Reflections from my 30's

So another birthday has come and gone. I am one year further into my 30's and another year closer to 40. As I reflect on this particular birthday I am not only grateful but I acknowledge the fact that all the fanfare is not necessary to have a great birthday or any day for that matter. I planned out everything to enjoy my own day and it was wonderful. Not only did the pandemic teach me this lesson through having to 'pivot' but just plain 'ole life. The life which teaches that hey other people have their own journeys too and it is not every time that our paths will cross.  Too often we place our happiness in the hands of others and when they don't live up to our expectations we are devasted.  I spent many birthdays feeling a bit down because I felt that there was not a lot of thought put into celebrating my day. I, especially in my later years either spent it alone or made plans myself, and those who could join in did. It seemed that I was the one who pla

Why am I stuck? I am doing everything I need to do to access better and yet it seems that I am not unlocking the future I desire. What am I doing wrong? I always seem to have the door slightly ajar but never open wide enough to walk right through it. It's always just a glimpse, a shadow, a glimmer of the future. I have always been a proponent of preparing for the life that you desire and I have been doing just that. Preparing educationally, spiritually, emotionally, and socially but yet never able to 'close the deal'. So many hopes and dreams for life backed by the requisite action but nothing. Can you relate? Well, let's talk about it. What is this concept of being stuck? What does that mean? For me it's that feeling of not moving forward, not making progress in the direction of my dreams.  I think of a scenario of walking, moving my feet but doing all of that on spot. Therefore there is neither forward nor backward movement so I am not changing my position or loca

Who came up with this saying? This person definitely was not experiencing the kind of pressure we face today. Society tells us that by the age of thirty (30) we should be married, own a car and a house, already have one child, and be settled in our careers making lots of money. We should know what we are about, our passions, our calling, and have a plan for our lives as we walk out our productive years.  If we are all honest with ourselves, many of us have been to that place mentally and back.  After we have passed a certain age we feel that since we have not achieved a certain milestone that we need to 'help God out' by taking matters into our own hands otherwise it won't happen for us, or we just live without that level of expectation. We s ubmit to the pressure and determine that since we have not achieved these things within 'the timeframe' that somehow we are doing something wrong or that something is wrong with us.  I know I have been to this pla

There is something so beautiful about being at peace. Knowing that life will throw many distractions, obstacles, and challenges your way, but that you are at rest. Knowing that whatever the outcome, it is working out in your favor and that God is in control.  Whether it be health, relational, financial or spiritual, life has a way of testing our ability to believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Our finite minds can only see the outcome based on the challenge in front of us. It cannot see what is awaiting us at the end. It cannot comprehend that something good can be produced from something seemingly bad. Let's not get it twisted, being at peace does not eliminate the problem, but rather, it protects us from being overcome by it. One can only think about the COVID-19 pandemic that we are currently facing and become overwhelmed. We are fighting an enemy we cannot see and are left at the mercy of those who choose not to obey the protocols. We can do all we can and sti

Have you ever had a day when you know you are walking in the purpose of God but don' t feel that you are making the impact that you should be? Then this is the post for you.  I must be transparent and say that I have tendencies to be an over-thinker but God is working on me. What this means in practical terms, is that quite often after I have completed a task or an activity, I naturally analyse the result and think about the ways it could have been done differently or been improved. I can be my greatest critic to the point where I doubt whether it was done well or the desired result was achieved. Case Study The Lord, over this COVID-19 lockdown has provided a platform on social media for me to share a message of hope, restoration and renewal. To lend my voice to the discussions on topical issues that affect young people, and to encourage persons to continue on the journey with Jesus no matter how hard. That we are all in the fight together, and because we are his

I do not know if I am experiencing 'cabin fever' but today was a particularly rough day for me. This stay at home life because of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused me to do even more reflection than the norm. I mean I have more 'free' time than usual. It seems that my thoughts have gone into overdrive. As I lay here facing the silence, I am forced to face the music. To hear all of the negative voices within me, and to once and for all, silence them. As I ponder this I try to put it all into perspective.  I think about how hard I have been on myself. I have been so critical of myself and I am always thinking about how I could have done something better, been better or looked better. I am always trying to attain perfection and always fall short in my mind.  It has always been easy to say that perfection is an illusion and that none of us are perfect but my actions has demonstrated something totally different. So much so that it has proven difficult to accept words of