Nearing a “new year”…….

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; We've added years to life, not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; We've done larger things, but not better things; We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; we plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait; We have higher incomes, but lower morals; We have more food, but less appeasement; We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to make a difference, or just turn the page...
~Author Unknown~

Walking the Talk….

Grow.

Change.

Evolve.

That has been our “theme” lately.

When the kids were little they seemed to GROW before my eyes.  I never really SAW it happening….it just did. Miraculously.

Right

in

front

of

me.

Amazing.  Wonderful. Godly stuff.

But it was more like, “Wow…Zeeks pants are WAY too short.  He GREW a lot!!!”

But …you don’t NOTICE really the growth everyday.

Because it happens so slowly.

Like a granted wish….it just happens and THEN you SEE it.

I guess growing in any way is like that…..when you are in the middle of it- you don’t notice.

But- when you take a moment to really look….it is soooo evident.

Soooo “right in front of you”….

it is undeniable.

Sometimes we don’t even KNOW we are growing …till we have GROWN.

LOL.

A couple of weeks ago, Jay was a part of the “2012 St. Augustine Pirate Gathering” parade.

ONE of his “jobs” he has is being a pirate on The Black Raven Pirate Ship.  If a “job” consists of sword fighting, firing black powder cannons,  face painting, and telling some-what dirty jokes. LOL.

I am beyond GRATEFUL for this amazing  job for him.  It really let’s his personality SHINE.  So…it was a no-brainer when he said that the ship was going to be in the pirate parade. 

Then…..

he said they wanted the boys to be in the parade.

Crickets.

That is what we heard when he asked the boys.

I think Zeek said, “ Like…actually walk IN the parade? Not just GO?”

Hahahahaha.

Yes son….like “walk IN the parade” and wear a pirate costume.

GASP.

I thought Zeek was going to DIE.  Like just drop right there.

He was not excited…his 9 year old brother was.

Awesome. 

As we sat around the dinner table,  I did everything I could to CONVINCE my 12 year old son that it would be “cool” to walk down the MIDDLE of the town wearing a prate costume and throwing candy.

“No really….it will be fun!”

“You friend Doug is doing it.”

“Your Dad does a lot for YOU…”

“It is good to get out of your comfort zone.”

“Your DAD is doing it, and he is UBBER COOL.”

“There will be LOTS of pirates in town….no one will even blink an eye”

“Don’t worry….we will MAKE you a great costume!” (You can imagine his face on THAT one!)

Lets just say…

He

was

not

convinced.

And because I always want them to THINK that they are in SOMEWHAT control of decisions they make in their lives…

I said, “Ok…think about it.  But…you  should really do it.  It will be fun.  You have a few days to make the RIGHT decision. Which should be YES.”

He half-heartedly said OK….

A couple of days later I asked about his decision, he said “ I’m not really sure yet…I don’t know.”

My response, “Ok…I'm giving you a day to come to the decision to DO IT.  Because you ARE doing it.  But, Ill give you a day to “get there” on your own.”

He looked at me and said, “Alright….I’ll probably do it.”

Hahahaha.  Smart boy. LOL.

The day of the parade came and I talked to him about “getting out of your comfort zone and being “in” your life.” 

We talked about how in life you will come across situations where you will be uncomfortable.  You will be put in situation where you really would just rather WATCH from the sidelines.

But….

That is God pressing you.

That is him “pushing you” to be better, more ALIVE.

That is him inviting you to be more present and involved in your life.

And in the end….they had a GREAT time.

He loved every minute of it.

Needless to say….I felt like SUPERMOM.

He had conquered his fear and overcome his insecurities.

AMAZING.

Then…..

it happened….as it always does.

It was MY TURN.

This past Saturday the girls were going to be in the parade for The Dance Company.   They were OVER THE MOON.  They needed NO convincing.  It was awesome.  We were ready to go.   You see….I was going to be in the back.  Corralling kids.   I was there strictly for “behind the scenes” participation. 

I was PLANNING on walking behind all the girls to make sure we were all together.  I was PLANNING on getting lost in the sea of little girls “pony-ing” their way down the middle of the street. 

EASY PEASEY…right?

Yeah right.

Then I was the one who “got pressed”.

I got there and at the very last minute they needed someone to walk IN FRONT and carry the sign.

Like WAY IN THE FRONT…..of everyone.

With. the. sign. that. everyone. looks. at.

CRAP.

Freakin” schooled AGAIN.

I didn’t want to be uncomfortable. 

I didn’t want to be “out of my comfort zone”.

Again…CRAP.

That is what I get for being all..”Put yourself out there.  It is good to be “pressed” into doing something you are uncomfortable with.”

So…off  I went.

Carrying the sign and WALKING the talk that I so love to talk.

It was a great experience, it showed me that no matter how much we THINK we have grown….because of what we can SEE.

The real growing happens so slowly that we are shocked when our “proverbial old clothes” don’t fit.

We grow bit by bit.

Experience by experience.

Step by step

Even if those “steps” are taken right down the middle of the flippin’ town, carrying a huge sign, in front of 1000’s of people.

It also  taught me that no matter when or where God chooses to “press” us….

young

or

old.

If we choose to take those steps….

We will be rewarded.

If we choose to walk the talk…

we will be MORE alive.

And that will be evident in our lives….

even when we are standing still.

Live. Love. Laugh. Learn.