He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out."
James Bryant Conant
I've been 'in training' a very long time...ha, all my life. I imagine you're much the same, right? We just plod along and learn as we go. Look at this turtle...you ever see a turtle in a rush? No way!
The point is, the turtle doesn't go anywhere until he/she/it sticks out that neck...sticks it out and moves. 'Course the turtle, fortunately, has a hard shell...right...of course! We know that.
Does that have any relevance for me? Yes, I believe it does and perhaps that's why I've been so timid, reticent, downright scared to death...to stick my neck out. 'Chicken little' (that's me) doesn't have a hard shell so I feel much safer when I sort of retreat and fade into the background...are you getting my drift?
For reasons quite unknown to me...I've begun doing what I've always been afraid of doing...I'm turning 'turtle' and sticking my neck out...way out. Don't misunderstand, please; I'm watching my p's and q's, dotting the i's and crossing the t's...still a tad scared but blundering ahead. Believe me, I can really blunder!
There are areas that have previously terrified me...want to know what they are? Well, for starters...political views are pretty awesome. Then there's religious views...can be downright perilous, personally speaking that is. And then...there's being openly frank w/friends...thin ice. These are just three bugagoos...my very own, private ones.
If you're breathing, you're aware of the pending election in November; how could you miss it, huh? There's enough mud being thrown to fill plenty of pigpens and then some! I've encountered people of a different thinking than myself ~ and they can get really sort of 'hateful'...that rattles me. I think we can differ and be civilized; apparently there are many who don't think so. The point is this; I am now able to say what I think, feel and believe without any animosity. So what if I get my shell dented a bit or perhaps even a lot...(like a hailstorm) I stick my neck out and say what I believe.
Religious views? Oh boy, that's a biggie. M and I have new neighbors and they asked M if we went to church and he said we do; they asked where and what. The response from one to the other was, "Oh, another one of those?" Yeah, that's us; another one of those. I'm not so nearly shy in that department as I once was; China took care of that and I really overcame much in that department. But I still have loads to work on there...more than much...oh my! Hey, I'm working on it.
Now to personal relationships...a most important aspect of life. Life is mostly about relationships, don't you think? I do...to me they are so very important. I think they are with you as well.
I find myself sticking my neck out more and more; wow...my thin shell really may get some cave-ins rather than cracks. So be it, I'm being honest...honest but lovingly kind, which I think is the way Father wants me to be...and I pray a lot about it. Pray and pray and pray some more 24/7.
But how can we help each other if we aren't open, if we refuse to share? How can we? You may have other methods but I've just started opening up wide...and so it goes. Things are bound to get better...eventually.
I've shared things w/people and I wonder what some of them think. 'Spose some wouldn't share shameful things they've done; it took a long time before I could. Not so bashful about it these days; becaise I want to help others who may be or were in the same boat I was...makes it easier.
My heart cries for those who are hurting mentally as well as physically...and think of those who refuse to 'let you in'...and keep all that pain inside! A very close friend is something rare to me...I suppose much of that comes from moving around the country all my life...there wasn't time to 'get close' and if I did...just had to 'ride off into the sunset'...like in the movies!
Friends share, love and help each other. Hey, even if we aren't 'close' friends we could and we should share, love and help each other. That's the way God intends for us to be...and you know how God is? Right.
We do not choose to be born.
We do not choose our parents.
We do not choose our historical epoch,
the country of our birth,
or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing.
We do not, most of us, choose to die;
nor do we choose the time and conditions of our death.
But within this realm of choicelessness,
we do choose how we live.
...unknown...
More than anything, I want to be like Christ...and you know...I believe He stuck His neck out.
Guess what? I choose to live like Him...so here's to sticking my neck out. What d'ya think?
From my heart...to yours! Vasca
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