Hispanic kitty took a swipe at her.  Nala is also not your “hey look at me” pretty poster dog.  But, for all the rumples on the outside, it’s the looks that she gives you that melt your heart.  She loves to love and she loves well. For all of her, I just love her. 

I think God sees us in the same way too. 

“We love Him because He first loved us,” (1 John 4:19 NKJV).

"They will be my people and I will be their God," (Jeremiah 32:38, NIV).

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. 

As it is, you do not belong to the world, 

but I have chosen you out of the world,” (John 15:19, NIV). 

God loves us for all of our good and our bad; He loves our pretty parts and even loves us in our ugly ones too.  He loves our ugly because we are His. 

Which brings me to our ugly sides.  It seems that we are all ugly in many ways: inside, outside, in our heads, in our hearts.  All of us have hurts, wounds, scars, shame.  We all have moments of glorious victory from what drags us down, but then somehow we find ourselves off the band wagon and back into the pit from which God drug us.  Low-points hit us at the most unguarded moment, which is probably why they got us.  My ugly recently got the better side of me too.

After a heated argument, I found myself in a place I haven’t been for years.  I found myself thinking things that I thought were long gone.   I still feel remorse for things I said, did… but especially, for what I thought about myself.  I look back and wonder: how did I get back here?  

It’s no secret that I’m a perfectionist.  I’m a Type-A, overachiever, over-responsible, detail and deadline driven firstborn that won’t let a ball drop.  When there is a problem, I over analyze every statement, situation and solution.  The key word here is: over.

So when it comes to blame, my perfectionist default setting is to over-blame myself.  A few years past, this destructive thinking near killed me.  While I was continually taking on more than my fair share of the blame, another also played into this vortex by constantly heaping every bit of the wrong done in the relationship onto me.  As if that wasn’t enough, they soon rejected and abandoned me.  I became incredibly stuck on this fault line that I “clearly” caused and pretty much wanted to die.  At the time, there was no way I could see through this spell-bounding whirlwind of blame, for my perfectionistic perspective was playing every hand possible to make me believe that everything was, in fact, all my fault. Whew! Can you say dizzy? Those were some really hard times and it took the divine hand of God to pull me out.

I then diligently installed boundaries around this thinking with hopes of never revisiting it again.  And I didn't... for a very... long... while...  But then, out of nowhere, SLAM! I got sucker punched.  This type of thinking crouched right at my doorstep just waiting for that instant when I let my guard down.  Then, BAM! BAM! BAM! Down the blame-perfectionaist spiral I go.  AGH!!! I feel like I’ve been sober for years, only to have fallen off the band wagon.  My fall really hurt too. 

On one side of the matter, I’m really thankful that we can never fall so far that we are out of the hands of grace.  For God’s hands of grace are always there to lift us back up.  Boy, do I ever need that! But on another side, I’m starting to see that I’m almost no different than Nala with her limp and mass.  Looking at it from a figurative approach, I had to wonder if I am also walking on three legs with a growing mass??

An answer soon came in another conversation about Nala where my husband restated that Nala's mass is likely an inflammation due to her over-compensation as she walks on three legs instead of four.   Internally, I went: “Hm”.  There is that word again: “over.”

Am I over-compensating? The puzzle piece fit quite nicely because by nature, I am also people pleaser.  By trying to solve everyone else's blame by fixing myself, I spin my wheels over and over in my attempts to be perfect while completely denying the fact that perfectionism in myself is unattainable. I then go further in these futile attempts, getting so bogged down trying to get the world to be satisfied and having matters settled.  I just like wrapping a bow on things and knowing the case is closed.

But, that’s not always life.  Sometimes, it seldom is.  Life is messy!  Bows are ripped up!  Debris is everywhere!  So, I’ve had to learn that people pleasing can’t always happen.  Perfectionism can't either.  Furthermore, I can’t live and breathe for another to be pleased. I can't live to be perfect for them. I can't hoist their blame on me in hopes to make it all better.  Linking my identity to pleasing the world and being perfect is like signing up for the kiss of death.  I just can’t do it.

So, in my recent sucker punch of spell-bounding thoughts of perfectionistic blame and over-compensation, I muddled through much mire.  But, then something happened as the Holy Spirit ushered in these words: 

“What made you think this is all your fault anyway?” 

Suddenly, the tornado inside stopped.  It’s like the moment Christ calmed the raging waves and winds.  Instantly, there was a hush and all was still.

©McNaughton Fine Art, American Art Gallery

Those words continue to circulate through my mind.  What started this mess anyway? Where in the world did I start thinking that everything was all my fault?  I don't really know, but what I have surmised is that I'm limping around and it's high time that I walk.  

This makes me wonder how often we all walk around with three legs instead of four. (Well, it's really two legs since we are technically human, but you get my point.)  Also like Nala, we’ve probably gotten really good at compensating the difference and probably have potentially forgotten what it is like to even have all our legs working.  Because somehow, we've subconsciously made choices to over-compensate so that we could avoid getting to the real issue.  And it’s when something else occurs, like Nala’s mass, that the red signal is thrown up and the issue blares with alarm to be addressed.

Why do we do this?  Maybe the pain at the time seems too tough to bear.  Or maybe, we are nervous about the costs, the road ahead, what it will do to the relationship.  Or, in my case, could it be that the issue forces us to realize that we are not perfect? 

And bonus, not only does the issue force us to realize it, but we are forced accept it.  These steps also involve forgiveness for oneself and if you have difficulty doing this, welcome to the club.  We almost need a creed to help us cope. 

In fact, let us make a creed now. How about trying this on for size:

• I can no longer walk around with a limp like a pup on three legs. 
• I have to accept ownership for what is actually my doing while refusing to heap everyone else’s responsibilities on my back.
• I have to accept that I am not perfect, but I know the One who is. 
• I have to accept that I AM HUMAN.  This means there will be mess-ups, blunders, catastrophic bad choices, blame and fault. 
• I have to address issues head on and also forgive myself with the same grace God gives.
• I must quit over analyzing and over+whatever and move the heck on.
• But even in my mistakes, I must remember that there is One who won’t leave me.  
• For I am guilty BUT pardoned.  I am, by nature, NOT perfect, but in Christ MADE perfect with His forgiveness.

Let's say it together: We all make mistakes.  We all mess up.  Everyone is at fault.  Everyone falls short.  Why? BECAUSE WE ARE ALL HUMAN!  And the good news is… God is NOT!

So, no matter what the issue is, take action.  Let us take our problem to the Great Physician knowing that it is high time to take our dogs(or problem) to the vet.  Granted, the issue may not just poof! go away.  But in time, the issue will progress.   And at some point, we’ll have to do our own deep dives into our soul and accept for ourselves that we are not perfect, giving glory to God that He is and His mercy is new every morning, (Lamentations 3:22-23).  

Blog content and photographs © 2013 Candice Irion.  All rights reserved.

Artwork © McNaughton Fine Art, American Art Gallery.

P.S.... Listen to "Great is They Faithfulness" below if you are needing to feel a little "new every morning" today.