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6/28/2017

My Painful Introspection

My Painful Introspection.. by Jeff Larson

Pain.. it hurts,
I don't like hurting,
I bruise like a peach, and
If it is said most of the important lessons learned in life are through our failures and our pain.. then I would be OK with skipping a few.

For those of you that know me, aches and pains have been my lifelong complaint. I have migraines, a bad back, and as get older arthritis is my constant companion. Of course PAIN IS a relative experience, as I know the headaches, and bad back I suffer with are trivial by comparison to what others suffer with. None the less they are MY pains and THEY DO HURT... and this is MY blog. :)

But truly, many of the important lessons I have experienced in life have involved pain. It may be dealing with physical pain, being a bear of very little brain (like Winnie the Pooh), or lessons found the other side of (painful) blunders, stumbles, and/or bad choices. Even deeper yet are the lessons may be found in the death of a close friend or family member.

I believe the problem of PAIN IS also the source of the age old question.. If there is a God why does he allow bad things to happen to good people. This is a good question, but for me I see a 'dangerous beauty' in this broken world. In this land of dangerous beauty God the Creator allows his creation (you & me) the opportunity to persevere and succeed despite brokenness. And.. we are allowed to choose right from wrong in big & small ways, and even good from evil. There is great danger in choosing poorly, and if we do not persevere.. BUT there is great beauty when we prayerfully choosing well, support each other, persevere, and trust God when bad things happen to good people.

To believe this is not 'A Crutch for Weak Minded People' as former Pro Wrestler / former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura liked to blurt, but instead Rock Solid Truth for Godly men and women.

May God bless each of you this day with love and support when you are hurting, and may we as believers (His Church) be the love and support for others in this broken world.

Jeff (ibuprofen infused) Larson

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6/16/2017

8 Comments

Rescue Dogs, and God?

My wife and I have a rescue dog named Cooper and I just now wrote a 'beautiful' poem that captures my life with him.

Ode to Cooper
Cooper is our little rescue dog;
there's no doubt he LOVES my wife Mary,.
BUT despite the fact I 'm the one who rescued him;
.. for me.. Cooper remains wary.
I so want Cooper to love me too..
but he's a work in progress..
You see Cooper does not trust me ..
leaving me judged without due process.

Ok, ok.. I won't quit my day job. :)

But then I stop and realize.. I am SORTA a rescue dog too.

In this big old bad world I turn on the evening news and get uneasy, I growl at politicians, pace the room, and then more news SHOWS spew this world's hatred, racism, and violence all with a narrative void of truth leaving me out of control barking my panic and distrust of this world.

This state of panic and unease leaves me in reality wary of God. Oh I would not say it (or bark it) out loud, but here is God my perfect Heavenly Father, Jesus my Savior, and the Holy Spirit my comforter here to be my rescuer, but instead I am focused on this broken world.

But just like Cooper I need to chill.

Chill and realize this broken world is the result of man's own free will, and compromised desires. This brokenness was never a part of God's plan. So chill Jeff, and realize in God I have hope, a future, and a plan for happiness. So.. No more barking at God.

May each of you find your hope in the loving Heavenly Father who sent his son Jesus for our rescue, and his Holy Spirit for our comfort.

Also note: God is still our rescuer even when we bark.

Now if Cooper would only understand that about me.

Jeff (Rescued) Larson

8 Comments

My Painful Introspection

Rescue Dogs, and God?

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