Wisdom of Dogs?

I spent a sick day at home last Tuesday hunkered down in my living room, which gave me an all access view (out a large bay of windows) to Coco...our overweight supercute weiner dog. She spent the entire day looking for the sun.

I'd look out and our backyard would be completely shaded, expect for maybe a 2ft X 2 ft patch of sunlight. Sure enough, Coco would be in that patch "basking" in the warmth. The patch moved as the day progressed, and Coco moved with it everytime. She did this all day. A picture of persistence.

Is she smart? If you know her, the answer is a resounding no. (This is the same dog who drags out all of her blankets and runs around the yard with them like a rhythmic gymnast, getting them wet and gross so she has no dry blankets when she needs them.)

Was finding the sunny patch instinctual. My guess is yes.

So this begs the question (at least to me)... Is finding the Son, basking in His light, instinctual for me?

I know Jesus is light, and His light shines through the darkness. And not in just a 2 X 2 patch either. But I'm wondering if I always choose to bask in his light?

What am I putting into my mind through what I listen to and look at? How am I ordering my steps? How often do I stop and just listen to my Savior? Am I seeking his guidance in decisions, big and small?

And is the sum of all these daily, and even moment by moment choices, the equivalent of finding the light and spending my day in that light, no matter what adjustments I must make to remain there?

Do I have the persistence of my uber-awesome wiener dog?

The answer, honestly...sometimes.

the awesomeness that is Amazing Race

I am always drawn to people who are comfortable in their own skin and who don't feel the need to change in order to fit in or impress anyone.

So when I tuned in to watch Amazing Race (http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/) this season I was instantly fascinated by these guys:

Jet and Cord McCoy

They are professional bull riding brothers who have won something like 5 world championships a piece. They come from a small town "with one stop light that blinks yellow" and have the most endearing southern drawls you've ever heard.

My very favorite thing about them though? The fact that while the rest of the teams don clima-lite Under Armor, fleece, tennis shoes (and bascially anything that would make running all over God's creation at a fast and furious pace comfortable)... these guys are wearing their brush poppers, wranglers and boots.

In fact, one of them did cable walking (which is this)...

in his full cowboy regalia. I was so nervous for him, because I couldn't imagine his boots giving him much traction on the wire. But hey, when you ride thousand plus pound bulls for a living, it probably takes quite a bit to throw you.

But the point is, he is, who he is, who he is- comfortable in his own skin- even a hundred feet in the air hovering over Valparaiso, Chile...

So my blog has not become a promotional spot for Amazing Race, but I do love the show and I would so recommend it to anyone who likes reality T.V. with out all the creepy pre-fabbed drama. Other interesting players this season...a 70 something grandmother who late in life became a triathlete, the past winner of Big Brother (which just happens to be a reality show with creepy pre-fabbed drama), and last but not least, the 2007 Miss Teen USA contestant whose pageant interview went viral on youtube. You know the one, "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our children"...."

Poor, poor girl. Don't miss the irony that this very girl is on a show where maps and geography/directional sense are big players.

Should be interesting.

Provision

Our friend Donnie guest-preached today. I love Don. My hubs loves Don. He is smart (even has a Ph.D. attached to his name), funny, adores Jesus, and is the kindest person you will ever come across. I also love his way of thinking, b/c it's usually a bit different, usually spot on, and usually compelling...i.e. leaves me mentally wrestling...and I like that.

What I took away from today on his talk about marriage?

1. Our spouse is not meant to be our oxygen. Our spouse was never meant to meet all of our needs. But when we look to them to be our ultimate meeter of needs, we place them in an unending "blame/credit trap"...when they do right by us/please us, they get all the credit. When they don't (which is likely more often) they get all the blame.

2. God is the source to meet all our needs. He is the Provider, while our spouse is...a provision. Let me say that again in all it's awesomeness: God is the Provider, while our spouse is a provision. If we can get that right, it frees us to want our spouse, not need them. It frees us to be a part of a healthy relationship with our partner, while getting our deepest needs met by the One designed to meet them in the first place.

Pretty good stuff, right? Pretty simple stuff even. So why is it so easy to complicate?

I Know What a "Word Cloud" is Now...

I like...




i made this at www.wordle.net. pretty cool website that makes "word clouds" (their words, not mine) based on a list of words you provide. it can also create a word cloud based off of your blog (if you have an RSS feed)...you give it your URL and it seeks out words you've used. see:

It's fun. It's free. It's self-expression. Check it out...