Thur. June 19, 2008

On the lowcarb front:
No workout this morning. My weight is up from last Thursday. My biggest struggle in this whole journey, and the thing that I think is keeping the scale from going down, is night time eating. I can go the whole day with nary a slip, but after 6:00 the struggle begins. I'm not sure why. I think part of it is that at night things slow down and the worries that I am able to put aside during the day surface. Since I am a COE, my coping mechanism is eating. I think the answer is to leave one hobby for evening (quilting anyone?) and let that be my default action rather than going to the fridge.

On the home front:
The rafters have arrived for the new building. Construction will begin in a couple of weeks. It will be gray. It will seem strange to see a gray building where our red barn once stood. I will miss that old icon.

Word of the day:
Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said, "When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 'Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Reflections from the cornfield:

Jesus spoke often about forgiveness and the importance of forgiving others - so important that he bestowed it as he was dying on the cross. Jesus never asked anything of us that he did not give example with his life. The very first words he uttered from the cross were "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34) Forgiveness requires letting go - and not just letting go, but giving over - in the same way that Jesus gave over his spirit after forgiving the people who nailed him to the cross.

And who is this "them" that Jesus asks the Father to forgive? Is it the Romans who nailed him to the cross? Or the Jews who handed him over? Or the crowds who mocked him as he made his way up the hill? Or Judas for betraying him? Or Peter for denying him? Or his trusted disciples who ran away? Or you? Or me? Do any of us deserve forgiveness? Nope. Can any of us earn it? Nope. It's a gift free and clear. We can accept it or reject it. Jesus was the word personified. His entire life was a sermon on how we should live. He said, "I have given you example, that you should do as I have done to you." (John 13:4-5 & 14-15)

Words to live by, those are.

God bless the troops