Most people enjoy vacations.
They work hard in order to do the things they love when they are not
on the job. Some enjoy weekend river retreats, a secluded mountain cabin, or a condo at the beach. We all need those times in life where we
"get away" from the rut and routine we fall into with our jobs and
family life. Every now and then we are
fortunate to take one of those BIG trips that are meant to be life
changing. For most of 2012, my trip to
the Florida Keys had a major expectation to meet in my personal journey. I built it up in my mind to accomplish three
things. 1)Clear my head and allow myself to
de-stress from the tense person I have become in the
last year. 2)Provide the inspiration to
continue to pursue my dream of becoming a reputable writer and speaker. 3)Strengthen my relationship with my best
friends, the people I know who will hold my hand for the rest of my life. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Now that I have returned home from "paradise," in the worldly
sense, I can't help but realize that God intended for it to be a spiritual
awakening. I have been on a path of
self-destruction. I haven't controlled
my blood pressure, I allow any and everything to trigger my emotional rapid
cycling, and I have felt undeserving of the very dreams God placed in my heart.
I don't want to impose my religious and spiritual beliefs on
anyone, but if you are a better person than I am, you will most likely read my
commentary without too much judgment. For
me, I spent many wasted years hard hearted at the Church because I felt like I
would never measure up to what mankind wanted me to be. I wasn't fortunate to hear a lot of preaching
on the subject of grace and mercy growing up, so quite honeslty, it took me
more than 25 years to believe that I will go to Heaven. Friends, we will never save the people we
love or convince non-believers about Christ's sacrifice by exuding
judgment. I advocate standing up for
what you believe in, but it should be done with love and understanding not with
hatred and animosity. I recently engaged
in a political tangent and I hurt
someone that I have known my entire life.
It was wrong and it was bullying in every sense of the world. I should know better, because I have suffered
from a lot of bullying in my past. I am
glad that I was able to make that situation right with my friend.
God is here to help us through His Word to stay focused and
positive about our futures. Some people
are naturally more optimistic than others.
For those of us who struggle with depression and often see darkeness rather than light, we must
cling to something other than our own personal resolve. Turning to God and the resources He gives me
has changed my life immeasurably. If you
include Him in your pursuit of any goal, it will magnify the results. What do you have to lose, my friends? What possibly could a person be giving up by
allowing God's love to flow freely in our personalities and in our lives. It doens't make us hypocrites if we stumble. It makes us human! Alexander Pope said, "to err is human,
to forgive is divine." Jesus speaks
often and eloquently about forgiveness in the New Testament. His love for us in undeniable. Relish in that love and forgiveness and
strive each day to live better for Him.
Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, "Therefore having been
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus
Christ," Romans 5:1. Faith is what
you feel in your own heart, not what someone else tells you to feel.
I made the decision on this retreat to pursue the seed God
planted in my heart to change my life through writing. I have spent too many years doing what others
thought I should do and quite possibly placing more faith in man than God. Each person has his or her own
"demon" that prevents you from realizing your potential, the feeling of contentment,
and achieving your destiny. You must determine what
that obstacle is.
Obviously people who have suffered the way that I have in
regards to depression and related illness are near and dear to my heart. Let me say this frankly to you; it's just like dieting, starting a new
relationship, developing a talent, or overcoming a bad habit.....nothing is
going to reap success unless you first decide you want to. Willpower originates in the very body where
the disease resides. I had to determine
who the victor was going to be in my life and so do you.
Depression is dangerous and it takes millions of lives each
year. Be the blessing that someone else
might need. Be and instrument for God to
enhance the melody in your own life or the life of somene else. Please share this blog. It is sincere, honest, and it is without
shame. I pray that God blesses each of you
and from the bottom of my heart I appreciate your love and continued support.
Love to you all.
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