Allowing Beauty to Emerge

I attended a bible study on Sunday at Northshore Baptist for the first time and we discussed the question of “what causes beauty to emerge in difficult or painful situations over bitterness? When have you been at this crossroad in your life and what did you choose?”  It was a really interesting discussion and definitely opened my eyes up to the areas in my life where I allow bitterness and envy to control my emotions and reactions, instead of acting in love or kindness or any number of the fruit of the spirit.  Some people felt that the main difference between choosing to react positively over harshly in a hard situation  was based on one’s relationship with Christ.  If we truly live out our faith in our daily walk, then we should, with God’s help, choose to act in a way that reflects beauty and Christ’s love.  However, there are thousands of people in the world who do not have a saving knowledge of Jesus, yet still are incredibly beautiful people, inside and out.  They are seen in those battling poverty, hunger, or any number of hard circumstances.  Yet they still place the needs of others above their own and give of themselves in any way possible.  What makes them choose not to be overcome by bitterness and hate? I know several people like this, who aren’t believers, but still have a servant’s heart.  I think one of the main factor’s in allowing beauty to emerge, is not focusing on yourself and your own problems, but looking at the bigger picture….seeing all the suffering around you and realizing it is greater than you.  Living others-centered is definitely a step towards beauty.  However, living Christ-centered is even better and is something I continue to struggle with doing daily.  Our group never settled on one answer for these questions, but it definitely has made me think a lot more on the issue and more aware of when I reach such a crossroad in my life.  Even in the little things, such as choosing to ignore the fact I was cut off in traffic or the act of forgiving someone who has wronged me (definitely not something I do very easily).  The more we approach life with a positive attitude, the more opportunities will exist for beauty to emerge in us, in others, and our relationship with Jesus.

After this question was thouroughly exhausted, we read the parable of the prodigal son and discussed the 3 main “characters” in the parable (the father, the son, and the brother) and the factors on both the father’s and the son’s parts that led to the restoration of their relationship.  The things we found key to the reconciliation of the father and his son, were the humbleness of the son and his sincere change of heart.  These are very important elements for us to have when approaching our heavenly Father for forgiveness as well.  The father did not rebuke his son or turn him away, even though he had every reason to.  Instead he recieved him with mercy, open arms, and joy in his heart. This is exactly how God welcomes us back into his arms when we have strayed and choose to return to Him. It also displays how we should act/recieve others in our lives.  However, often we react like the brother.  When someone comes to apologize or restore a relationship, we may treat them with contempt or bitterness.  Or we might say we forgive them, yet also not let them forget how they have wronged us.  I don’t like to admit that I am often like the brother in my initial reaction, but I am. I can think of distinct instances where I have been in the brother’s and the son’s positions, but trying to conjure up a memory of me acting like the father is a lot more difficult.  I think it is hard as humans to always welcome the people who have hurt us back into our lives with open arms, completely forgiving and full of joy.  Definitely an area in my life that I am praying about.

Anyway, I know this blog is kind of all over the place and doesn’t really have a clear message…but it is just some stuff that I am thinking a lot about and God has placed on my heart.  Hope God is working in all your lives and revealing His amazing mercy and love to you!

-Elle

COMMENTS

Scott: I’d say AMEN!  I’d give you 5 kudos if I could.  That was a great blog.  Let’s not forget that after the father and the son reconcilled, there was a feast.  Reconcilliation is a beautiful thing, it’s what makes God beautiful.  He didn’t have to forgive us, yet He did.  We didn’t seek forgiveness, but as 1 John says, He first loved us.  I say amen to God’s beauty!

A Second Chance?

Yesterday was the semi-final game for my soccer team.  We went into the game knowing that it wouldn’t be an easy win, but definitely a team we could beat.  And we dominated the entire game…okay, most of the game.  We fired shot after shot on their keeper, but everything seemed to go just wide or high of the goal.  It was like there was a lid/curtain covering the goal that repelled everything we sent at it.  By half-time, we were frustrated with the 0-0 score, but knew there was still another 45minutes left to pull out a win.  Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.  We played hard, tempers flared, and people were knocked to the ground…hard! (this would include me…who for some reason cannot avoid having at least one hard collision a game…but I like it that way).  Despite our best efforts, the game remained tied.  This meant that we had to go into overtime, which consisted of ten minutes (non-stop) with the golden goal to win it.  The ten minutes seemed to fly by and I believe the ref called it at 5.  Anyway, with still no score we went to a shoot-out.  It had to go girl-guy for the order (so 2 guys shot and 3 girls).  My team selected me to go first.  I was nervous, but told myself I could do.  I mean, I used to make PK’s in my sleep.  However, I missed….shot the ball to the keeper’s right, but he dove for it and saved it.  I was upset at myself to put it mildly.  That is the second PK I have missed this season!  Anyway, the other team also missed, which was good for us.  Then we made it (they made it too).  And we missed (they missed too).  And we made it and made it again(as did the other team).  It looked like our other 5 players were going to have to take their turn, but at almost the exact moment that the opposing team’s 5th player turned around shouting for joy (after burying her PK in the back of the net) the stadium lights turned off.  It was 11pm by this point, so we couldn’t finish the shoot-out in the dark.   So now we have to play our 10 minute overtime again next Wednesday, and the winner will play immediately following at 7:30.  As if the 100 minutes of soccer we played last night wasn’t enough!  All I know is that I will be hitting the soccer fields on Saturday and working on my shots…but definitely on my PK shot!!

Hoping all goes well,

Elle

__________________________________________________

Okay…so all did not go well! :(  Several of my teammates (myself included) arrived to the field – Grasslawn if you were wondering – about 30 minutes prior to our 10 minute re-enactment or second overtime.  We were all dressed in black shirts, white shorts, and black socks (some white socks).  All this was done to look intimidating to the opposing team.  Anyways, once all the cleats were on we headed out to the turf to work on our shots, particularly PK’s.  After much instruction from our older, and much wiser, teammate Bob, we all felt fairly well prepared for a possible shoot-out.  Of course, we were quite confident that it would not happen because we were going to score on the golden goal.  Both teams lined up…stare downs occurred…it was very dramatic…much like a Western movie…anyways, the whistle blew and the game had begun.  However, no sooner than the game started the whistle blew, signaling the end of our ten minute overtime.  Since no team had scored it was on to another shoot-out.  Fortunately, it was 7pm, so we did not have to worry about the stadium lights shutting off on us again.  I went first for my team (again).  I won’t lie and say I wasn’t nervous…because I was.  But I approached the ball, took about 6 steps back from the ball, and ran on at an angle.  The goalie dove to the right, but my shot went left and in.  What a relief that was for me.  Now it was up to the rest of my teammates.  After 2 rotations, we were tied 2-2 on PK’s.  Crimson Green’s third player went out to shoot, but missed.  Here was our chance to take the lead and put on the pressure.  However, that did not happen.  Their keeper saved our girl’s shot.  Then Crimson Green scored again, making the PK score 2-3 (us with 2).  Scott was up.  Unfortunately he over corrected his shot when he saw the keeper move to the right and ended up completely missing the goal.  But the ball did skim beautifully over the turf .  We could only hope their next player missed her shot.  She did.  Now we needed to make our next shot to tie it or the game was over.  Sadly, that did not happen. It was tough to lose this semi-final game, but at least there is next season.  Oh, and we were able to go to Canyon’s for dinner and drinks afterwards to drown our sorrows in strawberry lemonade or beer…depending on your preference.  So that was fun.

Here’s to next season!

-Elle

COMMENTS

Scott: Let’s not forget the shot that hit the right post.  And all the shots straight to the goalie…the f you bomb by Palmer…yeah…it was a frustrating game.  But check this out, Mexico missed a PK against Portugal, it’s a good sign!!!  We’ll win!!

Scott: (after my update was made) Man…did you have to mention my name???  ha ha.  I didn’t over correct, I just hit the ball wrong.  I didn’t even know where the goalie was until it was…too late…sigh…………….oh but I sold the store, horray!  (only one kudos….grr)

Ryan “Wink”: Let’s be honest, you did all you could and yet still lost, which is almost more frustrating than if you blew it yourself.  Doing your best and losing sucks.  Next season you will definately win, or maybe this summer with the O’Brien.  Hope everything in America rocks!

-Ryan

The Way of Things

 should have known that something bad was going to happen to me sooner or later….because, let’s face it, when life is going pretty well it can only last for so long.  Anyway, as I was on my way to Costco today with Laura things were going great.  We were singing along to Death Cab or Matt Kearny or some other artist as we exited the freeway.  The light coming off the exit was red, so I was watching the traffic, seeing when I could make my free right.  The car in front of me took off to make its turn (or so I thought) and I saw my window and started to go for it.  Right as I put my foot on the gas, Laura yelled out my name, but it was too late.  I had already smashed my car into the car in front of me….who apparently had not made their turn as I had thought.  This was the first accident that I had ever been the cause of, so I was pretty upset with myself and embarrassed.  Fortunately, the woman I hit was very nice and no major damage occurred to either vehicle, since I had only been going around 5mph.  She just had one or two minor scratches that she said coud easily be touched up with some paint and the rest she was pretty certain she could buff out.  But she was very understanding and told me that she did pratcially the same thing when she was my age…where she rear-ended someone because she was watching the traffic.  All in all it turned out okay, but I am still kicking myself over my lack of attention in my driving at that particular moment.  It’s interesting that this would happen now because the summer after I graduated high school I got my first (and only) speeding ticket.  And now it is the summer after I graduated college and I had my first accident (minor though it was).  Anyway, I am finding the humor in it and know that it will only help to make me a more aware driver in the future.Have a great weekend!

Elle

COMMENTS

Darcie: Sad…and I’m finding this out by reading your myspace instead of from you calling me…even sadder . I even talked to mom this evening and she didn’t mention anything about this…I feel left out of the loop…

It’s Official!

It’s official! I bought the tickets today and will be leaving on September 18th to London.  I am SO excited…I honestly just want to leave now, but I have to wait a few months and instead work and save money for the trip.  Boring, I know, but necessary…unless I want to return completely broke.  But that leaves plenty of time for planning. :)  My sister and I are flying over together, spending a few days in London (she used to live there, so she’ll show me all her favorite places), then we’ll take the tube to Paris and then meet up with my cousin in Italy.  After that we’ll be heading to Spain and Greece.  We’ll be backpacking, which I think is awesome…definitely an experience…but that means staying in hostels, so I hope they are sanitary!   Alright….emotions are high right now and I am really looking forward to the chance to get away for a while and experience new cultures.  Hope everyone’s day is going well!

-Dani (or Elle or both combined…whichever you prefer)

COMMENTS

Darcie: I can’t wait either!!!!!  By the way…since when did you start going by Elle???? I’ve never heard anyone call you Elle.

Overheard

I was at the library today…yeah…I actually enjoy reading…one of the few   Anyway, I overheard a male teen, probably around 15 or 16, talking to his friend about how pointless it is getting a job.  It sounded like his mom has been trying to urge him to get a summer job, but he feels it isn’t “doing” anything with his life.  It simply involves doing the same thing 5 days in a row..and how is that doing anything important?  I completely disagree with what this guy was saying, but I am finding that it is a very common view held by “kids” today.  (I hate using the term kids…it seems a little demeaning to me…probably because I don’t like being called that myself).  In my opinion, we can all “do” something positive with our lives just through the relationships we have with other people.  I may not be overly excited about the prospect of working 40 hour weeks, but I am excited about developing relationships with my co-workers.  I love learning new things from others and sharing parts of my life with them.  I think this is what God really wants us to “do” with our lives.  He wants us to reach out and touch the lives of the people around us.  To take time and listen to them…show kindness, generosity, and compassion to them.  These are the things I can’t wait to do in my job…although I also simply enjoy challenging myself in any task I do.  Maybe this doesn’t sound like “doing” anything with our lives because it doesn’t bring fame or success, but it does impact people’s lives.  And to me, next to sharing God’s love and Word, that is one of the most important things we can do in our lives.  So I just see a job as another way to get out in the world and forge relationships with new and interesting people. 

Sorry if this is all over the place….I don’t always express myself as eloquently as I would like.   But I hope that the general idea was somewhat clear…otherwise I will edit this blog when I get a chance.  Have a wonderful day!

Change & the Future

So much is going on in my head lately regarding the future.  I just got hired on at a company down on Lake Union and am looking forward to starting a “real” job, but also feel some sadness as well.  It’s really hitting me that I am no longer a “kid”, but am finally taking that step into the adult world.  This is a new phase in my life and I know that change is good and change is necessary, but I have always said that I would never grow up.  Perhaps this relates to my love for Peter Pan as a child, but I also remember taking “little” pills in order to stay short and stop the aging process.  Of course, the pills I took were really tic-tacs, but to my eight year-old mind they appeared to be the real thing.  However, I can’t stop the passing of time and it is something I have to learn to embrace.  I’m not saying I am an immature person, but I do enjoy being silly and having the freedom that comes with youth.  Okay…I know what you’re thinking.  Everyone has to grow up.  I’m aware of that.  It’s more the fact that I don’t want to completely leave my childhood behind me….I hope that I will grow up to be the kind of person who people see as “young at heart”.  Other than that, my outlook on the future is pretty positive.  I have a job that sounds really great (I’ll know more on Thursday when I start, but the people are all really awesome and the environment is very relaxed and fun), I am going to Europe for 3 weeks (had to cut back a little w/the new job) which will be AWESOME, I am going to see Les Miserables tonight, Seeing Switchfoot in Sept., I have amazing friends and family who support me, and I am continuing to grow in my faith and let God take control.  So I am not complaining about anything.  I love change because it means I will get to experience new things, face new challenges, and meet new people.  But it’s sometimes hard to accept change at first…especially the uncertainty that sometimes comes with it.

God bless!

Dani