Summing Up the Complaint Monitoring Week

   This week I have been attempting to monitor and curtail any complaints that might be coming from me. So, today being Friday, I’m going to stop and attempt to sum up the good and bad of what was, wasn’t and what was learned.

  Firstly, let me say that it was not a perfectly accomplished week. I had my moments of the moan and groan syndrome. However, I do think it was somewhat curtailed with intent to try and not complain. But that is really only the tip of the results. Instead it has been a week to remind me of the implications of the choice to or not to complain. I have been both reminded and learned anew the domino effect that complaining can have. As one word piles on to the next and then the next and next, soon a whole tidal wave is occurring which is eating time, energy, and not solving anything. However, the opposite is true as well, and the positive words can rebuild and create an atmosphere of cooperation and effectiveness. There are also differences between complaining and acknowledging less than perfect or ideal situations. This is not an excuse to hide, nor to just skim over the not so pleasant stuff. You may find yourself needing to wade right in. Go ahead, this is when perspective comes into play, and understanding another’s point of view is very important. When we start not to complain, we also may find our self seeking out the other to understand them better.
   Boiling this down, it comes to having an attitude of gratitude, of being appreciative and maintaining the perspective to be both aware of and seeking for the gratitude which may or may not come easily. And to remember that this holiday which has just passed is an excellent reminder of the action of giving thanks even in the midst of war.

Have you thought about?

   When things are humming along smoothly, it is easy to complete forget about how they got started. For instance, have you ever thought about how it was decided to have multiple branches of government and what each would look like? How did letters become shaped they way they were? Who first had the idea of a light bulb, a car, a computer, or a hot water heater? Who had the idea of the different inventions around us and then pursued it enough to either creation or the encouragement of others? Who thought of wiring or pipes or carpet? Trade, taxes, laws, and infrastructure – it all becomes something that we don’t even think about, just simply accepted. But, each of these had a beginning, a brainstorm and then action.

   There have been many inventions, decisions, discoveries, and designs made. It is easy to forget that each started from an idea. What idea do you have that could result in the next invention, decision, discovery, or design?

Let Go & Let God

   Have you ever heard the saying, “Let Go and Let God”? I must say right idea but perhaps not always the end of the thought. Instead, it often goes something like let go, let God, and then go do. What does that mean? Well the let go part is good. I mean, God is quite capable of handling every question, thought, attitude filled moment. Let God is also good, let God work and answer and meet needs, work out the problems. But many times, we are then put back into the mix to go do. Go and give forgiveness, go and fix your part of the problem, go and make disciples, go and be a disciple, go.

   Let go, let God and then, when the time is right, go do.