Tag: Life

Tired

I’m tired. I’ve had enough.

I’m tired of this presidential election. Oh, yeah the election was 2 days ago. We have a winner. It doesn’t matter which candidate you voted for our country selected Trump.  So no matter who you supported he is our president.  Part of being an adult is being able to accept the outcome of an election. If you don’t like the outcome the choices are limited: deal with it, leave the country or act like a spoiled brat.  If you pick the latter maybe you aren’t mature enough to handle a responsibility like voting.

I’m tired of the inability to disagree with others in a polite and respectful way.  Part of being an adult is realizing that we won’t always agree with everyone.  You can respect and even like someone if they don’t agree with you 100%. Part of being an adult is learning to work with those who are different from you.

I’m tired of Democrats and Republicans. I’m tired of partisan politics. Neither party has it right. This year’s candidates prove that. I’m tired of independents and third parties being ignored.

I’m tired of the vilifying and name call of those you don’t agree with. I’m tired of comments like how can an educated person vote for ___ or a Christian vote for ___.  The election is over get over it.

I’m tired of the protests too. If you voted then you had your input. It is time to work to make things better. If you didn’t vote then it is time for you to shut up. Maybe next time you will vote even if you don’t like the choices. I can’t remember the last time I really supported a presidential candidate.  I certainly didn’t like any of the options this time and yes I considered all possible options. We have become a nation of whiners.

Here’s the deal:

Part of being an adult is learning that things don’t always go the way you want. Use those times as an opportunity to grow and expand.

Sometimes you have to work with/for people you can’t stand. Sometimes when you take the time to get to know others you might actually learn something.

Sometimes you have to do the hard stuff. Doing the hard stuff makes us stronger. In real life you don’t get a trophy for showing up or an A just because you came to class.

Sometimes there is no good choice. Sometimes the only choice is to pray for wisdom and strength to handle what happens.

Sometimes people don’t agree with you. Life would be boring if everyone agreed with you all the time.

 

 

 

TDZ Retrospective: A Masterpiece

Posted April 14, 2013.
057 I made this Piggy bank as a gift several years ago. When The Big Guy was a grad student I was able to use the studio in the student center. The studio was run for and by students. The prices were good plus it was convenient.

I worked on Piggy for several hours until she looked just right. She was so cute. Everyone in the studio agreed Piggy was adorable. Piggy was left to be fired and finished. I was really excited about my masterpiece. When I create things there is a sense of pride in my work especially if I create it as a gift for someone.

062When I returned a few days later to pick up Piggy and some other pieces I was disappointed to find that something had gone wrong in the firing process.  Piggy was perfect except for little dent marks on top.  The student manager offered another product on the house. She went off on a long explanation how Piggy was to blame for the problems. It was hard to “fire” Piggy and that no one ever made piggy banks. Instead she kept offering me a cute panda or elephant “piggy bank”. She didn’t understand why I didn’t want a panda or an elephant. They weren’t the same. Dejectedly I set Piggy at my workspace and selected another piece. The manager started to take Piggy away. When I stopped her, she was amazed that I still wanted a damaged product like Piggy. Well of course, I wanted Piggy she was my creation. I invested time into Piggy.

057Many times we are like Piggy. We were created for a purpose.  However we have gotten messed up with dents and dings from life. It doesn’t mean that God wants to throw us out. He wants to redeem, re-purpose and even use life’s dings for our good.

Like Piggy God can still use us. We use Piggy to collect spare change. All of the spare change is donated to missions, World Hunger Day, Operation Christmas Child and other charitable causes.

 

TDZ Retrospective: That Room

Originally posted June 7, 2010

We moved into a new house at the first of May. I quickly had most of the house unpacked except one room. The room is supposed to be a guest room/office but became the dumping place for all boxes. I felt defeated every time I walked in the room and saw the mess.

I wasn’t supposed to happen that way with this move. This time I made plans and was organized with the packing. I had the boxes labeled and numbered. Instructions were given to those helping where things were to go. Somewhere along the way my plans fell apart. Instructions were ignored and things were dumped in that room. Eventually it became so full of junk that even the door wouldn’t close.

Life can be like that room sometimes. Despite plans and good intentions sometimes things get derailed. Just like “that room” it can be discouraging when I mess up once again or life gets out of control.  Yet, there is hope, if I am willing to turn to God rather than try to fix it myself.

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philipians 1:6 (NIV)

When Things Don’t Make Sense

Sometimes things happen that don’t make sense or defy human understanding.  It really bugs me when life doesn’t make sense. Thankfully I don’t have to understand just trust and pray. I know easier said than done.

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I’m Back … Hopefully

It has been a busy few months and I haven’t written much. In August I got a promotion at work and just didn’t have the energy to actually write. I did compose several things in my head. It is just getting them written that take more time.

In January of each year I select a theme. Well today is the last day of January and I haven’t written anything. This year’s theme is “best year so far.” I want to focus on several things that will make it the best year. Actually, I’ve been busy working on several things to make it the best year yet. I’ll write more as I have updates to share.