Welcome to Trace’s Space. When I was little, Silly Putty was all the rage. For those of you who do not know about Silly Putty ( I know, who would not know of Silly Putty, but some of you are under 45), it was a pink rubbery substance that came in a plastic egg. You could stretch it, you could mold it, you could throw it, you could bounce it, you could put it on a comic and stretch the image, that stuff was magical, it was non toxic (and no, I never ate it!).
I would play with that stuff for hours, then one day the magic was gone. The substance broke down, and the rubbery awesomeness became nothing more than a hard rock. See if you didn’t care for it properly and place it back into its protective plastic egg, it would simply dry up.
I remember throwing that stuff against a wall and it slowly rolling down the wall. I believe that may have been my favorite thing to do with it. No matter how hard you threw it, or how far up the wall you threw it, it would travel at the same speed, very slowly, rolling down the wall. Splat, roll, over and over again. I found comfort it that...
Funny the places we find comfort. It’s interesting that we all kind of differ in the things that we find to be our happy places. We all have destinations or experiences that we all claim to be our happy places, but what happens when you find yourself being stretched and being drawn away from these places?
Being stretched was a form of punishment in the Middle Ages. This physical form of punishment was probably the worst because it was slow, and as much as it was painful, a persons mental stability was destroyed way before the body, because the torture of knowing your demise was at hand. With every click the mechanism made, a person knew it was going to be painful and eventually they would die.
Now that is a extreme example of being stretched, but sometimes isn’t that kind of how it is? You are in your happy place, life is going along just fine, then boom! Something happens that you have to think outside your happy little box, or you physically have to get up and move out of your comfort zone.
See it’s easy to settle in and just be comfortable. Honestly I would love to just be comfortable, but we would miss out on a whole lot of experiences that are of great value if we don’t allow some stretching to take place.
The whole process of moving out of ones comfort zone may not seem exciting to most of us, but sometimes that’s the only way we will move on, the only way we will ever truly find our real “happy place”. Again it’s way too easy to stay put.
I always say that I desire to be fat dumb and happy! While that’s ideal for me, I am a person who is heavily motivated by unintentional change. I hate change, I do not handle it well at the beginning, but I adapt, and go with the flow. My response is usually pretty ugly when a new policy or technique is introduced, but the value of it over takes my need to just leave it how it was, and then most times, I really get into the process and well, go with it.
Like that Silly Putty, if we are not willing to be stretched, pulled or even thrown, we are missing something. In order to be used we have to come out of our shell or plastic egg, be uncomfortable and go!
God wants us to feel safe and secure, but He also equipped us with the ability to become uncomfortable so that we do not become stagnant where we are. Complacency takes place in the comfort zones we create, and it being simply what it is, isn’t.
So today if you are feeling stretched, embrace it! Allow yourself to enjoy the uncomfortable things that may be coming your way, embrace change! Change is good! Change is necessary! The struggle is very real, but the end result, amazing! Quit zoning and come out!
See you next time!
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
If the Shoe Fits, You May Not Be Able To Walk In Them!
Welcome to Trace’s Space. I love buying shoes. The problem is I find that most shoes while very attractive in appearance, they tend to be very tough on the foot. The older I get the more I realize heels, while I love how they look, cause me great agony, and well, I just can’t walk in them, even with the correct fit.
Today as I was reading our local news online, I went to the comments section and started reading what folks had to say about a certain incident that had occurred over the weekend. I was bothered. Usually I just kind of read the comments, consider the source, then move on... but today, it stirred something in me. The question kept creeping into my mind, “who do we think we are?” Unless we have worn the same shoes and walked the same path, we are clueless.
We all have our definitions of what is right and what is not, what is holy what is evil. We all have our own level of moral infuriority that some how places us in a self created place of betterness. I like to believe that I am no better than anyone else no matter where I am in my journey, but sometimes we travel to that not nice place, you know where it’s okay to feel that way, to feel because you take the higher road you are a better person, but honestly it’s not! No matter our lot in life, we are no better than anyone else.
From dust we have come, to dust we will return. No one is getting out of here alive!
People were being quite cruel. Saying openly what they believed was the cause of said incident. Attacking every person involved, attacking the break down of society. No Solutions, a couple of we need to pray, some so sorry. Only one person defended the person by saying what they believed to be true ( I tend to go with her version of truth), but then folks went after her!
See she had worn the same shoes. Her life experience spoke volumes...yet the sneaker wearers were more than willing to kick this girl off her Stiletto’s like a punter kicking a football. Life experience spoke nothing to them, and to me that was sad. No matter what angle she took, sharing her personal journey, no one seemed to have a moment of mercy to spare. Her journey was relevant to the situation and full of truth.
It got to me.
Every part of my being wanted to engage in the commenting, but my heart said no! Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom. I am learning to guard my tongue and hold my thoughts captive. Speaking your mind is not always wise, it’s not always profitable. I think all it would have done by engaging in the conversation, was burn the rubber off my flip flops.
We live in a society that feels that we always need to just say what we think or feel, but that’s not truth! We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. We need to filter and process our words wisely.
Combat boots are not meant to be worn daily unless you are planing on engaging in battle. As a Christian I have a full set of armor for that! While we need to be ready for spiritual battle, the shoes we choose or have chosen will contribute to the success of our own journey, not anyone else’s.
So can you walk in your own shoes, or do you need to maybe shop for a different pair? It’s up to you!
See you next time.
Today as I was reading our local news online, I went to the comments section and started reading what folks had to say about a certain incident that had occurred over the weekend. I was bothered. Usually I just kind of read the comments, consider the source, then move on... but today, it stirred something in me. The question kept creeping into my mind, “who do we think we are?” Unless we have worn the same shoes and walked the same path, we are clueless.
We all have our definitions of what is right and what is not, what is holy what is evil. We all have our own level of moral infuriority that some how places us in a self created place of betterness. I like to believe that I am no better than anyone else no matter where I am in my journey, but sometimes we travel to that not nice place, you know where it’s okay to feel that way, to feel because you take the higher road you are a better person, but honestly it’s not! No matter our lot in life, we are no better than anyone else.
From dust we have come, to dust we will return. No one is getting out of here alive!
People were being quite cruel. Saying openly what they believed was the cause of said incident. Attacking every person involved, attacking the break down of society. No Solutions, a couple of we need to pray, some so sorry. Only one person defended the person by saying what they believed to be true ( I tend to go with her version of truth), but then folks went after her!
See she had worn the same shoes. Her life experience spoke volumes...yet the sneaker wearers were more than willing to kick this girl off her Stiletto’s like a punter kicking a football. Life experience spoke nothing to them, and to me that was sad. No matter what angle she took, sharing her personal journey, no one seemed to have a moment of mercy to spare. Her journey was relevant to the situation and full of truth.
It got to me.
Every part of my being wanted to engage in the commenting, but my heart said no! Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom. I am learning to guard my tongue and hold my thoughts captive. Speaking your mind is not always wise, it’s not always profitable. I think all it would have done by engaging in the conversation, was burn the rubber off my flip flops.
We live in a society that feels that we always need to just say what we think or feel, but that’s not truth! We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. We need to filter and process our words wisely.
Combat boots are not meant to be worn daily unless you are planing on engaging in battle. As a Christian I have a full set of armor for that! While we need to be ready for spiritual battle, the shoes we choose or have chosen will contribute to the success of our own journey, not anyone else’s.
So can you walk in your own shoes, or do you need to maybe shop for a different pair? It’s up to you!
See you next time.
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Seasons come, Seasons go!
Welcome to Trace’s Space. Weather, is it really that predictable or do the Forecasters just get lucky? The weather this season (Spring) has been all over the place. We have had summer like days, and snow, ice and hail. Sometimes all In the same day. If one was inclined to believe that there really is a Mother Nature, they would very much want to label her bipolar.
To some degree of accuracy, the local weather guys have done a good job getting a handle on their forcasts, a shout out to them, but can you imagine their surprise when morning after morning well into March, they were still predicting snow, several inches at that. It was blustery, it was cold, then boom it happened, spring finally made an appearance.
Like a long lost friend the sunshine finally returned and the trees decided to bud. Flowers started blooming and the lilac bushes have avoided frost. Children are gleefully playing out until dark, and the grills are releasing the aroma of wonderful dinners being prepared. Yes, Spring has sprung!
See the seasons here in Western Pennsylvania are so unpredictable. You never know what you are going to get. Even though by date they are defined, they come and go, and are never exactly the same.
As is with life. I am quite sure that most of us would desire that any season we walk through be well defined. I am sure we would be content with our ducks being simply in line, the row not mattering much. We find unpredictability uncomfortable, we do not marvel at the constant changes and while most folks tend to find a way to just roll with it, for some the struggle is way beyond real. Life is constantly throwing stuff our way, and whether we encounter a bright sun shiney day or a hail storm, finding balance is the key to finding contentment.
Some of us have preferred seasons. I myself favor autumn, I love the temperature, you know the chilly sunny days, and the vibrant colors, the deep reds and oranges, purples and browns. While I recognize that the appearance of the colors indicate the follage of summer is dying off, there is hope that when Spring returns that rebirth will take place.
See we have to have to experience a season of death (in the spiritual sense) in order for rebirth in our lives to take place. Sometimes the things we hold onto are just as beautiful as the colors of fall, but there comes a time that we have to let it go. Letting go is hard. Holding on is easy.
I went skiing once. I would love to tell you it was wonderful, it it was not! I had no clue, see you have to have some knowledge of skiing before you attempt the mountain, that I did not have, I couldn’t stand on roller skates let alone skis. The folks I was having this adventure with had skill, they had been before. So they told me that I would be skipping the basic skill training and going right up the mountain, their reasoning was, just like learning to ride a bike, all you need is a little push. A true indicator this was going to be a fail could have been when I lost my ski and they had to stop the lift to retrieve it.
So up the mountain we went. Did I mention the temperature was -15 F and the wind was blowing and so was the snow, not the snow on the mountain, that was fully packed, and felt it like cement when I fell, immediately after leaving the lift. So my friends instructed me on how to ski, and off they went. Yes they passed me three times as I attempted to roll down the mountain. I would ski about ten feet and fall, my skis would cross and fall off. But I was determined to make it down the mountain.
Did I make it down the mountain? Yep, via the emergency medical/rescue team. About half way down they came for me. The medic said, hey we’ve been watching you for a while and we just can’t watch it any longer. So they loaded me in the rescue basket and down the mountain I went, backwards and very quickly.
My friends when they finally met up with me in the bar of the ski lodge, found this hysterically funny. Me, not so much. It’s very funny now, but then I was tired, cold and bruised. My pride was damaged because I had to be rescued, and also my feelings were hurt because they just left me on the side of a mountain. In their defense I don’t think they thought I would struggle, they had hope in my skill, and ability to catch on. They had never been skiing with anyone like me before! Lol
I wanted to keep on going, I was going to make it on my own, but that was not wise. I had to trust the experts when they said, enough!
God does that you know, He will let you know when it’s enough, and when He is Enough. He will let your heart know when it’s time to give up and give Him opportunity, when it is time to let that thing you’ve been holding onto die.
For some it’s physical, really, I’ve lived with this ailment for so long it’s okay. For some it’s mental, you know when you convince yourself it’s just me. It’s a multitude of things that we don’t have to suffer with because God truly wants to rid us of it. He wants us to fully trust Him and let it go!
It is then that we are in that season of dying to ourselves and opening our hearts to rebirth.
What ever your struggle, God is with you.
So now that Spring has arrived, and Summer is quickly approaching, enjoy the newness and freshness of this season, and know that something may have had to die in order to fill this season with new life!
Sit back and breathe, and simply thank God, for His voice and His wisdom surrounds us.
See you next time!
To some degree of accuracy, the local weather guys have done a good job getting a handle on their forcasts, a shout out to them, but can you imagine their surprise when morning after morning well into March, they were still predicting snow, several inches at that. It was blustery, it was cold, then boom it happened, spring finally made an appearance.
Like a long lost friend the sunshine finally returned and the trees decided to bud. Flowers started blooming and the lilac bushes have avoided frost. Children are gleefully playing out until dark, and the grills are releasing the aroma of wonderful dinners being prepared. Yes, Spring has sprung!
See the seasons here in Western Pennsylvania are so unpredictable. You never know what you are going to get. Even though by date they are defined, they come and go, and are never exactly the same.
As is with life. I am quite sure that most of us would desire that any season we walk through be well defined. I am sure we would be content with our ducks being simply in line, the row not mattering much. We find unpredictability uncomfortable, we do not marvel at the constant changes and while most folks tend to find a way to just roll with it, for some the struggle is way beyond real. Life is constantly throwing stuff our way, and whether we encounter a bright sun shiney day or a hail storm, finding balance is the key to finding contentment.
Some of us have preferred seasons. I myself favor autumn, I love the temperature, you know the chilly sunny days, and the vibrant colors, the deep reds and oranges, purples and browns. While I recognize that the appearance of the colors indicate the follage of summer is dying off, there is hope that when Spring returns that rebirth will take place.
See we have to have to experience a season of death (in the spiritual sense) in order for rebirth in our lives to take place. Sometimes the things we hold onto are just as beautiful as the colors of fall, but there comes a time that we have to let it go. Letting go is hard. Holding on is easy.
I went skiing once. I would love to tell you it was wonderful, it it was not! I had no clue, see you have to have some knowledge of skiing before you attempt the mountain, that I did not have, I couldn’t stand on roller skates let alone skis. The folks I was having this adventure with had skill, they had been before. So they told me that I would be skipping the basic skill training and going right up the mountain, their reasoning was, just like learning to ride a bike, all you need is a little push. A true indicator this was going to be a fail could have been when I lost my ski and they had to stop the lift to retrieve it.
So up the mountain we went. Did I mention the temperature was -15 F and the wind was blowing and so was the snow, not the snow on the mountain, that was fully packed, and felt it like cement when I fell, immediately after leaving the lift. So my friends instructed me on how to ski, and off they went. Yes they passed me three times as I attempted to roll down the mountain. I would ski about ten feet and fall, my skis would cross and fall off. But I was determined to make it down the mountain.
Did I make it down the mountain? Yep, via the emergency medical/rescue team. About half way down they came for me. The medic said, hey we’ve been watching you for a while and we just can’t watch it any longer. So they loaded me in the rescue basket and down the mountain I went, backwards and very quickly.
My friends when they finally met up with me in the bar of the ski lodge, found this hysterically funny. Me, not so much. It’s very funny now, but then I was tired, cold and bruised. My pride was damaged because I had to be rescued, and also my feelings were hurt because they just left me on the side of a mountain. In their defense I don’t think they thought I would struggle, they had hope in my skill, and ability to catch on. They had never been skiing with anyone like me before! Lol
I wanted to keep on going, I was going to make it on my own, but that was not wise. I had to trust the experts when they said, enough!
God does that you know, He will let you know when it’s enough, and when He is Enough. He will let your heart know when it’s time to give up and give Him opportunity, when it is time to let that thing you’ve been holding onto die.
For some it’s physical, really, I’ve lived with this ailment for so long it’s okay. For some it’s mental, you know when you convince yourself it’s just me. It’s a multitude of things that we don’t have to suffer with because God truly wants to rid us of it. He wants us to fully trust Him and let it go!
It is then that we are in that season of dying to ourselves and opening our hearts to rebirth.
What ever your struggle, God is with you.
So now that Spring has arrived, and Summer is quickly approaching, enjoy the newness and freshness of this season, and know that something may have had to die in order to fill this season with new life!
Sit back and breathe, and simply thank God, for His voice and His wisdom surrounds us.
See you next time!
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