Porous People

Over the last 48 hours, I've been told time and time again that people are porous; that despite our strong need for autonomy, we absorb what we are around and our behaviors and actions will take on similarities to those around us. Josh Radnor, who plays Ted on How I Met Your Mother recently gave a talk at conference similar to a TED Talk. (For those of you who don't know what TED talks are, you're missing out, go look them!)

Radnor's entire premise was on the visibility he experienced as his fame increased, and how it is comparable to the interwebs visibility we all have through various social media accounts. And his suggestions were very simple. Make the conscious choice to do the good thing in situations that allow for a negative. That's simple enough, right? And then Provbers 31's emailed devotional took it one step further. You can have all the potential in the world and still be "rotten". Why is that?

It is because we are porous. We absorb the world around us. Not just as small children, but as adults too. Way, waaaay back, when I was a freshman in college, I was dating this guy who spoke differently that I or my family did. He had just a touch of a twang when he spoke, and during the period that we were dating, my speech patterns gradually began to match his, and his began to match mine. For example, when saying patronize, I would make it a long "A" sound, like in Patrick. And even though this was incorrect, a few years after our break, a close, mutual friend said it the way I do, and then laughed, and explained he had been spending a lot of time with my now ex, and his speech pattern was showing it.

If our speech patterns can be that easily affected, image how are mood, attitude, and even morals can be influenced by others? The plant metaphor serves this purpose well, just like anything green, where we are planted matters.

Jeremiah 17:7-8, "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." 

We are rapidly approaching what can be a very stressful time of year. Holidays, finals, travel, they all start to stack up. But if we take the time to surround ourselves with the god stuff, the good people, and the Good News, we can be a positive influence on those around us in return. Like a fuzzy blanket on these cold, upcoming nights, wrap yourself in those good things, things that fill you up and make it easier for you to share the "good stuff" with others.

Tota tua, and happy November,

LeAnn

P.S., here's Radnor's Talk if you would like to give it a listen!

Wound too Tightly...

Sometimes, you need to just step away from the planner...

It's difficult, in a world of organized chaos to not organize. I mean, how else will you know what is due or what's coming up next week? But it's important that sometimes you need to let go of that planner.

Now, I'm not advocating for you to not use any sort of organizational method, but nonetheless, it is important to relinquish control every now and again. Don't get hung up on that fact that you have to control and micro-manage every little detail. Some of us are wound up so tight that its scary when we let things unravel even a little bit. But that fear is a good thing; a good time to practice patience and a good time to trust in the Lord. He kinda sorta knows what's up...

So relaxxxxxxx, and just let things happen! 

Tota tua,

LeAnn 

Optimism; through it all

We live in an exceedingly optimistic world.  That statement seems to be fighting words, especially in our own times, a doom and gloom society.

But when we compare past to present, we truly live in an optimistic world. In the world of the Middle Ages, to quote my professor, "it's always winter".  With a short life expectancy, and an even smaller chance for survival, who can blame them for pessimistic world views. Even in our early years of America, we lived in a time where all people had to look forward to was the end.  Life was hard, and the end was something to highly anticipate.  After all, if all you had to dream about was a perfect home with the perfect Lord, why would you be optimistic about your day-to-day living? 

I live in an optimistic world, which again seems to be fighting words. I am not an outwardly optimistic person.  I do not dream of rainbows, nor do I have an undying faith in humanity. My optimism is internal, and a matter of personal faith. 

Last week, I had a bit of free time, so like a good college student I called my mother.  We discussed how classes were going, my lack of free time, her students, family, and my need of a job.  I admitted to being very concerned about my employment status, I knew I needed a job, but in a small college town, where was I to find one? And on top of that, with twenty-three hours worth of classes and a junior barrier at the end of the semester, how would I accomplish anything with a twenty to thirty hour job? 

My mom thought for a moment, and then reminded me that this isn't in my control, "LeAnn," she told me, "let go, and let God." If there was a quote I would ever attribute to my mother, it would be that. She reminded me of the Bible passage discussing how God cares for even the birds, so why then, should we even worry? Aren't we more important than birds? 

Well of course we are and that is my source of optimism. Even though things may not go my way, they are going Someone's way.  Therefore, I live optimistically.  I cling to the idea that if I live in a Loving manner, God will be there for me.  That if I give of myself, and let God work, things will turn out exactly the way they are supposed.  

I still don't have a job, but I have ways to make things work until I have the time and true need for something like this, I will just "hang in there".  But that didn't sound to optimistic, did it? 

And that is because I am human through it all. I'm incredibly nervous about this upcoming semester. I have so many things that could go wrong, and an overwhelming desire to do my absolute best at all times. And yet, I am human through it all, and I accept that while moving forward with as little fear and pessimism as possible. 

I am internally optimistic, I believe that things will eventually work out, that things happen for reasons often unknown at the time. I believe in the greater good, and the bigger idea, and that makes me optimistic.  

Totus thus, 

LeAnn