Yearning and Regret

            Tim Archer shared a link on his blog today to the New York Times and an article concerning the fallout from adultery. Written by a woman who confessed that she knew all too well the consequences of an affair (she had one earlier in her life), this writer expressed clearly the pain resulting from such a poisonous decision.

            She frankly acknowledging that illicit sex, by its very nature, appeals to one’s carnal desires and is stimulating and exciting… in the moment. She adds, however, “What you don’t know, or perhaps what you don’t allow yourself to think about, is that your life will become an unbearable mix of yearning and regret because of it. It will be difficult if not impossible to be in any one place with contentment.”

            Her words serve as an experiential reminder that God’s way is the best way. He calls us to a lifestyle that is not meant to hurt us, but designed to help us. Adultery adulterates what is meant to be unadulterated. It mixes two people together in a relationship that should not be created.

            God designed and equipped us to focus on one person of the opposite sex to love emotionally, mentally, and physically—in marriage. That is all we can handle. To add another to that mix “blows our fuses.” It fragments what was to be unbroken. No one can find contentment under such circumstances.

            While it is true to say “it’s God’s way or the highway”, I prefer to say something equally accurate, “God’s way is the best way.”

  

Here’s a link to the New York Times story “A Roomful of Yearning and Regret”-- http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/fashion/12Modern.html?pagewanted=all&_r=3&

Here’s the Story—Maureen McCormick’s Ordeal

            When I was a kid, The Brady Bunch was a major TV series. You can imagine how surprised I was to discover that my kids enjoyed watching Brady Bunch reruns.

            During my childhood, a number of girls would have loved to trade places with Maureen McCormick, who played Marcia Brady. She was pretty, a star on television, and seemed to have it made.

            That is why I found it interesting to discover in her book Here’s The Story that her life was far from ideal. One example is the story of her mother.

            As a teenager, Maureen learned a horrible family secret. Her grandmother (her mother's mother) had contracted syphilis from her grandfather, who had himself become infected with the disease while serving oversees during World War I. Maureen’s grandmother in turn passed along to her daughter, Maureen’s mother, during birth.

            The disease necessitated that Maureen’s grandmother enter a mental institution where she died. One week later, her husband, Maureen’s granddad, committed suicide. Both were in their thirties.

            These tragedies and her own case of syphilis took a terrible toll on Maureen’s mother. She was treated as an outcast in ways such as being given her own dishes and silverware, lest someone else (they thought) get infected. Throughout her childhood she was sent to experimental hospitals searching new treatments for the venereal disease. Although the treatments ultimately proved successful, Maureen’s mother still paid a price. As an adult she battled mental illness.

            Learning of all of this as a young teenager, Maureen grew terrified that syphilis—and all of its side effects—had been passed down to her. In some of her famous crying scenes on the Brady Bunch, Maureen cried real tears. She never knew when she would have to surrender her career to disease, thus emotions churned beneath the surface.

            So consider this: many of the girls envying Maureen McCormick were in fact living far more tranquil and happier lives.

            Often, the people whose lives we covet are enduring far worse circumstances than we can ever imagine—yet another reason why we should find our contentment in Christ… and not in circumstances.

“… for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11b NIV.)

Contentment

This is not so much a story as it is a poem. I have been spending a lot of time this week thinking about contentment, and I came across this quote:


“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” 
― Lao Tzu


If this should be true with anyone, it should be true with a child of God!

Why It's Great to be a Dog

             Someone sent me this back in 2001. I’m not sure what the application is... other than be who God made you to be.  :)

Why It's Great to be a Dog

1) No one expects you to take a bath every day.

2) If it itches, you can scratch it.

3) There's no such thing as bad food.

4) A rawhide bone can entertain you for hours.

5) If you grow hair in weird places, no one notices.

6) You can lie around all day without worrying about being fired.

7) You don't get in trouble for putting your head in a stranger's lap.

8) You're always excited to see the same people.

9) Having big feet is considered an asset.

10) Puppy love can last.

What is Happiness?

            Several years ago, a 15-year-old girl wrote to the advice columnist, Abigail Van Buren:

Dear Abby,

            Happiness is knowing that your parents won't kill you if come home late. Happiness is having your own bedroom. Happiness is getting the telephone call you've been praying for. Happiness is getting good grades and making your parents proud of you. Happiness is being a member of a popular circle. Happiness is having parents who don't fight. Happiness is knowing that you're as well dressed as anybody. Happiness is something I don't have.

            (signed)

            15 and unhappy.

            A few weeks later, “Dear Abby” published a response from a 13-year-old girl:

Dear Abby,

            Happiness is being able to walk. Happiness is being able to talk. Happiness is being to see. Unhappiness is reading a letter from a 15-year-old girl who can do all three things and still says that she is unhappy.

            I can see, I can hear, but I can't walk.

            (signed)

            13 and happy