Saturday, 19 July 2014

71. So...And Then....Then....And So



So...

I was down at a local store and I got talking to the clerk, and I was talking about the paint job I am giving my house.  At which point she said, “Oh, that is your house!”
          When I confirmed this she said that another customer had been commenting on the choice of colour and his remark was, “And he is even white!”
          So I guess I am pretty colourful for a white guy!
          I have included a picture of the house here.  As you can see my case of the “Refusal to Fit In” is terminal.  I am okay with that, although I am worried about being sued by McDonalds for using their colour scheme.  Wanna wonders if the neighbours like it, I wonder if I like the neighbours.


 And then...

My Fundamentalist Freak Friend posted on face book the following quote. “I don't care how anointed you are; if you're anointed and weird, you're a stumbling block to the gospel!” He and I have chatted, he threw it up to see what people might say.  I wonder if the person who made this statement has ever read the gospel, you cannot help but be anointed AND weird, normal does not mix well with anointed.
          But it did have me worried for a bit.  I have researched the guy a bit, not much, but he offers no definition of normal.  So I am starting to relax again.

Then...

I was lying in bed the other night reading over my blog posts. I came to realize that there has been a fair amount of struggle, strife and controversy in my life since I started the blog. (The truth is that all existed before I started blogging).  In fact there seems to be a bit of a theme, it borders on whining.  I realize that the point of my faith is to “Apply these principles in all my affairs,” and that is what I write about in my blog.  A working out of my faith.  I realize that I have made a number of interesting choices in my life, particularly my career, and this seems to invite conflict and controversy.  If I had to do it over again I would have stapled a hundred dollar bill to the bottom of my movie star application.  (A hundred dollars was worth a lot more in the seventies).
          Truth be told, I live a charmed life.  I have a wife who adores me, and gets me – she will fart and then throw the covers over my head.  Our home is warm and hospitable, even if chaotic and disorganized due to the on-going renovations.  And despite the fact that we have yet to conceive we have a kid, he even reminds me too much of me.  When it comes to brothers, I have won the lottery.  There are a number of people I could call up at a moment’s notice and receive help.  I have a career that I love, and suits me.  And, as a bonus it does make a difference in people’s lives. Like I said, it is a charmed life.
          But when you consider the starting point, it is amazing, and I am incredibly grateful.  It is not a case of “It could have been much worse.”  Those are the words of cold comfort we offer ourselves when things have gone horribly awry.  And, yes it could have much worse on any number of occasions.  Despite that, my life is incredibly awesome.

So...

My challenge – to myself – and if you want to pick up on it you are more than welcome to join – is to start every morning off in a prayer of thanksgiving.  As well, as I want to make sure to let those people in my life know that I am grateful for who they have been for me and the contribution they have made in my life.

1 Thess 1:2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.
         
         


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