Nov 16, 2008 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2008. All rights reserved.
How many of your decisions and actions are interrupted or halted by “what ifs”? Perhaps you’re like me and feel your life has been outlined too much by this often daunting question.My family and I went to Disney World in Florida a few weeks ago when Hurricane Gustav was heading toward Cuba and Tropical Storm Hanna was forming in the Atlantic. My husband, who is generally the voice of caution, proposed a “what if” question before we left —“What if Gustav or Hanna hit Florida during the dates we’ve planned for our trip? Maybe we should cancel.”
I just couldn’t cancel a trip we had planned for many months based on a “what if” synopsis. I reasoned that “if” we had to cut our trip short at some point, then we were capable of adapting our plans to do whatever was necessary or needed at any given moment.
So we went. And as it turned out, rain never dampened our activities, and the cloudy days and cooler temperatures were a welcome relief.
There have been many other times when I have belabored over the question — “What if I’m making a mistake?” I’ve agonized over this possibility to the point of becoming paralyzed by fear and consequently accomplishing nothing. This has been true for countless job opportunities that I’ve not taken — some of which I regret not taking to this day.
Certainly when trying to make a decision, we should always consider the consequences of every action — so some “what if” questioning is a good thing. But in the end, we do need to act. I suppose as with everything in our lives, there is a proper balance between questioning, analyzing and doing.
Have you ever wanted to know what might have happened if you had taken a different direction, perhaps asking, “What if I had known then what I know now?” This is usually another question that only leads to one conclusion — regret. I travel down this path when I start ruminating about the college major I didn’t choose or the law degree I didn’t pursue.
It seems “what if” is also one of the tantalizing questions in American history. Historians are often intrigued with contemplating what might have been for many defining moments in our history. And so they create in essence — alternate history.
“What if…?” is even the title of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics that explore “the road not traveled” by its various characters.
However, I’m not really certain what good is accomplished by creating “what if” histories since we can’t go back in time and change outcomes. We probably always know best with hindsight.
What does seem more beneficial is imagining “what if” scenarios for the future. I like the idea of being a visionary — a person who has the ability to imagine the infinite possibilities and to conceive how to make what at first seems impossible, possible.
So I think perhaps the most helpful “what if” questioning is when one is dreaming of what to do in one’s life. The range of ideas are endless when we start picturing our future from a “what if” basis without limitations or restrictions.
Perhaps “what if” questions do have their proper place and purpose in our lives —especially when they help mold our decisions into wise and productive steps forward.
Being an election year, I can’t help but wonder — What if every American voted?
But recently, I’ve been envisioning some “what if” prospects for myself…
What if I’m not too old?
What if I could do whatever I wanted with the rest of my life?
What if I knew I couldn’t fail? What would I do?
This kind of “what if” thinking is giving me the encouragement I’ve needed to replace fear and uncertainty with the courage and assurance of success. I can’t help but think of Paul’s words, “Behold, now is the accepted time.” (II Corinthians 6:2) One definition of accepted is preferred. So now — not later — is the preferred time.
My “can do” attitude is gaining confidence. Now I only need turn my answers into actions!
Nov 16, 2008 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2008. All rights reserved.
The 7th anniversary of what many consider the most abominable tragedy in our nation’s history is upon us — September 11, 2001. Franklin D. Roosevelt referred to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 as “a date which will live in infamy.” These words became all too real to America once again seven years ago.I’ve been asking myself — Why should we remember? Not that I’ve ever forgotten!
I remember that morning — as I suspect we all do. I was in bed feeling about as sick as I think I’ve ever felt when my father-in-law called to say a plane had just crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. So my husband turned on the television. I was lying there watching the news reports when the second plane hit. At that moment we all knew something was terribly wrong, and these crashes were not accident or coincidence. I was sitting up now and had completely forgotten about feeling sick.
With extreme fear of our nation being under attack, I began to make calls to locate our daughter who had left for her freshmen year of college only a couple of weeks earlier. I wished she were home! When we reached her, she was struggling to console her roommate whose dad worked at the Pentagon.
In President Bush’s five-year anniversary speech of September 11th he said, “On 9/11, our nation saw the face of evil.” The “face of evil” is certainly one way to describe the horrors many of us saw on television that day, which many others met face to face. But one cannot think of the heinous acts of 9/11 without also reflecting on the countless and extraordinary acts of courage and compassion that so many people displayed.
It does often seem harder to erase the bad memories and much easier to forget the good. But remembering the good will help us wipe out evil and not allow it to steal our peace, freedom and security.
I can’t help but think of Edmund Burke’s words, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Well, evil didn’t triumph over our nation on September 11, 2001 because good men and women did something! Many courageous men and women responded to their fellow citizens in need. Even though many of their lives were lost, they were given for a purpose and cause greater than their own – all in the fight against evil.
This message by Burke is all the more significant when you consider its source. Edmund Burke was an 18th-century Anglo-Irish statesman, political theorist and philosopher. He served many years in the British House of Commons, and he is largely remembered for his support of the American colonies in the dispute with King George III and Britain that led to the American Revolution. Burke stood up against many other points of debate in his day, even when his stance was not a popular one. He could never be called a man who did nothing in the face of what he thought was wrong!
While I do still mourn the sudden loss of over three thousand fellow citizens on that painful day seven years ago, I embrace their innocence, honor their heroism, and cherish their memory. I will always remember them!
Yes, our nation saw the face of evil. But we also saw the face of good. Our nation would not be brought down and would not be stopped, regardless of the villainy and wickedness that had been aimed at her. It is the faces of good that are important to remember and that I hope I may emulate in my own life.
Nov 16, 2008 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2008. All rights reserved.
Looking for a gold medal day? Or perhaps you’re looking for that gold medal year when everything turns out perfect? Or that gold medal job that you’ve always dreamed of? Or that gold medal grade that keeps your GPA high? For me, a day feels golden when I’ve accomplished my best and have completed everything I need to!The Olympics this year have been filled with examples of athletes achieving success beyond expectation. Many of the athletes have surpassed age limitations, overcome physical disabilities and surmounted injuries to reach their dream.
As I strive to master various goals, I’ve been inspired to believe that I can accomplish my own gold medal, if I have enough “ganas” like the Olympian medalists — or for that matter like all Olympic athletes. I was first introduced to the idea of “ganas” in the 1988 movie, “Stand and Deliver,” starring Edward James Olmos.
The movie is based on a true story about math teacher, Jaime Escalante, who inspired drop-out prone high school students with poor academic history to learn calculus and pass the AP Calculus exam in their senior year.
He told his students that if they had the “ganas” or “desire to succeed” they could accomplish whatever they strived for. In helping them accomplish their goal — against all odds and in spite of predictions of failure by many around them — he taught them a life lesson they would remember the rest of their lives — to let nothing stop or hinder them from going for their dreams.
We should not be fooled into believing that gold medal accomplishments are won by a long shot. So many times gold medalists just barely pull out the win by the slimmest of margins. These examples have taught me to give my all and give my best, and since it’s not over till it’s over — I should never give up.
But how do I succeed, or even begin to go for the gold, when I’m filled with self-doubt and a lack of confidence?
We’ve probably all had times in our lives when we’ve questioned our worthiness and deservedness — being our own worst critic. Self-doubt can actually become a bad habit that destroys confidence and causes procrastination or lack of effort. The bottom line is no benefit will ever come from doubting yourself and questioning yourself to the point of not pursuing your dreams. You can’t succeed or fail if you never even try.
And gold medalists would remind us how many times they “failed” before they won the gold medals they now wear around their necks. Fear of failure is no reason not to go for the gold.
I’ve found it wise to remember that our past does not dictate our future. I’ve also found we do well to remember that every failure or mistake teaches a lesson. So, if we learn our lessons well, we’ll do well in the future. Or at least I know if I’ve learned a lesson well enough, I don’t repeat the same mistake!
God has created each of us with unique talents, abilities and potential. These are very good reasons to appreciate who we are — our talents and every experience we’ve had. We each have a unique purpose to fulfill. And we have the God-given ability to live our purpose to its fullest possibility.
So believe in yourselves, my friends. Your purpose is uniquely yours, and no one else can fulfill it for you or take it away from you. Stay on your course. Be patient. Pursue, persevere and expect success. You can’t help but be whatever God has created you to be. And with God, truly all things are possible for each one of us. A gold medal is within your grasp!
Nov 16, 2008 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2008. All rights reserved.
I thought I had faith. I thought I could trust with confidence and certainty. But our trip to a remote area of Colorado proved to be a telling experience for me. At first I relished in the bliss of no phone calls from the dozens of advertisers that daily disturb the peace of my days back home. But it became disconcerting to be cut off from communication with our family. So my husband and I drove to the closest “village” where we could check emails and had cell phone service.
The peace and quiet in our mountain cabin was even quieter than our country house in Texas. And although we didn’t have the broad horizon we enjoy at home, we were awed by majestic mountain peaks that encompassed us with their strength and protection.
It was the night before we were to head back when our miniature dachshund, Lady, was stung by something unbeknownst to us and had a severe allergic reaction. We finally learned there was a veterinarian about an hour away but his office was closed until the next morning and he could not be reached.
I found myself grappling with what I believed about God, life, death and evil. And I began asking questions.
Am I without any recourse and help? Do I believe that God would create something that can harm or destroy his beloved creation? Do I believe that God is the only power, Creator and that God is good? Or do I believe that evil is another power that threatens the existence of God’s creation? Do I believe that God’s love and care is present with me no matter where I am? Do I believe when Jesus said “I am with you alway” (Matthew 28:20) that he meant the healing power of Christ would be with me today, healing and saving, just as Christ healed the multitudes centuries ago?
When Lady began to get worse, we drove into the village and called a friend to pray. She prayed with us throughout what would be a sleepless night.
I wrestled with many questions that long night — perhaps something like Jacob when he was overwhelmed with the fear of confronting his brother. (Genesis, Chapter 32) But at the conclusion of his struggle with fear — and probably also with guilt and self-condemnation — he found his peace and said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
I pondered the stormy night the disciples and Jesus encountered while on a ship. Although they were in turbulent waters and high winds, Jesus slept peacefully on his pillow. But the disciples woke him franticly exclaiming, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Jesus got up and “rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.” Then the Bible tells us “the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Jesus asked his disciples, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:37-40)
I thought about the demeanor Jesus maintained in the midst of a storm — composed, unmoved, unagitated, cool-headed. Inspired and encouraged, I affirmed what I believed to be the eternal and spiritual truth about God and all of His creation and considered how Jesus would answer my questions: “No, no, yes, no, yes, yes!”
And like a lawyer defending my innocent client, I argued “Be still” to each fear and the physical evidence before my eyes and I contended that peace was a law of God that was powerful and permanent and could not be taken away from any of God’s creation.
By morning’s light Lady was definitely better and calmer but still suffering with some uneasiness and bothersome symptoms. So we took her to the veterinarian’s office when he opened. He confirmed she was beyond the “crisis point” as he called it and was on the mend. He said he could give her something that would ease her remaining discomfort and help her relax for the long trip.
Since returning home I’ve been continuing to reflect on this challenge to my faith. I am certain that our dachshund’s survival that night was the result of prayer and spiritual reasoning. And although I’m sure I have much more to learn on my journey ahead, I am determined to never avow that “evil” — in whatever form — is some invincible or inevitable power. Evil is not only defeated by God’s truth and law, it is proven powerless and diminished to the “nothingness” that it is or ever was as far as God is concerned.
My faith has been strengthened.
Nov 16, 2008 |
by Annette Bridges. ©2008. All rights reserved.
Watching the parade of nations during the opening ceremony of the Olympics reminded me just how many different countries and cultures make up this world of ours. Oh I know — not every country in the world is participating in the Olympics. But I was so surprised by how many countries are participating — many of which I had never heard of. As I watched the athletes enter the stadium, I began to feel that the slogan of this year’s Olympics — “One world, one dream” — was a fitting one. Despite the differences that I was certain existed in political and social philosophies, I saw unity of purpose in the eyes of each and every athlete.
And then I wondered — “Could it be there is much to be learned from each other?”
Of course even if we answer yes to this question, our political and social differences may be a gulf that seems impossible to bridge. And this gulf threatens to keep us from learning from each other, from appreciating each other, from understanding each other, and from living in peace with one another.
But just because there is an Olympic-size quest before us, does this mean we never try or that we ever stop trying to bridge the gaps? No doubt any gold medalist would concur that if they had given up or stopped trying, they would not be wearing the gold medal around their neck. And I suspect every gold medalist would also affirm that their success was built on a long record of failures. And yet every failure was most assuredly replaced by progress and still more progress until their golden success was achieved.
This gives me hope. And I admit I’ve not been feeling a whole lot of hope lately, especially for a permanent and peaceful resolution in the war against terrorism. It is difficult to imagine mutual respect, acceptance or even tolerance among the many cultures of our world.
The imagery of those perfect circles we saw formed during the opening ceremony perhaps gives us some helpful insight on how we can begin to learn how to live more harmoniously with one another. The perfection of those ever-moving circles was accomplished with awareness by each participant of their neighbor. Somehow this example was telling for me as I sat there thinking I don’t know my neighbors.
I don’t know anything about my neighbors who live only a block from me much less neighbors who live continents and oceans away. Yet unity seems to begin with an awareness of the neighbor to your left and to your right. But no doubt for those performers to be able to maintain the kind of constant awareness that formed those perfect circles required vigilance, hard work, and practice and was no easy feat. This says to me I need to work harder at knowing my neighbors and understanding those that have very different viewpoints from me.
Each performer who helped form those perfect circles was needed and important. In fact, a perfect circle would have been impossible if one was out of step or if one was missing. This reminds me of where the apostle Paul speaks about diversity of gifts and the many members of the body in one of his letters to the Corinthians. (I Corinthians, Chapter 12)
He makes an analogy speaking of the ear, the eye, the foot and the hand. He says things like, “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” And “the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.”
His words affirm that although we are each very different from one another, we are each necessary to the whole of humanity. God’s creation was formed in perfect balance — each with its own unique purpose. So somehow and in some way it must be possible for the children God created to live peacefully and harmoniously on this circle we call Earth.
So although the quest for peace on earth may seem to be Olympic-size, there is divine reason to hope. We are one world with one Creator. A good beginning would be to believe this truth and accept that all of God’s children have a right to exist and to exist harmoniously.
