The View Up Here

Y esterday, I had a minor meltdown.  It really did feel like the devil was having a swipe at my faith.  To avoid boring you with details about my anxious mind on safari, I will simply state what I gleaned from the experience: We're all on unique paths to wholeness and the fullest expression of God's gifts manifested in our lives. Avoid comparing your path with anyone else's, or to the cultural "norm" that literally means nothing. Doing so will only lead to hopelessness and a broken spirit. God alone suffices (St. Teresa of Avila) I really AM cherished and nourished by God! How about that? I cherish the life God is giving me now, and I release my attachment to any notion of 'future' that takes me away from living that life to the fullest in Christ Jesus.  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life  which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave...

Stress. A friend of mine and I had a conversation last night about "good" stress vs. "bad" stress vs. "you" stress. We established that this "you" stress is a bunch of bullshit. Stress is either "good" (a job interview, learning how to surf, going to the gym at the end of a long day, starting a new story, etc.) or "bad" (you burn the dinner, your dog is run over, you find someone else's panties in your bed, etc.). I recognize that some events are not bad in and of themselves; rather, how we perceive them and how they impact our subconscious mind are actually what causes the bad stress. Nevertheless, the result is the same. Bad stress makes you sick. It weakens your immune system, it depletes your adrenal system, it causes muscle pain, headaches, lack of sleep, etc. It makes you a Grumpus Maximus. It is bad. That's why it's called bad stress . At work, I've noticed more bad stress amidst our staff due to a c...