​Do you like a good mystery? I always have enjoyed a good novel with twists and turns that are suspenseful, unpredictable and keep you on the edge of your seat till the final page! Figuring out the outcome before it is revealed is good entertainment to me! The more intrigue, the better the novel!

However, when it comes to real life, I am the opposite! I like to be prepared for what is next, I prefer no surprises, I want to be ready for the ‘what if’s’ in life and I admit that I tend to pride myself on being responsible (yes, just a touch of neurotic thinking)!  On the surface this may appear to be good. But it is not realistic, and it sabotages my faith and trust in the one who knows the outcome better than us all.  

Healthy rhythms in our daily lives are important. My mentor has reminded me of this truth many times over. We all have rhythms, some healthy & some not so much! As I attempt to follow my mentor’s advice, these rhythms, habits, and expectations in life need to be re-assessed and adjusted to fit what is new. In my quest to adjust, questions need to be asked. So, when faced with what is new, I wonder, “Am I asking the right questions?”.  

My old questions sound something like this:

• “Why me? & Why do others not have to go through this?”
• “Why is God not answering my prayers when I have prayed so diligently?”
• “Shouldn’t my character/morals/way of life have prevented this debacle?”
• “How do I make sense of this?”
• “Where is this going to lead me?”

When we come upon a twist that is unexpected, we can complain, whine, try to understand why, pity ourselves & begin to strategize. Or we can begin to ask questions that will deepen our trust and anchor our souls in the one who knows the end of the story and the mystery of life itself!

My new questions sound something like this:

• “Why not me & what really makes anyone exempt from this?”
• “What is there for me to learn about myself & my view of others?”
• “Does my pride cause me to stand on my rights?”
• “How can I reflect God’s ways in my response to this apparent debacle?”
• “How do I trust that God has a plan for those that I love and His ways are not my ways?”

Rhythms of Rest comes in knowing that I no longer am on a quest to understand life’s mysteries and that I can Trust in the one who knows, understands, and works all for my good and His glory. He will do this through what is painful and disappointing and heartbreaking. He is my Hope and my Stronghold.
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I resolve myself to rest in trusting the one who knows the end of the story and all the twists and turns along the way. He is my strength, and my mind is steadfast because of how powerful & all-knowing my God is. As our new year begins, won’t you join me in renewing your rhythms of rest and trust? Instead of embarking on a daily quest to figure it all out, we remember to rest in Him and to thank Him for every twist and turn because He is our ever-present help in times of trouble. His ways are better than my own. 

​Four hundred years…the time between the Old Testament and the tangible presence of Jesus in the New Testament. It is reasonable to assume at that point, people had forgotten about a promised Messiah.  And to be fair, 400 years is a really long time to wait!  Just think of the past 2 years of living in a pandemic and how you have felt with all the unanswered questions and seemingly endless waiting it has brought. I would encourage you during this season of Advent to carve out time for both reflection and anticipation.  Reflect on how you are feeling.  Is there anything you have been waiting for and perhaps even given up on ever coming to fruition?  Has this led to disappointment, discouragement, or even bitterness?  Bring all of this reflection to the One who willingly came to earth to bring hope.  Then, anticipate.  As we age, we often give up dreaming, particularly big dreams.  But Jesus’ birth shows us that he likes to bring light into darkness and awaken our dreams again.  I personally enjoy going through this practice as I look at Christmas lights.  Have you noticed that people seem to want to put up their trees and decorations earlier the past two years?  I think in part, it is because we are desperate for beauty and joy, and something about those lights reminds us of the Light of the World.  The lyrics of Matt Redman’s song, “These Christmas Lights” comes to mind-
 
“Sing again, the sacred song of
How that star lit up the sky
And how the world, lost in the darkness
Felt the hope of, Heaven’s light
Open my eyes; O heart believe
The wonder of, that Christmas night
Be born in me”
 
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to be part of a small Christian group.  Our group met once a month for weekend trainings for nearly a year.  Sunday mornings we worshiped together before the training began.  We ended our worship by giving our instructor a number from 1-10.  (10 being the highest and 1 being lowest).  I loved this activity because we repeated it at the end of the day.  Our numbers had increased by the late afternoon even if we were tired, hungry, and had long travel times back home to our families to start the new week. 
 
During our time together the group went through many events such as weddings, deaths, marital separations, engagements, moving, job changes, college workloads, travel, and much more.  One Sunday morning, one of the members stated she was a 10!  One who had just experienced a great loss unexpectedly while going through another difficult life event.  We all inquired about her number – and she simply stated it was because of US – she was GRATEFUL to spend one weekend a month with a group that was using gratitude to change difficult situations into opportunities to build better attitudes! 
 
A moment of realization for us all – even during tough or sad times, we can shift our perspectives.
 
I ask…what are You GRATEFUL for each day?  Not just here in the Fall when the weather cools and we begin planning our holiday meals, travel plans, and shopping lists – but this season of life for you. 
 
I am sure you have heard, “Start each day with a grateful heart.”
Give it some thought and ask yourself:

• What is my number today?
• Do I have opportunities to bring my number up? 
• Can I shift my attitude?

 
Beautiful things happen when you can let go of the negative and allow gratefulness and gratitude to take hold. 
 
“As we express gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~ John F. Kennedy
 
A prayer for you from a member of my group:
Lord we are so very thankful that you are full of mercy and grace.
Help us to see and understand the depth of your love for us. 
May this knowledge spark gratefulness in our hearts and fullness in our lives.  ~ A.C.

​My wife and I fight ALL THE TIME…perpetually (meaning this NEVER gets resolved)…
 
…about the air-conditioning system in her car…more specifically, about when to turn on and when to turn off the air. When I was younger, I read that starting your car while the air-condition was on put additional strain, wear and tear on the engine. So, for many, many years now, before I turn-off a vehicle, I turn-off
the air-conditioning.
 
My wife HATES this! She wants to IMMEDIATELY feel the air blowing on her the instant the car is cranked. She yells. She complains. She asks why (over and over even though I have shared my reasoning dozens upon dozens of times). She huffs and puffs…and yet I still persist.
 
​Am I just mean? Uncaring? Deaf? Stubborn? Yes. I am all these things.
 
And, at some deep level (maybe even a “core belief” level), I firmly believe that I am being a good steward of one our most important and expensive possessions.
 
So, my wife and I keep fighting…
 
Relationship guru John Gottman has researched love, relationships, marriage, conflicts for decades. His research tells him that 69% of relational conflict is about perpetual problems. 69%!!!!
 
Think about that - almost 7 out of every 10 conflicts you have with your spouse are about perpetual (read, UNSOLVABLE) issues! Lasting differences in personalities and needs contribute to perpetual problems.
 
So, when you think to yourself or say out loud, “We are never going to see this the same way” or “We are never going to be able to resolve this” you may be right!
 
With perpetual problems, the goal is not to get your partner to agree with you. The goal with perpetual problems is not to solve them, not get on the same page with your spouse or have him or her get on your page. The goal is affect (emotion) oriented.
 
The goal is to establish a dialogue about the problem that communicates acceptance of your spouse and to actively cope with the unresolvable problem, rather than allowing it to fall into the condition of gridlock - painful communication and exchanges marked by criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling.
 
…back to the air-conditioning
 
It’s one of those unbearably hot, humid Georgia summer days. Alicia and I are dripping in sweat. We get into our hot car and I crank it.
 
No air comes on (because, of course, I had turned the air-conditioning off when we last parked). Alicia complains verbally. She protests. She tells me I am “so weird” and OCD (she’s right). She (or I by now) have pressed the power button on the air-conditioning and we are experiencing warm air blowing on our faces while the compressor begins its work of cooling the air.
 
And we leave the parking lot AS FRIENDS because I know she is for me and for us. And she knows I am for her and for us. She does not make me compromise who I am and one of my core beliefs and I don’t make her compromise hers. We both possess a “positive sentiment” about our relationship, which makes this kind of communication possible…what about relationships in Negative Sentiment Override? That’s
a topic for another day and another blog!