The Worst Four Letter Word

FEAR...  It imprisons us.  It creates criminals in us.  It oppresses us.  It traps us.  It robs us of the joy of life.  It keeps us from love and loving.  It sucks the essence of life right out of us.  It causes good people to do bad things.  It distorts relationships.
If you are going to fear something.... fear being trapped by FEAR, owned by FEAR, controlled by FEAR.
How do you combat FEAR? by the BEST four letter word.....LOVE
Where love is patient and kind and does not hold grudges, fear is just the opposite.  Where love is not jealous and envious of another but hopes and encourages and lifts up, fear compares and accuses and condemns.  Fear seeks to punish.  Love is grace and mercy.  Fear hoards while love is generous.
Love does not seek to possess and control through oppression and distortion. Love seeks to relate through truth and nurturing.
In this world, we struggle against principles that are anchored in fear.  Any oppressive environment can be linked to a principle of fear.
Fear has waged a war against love.  
Fear is a powerful opponent of love.  It is insatiable and seeks to devour any being that would choose to be transformed by love, to live by the principles of love, to become a manifestation of love.  But....Love casts out fear.  There is no fear where love exists.  They cannot occupy the same space at one time. 
Love conquers fear, not by force or invalidation but by manifestations of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 
If I could make a day for you, it would be a day filled with the manifestations of love.

To be an Irish American

What is it about being an Irish American?  I find myself so in love with Ireland and to call myself Irish but in Ireland they think of us as Americans.  And so they should, however I am of the mind that there is something that runs in our blood that has been passed down from generation to generation that speaks of a deeper need for the connection to the homeland.  Maybe it's whiskey and beer,  maybe it's the oppressive environment we have pushed through, maybe it is the deepest part of our soul that refuses to give up in the face of adversity, maybe it is the spirit of laughter that can hide any pain, or the heart of love and friendship that remains in bloom in spite of bitter bites of life.  But the claim of Irish blood is alive and well in America.

It's Been A While

Well, I find it interesting that the last time I blogged here was over a year ago.  So much has happened since then but it was even more ironic to read my first blog about dealing with overwhelming life situations, seeing as I just left my place of employment yesterday... and not on good terms.  Loved the staff, loved the work the agency does, loved going to work everyday to be with them, but did not love working under a psychologically abusive person. At some point one has to either become a non-entity and co-sign with the abuser, to be the willing victim or one has to take a stand against the tyranny.

Note to self: When people ask you before you take a job, "Are you sure you want to do this?", sit back and really think about why they are asking the question.

Other note to self: Don't think you can take a stand with a narcissistic person and not fall under their fire.

Overwhelmed!

When the events of life overwhelm me, I struggle with staying in a hopeful place. I am reminded of when I almost drowned as a young child in the ocean.  I was hit by a wave so hard I became disoriented.  I could not figure out my way back to the surface.  I was tossed around by the tumbling of the water like a rag doll and was not strong enough to break free from it.  I recall reaching a point of not being able to hold my breath any longer and felt my mind surrender to what seemed to be the inevitable.  I recall saying to God,  "Ok, here I am.  Take me.  I can't hold my breath any longer."  I was no longer afraid.  I was ready to die.  Miraculously, the moment I released the air out of my lungs I broke through the surface of the water. 

When I made it back to shore and told my father what had happened he held me, and then told me what to do the next time I was in that situation.  Now at the time, I thought, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I won't be in the situation again because I am not going back in there."  Apparently, he knew differently and sure enough in time I was back out there again.....more cautious, but still willing to be in the game.  Excited about riding a wave, but realistic knowing it could kill me if I wasn't paying attention and applying the education my father taught me and following the rules of safety posted by the lifeguards.

So, how did that life experience help me deal with events that overwhelm me?  First, there is a God and accepting the situation as it truly is and surrendering it to Him releases the anxiety.  Second, my father's words of wisdom were....When you are struck by the wave, don't fight it.  Roll with it.  Let it wash over you.  The immediate blow will pass and then you will be able to get your bearings and easily swim back up to the surface.  So, I apply the same concept to the overwhelm.  I give it time to wash over me.  I then begin to think of how best to problem solve it and then do it.

Sounds simple but honestly, it works.