Sunday Morning Coffee Musings: A Life Shattered & Scattered

Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. -Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 11

…been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. -Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 11

Good grief Paul! I can relate! Many of us can relate whom lives seem to be on some random game board where things happen at the spin of the wheel. Can we get some consistency other than the “bad” things that seem to happen all of the time. We spend time grasping for memories of good times, we write our five things to be grateful for, we are constantly searching for the silver lining or the light at the end of many tunnels. Some of us don’t ask why because we are use to it. Some of us ask why anyways (that would be me) in an effort to try to understand the method to the madness. As I sit here and type, adjusting my body and hear my hip make a loud pop, I laugh. Yes, body, I am writing about you! And much more!

So what do we do? Those who seem to be plague with a series of unfortunate events. We recognize that grace is sufficient and power works best in weakness.

Charis (/ˈkeɪrɪs/; Greek: Χάρις) is a given name derived from a Greek word meaning “grace, kindness”. In Greek mythology, a Charis is one of the Charites (Greek: Χάριτες) or “Graces”, goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility; and in Homer’s Iliad, Charis is the wife of Hephaestus.

The ability to get through the things we go through comes through grace (kindness). We go through being kind to ourselves and others. I am still growing in grace or kindness for myself, but I have plenty of grace for others who suffer. God, the Creator of the Universe says the grace given to us is sufficient. It’s enough to get us through those times. I think through these hard times you can become a Charis. You become one with charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility (in a sense reproductive through creativity or giving life to others who suffer).

When I look at the words “My (God) power works best in weakness” I think of it as when I am at my weak points, the pushing through is the power. It is the strength to keep going. It is the strength to choose life. It is the will to live. It is the fight in us. We emerge stronger and stronger.

You may ask, “Well, when it be over? When will I get to just live my life with so many trials and tribulations?” I can’t answer that. I don’t know. I do know one thing I have decided to do, and I hope you will join me, is to live my life with POWER. Do I get tired? Yes. Do we get down , depressed, oppressed, and filled with anxiety at times? Yes. Do we get angry? Yes. But through those dark times in the tunnels we may rest, but we refocus on the light. We get ourselves together and we walk or run towards the light to bask in it again. And sometimes we have to stand at the end of the tunnel encouraging someone else to come on through. We may have to go back in and get somebody. We do it because we have gained strength.

How long will the light last? I am tired of tunnels (I know right?!!!). If we, get enough wisdom in us, enough affirmations, confidence, a knowing that we will get through whatever comes our way, well, we can carry a light within. We may have trouble lighting it sometimes, but we are boys and girl scouts in the spirit and we know how to start a fire! Thoughts are like matches or the sticks you rub together in this situation. You have to begin with affirmations, reading positive material, reciting scriptures, thinking about the times you made it through before, imagining life the way you want to see it. Power rises from within even when you are looking without for inspiration. After going through so much in my 41 years I realize I am the light and I don’t have to wait until I get to the end of the tunnel(sickness, illness, tragedy, trial, etc). I shine wherever darkness is. That is power.

~Nikki “You don’t have to wait until you get to the end of the tunnel to receive light.You are the light within the tunnel. Someday, I hope you realize this.”- Nicole Jackson