Disappointed?

“Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; 

it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.” 
― Eliza Tabor Stephenson

Have you ever experienced disappointment? How about disappointment in yourself? Maybe you said something like, "I will never do that... again!" And then you did it. Again. Your promise flew out the window and you are left looking at yourself in the mirror with frustration. Or maybe even disgust.

Just give me a loonie for every time that I promised myself something that ended up unfulfilled. For any that have known this unpleasant experience you have my compassion. The moment after is the worst - where you realize that self-discipline flew out the window and you gave into - well, gave into whatever you had promised yourself that you would not. Got angry at someone - again. Indulged an addiction - again. Gave into fear - again. Contacted her or him - again. 

So what are we to do, us who break faith with our most intimate relationship - with ourselves? Give up on us? Cast judgment and walk the path of darkness? Could I suppose - tried this and found that it neither healed nor gave life for growth.

Or - we could trust that every misstep, every broken promise, every wound is nothing more serious than life teaching us, rubbing the rough spots off to polish and make pure the heart that God knows is within us. As my mentor said, "life is an experiment - a big playground." So, if you make mistakes, even lots of mistakes, that is okay. Learn from them, laugh at them, cry over them... and most importantly grow in and from them.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) 

God is working on you, carefully walking with you, carrying you, loving you and offering you the freedom to make and break promises as you learn what it means to be love.

I leave you with Mark Twain's wisdom:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” 
― Mark Twain

Pastor Bill

Go look in the mirror

Right now - take a minute

find a bathroom

and look at your best friend

the heart and soul of YOU

and smile

and forgive

and experiment

and just

be the love

that you are!

Oh yeah - and breathe ;-)

(First published March 7, 2012)