Therein Lies the Beauty of Life

Overcoming fear doesn’t happen instantly or automatically. It is the result of deliberate intention, and conscious action towards doing things that scare you.
The best thing to do when confronted with anything is to view the situation with objectivity and an open mind. Be honest with yourself, too.

The interesting thing about overcoming a fear is that you need to believe that you can do it. Nothing kills a dream more quickly than doubt.

What usually prevents people from taking a risk is the fact that the outcome is not guaranteed. None of us are able to predict exactly what the future will bring. Therein lies the beauty of life.

(Overcoming Fear by Nadia Ballas Ruta).

I stumbled across the above excerpts from a blog post today about Overcoming Fear...good words...good thoughts...so I posted them here for me...as a reference later when I forget!!

So...in the midst of moving through this part of my Journey...I am making an additional change...one that I am choosing to not get into here...but.. will in due time.  Though I will share that I think it COULD have a positive impact on my weight loss and my confidence.  I really don't mean to be cryptic...I just am not ready to chat about it yet.  But, I am asking for prayers...prayers that this decision...this ACTION...is truly in line with this Journey.

Today..I had the opportunity to share parts of this Journey with a friend that I have not seen in a while..she was kind enough to sit patiently and listen to my ramblings...I am grateful to her for that...because after lunch...I was energized and reminded once again that I really have traveled a long damn way...and was reminded that is so important that I finish...

I don't really consider myself OCD...I do not require an immaculate living area..trust me...I call my car the "Rolling Dumpster", I use public restrooms, I am NOT a profound creature of habit. However, in the middle of the night last night...as I lay thinking about a million (non-existent) scenarios of how my day, my week, my year, my  life...might go...I thought...I just might have a few tendencies...

I am an obsessive thinker...So...I try to pray in the midst of these obsessive moments...THAT is a interesting process...trust me.  INSANITY!!!  I pray..interrupt myself, start praying again...more interrupting...you get the picture!!  As you might imagine...it can be a draining, tiring and at times...quite painful.

I have come to realize that this part of me is a driver of my late night eating.  Again...the food serves as a comfort or distraction...So....as I have progressed along on this Journey...I have to consciously choose NOT to eat away my thoughts...so to speak...but at the same time...I am having to learn how not to let my thoughts eat away at  me.

So today...I woke up tired and uninspired!!!

I literally prayed ALL the way to work...no radio...no cell phone...NADA...the only thing going on was a conversation with God....a conversation that really was about asking for relief, for clarity and for strength. I prayed for the knowledge that I am in fact, still moving forward...

I get to work....still feeling tired and uninspired....

First, I have a conversation with my sweet friend Lindsey...reminding me that I though the scale may not reflect this... that throughout the last year..."I have gotten my life back"....

Secondly, my precious friend Camille (a friendship born as a direct result of this God driven Journey) sends me this song that so touches me that I sit at my desk and cry...

Farther Along by Josh Garrels

Video with Lyrics-Farther Along

Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
So, cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We'll understand this, all by and by

Tempted and tried, I wondered why
The good man died, the bad man thrives
And Jesus cries because he loves 'em both
We're all cast-aways in need of rope
Hangin' on by the last threads of our hope
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Confusing illusions I've seen

Where did I go wrong, I sang along
To every chorus of the song
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates
Leading mice and men down to their fates
But some will courageously escape
The seductive voice with a heart of faith
While walkin' that line back home

So much more to life than we've been told
It's full of beauty that will unfold
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son
That deadweight burden weighs a ton
Go down into the river and let it run
Wash away all the things you've done
Forgiveness alright

Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
So, cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We'll understand this, all by and by

Still I get hard pressed on every side
Between the rock and a compromise
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin' for my soul
And I've got no place left go
'Cause I got changed by what I've been shown
More glory than the world has known
Keeps me ramblin' on

Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall
I'm free to love once and for all
And even when I fall I'll get back up
For the joy that overflows my cup
Heaven filled me with more than enough
Broke down my levees and my bluffs
Let the flood wash me

And one day when the sky rolls back on us
Some rejoice and the others fuss
'Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
That the Son of God is forever blessed
His is the kingdom, we're the guests
So put your voice up to the test
Sing Lord, come soon
Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
So, cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We'll understand this, all by and by

THEN...I have to the opportunity to share...share the miracles of this Journey with another human being...

The day ended up being filled with opportunities, to share...to receive and to acknowledge the miracles of this Journey.

I continue to experience growing pains...as I move away from the constraints I have placed on my life...I continue to have questions and wonder how it will all work out...but as the song says above...

So much more to life than we've been told
It's full of beauty that will unfold

Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why

Tonight I am praying for a peaceful mind, a grateful heart and for the comfort of knowing that a world of beauty lies ahead.

Goodnight.