Musings at Altitude

THANK YOU!!!!

For those who sent emails and made comments, thank you!

My sister, who is soon to a half century old (happy birthday!) weighed in with some wonderful wisdom:

1. God is in ultimate control.  He’s promised that He will work out all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28
2. There is a reason that He is God and we’re not.  God’s thoughts are not our thoughts; our ways are not God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8).  We can’t see the whole picture.  He can and we have to trust Him.
3. When a struggle comes down to a perceived lack of control, then the real issue may be a pride issue. 

I’m grateful for the reminder that I’m not supposed to understand all things, and I’m certainly not supposed to control all things.  We do have a Creator who understands all and controls all…we need to trust Him and relinquish our need to control to His will and His plan.

Others weighed in too.

A good friend thousands of miles away asked me if what I was pondering and questioning so hard really needed to be figured out.  She reminded me to take some deep breaths and “be done with it”!  In subsequent emails, she reminded me of coworkers and friends who are struggling with cancer and come in every single day with a smile on their faces.  Their struggles sure make my “lack of control” something very trivial.  Their ability to smile in the midst of such dramatic challenge to their own lives makes my desire to get my way something very selfish.

And then a coworker and faithful muser on life reminded me that in every previous struggle, something very positive resulted.  Why would this time be any different?  If every other time in my life, the struggle turned into something special, why in the world would I get so distressed about the struggle this time?  I smiled as he walked by and gave me a thumbs up today, remembering his comments and recognizing how true it is.

So this evening I’m sitting out on my front porch, looking very geeky as I post this blog from my laptop.  My wife is sitting next to me playing her games on her iPod and my 15 year old is sitting next to her working on her powerpoint presentation of the “Top 50 Hottest Celebrity Guys”.  We have soft rock favorites blasting out my office window so everyone passing by can hear it.  Folks must think we’re a very bizarre family, but they must see the smiles on each of our faces from the fairly significant glow coming off the laptops and iPod!

Once again, I am so grateful for each of those who took time late last night and today to remind me of where my focus ought to be.  I appreciate the candor and the honesty, and most of all, I appreciate the love and the friendship.  That in itself is a smack upside the head that brought me back out of the funk.

PS.  And I’d like to say a special thanks to my wife who simply said, “Come on home and I’ll smack you.”  She always does, and it always works!