Title: If You Want To Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. (Kindle Edition)
Author: John Ortberg
Info: Copyright 2001: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Rating (on a scale of 1-4 stars): ✮✮✮✮
Where Acquired: Library checkout that turned into a Kindle purchase.
Category: Impulse reading. At work, our team is participating in a Bible study based on this book. Though the book wasn't required, I wanted to read it.
Synopsis: God has called all of us to use our gifts and talents to expand His kingdom and reveal His love to those who don't yet know Him. As he expounds on the story of Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14:25-32, Ortberg takes a point-by-point comparison of Peter's process of letting go of fear to our call to step into our calling.
Favorite Quotes:
Matthew is not glorifying risk-taking for its own sake. Jesus is not looking for bungee jumping, hang-gliding, day-trading, tornado-chasing Pinto drivers. Water-walking is not something Peter does for recreational purposes. This is not a story about extreme sports. It’s about extreme discipleship. - Location 231
Your boat is whatever represents safety and security to you apart from God himself.Your boat is whatever you are tempted to put your trust in, especially when life gets a little stormy. Your boat is whatever keeps you so comfortable that you don’t want to give it up even if it’s keeping you from joining Jesus on the waves. Your boat is whatever pulls you away from the high adventure of extreme discipleship. - Location 260
Knowing when to get out of the boat and take a risk does not only demand courage; it also demands the wisdom to ask the right questions, the discernment to recognize the voice of the Master, and the patience to wait for his command. - Location 953
Arthur Miller puts if like this:
It is wrong, it is sin, to accept or remain in a position that you know is a mismatch for you. Perhaps that’s a form of sin you’ve never even considered—the sin of staying in the wrong job. But God did not place you on this earth to waste away your years in labor that does not employ his design or purpose for your life, no matter how much you may be getting paid for it. - Location 1180
The answers have centered on a few themes: —Resilient people continually seek to reassert some command and control over their destiny rather than seeing themselves as passive victims. —Resilient people have a larger than usual capacity for what might be called moral courage—for refusing to betray their values. —Resilient people find purpose and meaning in their suffering. - Location 1665
I think God says “fear not” so often because fear is the number one reason human beings are tempted to avoid doing what God asks them to do. - Location 2030
The Positive:
I found Ortberg's take on this particular Scripture passage very creative.
The author's dry humor was enjoyable.
This volume is loaded with encouragement and practical examples.
Questions that guide the reader in analyzing his situation and taking definitive steps towards fulfilling his calling are included.
I appreciate the fact that Ortberg doesn't shame the reader into dropping everything and diving headfirst into what he believes is his calling. He wisely advises testing the waters to make sure and gradually stepping out.
The Negative:
The Kindle edition doesn't have real page numbers.
The author doesn't do a good job of distinguishing between true fear and a healthy respect for something or someone. Ortberg talks about the damaging affects of fear, yet says that fear is good. He is mixing true paralyzing fear with necessary caution of danger. This could be very confusing the reader.
Ortberg asserts that one's vocation and calling are mutually exclusive. While he is careful to point out that one's calling is from God and one's career can be chosen apart from God's calling, the author assumes that this is always the case. That is not true. Not only in my own life, but the examples presented in this volume would indicate the contrary.
Conclusion:
This book, along with the study materials, has proven to be very valuable in this stage of my life. Though the self-analysis was difficult, I am pleased it was an integral part of the process presented in the text. I would recommend this book to anyone who is either searching for purpose and meaning in life, or who needs encouragement in continuing to walk in his calling.
Ah, Cracker Barrel, that restaurant / country novelty store. I remember doing my first project for a Southern History course about this eating establishment. One of my favorite menu items from Cracker Barrel is their Hash Brown Casserole. Huddle House ruined regular hash browns for me, so this combination of potatoes and cheese is an excellent substitute.
One problem; the nearest Cracker Barrel is more than 20 miles from Lakewood. So, off to the internet I go to try to find a comparable recipe.
I found this recipe at Genius Kitchen. The directions are as follows:
Cracker Barrel's Hashbrowns Casserole- Copycat
Ingredients: 2 pounds frozen hash browns 1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted 1 - 10 1/4 ounce can cream of chicken soup 1 pint sour cream 1/2 cup onion, peeled and chopped 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray an 11x14 - inch baking dish with cooking spray. Mix the above ingredients together, place in prepared pan, and bake for 45 minutes or until brown on top.
Pretty easy and straight forward, right? Well, not so much.
I should have known there would be trouble when, like most of these type of websites, the page was plastered with so many ads that the recipe almost didn't load. Once I finally got the recipe to load, I followed it as directed. After 45 minutes, the casserole wasn't done. After an hour, it still didn't look done, but I was afraid of burning it. When my first bite tasted of undercooked onion, I know something was amiss. Remembering that I'm at a higher altitude, I tried cooking it an additional 30 minutes. That didn't help. It wasn't done, and it wasn't good. I kept trying to eat it out of sheer disgust and frustration, but eventually threw it away.
I guess I'll either have to travel the 20+ miles to the nearest Cracker Barrel, or put it on my list of places to eat the next time I'm in Alabama...whenever that is.
See my post here for more information on My Mythical Year.
For this badge, I decided to conduct two experiments. This is the first.
"Now is the winter of our discontent." - William Shakespeare. Richard III.
"But does it have to be EVERY winter?!" - Auntie.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Years ago, many thought it was a made-up hype disease, including me. I mean, doesn't everyone get depressed, isolate themselves and contemplate suicide every winter? Seriously, I thought it was made up. That is, of course, until I was diagnosed with it by a bona fide clinician.
Now recognized in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, SAD is a seasonal disorder that exhibits symptoms of major depression. Some of the symptoms I experience are:
Lethargy and over sleeping.
Increased appetite for simple carbohydrates or bingeing on junk food.
Weight gain (well duh!).
Abnormal social anxiety leading to isolation (including avoiding positive social media).
Loss of interest in favorite activities (reading, painting, crafts).
Cognitive issues / brain fog (brain fart syndrome, or as I call it, my blond roots showing way too much).
Sadness for unknown reasons.
Feeling of hopelessness and worthlessness leading to thoughts of suicide.
I'd gone through this cycle for years without really knowing why. The most serious case of it was in 2015 when I wrote this and had every intention of carrying it out. After sharing my struggle with some friends I trusted, I got some help that got me over the hump. Yet, every year, I suffered with this pernicious blight.
This winter, I decided that I'd had enough of giving up months of productivity and joy. I'd had enough of suffering in silent isolation. I'd had enough of watching those around me living life while I withered away in a corner like a forgotten houseplant.
For this experiment, I went old school Science class:
Elements of the experiment:
The independent variable - my mind, mood, attitude and general mental health through this experiment.
The dependent variable (expected outcome) - that I not experience any major depressive episodes during the experiment.
The control group - I'd consider my mental health during all the years of suffering with SAD without knowing how to treat it the control group.
The constant - the daily strategies outlined in this experiment.
The Inference - the results, which I will expound on at the end of the experiment.
The duration of the experiment - If I made it from November 1st through the first week of new year without any major depressive episodes, I considered the experiment a success. That's the timeframe when the majority of my symptoms occur the strongest.
Conducting the Experiment:Thirteen strategies (or the constants) for dealing with SAD.
#1 - Get the right information.
Though I'd researched Seasonal Affective Disorder on my own, getting information directly from a counselor or clinician was necessary to confirm that I was on the right track. My mentor is a clinician and found my strategies solid. I also spoke with the Program Director of our counseling program. Not only did he find my strategies solid, but gave me more information and additional strategies.
#2 - Go green.
For me, one thing that make a residence feel like home is plants. Back home, I had houseplants, flower beds to tend, and an occasionally productive vegetable garden. Since my new place doesn't have a yard and I'm on a tight budget, I had to get creative in my quest for greenery. Several people at work have nice plants and graciously allowed me to take cuttings to root (the plant on the right is an example). I was in the grocery store and found an inexpensive, rather forlorn peace lily. After watering and tending it for about a month, I split it into two plants--one for work and one for home. Over the months, I've been blessed with several more plants. As budget allows, I will continue to add to the collection.
Why is this important? Not only do the plants bring beauty to my world, but they also give me a living thing for which to be responsible. I take plant care as seriously as I would pet care, so doing my part to make sure these plants live and thrive is very important to me. Even on my "blue" days, caring for my growing menagerie of flora boosts my mood.
#3 - Increase my vitamin intake; especially Vitamin D.
Much of the research suggests that one factor of SAD involves Vitamin D deficiency. With shorter days giving less sunlight, winter temperatures giving less opportunities for outdoor activities, and seasonal dietary changes that may not include enough Vitamin D-rich foods, I not only took a twice daily vitamin/mineral supplement that included vitamin D, but took an extra vitamin D supplement in the evenings. I did keep an eye out for symptoms of overconsumption.
#4 - Bring comfort to my surroundings.
As I mentioned in this post, I decided to employ the Norwegian concept of koselig. Like the popular Danish concept of hygge, koselig is the act of finding the cozy of the season. I bought a cozy fleece throw for my couch, an assortment of flavored coffees and teas to enjoy, and some treats to make bath time more relaxing. I also worked to dump my normal winter mindset of dread. The biggest part of koselig and hygge isn't simply procuring comforting items, but developing a more positive mindset around the season. Embracing the cozy, if you will.
#5 - Watch or listen to something funny or that improves my mood.
The Bible says that "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones" (Proverbs 17:22 KJV). When I'm feeling depressed, the last thing I want to do is listen to uplifting music or watch a funny video, yet keeping that kind of content going on good days makes it easier to partake of when my mood isn't the best. YouTube was my best resource for funny or uplifting videos. My Spotify "Happy 911" playlist was my source for music that improved my mood.
#6 - Don't power through or ignore negative feelings.
There were days that no matter what I did, my mood was down. Sickness, negative circumstances (and people), adverse weather conditions, hormones, and erratic sleep patterns wreaked havoc with my emotions. In the past, I would try to power through or medicate (mostly with food) those emotions to not feel them. This strategy not only made the pain last longer, but increased its intensity. I let myself experience the emotion and process through it to find possible solutions to the issues causing the turn. I was also honest with and asked for prayer from those close to me.
#7 - Don't power through or ignore sickness.
I rarely get sick, but this winter found me battling two rounds of the ick. The first was during my Christmas vacation, so I wasn't out and about much anyway. The second hit just as I went back to work and I really didn't feel right about taking sick leave immediately after a vacation. However, trying to power through it seriously cut down on my productivity and worsened my mood. After a few days of this, I bit the bullet and took time off to do nothing but rest. I spent several days in bed recuperating. It was the best thing I could have done for myself.
#8 - Get outside as often as weather permits.
One of the benefits of Colorado winters it that the bitter cold isn't extended. Plus, winters here aren't ugly and we usually get plenty of sunshine between snowstorms. Along with our daily lunch break, we are allotted a couple of short breaks throughout the day. When temperatures allowed, I would go for a stroll, soak up some sun (thus vitamin D), occasionally listen to music, and take pictures of anything I thought was beautiful or interesting (thus the photo above). It got me away from the screen, got me moving, and worked wonders for my psyche. If the weather was too yucky, I would go to one of our conference rooms and admire the scenery from the large windows. Admittedly, not the same, but better than nothing.
#9 - Keep my brain active.
One of the symptoms of SAD is a loss of interest in enjoyable activities. Reading is one of my favorite activities. Even when I was feeling my worst, I would play an audiobook to focus my mind on something intellectual (most of the time). If I couldn't focus on something new, I would pull out a old favorite and reread parts of it.
#10 - Treat myself.
Yes, I know I'm on the Dave Ramsey plan, but even he said that if we don't add a little fun to our lives, we will be miserable and give up working the baby steps altogether. A small treat like a Starbucks coffee, an inexpensive used book from the library bookstore or thrift store, or a little something from Mythical worked wonders. Plus, I had gift cards I'd been hoarding since my birthday with which I could purchase treats for myself.
#11 - Keep moving.
One of the best mood boosters is exercise. Whether it's throwing in a workout DVD, taking a walk outside, or cranking up the music and putting the pedal to the metal on my bike, movement usually lifts my mood and helps me sleep a little better.
#12 - Keep the creativity going.
While many of my ongoing art projects went unfinished, I thoroughly enjoyed creating handmade cards, ornaments, and presents for Christmas and baby arrivals. Sharing my creativity with others brings me joy.
#13 - Stay social.
This was the toughest one. Thought I'm a very social person, when the icy tendrils of the mulligrubs start to claw at me, the last thing I want to do is be around people--for their sake and mine. However, I'm well enough experienced in social media to know that it's no substitute for true fellowship--only a supplement. So, when necessary, I forced myself to avoid prolonged isolation. Another thing that helped is that the weather didn't cause me to miss as many church services as last winter, so worshiping with my church family definitely kept me connected to community.
The Results
I am pleased to announce that the experiment was a success! I made it through the toughest part of the winter months with no major depressive episodes. Was my mood perfect throughout? No, but I never got into despair, and ending my life didn't even cross my mind.
As winter gives way to spring (whenever that is--Colorado remember?), I will continue to employ these strategies.
I think St. Valentine's Day is for everyone, whether you have a romantic love interest or not. I received a Valentine card from my sister (thank you Patti!) - case in point. It is all about LOVE, not just romantic love.What are your traditions for celebrating Valentine's Day?
Sorry to disagree with you, Mrs. Terri, but saying that Valentine's day isn't about whether or not you have a romantic love interest is like saying church ladies' groups aren't just for married women with children. Same outcome of pain and exclusion.
Anyway...
I don't have any traditions for the "holiday" as of yet. It does, however, make me look back on my years as a preschool teacher with fondness. Christmas and Valentine's Day were the best two days of the school year. We'd have a class party and I'd buy gifts for all of my students. So. Much. Fun.
When you were in elementary school, did you decorate a shoe box and deliver those little valentines to all your classmates? Perhaps in Sunday School?
We made those little shoebox mailboxes in elementary school. Not much fun to make when you take it home empty.
Do you enjoy playing Cupid? Have you ever introduced a couple who really clicked?
Not exactly. Now, before y'all think I'm anti-romance, rest assured, I'm not. I remember at my sister Ida's wedding, the minister saying that our job was not to interfere in the couple's marriage, but that since we were there as witnesses before God, our job was to "make sure they stay married." I took that mandate seriously with all my married friends and family. To me, that means to pray for the couple and to do my part to encourage unity. If that means babysitting so the couple can have some time alone, being a neutral 3rd party to help resolve a dispute, or simply offering an encouraging word, I'll do it. I even DJ'd a couples' dance at my home church...once.
Which traditional Valentine's Day gift would you rather receive: Chocolate, flowers, or a card with a personal message?
I love flowers. They don't have to be roses; any pretty flower makes me happy.
What is the best movie to watch on Valentine's Day?
The Princess Bride of course.
Tell us something random about your week!
Nothing spectacular to share. Sorry. All this Valentine's Day talk has worn me out and made me sad, so I'll just share a funny Valentine's Day video.
God created you on purpose and for a purpose. He's called you, positioned you, and equipped you. There is a realm of influence--a group of people--that only you can inspire, encourage, and lead. There's a plan only you can complete. That's how valuable you are.
- Christine Caine, Unshakeable. p. 33
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Where am I going? What's my next step? Does my life really have a divine purpose, or am I just here to show people how not to live. I've been asking these questions a lot lately. I thought I was on the fast track to my next steps in life, but I hit a bump in the road. Not a little bump, a big bump. Have you ever accidentally run over a concrete parking block? I have...more than once.
Yeah that kind of bump.
When I moved from Alabama to Colorado, I knew that God was guiding me. From the long drive, to finding a job, to getting an apartment, to getting a reliable vehicle, God's guiding hand was all over it. Now, I feel so directionless-- like I don't know where I'm going and like every door of opportunity on which I knock is closed, locked, and has furniture stacked in front of it.
I keep reminding myself that God didn't need to bring me 1400 miles across the country to fail; I was doing that just fine in Alabama. I just need to know where to step out next.
