Choose A Helpful, Productive, Joyful Response To Life

If we convince ourselves that being in a bad, grumpy, sour, sad, angry mood is something that happens to us and is beyond our ability to control in any way then we will be stuck with that conclusion. And we will be stuck with the effects of those negative emotions in our lives.

Research in the field of psychology, however, has revealed that we can learn to recognize, fight and overcome negative emotions. And in some particularly stubborn cases we can learn to function—even function well—in spite of negative emotions.

Two actions that can help pull us up are: Gratitude and Helping Others.

We have a choice in how we respond to what happens to us. We can deny this is true and understand ourselves to be victims but the life of victimhood is an ineffective, weak and diminished existence.

I admit I have not had to deal with some of the profoundly difficult circumstances some of the people who are reading this post have had to face. However, I still lovingly encourage us—with God’s help and in light of His mercy and grace—to choose a helpful, productive, joyful response to life.

To Be Positive Is Better

I believe, in general, it is good and important to be positive. Over the years, I have discovered there is research in the field of psychology which confirms this is true. However, my understanding that being positive is a good thing is much more simple than that. It is based on the straightforward idea that having a primarily negative attitude throughout the course of life would be a miserable way to live. And in the end the negative person will look back and see that he/she has experienced a sad and sorry life.

(By the way, I have encountered a few people along this journey who have provided confirmation of this truth with their negative misery.)

My belief that being positive is good and important does not mean I am unwilling to recognize there are ugly, bad, evil, tragic, frustrating and sad things that occur. Of course I realize terrible things happen. No one is immune from this aspect of life.

But even though bad things occur I still believe we can choose to seek solutions and, because of the wonderful truth of God’s grace and mercy, attempt to focus on what is good. It may be that we seek the good even as the tears are flowing. But for the sake of my life and, frankly, for the sake of my own sanity I want to seek and find the good. It is not always easy to do this, and I have not always succeeded in this attempt, but I believe it is worth it.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

God Sorts It All Out

When I think about hurtful things that people have done to me I am comforted in knowing that God metes out justice.  When I think about the hurtful things that I have done to others I am comforted in knowing that God extends mercy.  When I think about sorting all of these things out in a fair and righteous way I’m glad that God is all-knowing, righteous, gracious, perfect and Holy.

Good News: No One Is Beyond God's Mercy

When people think of themselves as “pretty good” in terms of their personal moral conduct, they can sometimes be bothered by the fact that no one—including the most offensive criminal—is beyond God’s mercy. But the truth is this: for every single person who has ever lived—for all of us—it is very good news that no one is beyond God’s mercy.

I'm Home From The Angiogram Procedure

I had the angiogram procedure, last night.  (That makes two angiograms in less than two weeks.  But who’s counting?)  The cardiac team: 1) “installed” another stent; 2) they did an “angioplasty” on an artery (that’s the technique where a balloon-type device is used to open blockage); and 3) they did a rotor blade technique to open up blockage in yet another artery.  (The rotor blade is like a tiny drill and… well you get the picture.)

I woke up 3 times during the angiogram process.  That’s not a joke.  I really did.  And I can report to you that it was… um, what’s the right word…? Oh yeah: TERRIBLE!!!  It felt like some people were on the inside of my body (which they were) poking a pencil into my heart.  (They weren’t poking a pencil they were just drilling through build up in my artery.  It’s similar.)

But I’m still here and now the pain from the procedure is gone and I am feeling much, much better.

I got home a couple of hours ago.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who was praying for me.  I cannot tell you how much I love you and appreciate your support.

And, of course, I thank God for His mercy.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

Love,

Dan

I'm Thankful For God's Mercy

When you deserve some kind of negative punishment or consequence but you receive goodness, kindness, forgiveness and love instead, then you have been the recipient of mercy.  I’m so thankful that God has been merciful to me.