This morning I drove into a pot-hole.
I woke-up late, was forced to forego a shower (don’t worry I plan to sneak over
and shower at my gym during lunch!), and when I finally made it into my car in
that post-early-morning-wake-up-daze I sat on my sun glasses and broke them.
That’s right, with the side of my broken
lenses poking me in the thigh I knew that today was a morning for coffee. Those
of you who are coffee drinkers know exactly what I mean. Despite the ever
increasing calorie count and ridiculous prices, there are some situations that
can only be improved by an extra large triple shot caramel macchiato and a warm
pumpkin scone.
While driving the two blocks to the
closest Starbucks (please don’t judge me and my overpriced coffee) all I could
think about was how irritated and unhappy I was this morning.
My friends, bad
things happen to good people every day. Little things,
big things, life-shaking, heart-breaking things... the scale of troubles may
vary from person to person, but all of us have
woken up on the wrong side of the bed once or twice.
I believe that the real problems begin when we waste our days wishing we could
go back to sleep.
Today, as I allowed myself to stew in my
trivial morning angst I drove straight into a pot-hole that “suddenly” appeared
in the middle of the road. One minute I was bemoaning my sad sad state of
affairs, and the next my heart was racing with adrenaline as my car swerved and
I became uncomfortably aware of my own mortality. It’s amazing how a
single shock can jolt us back from our own negativity,
and fill us with new perspective. I have since determined that the unassuming,
unavoidable pothole was meant for me.
Before I understood the meaning of faith,
I wholeheartedly believed that I could justify any action, even self-pity. I think, I know, I believe, I feel... everything was all about ME. But I soon learned that when
you are your own accountability partner, there is no accountability.
None. Have you ever allowed yourself to wallow in your own mud pit and then
gotten stuck down there because you gave yourself a free pass? I sure have. And
that’s how I know that unless your heart is challenged by something greater and
you drive your car into a metaphorical “ditch,” it takes a heck of a long time
to crawl back out!
Have you ever
given thanks for the pot-holes in your life?
There is value in the little challenges,
waking up late, not getting to shower, and sitting on your sun-glasses, because when we finally drive our
cars into a pot-hole it’s those same little struggles that offer us perspective
and help us to recognize what really matters.
My pot-hole today was a wake-up call
to stop wallowing, greet the day, and give thanks for my life. I challenge you
dear hearts to focus on all of the blessings in your life right now instead of
getting caught on the wrong side of the bed waiting for the next pot-hole to
shock you back to reality, and I promise to do the same!
*
* *
“Finally,
brother, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
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