Signs and Wonders

"A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign..." Matt 16:4

You have heard me at various time talk about the benefits of darkness or trials.  One of those benefits is in the area of revelation of truth.  I have had many bad and toxic relationships over time that I thought were good at the beginning.  However, it was in times when conflict or obstacles happened that the true nature was revealed.  I'm seeing that in much fashion on the positive side in my current relationship, and it is very healing.  However, it wasn't meant to be healing.  It is just truth being revealed in those moments.. truth that it is more than my fears and a wonderful good in my life that I didn't have to create.. worthy of honor and attention.

I titled this blog with that name, because I think that it is in those moments that the truth is revealed to be one or the other.  Disagreements and differences are revealed, over time.  That is just the nature of being among other humans.  Either someone will see those that say.... "AHA, I KNEW it was not going to work, and this is a sign."  Or, they will look at the differences to say... "Huh.. this person is an interesting wonder to me, and I want to learn more about them and how best to love them in a way that they need and will appreciate."  Being yourself is not a bad thing, ever.  I only wish that in those prior toxic relationships that I would have known, early, that being myself was something that they wished to change and could not love as myself.  

It doesn't mean that the person that is with you will be like you.  You may have many differences, and some of those differences may seem to be very different than what you expected.  It may require you to change how you naturally interact, if they cannot receive it in that way.  THAT doesn't mean that you are incompatible.  What makes people incompatible is when you cannot find a way to love them in a way they can receive or them love you in a way that you can receive.  If you can learn their language of love and communicate in it, LOVE can still be shared.. and isn't that the point?

People are either looking for a sign something is going to fall apart, or they are looking for the wonder to love in another.  Real love is revealed in conflicts, as is love that is only there for themselves.  Don't use fear of the outcome to change who you are, or you will be changing who you are forever.  Rather, be yourself, and love their self.  Then, nothing can shake that foundation. 

Challenge and Growth

I've noted at times my hesitation in posting blog posts, because invariably I tend to face a challenge to what I say in my personal life.  However, I've noticed that the good in my life tends to be challenged, even if I don't post about it.  I've noted this at times in blog posts, as I reflect on it.  I noted how in a George Lopez episode the grandmother didn't want to acknowledge good too loud, because it would draw the evil eye to come and bring it down.  Many feel this about acknowledgement of good, actually.  They feel that they should not say good things, because there are so many that don't have those things.  Yet, there is no such restriction on saying bad things, so people have more examples of negativity in public upon which to base their expectations.  So, good IS important to note, as well... even if it draws the doubts of others or even those that would seek to undermine it.

Any type of activity that would improve you is also subject to resistance.  Most people that begin New Year's resolutions will abandon them in the first few weeks of the year.  If you join a gym, you suddenly have a lot of reasons not to go.  If you would find a job that funds your life, it is usually among co workers that spend hours talking about how bad that place of work is to have, even as they get paid from it.  

However, Scripture says that challenge is good...

" so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:7

That is about faith, but the concept is the same.  What God gives, God tests.  No engineer would trust something that is not tested.  It is a part of the process.  Further, testing provides information to make things work better in the future.  Failure is not the end of something, if that something is desired by those that have it.  it is a step towards perfection.

I have a great relationship with my love, but that relationship has grown over time.  We learn from it and grow and will continue to learn and grow.  I have many work skills in several ways, and EVERY ONE of them was perfected and built up by experience with failures.

So, this blog is simply to say this.  Do not fear failure, and do not let it stop you from trying.  Trying is the only way to move forward, and progress only comes through refinement.  All we need for greater success and happiness is to have is the commitment and the ability and willingness to accept and learn from errors along the way.