Something's Amiss

I having a hard time realizing that I haven't posted anything on this blog for such a long time.  It isn't that I don't have anything to say - I do!  I'm just not in the habit of sitting down daily and recording some thoughts about life.  I do have those things - thoughts about life, that is.

My daughter gave me a puzzle for my last birthday called "Something's Amiss!" Evidently, what you see isn't always what you get with these jigsaw puzzles.  There is a surprise that awaits as your puzzle is revealed.  It seems as though the puzzle in the box is more than a bit different than the one you put together.  I get it... kinda.

The character Forrest Gump from the movie of the same name said "Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you are going to get."  Sometimes the puzzle turns out differently than the picture of life we have envisioned.  That's the tough thing about life - it doesn't discriminate - tough times can and do come to anyone.  How we choose to navigate through the hard times is the key.

But there's more to it than just learning to navigate through puzzles and mazes... we must know that God understands.  Somehow, in His vast mercy and grace, God knows what we need.  We can learn to trust Him more than we do.

After all, He made us just like those puzzles where whatever is inside the box isn't really the picture on the outside.  We are exactly like that.  And God knows what's on the inside - He knows our hearts.  

Tracking

One of the primary methods Weight Watchers uses as a tool to help people lose weight is a plan tracker.  It's simple... whatever you eat, you track.  Make a note of it.  Mark it down.  You can usually eat whatever you'd like, but you have to count it.  My plan starts with 49 points - a higher number than I can remember using when I lost 45 pounds.  But the principal is the same.  If you eat it, track it.

It's being held accountable to what you eat that is the hardest thing to do.  Too often it's easy to not write something down.  When that happens, you can get into trouble.  What would happen if you didn't write the amount in your checkbook?  You would soon be overdrawn.  What would happen if you didn't write down phone numbers or record cell phone numbers in your phone?  You'd be lonely.

Tracking isn't hard - I just need to do it.  Today I had a good start - but it is only one day.

Losing

Here's the deal - back in 1994 I lost 45 pounds in seven months.  It wasn't easy, but through diligence and a couple of nudges from my wife I was able to get through it.  Since then I have nearly gained in all back.  I have resolved that this blog will be the journal for the next weight loss adventure.  I'm not sure if I am going to be as successful, but I think being able to process the journey in this blog will help - more than likely give me some accountability that a person needs when trying to change habits and lose weight.

I'm starting off with the Weight Watcher's Online for Men tool.  I have a monthly pass at the Y.  I have no excuse... zero. 

It begins today.

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer." - Romans 12:12

Always God

In the great Northland, we've been waiting for spring to arrive.  We've received a few glimpses - been teased by creation with a few very nice days.  But largely, spring has been a disappointment.  It just hasn't panned out the way most of us have hoped it would.  Here we are almost to May and we've had very little good weather to celebrate.

Perhaps that mirrors life - we've all had times when life has been a disappointment because we've had an expectation of how our lives should go.  When things happen and life doesn't go our way, it's only natural for us to be disappointed.  So, when these things happen, how does one get through it?  How can we overcome the challenges of being disappointed?

I believe it is important for us to know we are not alone in our disappointment.  Others know exactly what we have faced and they can help provide support when life gets hard.  And, of course, there is always God.

I say "always God" because God never changes in the way by which He interacts with people.  God is consistent.  God is steady.  God is rock solid!  God always loves us and desires what is best for us.  You'll need not be concerned that God would ever leave you or abandon you. 

He understands... completely. 

He'll be there - good weather or bad weather.

That's always good know.

Hanging by a Moment

So - here it is. The recreation of an older blog idea.  The thought of conversing via the Internet is always an interesting one - you never know what you are going to get.  But over the days, weeks, months, perhaps years ahead - I'll try to be honest.  Forthright, perhaps.  Challenging - I hope.  You need to know that I will come at it from a spiritual perspective - of course, I am a United Methodist clergy person - what might one expect?  Check in from time to time.  Let me know how things sound to you.  Life is so fleeting - let's grow with it in Christ.