Hey God - Answers to Life

 Me: Hey God.

God: Hello, my love.

Me: I'm falling apart.
Can you put me back together?

God: I would rather not.

Me: Why?

God: Because you aren't a puzzle.

Me: What about all of the pieces of my life that are falling down onto the ground?

God: Let them stay there for a while. They fell off for a reason.
Take some time and decide if you need any of those pieces back.

Me: You don't understand! I'm breaking down!

God: No - you don't understand.
You are breaking through.
What you are feeling are just growing pains.
You are shedding the things and the people in your life that are holding you back.
You aren't falling apart.
You are falling into place.
Relax.
Take some deep breaths and allow those things you don't need anymore to fall off of you.
Quit holding onto the pieces that don't fit you anymore.
Let them fall off.
Let them go.

Me: Once I start doing that, what will be left of me?

God: Only the very best pieces of you.

______________________________________________________________

Me: Hey God.

God: Hey John.

Me: I'm about to break.

God: Why do you think that is?

Me: Because life just keeps getting harder.

God: Then you need to become softer.

Me: Huh?

God: Here is the thing:

glass is hard

but it can shatter

easily when dropped

rock is hard

but it can be broken

quickly with a drill

gold is hard

but it can be melted

in a blazing fire

don't be so hard

that you break down so easily.

be soft

like wet clay

in the hands of a potter

be soft like

river water

in the summer

be soft like

the breeze through

a row of tall pines

all of those things

survive no matter what

happens to them

they endure because

they haven't built their

existence out of hard

materials

be soft with other people

don't break them

with your words

and don't let them

break you with theirs

be soft with yourself

your heart is more cotton

than iron

your soul is wrapped

in the softest of fabrics

for a reason

the softer you become

the more you understand

how precious all life is

be more of cotton

than you are of concrete

~ love isn't cold granite

love is shapeless

love is like ocean water

gently passing through your toes

in a world where the hardness of diamonds

helps determine its worth

don't become one yourself

become so soft

that nothing can

break you

~ john roedel (johnroedel.com)

No Better Time To Be Happy

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough, and we'll be more content when they are.

After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our partner gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice holiday, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges.

It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

A quote comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said,

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time...and remember that time waits for no one.

So, stop waiting until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until winter, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink.... there is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Work like you don't need money,

Love like you've never been hurt,

And dance like no one's watching.

- John Bishop