The Adequacy of It All

“To ourselves, we are great. Yet most of us live life without making a stand, contented to blend into the background of self-rendering nothingness, and when looking back feel contented at our mediocre accomplishments. Nobody remembers the person who conformed out of inadequacy. Nobody notices a patch of grass, they see the tree” ~Wayne Burrow

Whispering pines and a soft cool breeze brought back memories of a child of my grandfather’s place in New Mexico. The Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque are beautiful. I enjoyed visiting my grandparents and waking up in the morning to see the vast great mountains. We would travel to Santa Fe, NM and would sight see the area. Traveling we would go through the valleys and on top of the mountains; could see storms far away.

My grandfather’s house was in a valley and looking up was able to see the mountain. When we were at the top of the mountain everything was small and to locate my grandfather’s house, you would have to use binoculars to see it. He built his house with his own hands and he was a marvelous carpenter with great skills.  The valley view allowed you to see great things in the comfort of his home. He was content living in the valley and enjoyed the majestic view of the mountain. 

I don’t remember where I heard this story and not sure of the author. However, there was a rat that felt inadequate and all he wanted to do was die because he lost his self-confidence, felt weak and felt no one liked or respected him. That night he sat down and began to talk to the Creator, “Why nobody likes me, I am weak, nothing to offer, no meaning or purpose and I do not want to live anymore.”

The Creator replied back to him, “you are the strongest in this world little rat.” The rat was in awe and perplexed at His statement and asked, “but how can I be?” This started an interesting conversation between them and the Creator said, “You are stronger than the night.” Again the little rat was mystified and scratched his little furry head and asked, “Can you explain this for me please?”

Again the Creator spoke, “because when the sun rises the night disappears and this makes you stronger than the sun.” “But how can I be” questioned the rat. The Creator softly spoke, “because when it is cloudy the sun disappears and you are stronger than the cloud.” Being bewildered the rat said, “I do not understand what you are trying to say.”

The Creator responded, “Because when the wind blows the clouds move and disappear, and you are stronger than the wind.” Again, the little rat was puzzled and did not understand the logic behind the words of his Creator and responded, “But how?” The Creator answered, “Because when the wind blows, it cannot move the tower that is behind you, but you can.” The little rat snickered and thought if he was weak how can he move a tower that is 1,000 times his size and questioned the Creator, “ tell me more about how will this make me strong.”

The Creator smiled in His answer to the little rat and said, “My little friend, nor the sun, the wind, the clouds or the night can make this tower disappear. However, you, little rat you can; by simply digging in each stone, you can crack them and make the tower collapse.”

Sometimes we feel we are inadequate in what we do in life. Working in a hospital to help those who have attempted suicide has been an eye opener for me.  Sometimes, past failures or fear of the future can appear to render you useless. Yet, the Creator knows exactly why He chose you to carry out a specific purpose. Sometimes it takes others to help view the strengths you have and the difference you make in others’ lives. 

When we are in the valley we see great things, but when we are at the crest, everything appears to be small. Captivating our thoughts is crucial. Beneath the surface of it all lays a foundation, there is living in purpose, and as we sail through life, do not avoid storms and rough waters, just let it pass and just sail. Remember, calm seas never make skillful sailors. Inadequacy is only the exercise equipment of building up our skills in accomplishing more than we ever have thought about! Enjoy the crests and valleys of life and when you reach the plateau look at the journey. The mountain may be big, but it is the approach you take, which will help you accomplish much. 

By Faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him)

Slow down, lest we forget our Purpose

It can be a busy day; often times there are more busy days than the lack of them.  The busyness twirls the mind around like a fair ride that can leave you dizzy and wondering why you got on the ride in the first place. Life can be like that ride and depending on what you make of it will determine if you desire to enjoy the fun or decide to never to get on the scary ride again.

Or you leave one room for another room with a set purpose in mind. Once you get to your destination, there you become side-tracked and forget your purpose for going there in the first place. You become frustrated because you knew you had to do something, but now cannot quite put the finger on it. No matter how many reminders you might have, no matter how many times you try to remember, it eludes you like a wild animal breaking free from your grip.

Our attitudes may define who we are if we are not careful. It is easy to adapt and to relax and become the situation. Almost like a frog in a cold kettle set over a fire that slowly becomes accustomed to the heating water, until it is boiled. How often do we forget our purpose in life? How often do we forget our role in our marriage? How often do we forget who we are as an individual? Many have said that they ‘lost their identity’ and that they are now ‘finding themselves.’

When we lose sight of our main focus we tend to forget. We forget who we are. We lose that identify and purpose for our life. Oftentimes it is like chasing the wind as it carries a piece of paper, our life.  That paper is a written note proclaiming who we are and where we are to go with an intent purpose in mind.

For some people, they seek definition of who they are through their friends. They seek others for approval of their relationships.  They seek others for happiness. They seek their life in this or in that, yet end up empty each and every time. They feel if they tried harder, focused harder, the answer they sought would be found.

 One passage in the bible has always intrigued me. Jesus knew the hearts of men. Just like the night of his betrayal and before it even happened, Jesus explained to Peter that he would deny Him three times and as a reminder of what He told Peter, a rooster would crow after the third denial. This was so that Peter would believe and remind him of what his heart did. Yet, that is not the passage I had in mind.

The passage begins in John 5.  John writes about a man who came to the healing pool daily. He had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. He came to the pool to be healed because angels would come down and stir the water and who entered the pool first would be healed. Jesus knows the hearts of men, but today was different than any other day. Jesus approached the man and He asked the man, “Do you want to be healed?” Why? If I have a purpose of going somewhere then I know why I am there. The man wanted to be healed. Jesus knew it. Why did Jesus notice the man with this question and not heal him like he did countless others?

Jesus wanted to awaken the purpose. We forget who we are and what we are to become when we become busy in our life, or when we tell our self lies, listen to others. While our intent of our purpose is the desire to be healed, we forgot what to do. Misplaced keys, misplaced cell phone because we became intense on the side attractions and so busy we forget to create a memory of where we put our item so that we can retrieve it later.  Have you forgotten the purpose of why you came to Christ and have forgotten how to live? Maybe religion has suffocated you and snatched the true freedom you were called to be in. Maybe it was a marriage that suffocated you in not reaching your full potential. It might even be selfish thoughts, which have prevented you from obtaining your full potential. Sometimes it can be the distraction or the self-defeat thoughts we tell ourselves that we are never good enough. I will never reach my goal, so what is the use. The invalid man in John 5 told Jesus that he couldn’t roll into the pool and that no one would ever help him, and thus, that he would never be healed. He lost sight of his purpose.

What is your purpose in life? Do you want to be healed? Find that inner voice deep and focus on Christ that will give you the power and the energy to walk and to be healed. The question to ask is, “Are you willing to take the first step that might seem so unnatural at first?” We have to rid ourselves of the past in order to walk the past. To rid the past is through forgiveness of us and others. To be healed is to understand that the power is not in the water. The power is in our determination to focus on Christ and doing what He commands us to do. The next time you feel misplaced, look up and pray and stay in constant communication with Him. He is reminding us every day our intentions and purpose of walking with Him. Others may say too fast to soon, not to do this, not to do that, but is it the will on man’s voice or the will of the Father that knows best? Be still and focus on Him and listen to his voice and you will find that purpose He has placed into your heart.

Will you be courageous enough to take the first step and walk?

The next time life deals you with a blow and you feel paralyzed, do not forget your intent and purpose of where you are going. When we walk with Him, he will guide us into the paths of righteousness. Are you willing to have the faith that Forges Attitude In Trusting Him?