Those three…

We are all in search for something.  The meaning of life?

Most would like to know the meaning of life and use every minute to ponder and wonder. Sometimes searching gets us exhausted and while searching, striving to find something, we miss out on the things we really need to focus on.  

God, family, friends...  We give up on those three important things to stay connected with a world that doesn’t really care if we are here or not when those three truly do.

God, family and friends love us, care about us, want us.

Watching TV, looking down at our phones, staring at a computer screen (like I’m doing now) or searching for things to entertain us limits us at times.  While trying to broaden our minds, we might find ourselves filling them with useless information when we could be experiencing something new, innovative or just plain fun instead!

My day today started out with sitting in a deer stand.  This wasn’t a new real life experience for me or something particularly innovative, but it was fun.  I’ve not done it in many years.  It’s not something I’ve ever really loved to do.  After today, I’m not saying I’m some deer hunting convert either, but I can say, it was nice being out in the woods, watching the squirrels and listening to my boy whisper about his friends and stories about school.  My husband wasn’t able to take him this morning, so I filled in.  I’m not the best fill in, of course, but I had to do.

So, I started off my day by searching for the camo shirt, searching for the keys, searching for the road to turn on, searching for the stand in the dark with coyotes howling in the background…

The search was on …then the wait was on … then he shot a sizable creature (I’m his witness–it was big) … then the search started again!

Like bloodhounds, we trailed the deer until for some reason, the blood stopped dropping. I know what frustration is today.  I know that sometimes, searching does not end in finding.  I know that we sometimes have to sit back, listen, watch, think, regroup and go home.  That is what we did today.  We searched and searched until I thought I was lost (I wasn’t!). The search came up empty, but the experience was something I don’t think either my boy or I will forget.

Let’s be IN SEARCH of memories we can make with others.  We need to focus on those three things I mentioned earlier.  I think our search for whatever we are looking for should start with those three.

 

 

 

 

Staying Positive

Even the most positive people get down.  I started thinking about this as I heard about a teacher who died of cancer just today.  Her two children are left here without their mom.  I’m not certain of all the family and friends she left behind, but I’m certain there are people hurting from the loss.  How can one stay “positive” at a time like that.  

I’m not sure staying positive is something you really think about in that event.  Do you really think about “looking on the bright side?”  I know from suffering the loss of my parents, my best friend and other family members, friends and acquaintances–a positive mental outlook is not really something you strive for.  You really just strive to make it.  You hope that the pain subsides long enough for the tears to dry.  You find comfort in memories and sharing with others.  It’s important to be around others at this time– allowing them to help you.   Moving forward is essential.  I’m not saying leave the deceased behind in your timeline and never think of them again or avoid revisiting the great memories they created in your life —I’m saying you must move forward with their memory.  You can’t stay in the sorrowful moment of their passing.  You must continue to live in honor of them.  It was a blessing that you were able to have the time you did with them and it should be an honor for you to continue to hold the memories of them that are more than likely full of lessons and times which have helped you develop into who you are.  

In times like today where another wonderful person was taken by cancer …and in other times where children perish, families suffer unforeseen circumstances of such loss and people seem to vanish from our lives… staying positive is not something we immediately move to, but at some point, that is where we have to journey toward.

I am secure in knowing that my God will comfort those who need comfort.  He will help those who need guidance.  He will protect the ones who need a hedge built around them.  Staying positive becomes an easy feat when you know all good things come from God.  ((Romans 8:28))  He will help you through anything, but you must call on Him.  You must want to move.

I pray for this teacher’s family today.  I pray for those who have lost.  I pray for those who need to begin their journey of healing and for their continued forward movement, making their way to that place where they can be positive once again.