It's an Oxymoron

Re-reading a good friends blog and being blessed.  Micheal, you always have deep profound thoughts and a unique way of putting them.  I'm blessed by you and your friendship.

Check it out folks. . .

ReBlog: It's an Oxymoron

Encourage to Encourage

Steven Covey wrote an article titled, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People:  Powerful Lessons in Personal Change.  In this article he said, "Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be."

I don't know about you but I'm thinking he is on to something.  The way we treat people matters.  

How many of you have ever been through a "bad" break-up?  

You know the kind, where your whole heart was invested and then BAM! Just like that it's over.  It felt as if someone came and knocked you down by kicking in your knees from behind.  

I've been there.  

Imagine this... 

I'm smack in the middle of nursing school.

At this time, I was living with my former roommate (Sarah); she became my roommate at the beginning of nursing school.  We hadn't known each other prior to being in the same nursing class.  We got along at first, but as time crept on we realized we were not fond of each other at all.  We were so immersed in our dislike for each other that we lived in silence for six months! Six whole months! We only spoke to each other when absolutely necessary.  We couldn't wait for our lease to be up so we could move on out.  

March came upon us quickly.  During this time I had a horrible break up with a guy I was dating for four years.  The kind of break up you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.  I cashed out.  Checked out of life altogether.  I wouldn't eat, I wouldn't go to class, and I wouldn't go to church.  

Can you imagine a little baby in fetal position?  That's exactly what I looked like in my bed just the adult version.  

However, my story is not about my break up.  My story is about Sarah.  

Recap:  Sarah and I are not friends.  We tolerated each other at best.  

I sluggishly walked through our apartment door, feeling really down in the dumps and headed straight for my room.  That was where I was spending most of my time in those days.  Luckily, Sarah is very observant.  It didn't take her long to realize something was seriously wrong with me.  A few days had passed and one afternoon she came knocking on my door and asked me what was going on.   Much to my dismay, I told her what had happened.  Immediately, sympathy had flooded her face.  I remember standing there thinking, "Huh? That was nice of her to think of me."  

Over the next few weeks Sarah did little things to help boost my mood.  She left me notes around the apartment with inspiring words and scripture, she would make lunch and share it with me, she invited me to walk with her to class, she invited me to sit with her, and she invited me to her small group sessions. 

(I'm sure I'm missing some things) 

We would pray together and we really started to connect with each other.  It wasn't long after this Sarah and I become good friends.  We enjoyed hanging out with each other.  After we graduated in 2009,  I was in her wedding.  We remain close to this day.  

Her little acts of kindness, compassion and encouragement touched me in ways I didn't even know I needed.  I firmly believe I would not be where I am today if she did not choose to be the bigger person and show me kindness.  Soon enough, I found myself back in church and met a nice small group of people in Bucks County, PA.  We are scattered around the country now, but at the time they were a huge blessing to me.  

The moral of the story is that our actions matter to people that we like and to people that we don't like.  Our actions matter to people we are friends with and the people we are not friends with.  

Actions are and always have been the most powerful forces on the planet.  

I don't know where I would be if Sarah hadn't chosen the actions of Christ that year.  She was a strong supporter and encourager to me during one of my lowest points of life.  I believe that God places people in our lives that we need.  I wholeheartedly know He used Sarah to specifically reach me and I am so thankful that He did.  I think that we all should aspire to have Sarah's attitude. 

I challenge you to choose people in your life (Family, Friends, Church Members) to be intentional about; be intentional about your encouragement to those people.  Make it a point to be a blessing to them by showing them kindness and going out of your way to inconvenience yourself for them.  After all, we don't know the struggles that other people are going through. Shoot! You don't even have to choose people you like, or people you are friends with.  Sarah chose me.  I praise God every day for that.

"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.  For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.  But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up."  

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Sarah and I in Philadelphia a few weeks ago!

As for a life update... 

It's been busy per baseline, although I did find some time to relax! 

I finished up my contract in Philadelphia.  I sure do miss the people there.  

Currently thru December, I'm on a contract at Hershey Med (The Sweetest Place on Earth).  Once December rolls around, I'll be trekking it across country to good ole Madera, California.  

In between my Philadelphia and Hershey contracts I had 3 weeks off and took a nice long trip to North Dakota!  It was great to relax, have some time off, and hang out with some amazing people.  

Made it to see the world's largest buffalo.

Thank you North Dakota!

Buchanan, North Dakota!

Got to hang out with the Ericksons! 

John and Amanda 

Hoofed it to the top of the grain leg! 

The view was great! 

Headed Northwest to hang with this guy!

Jordan

Harvested some canola with him too! 

I did a lot of observing - but pitched in where I could.  Thankfully he was blessed with an abundance of patience! 

:-) 

In the Kimball flax field!

Made it to Montana for church! 

And then back to North Dakota!

Spike - killin' it with his good looks and charm.  

I miss that boy.  

Canada! 

My maiden voyage!

First time for everything!

Sunday fun day in Canada at Peace Gardens! 

"In the tree!"

North Dakota was a great trip, I was sad to see it end.  I'm gearing up for my next trip which will be to Michigan, and then I'll leave for Ecuador on November 8th.  If you have any spare prayers, I could always use them.  Thank you!


I believe that's all she wrote!

Until next time friends...