Water, Water Everywhere

I was struck by a line in a book I’ve been reading:

“It was so bitter and sad, looking for safety in the person least likely to give it to you. Like drinking salt water” J. Courtney Sullivan, Maine

Bitter and sad, yes. So why do we do it?

I believe we all look to satiate ourselves in things, people and places that ultimately can’t deliver. Sometimes they actually do damage.

We may be looking for safety, comfort, love, satisfaction or fulfillment and turn to food, cigarettes or alcohol; shopping, partying or exercise; perfectionism, working or people pleasing.

All of which may bring temporary relief or distraction, but soon the tap runs dry and we’re empty yet again. Sometimes even bone dry.

So why do we do it? Can’t we learn our lesson?

A few reasons came to mind – using the comparison of being thirsty on a deserted island. What would make us drink the ocean water we know will not quench?

*It’s ubiquitous. The water is everywhere and easily accessible. It looks appealing, tantalizing even. (If this weren’t a deserted island, sexy advertising would bombard you with false promises of drinking it.) It’s tempting.

*We get desperate. Our thirst becomes so powerful that we cannot take the pain any longer and prefer to wet our mouths just a little – just to relieve the pain. Perhaps if we had friends around to talk us out of it we could resist such a strong compulsion. But we are alone. Isolated.

*It’s easy. It takes work to look for water and climb trees for coconuts. We’re tired. We’re weak. The ocean is a crawl away. It takes energy and work to gather supplies to build rain catchers. Oh, and hope.

*We lose hope. If we do not believe we will be rescued, that rain will come or that there is an end in sight…our spirits grow dim. We lose the ability to try and do right for ourselves.

Knowing the reasons helps us to avoid falling for them. We can stay out of malls or avoid bars, we can decide to suck it up and work, not take the easy way out, avoid isolation, see through the false promise and find a way to build our hope.

• What is the thirst and the salt water in your life?
• Do any of these reasons resonate for you as to why you keep going back?

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

 

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A Typical Tuesday Turned Atypical

I am a slave to routine – my “program” if you will.

I long for freedom. I need so desperately to de-program.

Yesterday, the heroic Hedda inspired me to skip my usual afternoon swim (which I’ve NOT been feeling of late…Cold water? Wet? Ugh.) and to just take a walk! So I did. I went to the gym, read in the sauna and then walked out. Got home and took a walk with my head in the clouds.

Refreshing.

I have not swam since Friday and today I was feeling the “pressure” to swim. Why? Well, because that is what I do.

That is what I am programmed to do.

Instead? I went straight home. Took a quick breather and went for a 20 minute walk to get my endorphins in.

I got to see this:

Instead of this:

Another thing? I ate something before dinner. Just because. That is not typical.

I have to share though, because… really?

Who eats sticks and twigs?

 

I had to giggle because they really do look like…sticks. And twigs.

Atypical.

And delicious.

Anyway –I am proclaiming Tuesdays to be ATYPICAL TUESDAYS from here on out.

I don’t want to be a slave.

• Gotta routine? Feel like a slave to the grind? What’s one thing you might-could do to color outside the lines? Wanna do it next Tuesday?

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Storytime: There’s No I in Try (but there should be)

Gather around boyfriends and girlfriends…settle down and grab a seat. Criss cross applesauce.Shhh….inside voices.

It’s time for a story. Today’s share?

Interpreted by Miss. Caterpillar

That would be me.

We have to learn a whole lot of stuff during our lives. Growing up, we had to master skills that now come naturally to us. Like walking and talking. And making cereal.

But even when we’re grown, life continues to require us to learn. Sometimes we learn things that aren’t good for us. Bad habits like spending too much, having a short temper, smoking or eating too much.

We find ourselves flat on our backs.

 

Sometimes we have to re-learn skills that should be natural to us but aren’t — like how to do life without a vice.

There are people to help us get on our feet, books to read and support meetings to attend, prayer to be done. But even God wants us to succeed on our own so we are stronger.

Ultimately we’re on our own.

Change takes a lot of practice. We find ourselves flat on our backs again.

And again.

Loved ones can encourage us, but they can’t do it for us. Even though we know better, we continue to do the things we don’t want to do. We’re clumsy.

But we’re not defeated. We try again. And again.

One day something’s going to click.

We’ll find the motivation we need – even if it means being scared shirtless. You go bankrupt, your marriage falls apart, your health deteriorates. Your motivation to change becomes stronger than the will to stay the same. 

Something will click, I have faith. Sooner or later…

We nail the landing. Score a perfect 10 and take home the Gold.

That victory will be worth all the time spent on our backs wondering how the heck we’re gonna get it right. Amen?

You can learn a lot from a beetle.

• What’s one change you’ve made that you’re proud of?
• Is there something in your life you are being clumsy about?

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