I feel like a spy...

I've been reading people's Xanga sites again. Through GL's, I can link to other people's sites, like TMs, PKs, and CWs, who are in my mind all affiliated with school. Through TMs page, I see a comment from AF, who I also know, but never really connected her with TM. And through AFs site, I then found some people from church that I know too. But now I feel like a spy. Like I know things about peoples lives that they haven't directly told me. True, they did willingly post their own experiences online, but.. yea. Maybe its because I don't feel like I know these people -as- much, so reading about their lives makes me feel like a spy. Perhaps I should just try to actually TALK to these people more.

But the corner has a mango in it. Maybe it'll be thrown into the middle of the room.

Emotional Health

Yesterday at church, the pastor talked about our emotional health and the importance of grieving well. I am generally fairly nonchalant, however recently I've realized the importance of being emotional and being open about it. This sermon hit home and made me think more about my own emotional health.

The pastor pointed out that our emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable. All his knowledge about theology could not help him when he had bouts of depression. He had to learn how to grieve well. Pointing us to the story of Job, he showed us how Job dealt with his grief, and how we can apply that to our lives.

First of all, we need to pay attention to our loss. We are continually going through loss. We get older, circumstances change, people come and go. Our lives are full of transition. However, when our lives get tough, we often go into denial, or distract ourselves from what we need to deal with. So the first step is to actually pay attention and deal with our loss.

Secondly, we need to wait. We need to wait on the Lord. Our lives may be confusing, and we may not understand what God is doing, but God is God. And we are creatures. Job certainly didn't deserve what was happening to him. His friends kept trying to rationalize it, saying that Job must have done something wrong and that he is being punished for his sins. But we know that this is not true. We are always asking why loss happens, but perhaps we should wait upon the Lord. He may or may not answer our questions, but restoration will come in time.

Lastly, let go and move on. Let the old birth the new. Don't cling to the past, but let it help you move forward. God made Job a blessing, as Job let God move him through his suffering. Job became a changed man and a servant of God.

-P. Scazzero

Things like this are always easier said than done. I'll be starting right at the beginning. What am I distracting myself with? What am I not dealing with? Though I never watched Mandy Moore's (or as my brother would say, 'Mandy Less' hahaha as I roll my eyes..) movie "How to Deal," I think this sermon has given me a much better idea of what to do.

Let's see.

I occasionally like to visit other people's blogs. Sometimes interesting, sometimes funny, and sometimes uplifiting, its nice to be able to read people's stories. Sometimes I read the blogs of people I don't even know, through links from a friend's blog.

I especially enjoy reading what God has been doing in people's lives. It is encouraging and challenging to read about the struggles and experiences people face, and how they have overcome and grown with God.

Now I can't promise anything uplifting or encouraging with my blog, but I think I will begin sharing my thoughts and experiences with you as well.

Let's see what happens.