NO NEED TO LOOK BACK...

There are times when people review their lives and feel somewhat disheartened or melancholy about the choices they have made be they good or bad choices. Often they wonder if they had taken a different path would their lives have been dramatically different. As if one misstep or mistake would have changed their lives forever. The truth of the matter is that no one knows for sure if arriving at the three way stop sign 5 minutes earlier would have saved the life of a loved one or if an A in their 7th grade math course would have led to a career at a fortune 500 company or if smoking pot in the 9th grade would have NOT led to a Customer Service job in a call center in Phoenix AZ. We simply do not know. We do know this. The past is just that behind you, there is no need to look back continue to look forward...

Most people write in an electronic or paper journal, I have been one to always fear someone reading my thoughts, knowing my mind, seeing my heart. One has to be very, very careful of who they allow to see their heart or who they allow to read what they feel, because the very information we share with others may be used to hurt us.

I believe thoughts are important to review, but understand life is made up of small gains what I refer as MILESTONES. Unlike most who believe MILESTONES are major occurrences in life, like marriage, the birth of a child, the purchase of a new home or a trip to Europe, my MILESTONES have been less magnificent, they have been influential moments in MY life. I will share with anyone who will listen, why you ask because somewhere somehow I am narcissistic enough to believe I can somehow make a difference with my words, my pain, my life.

The weekly blogs will answer the lingering questions of why, what if, and when. All questions many have asked and few have been able to answer…..as the new year approaches I am certain this blog will make you think, make you laugh and make you learn that the answers you seek were within you all along....that will be YOUR very own Milestone....

…………….Good Bye 2008…….Hello….2009……………

KIND WORDS...GO A LONG WAY

Most people who know me, I mean who really, really know me, those who I would consider good friends are unaware of my denomination. I am sure a number of them have not given it a second thought, as I rarely do. As a practicing and devout Christian I have never given much thought to denominations, in my mind there is no such room for such divisiveness in religious thought or practice.

As children we were taught the rhyme..."sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me". How wrong were our parents and teachers for allowing us to recite and believe such rubbish. I often reflect on a situation some 8 years ago while I was working at former employer, this was a particular difficult time for me when an older Latin woman approached me and took a minute out of her busy schedule to tell me that she was impressed with my walk with God. I was speechless and touched for I never noticed how others saw my walk with GOD or others were able to view my light. She went on to say that others at the company talked about God, but I was a reflection of forgiveness and kindness. It was what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it. I am not able to commit verses to memory and I must look into the table of contents for many of the books of the bible; however I do know which books I need to consult when I am in need of comfort. Lamentations is a book I consult when my heart is aching, the Book of Habbukah is where I run, when all around me is unfair.

When I am reflecting or in doubt of a decision I reflect on that day, 8 years ago when a Jehovah Witness encouraged a Lutheran as Barnabas encouraged a lone traveler on a lonely road ...those words often get me by on and it leads me to wonder or ask "Have

I encouraged anyone with kind words today"?