Acceptance | Tracks In The Dust

Archive for the tag “Acceptance”

25 Nov 2012

“One Lovely Blog” Award

It’s nice to know that others are interested in your blog, lately I have been slower to post- mainly because of the holidays and my work schedule. But looks like I have been nominated for an “award” and for that I am always grateful.

Here goes:

The rules:
1) Link back to the blogger who nominated you

Thank you, to Miss Audrey at In Wonderland for the nomination. It is always wonderful to visit your site and see what’s new.

2) Paste the award image on your blog, anywhere.(done)

3) Tell them 7 facts about yourself.

7 facts about myself:

1) I grew up in Wisconsin (USA). One very nice place in the summer, nasty cold during the winter.

2) I love music of all kinds. Well most of them. After 12 years in Texas I even love certain country artists. A concept this old rock-n-roller would have never guessed in my younger days. I love a lot of the contemporary music today as much as the old stuff.

3) Over the past few years I have come to appreciate time like never before. Cancer diagnosis can do that.

4) I am a Christian. That often means an immediate label. I don’t mind the label. I know that others have their beliefs, including their preconceived notions about Christians. Believe in the Grace of God. It is real.

5) I have always wanted to do more traveling with my wife, but it always seems to be hard to do. Every-day living gets in the way.

6) I have been blessed with a lot of great friends that I have met over the years. They have made life worth it.

7) I have 4 kids, they are all officially “adults” now… but they have taught me a lot. They are priceless.

4) Nominate 15 other blogs you like for this award. (I’ll nominate 6 like Miss Audrey did)

1) No blog intended– always worthwhile checking in on her site

2) OneNewThing my dear friend Caroline’s new blog… fun!

3) HopetheHappyHugger – Half way around the world, but a genuine great person

4) Practical Proverbs – Dave has captured so much about the Word and made it fit in the real world today

5) Mikes Look At Life – the photography is outstanding and always interesting

6) Pure Instinct – a lovely person – a lovely blog from aix

5) Contact the bloggers that you have chosen to let them know that they have been nominated.

I’ll do that soon!
6) Resume blogging your regular posts.

Posted in About mgert123 and tagged Acceptance, being remembered, Faith, Grace, One Lovely Blog Award, Postive Thinking, Texas, tracks in the dust, Wisconsin

31 Oct 2012

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Imperfection is Perfect

As the song goes “that’s the way God planned it”.

It seems that perfection (like beauty) is in the eye of the beholder. Imperfection is what makes things so right. Nothing is perfect- there are blemishes in nature, and humankind is far from it. So many strive for it, but the harder they work toward it the farther it seems.

So what about this imperfect life we live? Some of the rough parts are hidden, some of them are there for all to see. Some things are ugly, others are beautiful. There is not going to be a way to be perfect in everything. Only one man on Earth was and He died on the cross.

Today in the media, it seems there is always some story about a gaffe or mistake that fromcelebrity or politician doing or saying something. People put under the microscope of public media. Scrutinized for any mistake, or unexpected action not commonly fitting the in the “perfect form” we think we want. Awk! Like pictures of celebrities in regular every day circumstances, women celeb’s without their make up on (really?) or politicians making comments that don’t fit what we think they should be saying (especially for the opposition during election).

All this just appears to reinforce our expectations for what the media or some portion of the community wants to paint as “the standard” of perfection . It feels like a bad trend. It makes others feel inferior when they shouldn’t It sets the bar so high that others feel they cannot ever reach it.

Sadly, so many continue to live up to expectations of perfection they will be hard-pressed to ever achieve. They look for approval that never comes, and in their frustration they get angry or sad. Sometimes the emotion leads to violence or suicide. Other times it leads to depression and hopelessness.

We have to accept imperfection. God embraces it. We have to understand that in itself there is the beauty of uniqueness ( is that a word?). There is something that makes everyone and every thing worthwhile. If we put that under the microscope instead and rejoiced in it… relished its imperfection. Celebrate the exceptions.

So what can we look for in our striving for perfection? What do you believe? Do you believe?

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged Acceptance, Advice, Beauty, Definitions, Emotion, God, Grace, Imperfection, life is precious, Perfection, Postive Thinking, Self-Awareness, tracks in the dust

15 Oct 2012

Being Significant

Just watching the recap of the Felix Baumgartner who just successfully landed after free-falling 24 miles down to the ground. It is pretty significant achievement. It really makes me think about what could be something significant I should be planning in my life.

But then I realize that not everyone is going to have the opportunity to do something hugely significant and record-breaking in their lives. I mean for many (most?) of us, life is an everyday thing that has highs and lows, good days and bad, easy days and hard days. The measure of a lot of what we are is contained in a small span of our version of 24 hours.

Not copping out I think, there are plenty of inspirational books and successful people who make videos about going for the golden ring. It’s not impossible. And I am not saying that we all shouldn’t focus on the prize. But we also have opportunities much closer to home. We all possess ways to be significant to others. To our family, friends and the people we meet every day. Sometimes that significance may not be obvious to you, other times to them. At least not at the time. It may not be complicated, or produce a some profound moment.

It feels like its more about sharing what you can offer with others, paving the way for the “possible’ – for some one who in turn may create new horizons for the future, or just pay it forward to someone who will begin a whole new direction in their lives. However subtle or small it may seem. Each of us are unique. We are significant in our own way. We don’t necessarily have to perform a world record free fall, or climb the highest mountain.

What you do could cause a chain reaction of other things to happen and you may never know it. You may see it later. You may not. The start of it all is to understand that God made each of us to be unique, and to make a difference in our lives for others. Take the opportunity to be significant.

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged Acceptance, Advice, Felix Baumgartner, Grace, Postive Thinking, Self-Awareness, Significant, Slow Down, Who Are You

05 Oct 2012

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No One Gets Out of Here Alive

We all know it. We don’t often talk about it except when someone passes on in our lives or we know someone who has lost someone. That time is unpredictable, for some more than others. For a lot of us we all hope we can live to a ripe old age, be aware of life and all it has to offer right to the end of it all.

So we know it. It will be a day some day in our lives. We need to live till we die. And along the way we have our mission to share what brings us purpose. Many people seem lost and angry these days, so many unsure of the meaning of it, while yet others ignore their lives meaning altogether, and live with no purpose at all.

In the last couple of weeks I have known two wonderfully God-centered people who have experienced a loss in their lives. One a father and another a husband. They are mourning like those of us left here on Earth are supposed to do. They are also comfortable with the fact that there is a place afterward that their loved ones will be. Happy in the place that believers will be for eternity after this life. This grace continues to be profound in my life. Something I cannot ignore. That is something that is in the heart of a Christian.

So the reality of it is – no one gets out of here alive. ( Thanks Jim Morrison) No one lives forever in this life on Earth. While we are here, we touch other lives and make a difference in a million ways through our timeline (it’s not just a Facebook thing).

We can choose to be part of that movement in our life.

The lost choices lead to hopelessness, confusion, being unsure about the future or the present or eternity. Sadly there are so many out there that will spend that life until the end without purpose. How empty that must be. The found choices can be to make life what it is- a journey, an adventure, the opportunity to give back to those around us the grace that God has give us. Until the next eternal life. And since each moment could be our last, we need to cherish them and make them count.

Posted in Doing Things That Will Change Your Life and tagged Acceptance, cherish, choices, Grace, life is precious, life on earth, Postive Thinking, Self-Awareness, Sprituality, Who Are You

20 Sep 2012

What Other People Think Of You

I have always struggled thinking about with what other people thought of me. Acceptance was so often a guideposts for things I would do, for the plans I would make. There was a time when I turned a corner. Maybe it was part of my Lutheran upbringing or later on in life my cancer diagnosis, but I finally realised it had to change.

When you worry about what other people think, you let them control who you are. You waste a lot of time and energy trying to figure out what other people want you to be. Maybe they want it selfishly, maybe innocently they want you reflect themselves on you? You don’t even realise it – but all of a sudden you find yourself wasting a lot of time and energy trying to become like something you believe people want you to be, rather than just being what God made you to be.

Worrying about what other people think is dangerous because it leaves us extra sensitive to criticism. It means we may not do the right thing for ourselves but instead, we do the things that other people want us to do. And what everybody wants to do is often the opposite of the compass inside of us. Then when we feel that friction we are even more irritated with our life around us.

You cannot please everybody. There are so many opinions about so many things today, no one is going to always be pleased with you. People pray for things – some for one thing, some for another. Only a fool would try to do what even God can’t do. You can’t please everybody.

You don’t have to please everybody. So many people try to believe that in order to be happy you must be loved and gain approval by every one else. You know that deep in your heart you don’t have to, but somehow there is always that chance that it seeps back in.

Rejection will not ruin your life. It can be painful, you may even remember it and feel its imprint on you later. But it is not the end of things. In fact later it may look like the beginning of something else.

So I quit trying to please everybody years ago. It became obvious that no one can make me feel inferior unless I let them… It starts by beginning to understand that it can be your choice.