By Jet
So answer the question dammit. LOL
Month: April 2009
Seriously!
I am getting a complex – I keep getting blank emails from NO ONE! How does that happen? Is it a reflection of how lame I am????
Friday Love Song – I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing
By Aerosmith
Remember, every song I post on my “song days” I have on my iPod. 🙂 I guess I am very eclectic!
This song explains itself and I resonate with it!
Lyrics
I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you’re far away dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure
Don’t want to close my eyes
I don’t want to fall asleep
Cause I’d miss you baby
And I don’t want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I’d still miss you baby
And I don’t want to miss a thing
Lying close to you feeling your heart beating
And Im wondering what you’re dreaming
Wondering if its me you’re seeing
Then I kiss your eyes
And thank God were together
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever
Forever and ever
Don’t want to close my eyes
I don’t want to fall asleep
Cause I’d miss you baby
And I don’t want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I’d still miss you baby
And I don’t want to miss a thing
I don’t want to miss one smile
I don’t want to miss one kiss
I just want to be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just want to hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time
Don’t want to close my eyes
I don’t want to fall asleep
Cause I’d miss you baby
And I don’t want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I’d still miss you baby
And I don’t want to miss a thing
Don’t want to close my eyes
I don’t want to fall asleep
I don’t want to miss a thing
Sweet Story – And My Kid!
Okay, the bigger part of this is that many of you have heard me complain that courtesy and care are harder to find nowadays – especially when younger people are concerned. (Oh my gosh, when did I become my mother?!!?!!? LOL) Anyway, the varsity football players at Canyon High in Santa Clarita Valley proved me wrong. They took their spring break and offered a FREE football camp to elementary and junior high students! They also FED them! My son, Josh, was one of those kids and I can tell you that neither I or his Dad would have been able to afford the camp otherwise. And that just blesses me.
Check out this story/video to see for yourself. Josh is in there VERY QUICKLY at the beginning and the end – he is the quarterback for the yellow team wearing black shorts with white stripes. I am told he was one of the best passers and earned the name “Cannon”. 🙂
Let this be a lesson to me……good things do happen!
Questions…..
So here are some questions:
- Why do I keep getting blank emails in my inbox? From….NO ONE! And the message? NOTHING! Sheesh
- Why would someone pay nearly $100,000 on a beautiful, luscious Mercedes convertible sports car, only to stick an Automobile Club sticker on the bumper?
- Why do some drivers stay in the left lane that they can CLEARLY see has construction ahead…..staying until the very last minute, even driving JUST next to the orange cones? And there is NOT traffic in this example….
- What good is an accounting program when nothing works?
- Can tomorrow be Friday?
Gina, out…..
Thinking Again – DANGER!
Just to warn you, I have had only one cup of coffee!
Although I am NOT a therapist, psychologist, or any other licensed individual, I HAVE received plenty of therapy to have a sense of what makes sense. Like, for example, it makes more sense to address specific issues you have with someone when you are seeking to find closure than dredge up every slight on the face of the earth that may have happened OR state how you view their life – even in unrelated areas. Or that, to be a good parent, there will be times when your kids “hate” you. Or, if you are in a relationship or in love, you will have tough times on occasion. That communication is hard work. That forgiveness means letting go and sometimes you have to do that without hearing “I forgive you” from the other party. That forgiveness doesn’t mean things go back “to normal”. That forgiveness is an action for both parties, but mostly for you.
Why am I sharing this? Well, I think I have looked at things incorrectly. I have already shared that I expect forgiveness and yet don’t always offer it (I think that’s true for a lot of us). And I have been “taught” over the last few months to change my view. But in doing so, I am learning that, just because I am seeking to forgive, I cannot and should not EXPECT anything. I should not expect forgiveness from others, even if I’ve asked for it. I should not expect the pain or hurt I have caused to miraculously disappear. I should not expect a group of long-haired people to sing “Kumbaya” as I high five those around me as I pridefully say, “Yeah, another one down! Forgiveness rocks and I rock!”
Forgiveness is more important than that. It is knowing you have addressed an issue and humbly faced it. Knowing what you did, whether intentional or not, caused an issue (pain, hurt, awkwardness, whatever). And then, acknowledging that issue to the parties involved – especially yourself. In doing so, you process it for yourself and HOPEFULLY, release any angst for the others. However, it should not be done to find peace, although that is a by product. You should not do it merely to be reconciled. You should not do it to get rid of guilt. You should do it because its the right thing to do, period.
Here’s another example of what I am trying to say. For years I have purposefully allowed drivers with blinkers on to change lanes in front of me, but then would get irritated if they would not say thank you. “How inconsiderate!” I would think! Sheesh, after my obvious nice action and they didn’t say thanks? But recently I realized – in having that attitude, the emphasis was on that I was being nice and the “sin” was that it wasn’t acknowledged. But really, was that what I was doing for? Did I do it to be acknowledged as nice? No, I did it because it was the right thing to do as a courteous driver. So, with the focus changed, if I let someone change lanes in front of me, I never expect a thank you, because I should let them in because it’s the right thing to do. And, if I DO get a thank you, then its gravy.
Not sure if I’m REALLY making sense – maybe I should get another cup of coffee……but the bottom line for me today is – I will continue to forgive, will try to express that verbally to those that need to hear it, and not expect anything else. Because that is the right thing to do. And, even though I am sure to blow it over and over again, I yearn to do the right thing.
Life and Other Four Letter Words
No, I promise, this is not going to be a downer post. Although I COULD write on and on about how things can suck, that is not for this post. I know, disappointing!
So there is some pretty crazy things that happen in life. Yesterday, when I arrived in the parking lot at my work, I hear a loud BANG behind me. My eyes snapped up to my rear view mirror, as I had already pulled into a space, and I viewed a jeep moving in the parking lot behind me. When I got out of my car, I saw the craziest thing – a car facing the Jeep had driven over the curb between them, driver over a grass barrier/hill, and crashed into the Jeep! But the fun doesn’t stop there! The driver of the car, an elderly man, backed the car up and took off! The poor Jeep owner, a woman visiting from Montana, had a badly hurt car and none of us was able to get his plate number!
Life – wow!
There are times when my day resembles that of the Jeep owner, if only metaphorically. I am minding my own business and BAM! – something hits me and then takes off. There are so many such occasions in my life actually. And, unfortunately, the REAL problem is my reaction to it. I have been angry, withdrawn, devastated, or not reactive enough. I have spent way too much time thinking of the scenario in the first place and far too less dealing with the issue OR getting on with my life.
But sometimes I CAN and DO react in a positive manner. I know, its a stretch.
Another four letter word – WORK. I am very thankful I have a job, yes. In fact, I just got a raise and I am very thankful for that. I have all the trappings of an “important” job; a laptop, a company phone, I can and do sign checks, and I manage people. However, I am currently having to face some serious CRAP (another four letter word, I might add) and it’s not pleasant. In fact, the more I shovel the crap out, more seems to fall in.
PITY party is sort of a four letter word, too!
And I haven’t stated this in a while, but I love my Mac! I have an HP for work, with Vista no less, and it’s OKAY…..(another four letter word), but it sure doesn’t touch the power and ease of my Mac! Gosh, when I added my wireless printer, it took like 2 minutes with the Mac….I won’t even SAY what it took with horrible Vista! Sheesh! But I am not a hater…..and if you want a PC you get it, okay? I really don’t care!
Okay, if you have any four letter words you would like to share, have at it. Just keep it clean!
Gina OUT!
Sorry Tuesday – it’s a Blah Day
No offense to Tuesday, per se. I mean, it never really DID anything to me actually. It’s not like it is a MONDAY, signifying the return to work, or anything like that. It’s not like I hear the word “Tuesday” and my gut pulls in or I say a few choice words in my head. Yet, without any hesitation, I am telling you that THIS Tuesday is a blah day.
Can’t explain exactly why. Some factors though; I am tired, I am still sick, I seriously have stacks of CRAP on my desk at work and no way to really address them, and I am in the mood to just bury my head in my pillow and wait for the day to pass.
Wow, I am so PATHETIC!
I have lots to be thankful for, believe me, but I am not really feeling it right now. And that is the truth. And I guess that is okay! And now, having gotten that off my chest, I will now go get ready for work. I better dress for crap duty, because well, there’s gonna be lots of it!
Gina OUT
p.s. I promise to post pics soon of Disneyland et al.
Sunday Thoughts….I know SHOCKING
So, blame this shocking event on John Shore, who wrote this blog post. On the surface, I was interested but the comments afterward got me thinking…….and combined with my own experience, I can say that the word “tolerance” has been a four letter word in most of my Christian circles. I have been taught by more than one Christian leader that tolerance equates to acceptance, which waters down my own faith in Christ. For example, if I tolerated someone who holds the Jewish faith, I would validate their view of denying Christ. Instead, I have been taught (by a few leaders) that to “prove” my faith, I need to at least attempt to share how their Jewish faith was wrong and leading them to death……in other words, NO TOLERANCE.
Now don’t get me wrong…….I hold a strong belief in Jesus Christ. I believe the Bible. But, I also think that there are many roads to evangelizing. And I would like to point out that TOLERANCE can – and in my opinion, DOES – mean something else all together.
For me, tolerance is allowing others to believe what they want. Tolerance is loving them (aka, your neighbor) even if they don’t deserve it. I believe it means treating them the same as the Christian to your left. And, once you maybe connect with them as a human being (aka, God’s creation) and perhaps SHOW them how powerful God is through your actions……like maybe “doing what Jesus would do” and all that. THEN, perhaps, they might even CONSIDER discussing religion with you. Because, let’s face it, if a non-Christian immediately went into a speech about how our faith was so wrong…..we would probably not be that receptive.
Or, I could be wrong. Maybe we should be more like this post…..after all, all Muslims are terrorists or something……not sure what exactly he is trying to say…..but here is my paraphrase: “I have my own dictionary, I can say what words really mean, and it’s okay for us to hate others and that doesn’t mean we are like those Taliban scum with their hatred of Christians, and btw they are going to kill you. And you should homeschool your kids.”
But really, and I am being sincere here – I am not being very tolerant of him now, am I? And that is the point. He – and everyone – have a RIGHT to think what they will. And I need to love him even if I think he’s irrational. I need to TOLERATE that I totally don’t agree with him, that his views are irrational, and let him live his life. In doing so, I have NOT diminished my own beliefs, nor have I given credence to his. Just like if I remained friends with my Jewish acquaintance and even asked about their life or discussed their theology, it wouldn’t negate my faith in Christ. And, while I HOPE to have a deep conversation about my own relationship with Christ, it’s really the Holy Spirit that will change a person’s heart anyway. You know?
And, really, what WOULD Jesus do? While I do not speak for Him, I do have His Word to reference. Actually, I am stealing this from a commenter on John’s blog:
“To say that Jesus condemned people who don’t believe in him sounds, to me, pretty presumptuous.
His recorded words in John (“no way to the Father except through me…”) seem simple enough when seen through the hermeneutical lens most Protestants have been taught since birth, but there are plenty of other ways to interpret that particular text.
And outside of John, the other gospels show the vast majority of Jesus’ examples with religious outsiders (tax collectors, hookers, Roman soldiers, adulterers, etc…) to end with love and grace, often with no strings attached.
We do see some of this in the book of John as well (the woman about to be stoned) — in this case Jesus specifically tells a convicted sinner “I do not condemn you” and sends her off, even though she never even asked for forgiveness!
Most of Jesus’ condemnation in the gospels is reserved for the religious folks who think they have it all figured out.”
Now, maybe things are too complicated to really come to a specific conclusion about everything, including the whole idea of tolerance. But I can know without a doubt that loving my neighbor – with no condition regarding their faith – is a direct quote from Christ. “Love your neighbor as yourself” NOT “Love your neighbor if they are a Christian, and don’t irritate you or otherwise mess up the world.”
And with that, no more thinking!
Sunday Song – Draw Me Close
As performed by Kutless. Another one of my favs. Hope you enjoy.
Just Rambling 