Fountains of Life

Growth Involves Trying

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By Cyndi

When I was a kid my father had a saying:  “Don’t tell me you can’t, tell me you’ll try.” At the time I didn’t appreciate it that much, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve discovered this is a great motto to live and grow by. Because trying involves growth, and growth involves trying. 

It’s impossible to grow and advance or succeed in something if you don’t try. Athletes and musicians know this well. There must be many hours of practice — trying — to create muscle memory and to perfect the right moves. Yes, there are failings and mistakes, but that’s all part of the necessary process.

To me, there are many, many applications of this little motto. What about trying to learn a new skill — like sewing, carpentry, fishing, painting, or cross-fit? “Oh, I’ve never done that before!” you may reply. So you don’t know how well you can do it or not unless you try. AND you don’t know whether you like doing it or not unless you try. 

Boodle Feast–Philippines

What about trying a new food? My response used to always be, “Oh, I won’t like that.” For years, my husband (who likes just about any kind of food) constantly hounded me to try new flavors, especially when traveling abroad, and for years, I fought him (I’m a simple person). Eventually I succumbed and lo, and behold, I have tried countless divers kinds of foods, including fresh tuna sashimi, goat meat, and even part of a pig’s ear. (Although I still can’t deal with mayonnaise.) Just the other day we tried some Ethiopian food. Can’t say I loved it, but can say I’ve tried it.

As we try things we grow — a lot.  We grow in knowledge, something new we learn about, like glassblowing or planting a vegetable garden; we grow actual brain paths within our brain as we attempt unfamiliar activities (neuroplasticity is a big thing now); we grow physically with new exercises or health changes (ever try rock climbing?); and we also grow spiritually as we try different ways of study, meditation, and being open to doctrinal challenges. Actually, if you’re really looking to grow spiritually, listen or read something that confronts your beliefs. 

Growth is a part of life. We should never finish growing. It’s proven to be healthy to continue learning and challenging ourselves. In fact, I have a 95-year-old grandmother who still loves to do sudokus and crossword puzzles. She also reads constantly. Needless to say, her mind is still quite sharp. I also know quite a few surfers who are still surfing into their retirement years and runners doing races into their 70s. I believe we are never too old to try something new. Because if we stop trying, we stop growing.

Thanks to my dad’s little saying I have ran marathons, traveled to over 20 countries, learned computer programs, played music and several instruments, eaten strange foods with interesting people, hiked mountains, zip-lined canyons, seen sharks while diving, skied a little, and speak some Spanish. Some of these things (and a torrent of others) I did well and some I did not. But at least I tried. Several years ago I even tried to train for a triathlon but ended up breaking my wrist.

So… I just got some wrist guards — I’m thinking about trying skateboarding with my son’s old longboard now. 

When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong

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by Cyndi

Upon returning from a mission trip with a scratchy throat, then preparing to leave for out of town again, a nasty cold seized me. Frankly, I can’t remember the last time I’d been sick, but this one was a doozy. It put me in bed a couple days and I had hoped it would lessen by the time we went up to teach at a Shiloh Place school the following week. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

On the day I was to teach, I came prepared with tissues and cough drops and hoped the cold medicine the night before hadn’t spaced me out too much. There’s a wonderful group of people we work with at these schools, so at the morning team meeting, after they prayed for me, one of the sweet ladies gave me a verse: 2 Cor. 12:10 — For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This has always been one of my favorite verses because it embodies the divine exchange. When I acknowledge my weakness and inability, it is the very thing that empowers and strengthens me. You see, I have nothing without Father. Well, let me clarify—yes, I have talents, skills, education, etc.— however, if I use them and rely on myself only, I may fail. Oh I can succeed too, causing a boost to my ego, but I can also so easily fail. And if I do fail, the condemnation and rejection is almost unbearable. 

Yet, if I understand that God is good and loves me no matter what happens, there is no fear of failure or disappointment — it’s Him using my abilities. And when I don’t have a need to take credit for anything, I’m strengthened and emboldened. There is nothing to prove, no pressure to perform, no impression to make. I have everything with Him.

I felt terrible that morning and was physically weak. I had to teach, but that precious woman’s word had encouraged me. I was reminded me that I’m just a little child who has a great Big Daddy. He would be my strength. 

When I stay little, weak, and needy in my own eyes, I become secure and powerful through Him. Perhaps occasionally I need to be weakened a bit, just to remind me of how strong I can be with the divine exchange.

And by the way—I think that was one of my best teaching days ever!

Hidden Expectations

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By Cyndi

I came out of the water from surfing the other day frustrated. I’m still having trouble popping up on the board to my feet quick enough so I wipeout a lot. Wipeouts are not as fun as catching and riding waves. Disappointment settled in on me because I wasn’t performing like I wanted to that day.

Then words from a surfer friend of mine I’ve known for years came into my head: “But did you have fun?” Well…. No, I didn’t! I was so irritated and bummed with myself I’d left no room for fun and enjoyment. (Kinda the purpose of surfing.) Instead I had put all these demands on myself to perform, to get things right, to excel and achieve! I had forgotten all about the “having fun” part.

Later on Father God got ahold of me in my quiet time. The first thing He mentioned to me was to be careful of my expectations. These negative little nit-picky buggers hide! We don’t realize how we subconsciously have hidden expectations on our spouses, our friends, our pastor and church, and, most definitely, on ourselves. These types of expectations are usually the “demanding” ones — the “shoulds” and “ought to’s.” We hear phrases in our mind that say: “That salesperson should have been nicer.” Or, “My husband ought to have realized how stressful my day has been.”

I find myself demanding a lot from me quite often without recognizing it: “I should have taken the other way home.” “I should have given myself more time.” “I ought to have worked on this harder.” That day surfing I thought I should have popped up better, I’d been practicing. I should have caught the waves at the right time better. I should have done everything a lot better than I did, but I didn’t.

So as I began seeing these hidden expectations I put on myself, He told me to let go of them. Just drop them. He loves me no matter what. Subconsciously I’m trying to be good enough to deserve to be loved. Even for myself to love me. But I don’t have to be perfect — I’m loved anyway.  

Father God encouraged me to stop putting expectations on myself. Stop putting all this pressure on myself to do everything right the first time. Allow myself a growing/falling/growing curve. Cut myself a break, alright?! Oh, and He reminded me that this goes for others too. Yep. Spouse, family, friends, pastor/church, strangers, slow drivers — cut them some slack too. No one’s got it all together, but everyone needs to be loved.

Hebrews 12:14 exhorts us to do all we can to live in peace with everyone as much as we can. This includes ourselves. We don’t need the high blood pressure and anxiety that comes with expecting from ourselves some higher-than-average performance. Yes, we are to work hard and do our best at things, however, there’s also a time to relax and have some fun — without judgment!

So the next time I loaded up my surfboard and headed for the beach, I took a deep breath and sighed. Then I told myself to just have fun. It’s even okay if I wipeout every single time. No demands, no performance ratings. Enjoy the time in His love.

It was the best day of surfing I have ever had.

___________________________

(Thank you, Dave S. for those life changing words.)

Give Thanks

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By Cyndi

1 Chronicles 16:34—Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.

Thanksgiving is over and we’re hurling head on into the Christmas holiday. However, I’m still stuck on giving thanks. 

Give is defined by dictionary.com as “to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation.” This is an act of our will; we voluntarily do it. There’s no pressure; it’s a choice and we’re not looking for any reward because we did it. The word thanks is defined as “expressing gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment.” Once again I believe this is an act of our will—we choose to be grateful or appreciative and express that. So when we give thanks, we are adopting the attitude of intentionally showing gratefulness and acknowledgment for something. 

The world has begun to acknowledge the power of giving thanks. You see, gratitude has become a scientific phenomena of some sort. I challenge you to simply Google “gratitude” and see what you get. Many articles, books, and studies fill the internet with how having gratitude can make you happier, rewire your brain, and add to your emotional intelligence. Gratitude is good for your health, it’s been proven. And since the Bible has been around longer than these studies, I presume God knew all about this already.

Christians may view giving thanks as simply a command we’re supposed to obey. But I don’t think that’s how Father God sees it; He’s not that legalistic. I think He understands our physiology (of course) and knows that not only does thankfulness make us healthier and happier, but it also changes our whole outlook on life. We begin to see the “glass half-full” not half-empty. We begin to dwell on the positives not the negatives. And we begin to bring light and hope where there is darkness and despair.

As we truly see how good God is, we become light in this world. Giving thanks won’t just be an exercise of typing three things we’re grateful for on our gratitude app once a day, it will be living and breathing His goodness every hour and every minute! So not only is gratefulness good for you, it’s good for others too!

I have a feeling I may be stuck here on giving thanks for a while, especially in the Christmas season — there’s so many things I’m grateful for. I invite you to join me in this gratefulness journey. Find an app, use journal, or simply talk to God. Make a choice. Lord knows this world needs some hope and light. 

May we choose to be grateful in everything. (1 Thes. 5:18) And may our gratitude rub off on others around us this holiday season and throughout the whole year.

Muscles and Strings

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By Cyndi

Between the grunts and groans while stretching during an exercise class, a friend and I began noticing the similarities between guitar strings and muscles. And of course, with me, God has a way of taking daily activities — like exercising — and teaching me a lesson through them.

Do you realize that muscles and strings have something in common? Their level of performance depends on how tight or loose they are. There’s a balance for being toned or tuned, respectively.

Each string on a guitar is to be a specific note. When a string is too tight, it’s not in tune. The pitch sounds too high so we say it is “sharp.” When the string is too loose, it’s not in tune either. The pitch is too low so it is called “flat.” 

The term “sharp” sometimes is used to describe things as being harsh, cutting, abrupt, or brash. Many of us tend to get sharp when we’re stressed or upset; we tighten up or say sarcastic words. That’s why we use expressions like “uptight” or “edgy/on the edge.” 

The word “flat” may be used to describe dull, lifeless, plain, or ‘off key’ things. For example, we tend to get flat when we’re uninterested or unconcerned about something; or how carbonated drinks loose their fizz if left out too long. In the case of a guitar string, if the instrument is not played often enough the strings go flat from disuse. Similarly, our muscles go flat if we don’t exercise them.

So what do we do when our muscles tighten up and we feel stiff? We stretch! This helps loosen them up. And when our muscles are flabby (another way to say flat!) what do we do? We exercise to tone them up!

And the God lesson in of all of this?

God wants us to be in tune — in perfect pitch and in harmony with Him— and in shape, toned up, ready for whatever He asks us to do. Not too tight, not too loose.

I picture myself as that string with His fingers on the guitar’s tuning pegs turning one way then the other little by little listening to the pitch, changing it ever so slightly until it’s perfect. Or lying prone on a floor mat in a gym, God in His trainer polo shirt stretching my legs a little, loosening me up. His workout routines can be a bit strenuous at times, making me exercise my faith like dumbbells when I’ve been a bit complacent or apathetic. 

And so whether it’s tightening or loosening — stretching our faith or resting in His love — this process brings us closer to Him. I believe Father God wants to have a healthy and harmonious relationship with us — flowing in His love wherever we are.