One Word

A friend forwarded one of those "get to know your friend better" Emails recently, but this one allowed you to answer only with one word. I found it interesting and tough! Some of the questions were more difficult than others, especially to answer in one word.

This got me thinking about my one word themes for the year. I started many years ago...actually God gave them to me and continues to do so. Usually in the fall, close to the holidays, I am given a word that will summarize the year to come. Trust me; the word is from God. It is written on a blank white board, and it hasn't always been a word/theme I'd like. But it has been accurate, nonetheless.

When I get the word, my mind immediately races to what it will mean. I should just give up. I'm never right! God always has something else in mind. It is totally amazing to start to look back at 2008 and see my word at work. This year, it has been "soar". I thought I would soar as a writer and sell a bazillion books; nope. I thought I'd soar as a speaker and increase my trips around the country; wrong. I thought my health would finally soar from beating Lyme Disease; wrong again, although I've made some great progress. No, as I look back, it is my faith that has been soaring by leaps and bounds. Countless avenues have pointed me up!

With the move to Colorado (leaving some dear friends behind) and financial times getting tough, I feel this is a very appropriate place for me to be. I eagerly await 2009 and what God has planned for me.

Give it a try. Find some time to be quiet with God and let Him share with you. You won't regret it!

Give me a break!

I cannot believe, especially when our government is already in debt beyond comprehension, that is it bailing out another industry. Companies who were greedy enough to give out loans to those who really couldn't afford them should be shot, not supported.

People who actually signed on the dotted line to outrageous loans should have all their credit cards taken away and be put on an allowance! In fact, I want to know why it is that these folks, who are crying poor now, have a nicer car than me, have several cars in fact and have boats, jet skies and motor homes!? Those of us who were smart with our money and didn't buy everything we saw to keep up with the Jones are now being punished. I think we should collect all the material items these idiots collected on credit and spread the wealth. My husband would love a boat.

Something is seriously wrong here folks. And when everyone points a finger at someone else, we have insulted the people who died fighting for this country . They did not ask for their country to give to them but gave to it! The American way used to stand for taking ownership and responsibility for one's life but enjoying great freedoms and opportunities in this abundant land.

Stick with it

Okay, I have to confess something. I haven't been lifting weights on a regular basis since I moved to Colorado. I've kept up my cardio, but I just haven't been inspired to do my weight-bearing exercise.

For almost three months, I've been lax. I think that is the longest break I've ever taken in 20 years...and I can tell.

It is amazing how quickly muscles weaken. I started back up faithfully this week, and I'm sore! Now I remember why I don't like any time to lapse. It is much more work to start and stop than it is to just keep plugging away. Doing anything is better than nothing.

So when the temptation comes, don't submit to it! Keep with your program, even if you adapt it. You'll be glad you did.

A Matter of Choice?

I recently started watching The Cleaner with Benjamin Bratt. It's a show about a former drug addict who now has a mission from God to help others. He has passion and sensitivity towards those in the dark shadows of the night. I've never drank or did drugs, so I have found it fascinating to watch people put their lives at risk in order to get high.

We all make bad decisions, and that is really what they have done. Instead of facing their issues, pain or hurts, they have turned to something to numb it. People don't just use drugs and alcohol to do this. I've seen people use food, sleep and even exercise as an escape. Anything to an extreme becomes an addiction.

What I did not agree with after last night's program was a PSA about how doing drugs is a "disease"...they have no choice in the matter. This is so far from the truth! We all have a choice to turn right or left. Once the substance is in their system, yes, they can addicted. It does become difficult to break the habit...any habit is hard to break. BUT we all have the same choices. Drugs are everywhere for anyone to find. Alcohol is in ever store. Food surrounds us.

I cannot say that drug addicts or alcoholics have a disease and therefore remove the responsibility that is theirs. I can say, however, that society is letting us all down by pitching and selling quick fixes...drugs, diets, get rich schemes, etc. Our world does not want to do the hard work. Our society does not want to face the music of owning our own junk. We need to take responsibility-plain and simple.

With that said, the Cleaner has increased my awareness of hurting people who need unconditional love and support. Something is broken, and it won't get fixed with judgement. We should not look at it as a disease and treat it but rather look at a broken person and how to mend their hearts.

What says you?

A Life Well Lived

Attending funerals is not high on my list of things to do. I've been to too many already in my soon to be 42 years of life. I must say, however, that the service on Saturday for Dr. Dallas E. Shafer was a celebration of his life, all he did for God's kingdom and all the love he shared with the world, no matter who you were.

Over 2,000 people came to show their respect, love and thanks to a man who gave all he have, every day of his life. His final wishes were for us all to take the baton and carry on his mission of serving others. Even at his funeral, he was thinking of others and blessing others. Truly, he lived life well.

He challenged each of us to do our best, be our best and give our best...which only can happen when we are right with the Lord. So in the midst of sorrow, bright light came...a reminder of who loves us and whose we are.

Season of Change

Fall quickly arrived in Colorado like the flick of a switch. Bam! It is no longer summer. The temperatures are cooler, the days shorter and the leaves are beginning to change. Although I want to fight it, resistance is useless. It's coming, so I might as well embrace it.

Makes me think of life changes. Even though we don't want some changes to happen, they do. I'm attending a funeral tomorrow of a man who has been like a father to me for 29 years. My initial response was pure anger...it wasn't fair and I wasn't happy about it. But, I knew anger wouldn't serve me well, so I put my energies into praying for healing and quality of life. Given only two months to give, Dallas made it a year and a half. He fought hard, and God blessed us with Dallas just a little longer.

Loss of loved ones is a most difficult change. I've been here before with my mom and dad. What I've learned is that we are forever changed because of it, but we must live on in honor of the love we received from them. And thankfully, we have memories to warm our hearts on those cold and dreary days of grief.

So with the changing of the seasons this year, my life will forever change. The world won't be quite as bright without Dallas in it, but I pray I can be half the person he was and give to the world he spent his life changing for the better.

ON SEPTEMBER 11, LET’S FORGET

I wrote this some time ago but thought it was fitting for today:

Everyone is recalling 9/11/01 and what went wrong.

Let us be grateful for what we have and put

negative thoughts where they belong.

Let’s forget selfishness and looking out for number one.

Instead, let’s thank our country’s heroes for all they have done.

Let’s forget the blaming game that is full of hate.

Rather, let’s give gifts of love, no matter what the date.

Let’s forget violence, whether it be

body, mouth or mind.

Let kind deeds, words and thoughts be

what people find.

We’ll never forget what happened this day.

But, we can now change how we live and what we say.

Remember 9/11 but also forget.

For what you give is what you will get.

Lorraine Bosse-Smith

9/11/02