Month: July 2015

Sometimes the thoughts in my head, the ideas I have, the things I want to do or say… all scream at me, jumping up and down. I can see them: “Pick me! Pick me!”   “No. Do me first!”  And they’re all so exciting. I love them, and they are all so amazing.

So, I work in a flurry, dotting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s. I hate half-ended jobs! Don’t you? Work. Work. Work. But, it’s not work, because I love it! Right? You know what I mean, don’t you?

Then, suddenly, it is 1:00 in the morning. Dogs are asleep. Cat is asleep. Husband is asleep. Pandora is bouncing the message “are you still listening?”   NO. I am not. I’m trying to finish here! But, ooooo. Some Rod Stewart tunes would be really nice…  Squirrel!   (JK).

The flurry is on for tomorrow too. Those who know me, know that I hate to get up early, yet in order to do my personal development/devotions/quiet time/coffee sipping/back porch time, and get in 18 holes, and work on my challenge group… UGH. I’ll have to get up early!

Breathe…

Seriously, sometimes it’s like this, but then sometimes it’s like…. *crickets*… Where did the momentum go!!!??? All those impressive ideas are still waving at me… Why is it so easy to fall in the squat?  Have you ever heard that phrase? Can you picture it?  Can you picture that cake that is just about to rise to perfection, then suddenly…fffluuump… it falls in the squat! It usually happens during that upward motion. That’s when gravity is working it’s hardest. Analogy: That’s when the enemy sees defeat is near. This person… this nobody… is about to rise!  Attack! Suddenly there is confusion. There are obstacles: a migraine, a flat tire, a hater hating on you!

If we can recognize the timing – I’m half-a-century old so I’ve seen this – nay – I’ve experienced this so many times.  The prize is right there. Things are working out. It’s all falling in place, and there’s a flurry of action. We’re on a high… then fffflllump…. a hole…a dry spot…

When the excitement wans and the adrenaline lapses, that doesn’t mean the goal has changed. it doesn’t mean your pursuit is no longer valid. It doesn’t mean God has left you!  It means you must walk by faith and not by sight – or feel – or touch. You are walking because you know the truth. You were meant to live for so much more. Don’t lose yourself (thanks Switchfoot). Don’t fall in the squat! Push on up. But what if I fail? What if they laugh at me? What if they criticize me!

Aristotle said: The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.

That is simply not acceptable.

Breathe. Stay focused. Now simply walk it out. Focus over a long period of time equals results.

Right on. Right on.

Growing up in Kentucky, I often heard the expression, “I’m just in the mulligrubs.” I’ve not tried it, but I doubt you can Google this and get a definition. I don’t know if anyone has ever seen the mulligrubs; however, I always knew it meant that any person who was “in the mulligrubs” were just mucking along – kind of like spinning your wheels – maybe even feeling bleh.  Well, here on this motivational blog, the author has been in the mulligrubs this past week for various and sundry reasons. Consequently, I’ve written nothing and probably inspired no one, especially myself. And, if I’m not inspired, how can I expect to inspire someone else?  It won’t happen.

I think the enemy of our soul sees us bouncing along, feeling good about life, helping others, and the Job story plays out right here in the 21st century. This enemy, who I call the devil (for some it may be “karma,” “the cards,” “the stars…”) regardless, this enemy goes before the God of the universe and says “no wonder she’s happy – things are going well and people are being nice. Let’s throw a fiery dart – aka, a snag – in her life plan and see how bouncy she stays.”

We are not supposed to walk by feelings, right? And I often tout the scripture, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” Well, my feelings got the best of me this week. I was sad, then mad, then perplexed and ready to chunk my plans. Without whining, let’s just say I was looking at and listening to all the wrong things, and people were… well… no whining.

I almost didn’t go to a meeting today because I was so “out of it.” However, I kicked myself in the butt, prayed “God, let me know what I’m supposed to do,” and I drove to Canton, got lost, finally met my people, and I’m so glad I did. I came away with fresh perspective and motivation. Because of this I realized that, really, I wasted a whole week! I only intermittently did my own personal development time, prayed a little, slept a lot etc.. I was like “what am I doing here in these mulligrubs” when nothing has really changed? I can’t fix people. I can only do me, and if I’m broken then nothing works.

Here is what I discovered: the time you get is the time you get, and that’s all you get.  So you’d better manage your time with every bit of wisdom and skill you can muster.  Never, ever take it for granted. -Alan Zimmerman.

There it is. This, then, led me to think of a scripture: Conduct yourselves with wisdom … making the most of the opportunity.

How many opportunities did I let slip past me this week because (hear the whiny voice) I had a bad day… Instead, I should be making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil being careful how I live – not as unwise but as wise (Eph. 5:15-16).

So, did things not go well this past week? Did you blow it? Did you just not care? Well, we all find ourselves in the Mulligrubs as we do life, but the key to not getting stuck there is to grab hold of something and pull yourself out of there! I picture these Mulligrubs like quicksand: a person begins to sink, and as they lift a foot, the suction fights against the movement taking them deeper into the muck.

I had two voices going on my head: one that said “just stay in bed – who cares” and the other that said, “just go – what have you got to lose?”  The older you get the more experiences you have, thus you know that things will get better. I can look back at things in the past that were sucking me under, but each time I grabbed hold of solid ground and made my way out – even though I had thought it was hopeless…

Do the things you know that work, even if you don’t feel like it. Take a step towards what you know is right, even if you don’t want to. Move forward, no matter how hard it is. Your feet will hit solid ground again.