Reflection on a childhood blunder

“Dad…Dad…Dad…Daddy!”

I’m so zealously tugging on my father’s pant’s leg, that it’s a wonder they’re still  intact. Surely, my efforts  should have ripped them by now.

With the one hand I’m desperately vying for my father’s attention. With the other, I’m clutching a toy that I feel I must certainly have. My anxiety increases with every passing moment that he does not acknowledge me. Doesn’t he know that any second now that lady’s voice is going to come over the intercom and inform us that our table is ready? Then I’ll have to make myself content with occupying myself with that little triangular shaped toy where you have to jump the pegs. The thought isn’t nearly as appealing as what I hold in my fist.

I look up into the eyes of my… “You’re not my DAD!”My face flushes crimson as I stare, mortified, up into the face of a man who is most definitely NOT my father.Embarrassed, I scamper off to find my real Dad and hide myself behind him. Safe at last.

Have you ever stopped to think about whose attention you are seeking and why?

Even the most perfect of people will eventually disappoint us. When those disappointing times come, we must remember that we have disappointed other too, and treat them with grace.

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!-1 Chronicles 16:11

The Planner

This brief post is just to ask if anyone can relate to the following circumstance.

The other day I sauntered into my suite mate’s room and proceeded to boast that, “Wow! I have a lot of free time, I have nothing to actually do! I’m going to____, and _____, and _____…”

I’m so excited about the prospect of a “free” day that I snatch up my planner and envision myself flipping to that day’s

date and marking a huge check mark over it.

When lo and behold, my memory has failed me yet again!

A very time tedious assignment had yet to be finished. Needless to say, you know how my afternoon was spent.

This shift in thinking reminds me of a passage from James 4:13-17.

Specifically verse 15 says, “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will we will live, and do this or that.’ ”

What?! I’ve been dupped all along?

I hope you’re hungry for a piece of irony pie, because this one would take the blue ribbon.

As I was thinking the other day, the thought entered my mind that the people of the middle ages

must have been very shocked whenever it was discovered that the world is indeed round.

“Certainly there must be some record, some quote or ancient writing that can give me some insight”.

So I did what every American does when they want to know something-I googled it.

What I found shocked the pants off of me-Columbus never set out to prove the world was round! It was

a well known and established fact. I began reading article after article and watching Youtube videos all that

attest to the same information. Medieval peoples knew the world is round.

I set out looking to write a blurb about the paradigm shift that certainly must have taken place upon this discovery, and

instead had the tables turned on me. In short I experienced my own paradigm shift in thinking.

Now if that’s not irony, I don’t know what is.

Perhaps you too have been dupped by some well-meaning, yet misinformed teacher or some other source.

If this is the case, check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8HFDiVzWsM

or read:

http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/historicalmyths/a/histmyths7.htm

Judgmental -Now that’s putting your foot..er cookie? in your mouth!

Have you ever desired to be a little kinder? It’s no stretch of the imagination to think that we all have.

The following are snippets from a story that I read in a book by Carolyn Mahaney. It’s riot of a story, and makes its’ point

powerfully. Bien provecho!

A woman was waiting at an airport one night,

She hunted for a book in the airport shop,

bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see,

that the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be,

grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between, Which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene.

She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,

thinking, if I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye!

When only one was left, she wondered what he’d do.

With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh,

he took the cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other.

She snatched it from him and thought, Oh brother,

this guy has some nerve and he’s also rude.

Why, he didn’t even show any gratitude!

She boarded the plane and sank in her seat,

then sought her book, which was almost complete.

As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise:

there were her cookies in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she moaned with despair,

Then the others were his and he tried to share!

How often I am quick to judge, to assume the worst of a person.

Why not instead seek to encourage, be kind and generous towards other?

What’s a “paradigm shift”?

I’d rather not list my name so let’s just leave it as I’m a person who is interested in seeking the Lord God and encouraging others to do the same.

2 Timothy 2:15-
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.”

I’m not claiming to be able to answer every question out there; but what I do know, I will present in order that God may be praised.

                               Now, to answer the question presented in the title.

A paradigm shift is defined as, “a radical change in underlying beliefs or theory”.

The basis for this blog is that the word of God, namely the Bible, creates this type of change in a person’s mindset which in turn

creates a paradigm shift in peoples behavior and speech.

Consider this excerpt from Isaiah 55

9“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands!

I may not use verses from the Bible in every post, but my overall purpose will remain as stated. I very sincerely thank you for reading and hope you will visit again!