Comments on: Beginning http://cathywatts.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/beginning/ my journey... Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:59:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Cathy http://cathywatts.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/beginning/#comment-4 Cathy Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:50:27 +0000 http://cathywatts.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/beginning/#comment-4 Thanks for your reply Meadow, I don't know if I was really brave to leave home and move around. Honestly, I was probably running from a life I greatly disliked rather than taking the difficult and painful steps necessary to change. I was desperately trying to free myself from pain and decided that to run away from it would be the best option. Running (or avoiding) is rarely the right solution even though it may be the easiest (unless, of course, your life or wellbeing or that of another is in danger). Sometimes the braver thing to do is to stay and work to resolve whatever the difficulty may be. I discovered, by the grace of God, that freedom is not in moving from country to country, and doing the things that I please, but in trusting Him first, and then in embracing ALL of life - to use a cliche - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Taking an honest appraisal of life, personally and in general, can be a painful, and long process, but the rewards are so worth it. For me, the greatest reward (thank you Jesus!) is the ability to have real and meaningful relationships. To connect deeply with another human being and to be truly known, is a great and valuable gift. Thanks for your reply Meadow, I don’t know if I was really brave to leave home and move around. Honestly, I was probably running from a life I greatly disliked rather than taking the difficult and painful steps necessary to change. I was desperately trying to free myself from pain and decided that to run away from it would be the best option. Running (or avoiding) is rarely the right solution even though it may be the easiest (unless, of course, your life or wellbeing or that of another is in danger). Sometimes the braver thing to do is to stay and work to resolve whatever the difficulty may be.
I discovered, by the grace of God, that freedom is not in moving from country to country, and doing the things that I please, but in trusting Him first, and then in embracing ALL of life – to use a cliche – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Taking an honest appraisal of life, personally and in general, can be a painful, and long process, but the rewards are so worth it. For me, the greatest reward (thank you Jesus!) is the ability to have real and meaningful relationships. To connect deeply with another human being and to be truly known, is a great and valuable gift.

]]> By: meadow http://cathywatts.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/beginning/#comment-3 meadow Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:32:44 +0000 http://cathywatts.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/beginning/#comment-3 Many of the things you have said resonate with me. I often feel that for every three steps forward that I make, somehow I end up ten steps behind. I know it's cliche, but I totally feel that way. I often feel like many of the decisions I've made in the past three years have been wrong even though I know God has a plan for my life. But you are right, all things begin and end in Christ and that is the key. I wouldn't be doing two different Bible studies and having my own quiet time every day if I didn't believe it to be true! You are truly brave to have left your home to move around so much. I've never even left my home state other than to travel! I hope to do that someday because my husband feels like he is called to go to seminary in the future--we just have to get his BA finished first, which is a big task in and of itself. Many of the things you have said resonate with me. I often feel that for every three steps forward that I make, somehow I end up ten steps behind. I know it’s cliche, but I totally feel that way. I often feel like many of the decisions I’ve made in the past three years have been wrong even though I know God has a plan for my life. But you are right, all things begin and end in Christ and that is the key. I wouldn’t be doing two different Bible studies and having my own quiet time every day if I didn’t believe it to be true!

You are truly brave to have left your home to move around so much. I’ve never even left my home state other than to travel! I hope to do that someday because my husband feels like he is called to go to seminary in the future–we just have to get his BA finished first, which is a big task in and of itself.

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