My How the Times Sure Change

We've all seen it. Whether on the big screen, in a play, or perhaps you've witnessed it happen in real life. The dainty woman wearing the floor length dress must hold it up above her ankles in order to keep it from dragging on the ground and, therefore ,becoming dirty or wet.

It's nothing special. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing that causes you to stand up and cheer.

Tonight, however, this hit me in a new and different way. I was all settled in for the night and passing time by skyping a friend and googling interesting articles. Nothing too special. I was comfy cozy in my Huntington sweats which have become a staple in my post-college wardrobe. I had been trying off and on to get a hold of my Nana, just to check in and such and realized that I hadn't talked to her much all day. Every time I called, the phone rang busy and suddenly it hit me that it could be an issue. I pulled on a jacket, slipped on my moccasins and hit the trail, off to her home to investigate. Everything was fine and it was just a technical issue.

But that's not where the story ends.

After talking for a bit I bundled up again, ready to head home. I reached the end of the cement walkway and before hitting the snowy ground I paused long enough to hold the pant legs of my sweats up so as not to let them drag on the cold snowy ground.

That's right! I held them up like I was dressed for the Oscars and I had just reached the end of my red carpet. I felt a little embarrassed and a lot ridiculous. This did cause me to think, however, about how true the old saying is that "Times sure do change".

I think my grandma has told me this twice a week for the last 24 years. Usually I brush it off and make a mental note to try to keep up with the times as I age. This incident, however, made me pause and think a bit.

Years ago, women wore dresses every single day. They were floor length and yet women were expected to accomplish all tasks in such attire. I'm sure that they never imagined that come year 2012 a girl driving a red sporty looking car would pause to hold up her sweat pants in order to prevent them from getting snowy or wet.

The fact of the matter is, times change. People change. Ideas change. Traditions change.

How wonderful is it to know that the Creator of the Universe, the Alpha, the Omega, the One True God does not change! He never has and He never will! I find it to be a comforting and liberating thought!

Malachi 3:6 tells us that "I the Lord do not change"

That's that. He stays the same today, tomorrow, and forever. So whether you're hiking up your dress to step into your carriage, hiking up your sweats to step into your car, or hiking up your future attire to step into your Jetson like travel machine, God will be there to lead you, guide you, and love you. And He will be the same throughout!

Treasure this thought and thank Him today for His consistency in a very inconsistent world!!

The Pulled Back Curtain

When the president of the university hands out your diploma, there should be a disclaimer attached. One that goes something like

"I know you've spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours working to earn this, but just because you have it does not mean that there will be a job readily available or that all that you planned for will be accomplished"

Now, had that been the case this blog would not likely exist. Eight months ago when I first held my diploma in my hands, I had great dreams. Noble dreams. Dreams that put to shame my childhood ideas of being a singer despite my lack of ability to carry a tune. I thought that I had grown up, I was ready to be released into the world and to make my presence known. I was ready to prove to everyone that when you do A + B + C you would get D. What I never expected is that that D would have a Q attached.

Thats right. DQ. The place where I spent my high school years working and dreaming. I was back. All that time, all that money, all those dreams were replaced by a button up shirt, a visor, and the directions to always ask if a drink was desired with the chicken strip basket.

So for the last eight months, thats where I have been. I had become a pro at feeling sorry for myself and pleading with God for some sort of explaination of why I was put there. Through a series of events these things all came to one giant head in the last few weeks.

This brings me to my point. You know those moments where everything suddenly makes sense and you feel foolish for having questioned anything to begin with? That is me. I am a follower of Christ. I yearn to be near Him always and I try my very best to serve Him well. I had, however, put Him in a box and decided that He was not powerful enough to release Himself.

No box is big enough to contain the Creator of the Universe and no person is wise enough to fully understand His ways. Luckily for us, however, He meets us in our stupidity. He certainly met me. I have had the distinct pleasure of having God pull back the curtain of my life only to reveal His omniscience.

God didn't put me at Dairy Queen so that I could sulk or pout. He put me there for a purpose. He allowed me to live in my hometown for a purpose. He allowed me to return to my home church, interact with the people I grew up with, and get to know some completely new people. God had a plan. A wonderful one.

So here is the point of my whole rambling thoughts.

Sometimes we have no idea why God is doing something or what His intention could possibly be. It seems He has allowed everything to turn upside down and be shaken up completely. But when the dust settles you realize something wonderful has been created and you might even come to believe that you are right where you need to be.

I know I have.

I am honored to be a servant of the Most High and I am learning to be completely comfortable being at His disposal. It will probably not look like I imagined and it might at times feel lonely or confusing, but it will ALWAYS be worthwhile.

Drop your baggage. Pick up your cross. Follow.
Matthew 16:24