Eric Suddoth's Blog, page 24

Comforting Still – Wrap Your Arms

What are some things you can wrap your arms around? A loved one you haven’t seen in a while. A soft pillow during a lonely night. A beloved pet staying by your side when sick or scared.

We can try to wrap our arms around anything tangible, as I have occasionally seen an actual tree hugger.

But can we wrap our arms around intangibles? The things we cannot see.

Seems pretty obvious we can’t…but what if we could?

When I was in college there was a song on Sarah Masen’s Carry Us Through album that I played over and over. I found the lyrics intriguing and thought-provoking, and years later, I am still puzzled by this song I love.

Mystery’s walking on my head again
In a pattern figure eight
Round a turn cross a path again and again and again
Save communion for the holidays
And keep perception at a safe arms length Does hallelujah wear the same old face I’m okay yeah okay fine okay
What I really want is

To wrap my arms around Your name
To wrap my arms around Your name
Do all the angels sound the same
To wrap my arms around Your name

To break the cycle cynical
Keeping man inside his head
Wisdom offers up her best advice
And I’ll run to her side and ask why and ask why

To wrap my arms around Your name
To wrap my arms around Your name
Do all the angels sound the same
To wrap my arms around Your name

I’ll scrape the bottom ’til I’m good and ready old
And take the cup of kindness while searching for the gold
For the gold for the gold

Tomorrow’s filling up like yesterday
Something’s constant underneath this place
Shape this prayer to sing with such a grace
For today just today or someday
What I’d really like is

To wrap my arms around Your name
To wrap my arms around Your name
Salvation’s forever taking place
To wrap my arms around Your name
Hallelujah

I still do not understand all the lines and verses of the song, but I think that is why I love it so. I do not understand it, just like I sometimes do not understand the concept of faith, but I love it so.

On one side of myself I struggle with belief in a God I cannot see and to read stories that seem fictional. But then the other side of me stands firmly in the crashing waves or shifting sand like an unmovable pillar of strength.

One side asks “How can you believe?” And the other side asks, “How can you not?”

One side rationalizes how science is reliable and if scientists say there is no God, then they must be right. Then the other side wonders how can something so precise and perfect just happen without an Intelligent Designer.

There are moments I want to wrap my arms around something to remind myself that my faith is true. But then the other side is content in holding firmly to Jesus’ name like a little kid holding onto their guardians hand.

I think that is why I love this song. It fits me. I don’t understand everything in life. I will never admit to understanding it all. I will probably be the person asking a question on my deathbed. But my questions don’t hinder me. They intrigue me to keep pondering, dreaming, imagining, and wondering.

When we stop asking why, we will never learn the why. And I think God wants us to ask the whys so we can draw closer to Him who knows all the answers to all the whys.

There are times when I’m left grasping at the wind in my futile attempts to hold Him. But there are those precious and rare moments when I feel like He brushed by me at the moment I needed Him the most. It is in those moments when this song hits home.

It’s in those moments when I feel like I can wrap my arms around His name, as crazy as it sounds, and rest in the assurance that I don’t have to understand it to know I’m holding Him.

May you find some peace and May we all close our eyes and imagine wrapping our arms around His name. Hallelujah.

Peace

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-6038774c504d6', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

Trains of Thoughts

My thoughts go off on tangents often. Sometimes I follow the known path and find myself in an unfamiliar place with a question of how I got here.

This morning was one of those random thought trains.

I was driving to work and I passed a woman picking up some trash in her front yard. She waved at the truck in front of me and I wondered if she knew them or if she waves at everyone. As I passed I looked behind and realized she didn’t wave at me.

I watched as the white haired woman bent down and picked up a random piece of trash in her ditch.

I don’t know why but I started thinking of my grandmother who passed away a few years ago. My grandfather and grandmother would wave at anyone who would honk at them as they sat under their shade tree in their front yard.

I thought of times when all my family would sit under the tree in the summer time and enjoy each other’s company. Playing yard games that are banned now with the sharp metal stakes, sitting up a card table and using whatever they would find to hold down the cards on a breezy day, or just sitting in the swing with a glass of sweet tea.

I miss that white haired woman.

As I drove away I thought of white hair and hair coloring.

I remember hearing a story that my dad bought my mom a box of hair coloring because he wanted her gray hairs gone for when we went on vacation to Disney World. I was five years old and I don’t remember the hair dye incident, but every once in a while I will hear about that box of hair dye.

I also don’t remember the trip that much. But I remember the Mickey Mouse ears and yellow Disney World t-shirt that I got there.

I continued to drive and considered myself incredibly blessed. Not because of the trip, but looking back and seeing the sacrifice my parents made for me. Taking a family of 5 to Disney World is the mid 1980s, wasn’t cheap, but they did it.

They didn’t have to buy souvenirs, but they did. They did all they could and made it a memorable vacation.

I just started to smile as I drove and recounted all the moments of blessings that I have too often taken for granted.

I got to the stoplight and wondered why I was thinking of my parents….it took me a few minutes to back track in my train of thoughts and I found myself looking at the white haired woman, picking up a piece of trash as she was waving at the truck in front of me.

Isn’t it strange how our minds work?

But isn’t it also amazing?

I think God wants to show us amazing things all the time, but we don’t take the time to see them. We run around thinking out next agenda is the center of the universe, when in reality, there are many other things more important.

So here’s to daydreaming. Following that thought process that could lead anywhere. Take the time to breathe and regale in the good memories you have. Take a moment and smile at the blessings you have taken for granted.

So, thank you mom and dad.

You will never know how much I appreciate you.

Who knows…maybe we can go to Disney World again…my treat this time.

Peace

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-6035cc85b7435', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

Comfort…and a Lament

Have you ever felt blah? Like really blah? Like you want to roll back into bed and hide under the covers until the feeling passes.

A few days ago I woke up and I just felt drained and tired and it was only 7:18 a.m. I opened my Bible and read a few Psalms (my go to book when I’m feeling blah).

Afterwards I just closed my eyes and prayed for comfort.

I don’t know why I was feeling like this more so than other weeks, but it just seemed like everything was making me feel blah. Work was stressing me. Co-workers were stressing me. Deadlines were stressing me. And I just feel worn out.

I was getting plenty of sleep, but I wasn’t feeling comfort. I was feeling blah even though I would fall asleep on the couch at 9 p.m.

I was in a state of blah.

Today at church we started a new sermon series…Restore. Please watch this video or read the lament.

Please…you won’t regret it.

https://fb.watch/3OObsOXWTg/

A 2020 LAMENT

Oh Lord, the water is up to our necks — and the worst thing about it all is — about the time we think the waters are receding…they come back.

You inspired one of the wisest men who ever lived to say: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Well, hope keeps getting deferred. And, our hearts are sick and getting sicker.

We sure could use some longings fulfilled. And those longings are for things we were, no doubt, guilty of taking for granted: we used to gather freely at one another’s houses, or at concerts, NCAA games or just watching our kids play little league, not to mention in church.

Now, a simple sign of affection like a hug or a handshake is suspect. It’s all so strange. We are limited in ways we never thought we’d be limited.

It’s exhausting, Lord. It’s wearing on us. We keep hoping those small but important things will come back. And they do…sort of. We’re weary of living in a “sort-of” world.

We pray. But, it often seems like you don’t hear.

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?. Why do you seem so far off? Why does it seem like you may be punishing us? Maybe you are.

It’s not that we don’t deserve it. If we made a detailed list of our sins we would be overwhelmed. We know we took things for granted. That’s clear now. We know we are guilty of selfishness, ingratitude, and even impurity. We know our culture has forgotten you. We know other generations have suffered more than us. But, our grief is real.

The economic fears can be debilitating. Some have suffered cruelly.

Then there’s the separation. In some cases, friends have drifted away. We feel betrayed. Our relationship seemed expendable.

The young generation has lost special moments that can’t be gained back –proms, graduations, celebrations, and birthday parties were reduced to drive-bys.

Then there are those who lost lives. Why are some barely affected and others are taken? Why does it seem so random? And most tragically of all, often we couldn’t say goodby properly. Loved ones have died alone.

Have mercy on us in our weakness Lord. It’s a weakness that is born out of fatigue. In your unfailing love remember us.

After the video at church I realized I wasn’t alone. This feeling of blah was all around me. It was all around everyone.

We were asked to write our own laments. We were requested to cry out to God with our heartache and pain and let Him know our feelings. We were urged to not hold anything back.

I used to journal my thoughts a lot – my questions, my doubts, my prayers, my fears, my pain. But in the last year I hadn’t been writing my hurts. I’ve been focusing on the positive. Clinging to hope. Believing good things were around the horizon. I was trying so hard to stay positive that it was pulling me down.

But it hit me today, that even though I truly believe good things will happen, it is okay to express my concerns to the One who sees the big picture.

It’s not doubting Him…it’s turning to Him with my doubts.

It’s not hiding from Him…it’s running to Him when I want to hide from the world.

So, what are you holding in?

What do you need to let out?

I think it’s time to let it out. I think it’s time for you to give God your lament.

May you run into His arms with your lament and may you find comfort in His arms.

All your problems may not be solved, but at least you’ll be honest to the One who knows your current problems and already knows the way the story ends.

May you find peace and comfort in this blah state.

Peace

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-60331580c5611', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

Snow

There is something refreshing about a blanket of snow.

It covers everything.

You cannot see the decaying leaves that were not raked up three months ago. You cannot see the yellowing grass that needs warmth and more than ten hours of daylight. You cannot see the petal-less flowers that hasn’t bloomed since Halloween.

All you see is clean, beautiful, pristine ground for miles. If the snow is fresh, no footmarks by humans or animals, but just a covering of lookalike perfection.

As I was driving to work this morning, I noticed cars still untouched from the snow earlier this week. People were safe in their homes staying warm, is what I told myself.

It wasn’t COVID keeping people locked behind the frosted glass, it was the snow. It wasn’t because they were unemployed keeping them curled up in a blanket, it was the snow. It wasn’t insolation or depression keeping them a hermit, it was the snow.

Snow has an interesting way to help people forget about their problems as the inches pile on as the beautifully unique flakes fall.

It is as if God was giving us a reboot. Instead of a wet, destructive flood, He gave us another form of covering. Snow.

It can be a time to look out the window and see the beauty. To see the beauty in second, third, or seventy-seventh chances. To see that even though it was messy outside last week with a dismal gray day, now it is a blinding light to help lead you.

It may be cold, but the cold will pass.

The snow will melt.

The ground under the former whiteness will once again surface.

It’s interesting to me, that even though there are inches of freezing snow that doesn’t equate with death. That under the snow plants are still living. That in a month flowers will bloom, grass will grow, worms will crawl to the surface.

Even though it may seem bleak, there is still life underneath. Even though you can’t see it, there is life stirring underneath. Even though it’s hard to believe, doesn’t mean you can’t believe it.

You can live in a state of a constant winter where death is always at your door. Or you can live in a world of four seasons where winter doesn’t mean the end, but it can just signal a new beginning.

You never know when new life begins. You only know when you see a change. But unseen changes happen all the time.

Are you ready for a season of new?

Most of the time God moves in ways you never see. You only see them when it’s time to see the change.

But God is moving in your blanket of snow. He is digging His fingers in your covered, unseen earth and planting a seed. He is tending to your every need. He is making sure everything is perfect for the time you see your spring.

So, enjoy this snow. Enjoy this peace. Enjoy this time of rest.

Because He may be stirring something underneath that will cause your entire world to bloom in brilliance of spring.

If you’re waiting for a breakthrough…wait and see what is unearthed when the snow melts.

Rest up now because He may have your life pretty busy soon.

Peace

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-6030962f3f7a0', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

The Day After

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday which signals the starting of Lent soon after. I have been drawn to the emotional Easter story since a kid, but in the last decade I have been more enamored with the time from the cross to the resurrection – The Darkest Days as I call them.

I have written many things over the years, but this song in my book, Unsung, is one of my favorites. It’s a song told from the perspective of one of Jesus’ followers the night of Jesus’ death.

Did this really happen?
I’ve pinched myself till I bruised
I see the hill
Where He was killed
But it still doesn’t seem to be true

We were just laughing
What seems like the other night
As I look back
I should have
Seen the dotted lines that ended His life

Now here we are
To scared to breathe
Huddled in the dark
Holding onto memories

I watched Him raise the dead
So why hasn’t He yet?

What now do I do?
For three years I followed Him
It’s only been
A day shut in
Where do I start again?

Now here we are
To scared to breathe
Huddled in the dark
Holding onto memories

I watched Him perform many signs
Or was I just blind?

I guess I should have listened
To the doubters I tried to convince
Because they are not hiding
Or hoping for some providence

But something is telling me to hold on

Even though the song is full of his questions and doubts, I love the last line – But something is telling me to hold on

We all go through doubts and failures, when we think life is useless and we need to just give up and move on. But what if something is telling you to hold on?

In a world where it’s easy to end anything in a blink of an eye – what if God is saying, “Just hold on a little bit longer and you will see it was worth the wait.”

What if God is saying, “I know it’s hard, but I have something so good for you. Just hold on a little longer.”

What if God is saying, “You wouldn’t appreciate the sunny days if you never had the rainy ones. Just hold on a little longer.”

What if God is saying, “Without a little sacrifice you will never understand the fullness of my love. Just hold on a little longer.”

What if God is saying, “If you never feel the earth shake you will never understand how good my peace is. Just hold on a little longer.”

You may be screaming at God to come now, not a little bit later. But He’s already come. Even if you can’t sense Him, He’s already there, singing over you.

So, if you feel like giving up on hope, just imagine what they were dealing with when they saw the hope of the world breathe His last.

But we have something truly hopeful because we know He breathed again.

So, if something is telling you to hold on…then hold on a little longer.

He’s never failed yet and He won’t start now.

Peace

If you enjoyed this poem, you can download my book of songs for reflection and meditation, Unsung, for FREE!

And if you are interested in a fictional story of the what happened between the cross and the grave, you can preorder my book, The Untold Story of the Darkest Days which will be out in March.

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-602b379ad6e2f', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

Valentine and Single – It Really is Okay

There are a few days a year when relationship status is put on the forefront of the majority of social media accounts.

Today I have seen many posts from friends and family members of their valentine. I am glad that so many people in my circle have someone to tag in a post.

But I hope that this isn’t just a customary post one day a year. I hope they tell their valentine they are their valentine more than once a year. I hope the posts are not fraudulent attempts to pretend everything is okay to make the world believe they have everything they want and need.

I was talking to someone about being single in the last week. I am happy being single. Very happy.

But as a single person I sometimes get the fifth degree on my relationship status. Why aren’t you married yet? Are you seeing anyone? Why not? Are you happy? Really?

I get questioned by married people as if I’m a new species or they are conducting a experiment and they are trying to figure me out. As if they will figure out why I haven’t become like them and then they can fix me.

I don’t think I’m alone in this line of questioning after talking to other less fortunate singles – sarcasm.

One of my favorite scenes in a movie showcasing this is the dinner party scene in Bridget Jones’s Diary when Bridget is the only single person at the dinner. Everyones attention turns to her to answer the agonizing question why there are so many single women these days.

She laughs, “Oh, I don’t know. I suppose it doesn’t help that underneath our clothes our entire bodies are covered in scales.”

I poke fun because I am content and blissfully happy with my lack of a relationship status. But I know that I am a rare exception.

Many single people dread Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or basically any holiday or special occasion when their lack of a significant other will be showcased and they are still alone among the masses of couples. But they don’t post about this because once again they would be telling the mostly coupled world they are alone.

So for the people who have someone this Valentine’s Day, I hope you have a great one. For the people who do not have someone, I still hope you have a great one.

If you can only find happiness because of a ring on your finger, then I’m sorry. Your happiness shouldn’t depend on having someone. It should depend on you liking yourself and that other person is just icing on your valentine cake.

If I could ask for one thing this valentine it would be for people with someone to not look at someone who doesn’t have someone with pity.

Don’t look down on someone if they are alone or think you are better because you have someone.

Single people can read that look of pity as if a spotlight is shining on your face. If they are already having a bad day, your judgmental look isn’t going to make them feel better. It will make them feel worse.

Just treat a single like any other person. Married people tend to flock together in herds. So if you see a single person alone in the middle of the room, don’t watch them like a lion scoping out a gazelle. Walk over to them, be friendly and polite. Talk to them like you would your married friend – I know it may be hard, but they do speak the same language as you. Marriednese isn’t a real language and neither is singlenese.

Invite them to dinner or for a coffee. You may realize they aren’t covered in scales. They are just a misunderstood single person.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Peace

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-6029309bf12e7', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

Have You Ever Wondered?

Have you ever wondered what happened the second after Christ died on the cross? What the people around the cross was going through seeing their son, friend and teacher hanging lifeless?

Have you thought about the trek to Joseph’s tomb as they were carrying his bloody body? Seeing the painful wounds all over his tattered body.

Have you considered the agony of them laying him behind the stone and walking away knowing he had previously caused the dead the rise from a similar tomb?

Can you imagine the black, stormy sky pouring buckets of rain as they each walked to their homes as the rain water mixed with their tears?

What about the people to afraid to come to the cross? How were they feeling? Did they feel like traitors for abandoning their friend? Where were they hiding?

What were the people who didn’t believe Jesus was anything special thinking? Were they afraid of an uprising or were they gleeful in his death?

Have you wondered what Barabbas was feeling? He could have been the one on the cross. Was he wanting to make a change or was more sadistic plans in his future?

Have you wondered if anger was brewing to get retaliation?

Or was fear escalating to sink further into the shadows?

Was there any hope when the world woke up the next morning? Or was all hope dead because Jesus was?

If you have never thought about these sad days, why not?

Why did the Bible leave out these days in its account?

I sometimes think no one wrote about these days because no one wanted to relive how they were feeling during these hopeless days.

For many years I have wanted to dive into this time period and write a story that could give some type of an account of what happened during these days.

After years of considering these dark days, I finally wrote it.

Next month I will be releasing my latest book which is a fictional account of what happened the moment after Christ died on the cross.

Lent and the Easter season is approaching and I am hoping that this book will cause many people to ask these hard questions. To put themselves in John’s sandals; to imagine sitting beside Mary as she grieves, to follow the steps of the Roman soldier who nailed Christ to the cross.

If you are interested in this book, you can preorder it.

But if you are not a reader, I would still recommend pondering what you think happened during the darkest days the world has ever seen.

He may have died, but we have hope in knowing He didn’t stay dead.

Peace

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-6027413062c67', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

Ice – Beautiful but Dangerous

My area has recently been hit with a winter storm that brought a little snow but mostly ice. Looking out my window it appears beautiful with the bushes coated in glass. The ice skating rink you call your driveway can be fun for kids and kids at heart.

But looks can be deceiving.

It may look beautiful and fun, but it’s very dangerous.

The slick blacktop can cause broken bones and broken hearts. The shiny branches can cause power outages and roof cave-ins. No matter how slow you drive, accidents can still occur.

Sin is like ice.

At first it can bring excitement. You know that some people may not like it, but it’s something intriguing to look at. Then you skate around in it and it’s fun. You think it’s not harming anyone.

Then more of it comes. And then more.

You soon start to feel the weight of the sin pressing on you. The feeling of fun has quickly changed to remorse. You are bound to the sin with no sun to warm the bondage to release its tight grip.

Sin may look enticing, but it’s entanglement is very dangerous.

There are many ways we handle sin.

Some wait it out just like an ice storm, but with sin that’s not a good idea. Sin has more patience than a bottle of molasses. It has no where to be than wait for you to fall for it. Then when you fall it attacks.

You can’t wait out sin.

You have to fight it like a warrior. You have to do your best to keep the enemy in its place. You have to keep your eyes on a heavenly prize and not a temporary one.

But if you’re caught in its grip, you have to turn to the light.

Ice can melt even when the temperature is below freezing if sunlight hits it.

When you’re stuck in ice, turn toward the Son. The Son will break the chains that hold you down. The Son will mend what was broken. The Son will heal what was hurting. The Son will restore what’s been destroyed. The Son will never give up even if you have.

So, if you’re feeling stuck, covered in some cold ice.

Look toward the Son and don’t give up hope. Spring is coming.

Peace

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-602480d676338', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

Love Song

It seems too easy to call you “Savior”,
Not close enough to call you “God”
So as I sit and think of words I can mention
to show my devotion

“I want to fall in love with You” – Jars of Clay

I am a huge Jars of Clay fan. Interesting though, I received their first album as a present but didn’t care for it much. Then I got their Much Afraid album as a Christmas present and thought I would give them another try.

The rest is history. I realized their first album was amazing and one of my favorites was “Love Song for a Savior.” But every song is great.

But when I hear this song it takes me back to my teenage years wrestling with faith. Faith that God is this all powerful being, yet He is so kind and loving too.

I don’t understand love that much. I look at romantic relationships with confusion most of the time. I sometimes wonder if God left that piece out of my DNA. Because I am content being single.

Married people look at me like I’m strange. And I’m okay with that.

But what is stranger is probably my love for God.

There are moments in my life when I feel like God is right beside me. Driving in the car talking to a best friend. Or jogging down the street and laughing at something stupid that just popped into my head. Or just sitting in silence and feeling a sense of peace that is beyond comprehension.

I hope I don’t sound like I’m bragging, but this song is my life. When there are moments I don’t feel close to God, I feel like this song, pleading to God, “I want to fall in love with you.”

And it’s funny…then I feel a spark.

So often I think we think we have to come to God with fancy words, but God doesn’t care about that. He just wants us.

He wants us to enjoy His creation. He wants us to laugh and watch squirrels running madly around in the backyard. He wants us stand in awe at the flight of a bird. He wants us to find enjoyment in the things He enjoys.

When we focus less on us, He will show us more of Him. Then He will sweep us off our feet.

I may have never experienced a romantic love, but I am madly in love with someone who loves me.

May our prayer always be, “I want to fall in love with you.”

And maybe, just maybe, you’ll hear God say the same thing back to you.

Peace

If you enjoy my blogs, look into my inspirational book, Dream Chasers.

https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Chasers-Journey-Eric-Suddoth/dp/1949869059/?encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=eb3484c3-035d-4d12-aecc-98bf8b45f240&pd_rd_wg=zTgNF&pf_rd_r=HCNBG3H2WQCVCX67NXPB&pd_rd_w=N0HLs&pd_rd_r=929b1650-0e60-416d-b0d4-9706553cc005&ref=ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m

But if you like mysteries, check out my other books.

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-601ccddeaec63', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

Fearful Tomorrow

Why does the past always seem safer?
Maybe because at least we know we made it
And why do we worry about the future?
When every day will come just the way the Lord ordained it
You can believe it, yeah, just like the 8th grade – Chris Rice

I have been a fan of Chris Rice since Smell the Color Nine album in the early 2000s. His songs are catchy, but if you look beyond the surface, they are deep…maybe deep enough to dream.

I was with a group the other night and we were telling our concerns, and it seemed like fear was a predominant theme. Fear of not understanding, fear of the unknown. Fear easily grips ahold and it’s much harder to force it to let you go.

Or maybe it’s us that won’t let it go?

Fear is a common thread through history that everyone has faced at least once. Some conquer their fears and others become slaves to them.

But the thing about fear is it usually only has the strength we give it.

Snakes are not fear mongering creatures in of themselves. But snake haters have the fear because they fear them. People who have snakes as pets most likely do not fear them.

The snake ultimately isn’t the source of the fear. But it’s an external reason for a fear.

If you ask someone why they are afraid of snakes and not worms, they will probably look at you like you are crazy. But a snake is just a large worm (not scientifically though, just in looks).

Not all fears are reasonable.

I would say most fears aren’t reasonable. Yet we still have them.

I’ve heard the best way to beat your fear is to face the thing that you fear.

Talking in large group of people will show you that it’s not all that bad. Jumping in the shallow end of a pool may show you that it’s actually fun. Riding in an elevator will get you up 10 floors much faster than the winding stairwell.

It may be hard to face our fears, but once you do, you may notice that it was really that scary after all. Just like the eighth grade.

When you were in middle school you may have been fearful of gym class, school dances, pop quizzes, bullies lurking around the corner, or class projects.

But if you got through the tumultuous teenage years with just a few wounds, you can say you survived it. But at the time of your teenage years you probably thought you would never get through it.

The mountains we climb are usually not as high as the mountain standing in our way (so we think). But once we reach the summit, we sometimes realize it wasn’t that bad after all.

That is the interesting thing of our minds. The mountain, the hurdle, the deadline, the obstacle in our way is always worse than anything we had ever accomplished before.

But the thing to remember, you accomplished all those other hurdles before you. And you will once again complete the treacherous journey ahead of you.

So, is the past safer than the future?

Probably not.

It’s just safer because you got through it.

Just like you will get through tomorrow as well.

So, take a deep breath. And maybe another. And then proceed.

If you don’t succeed the first time…try again. And again.

But don’t let your fear keep you from trying. That is the only way you will lose — if you never try.

Failure shouldn’t be graded by how many times it takes. It should only be graded as an incomplete if you don’t even try.

You made it through today…try to make it through tomorrow. Most likely, you will make it through, just as the Lord ordained it. Yeah you can believe it, just like the eighth grade.

Yeah, I hope you can believe it.

Peace

__ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-601a9a79ef18b', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });