December 10-A, 2022

**Sumac 01 10/28/2019 Oil Paint Rendered — Blue Ridge Parkway, Roanoke, Virginia**

When we live to be aligned with,
in accord with,
the way we are built to be,
we know clearly what to say yes to
and what to say no to. 

Being clear about yes and no
is a super power
guiding us through our life.

What could tempt us off that path?
What could buy us off?
Scare us off?

That's Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
They have paradise,
but could be led astray.

Paradise is knowing what we are built for
and what we are not built for. 

I'm built for looking out the window
and putting things in perspective,
and asking questions,
and seeking right relationships between things...

And very much not built to work in an environment
where things have to be just so,
where things are rigid, either/or,
good/bad, right/wrong,
and the right people have to be pleased
no matter what.

Clarity and courage keep us on the beam.
In Eden, Adam and Eve ignored the importance
of the beam.
In Gethsemane, Jesus held fast to the value
of the beam.

Know what you are built for
and remain true to that
all the way.

–0–

Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters and five granddaughters within about twenty minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything. View more posts