What's In Your Cup
Last week I read an inspirational ditty about spilling things. The jist was if you're carrying a cup of coffee, and someone bumps you so that it spills out, no matter what's in the cup, coffee, tea or whatever, and it spills out, if it wasn't in the cup in the first place it couldn't have spilled. So, when life happens to you and you get bumped and something spills out, are you filled with peace, joy, love or something of lesser qualities? ...what's in your cup?
I will confess—although it's not necessary that any one really know this tidbit—I got up with a headache and was somewhat grumpy and growly—You know the 'no coffee yet' syndrome. I began my morning routine by grabbing a cup of coffee and a cup of salted orange juice, and then I started by perusing face book. In a bit there were some funny memes or comments, and my mood gradually changed. This reminded me of another item I've read lately:
Every morning, WE GET: a chance to be different
a chance to change
a chance to be better.
Life is about choices. Sometimes our choices are more reactions than choices, but when someone bumps into us we can choose to be angry and annoyed, or we can chalk it up to the human experience. As the cab driver related to his customer after another driver narrowly missed ramming his car. After a friendly wave at the other surly driver, the cabbie said, "Some people want to dump their garbage on you, but you don't have to let them."
Yes sometimes I need to overcome my initial response. Sometimes it does take me a bit to put things into perspective, but at the end of the struggle hopefully the 900 pound gorilla called 'self' has been put in its place.
I do have a full week coming up, but I don't know if I'm ready for it. I'm working on a synopsis to send to an editor. Synopsis should be easy. It's a summary of the story. I used to tease my boys about their favorite Western writer, Louis L'Amour; cowboy hero rides into town, confronts the local bully, shoots twenty bad hombres, rescues the good guys of the town, rides out with the good-looking girl.
Not so easy when it's your baby. There are so many cute things about it you want to share...but time and tide wait for snowman. And to be sure, life marches onward day by day each day changing like a kaleidoscope. So, as this is the first of this week, and I'm praying this is an encouragement for each of us to do and be better, I'll leave you with this scripture, and possibly catch you tomorrow:
Psalm 139:1 "... O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2) Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off. 3) Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. 4) For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether. 5) Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me. 6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it."