WISE WORDS FROM AN OLD FRIEND

CONVERSATIONS WITH "JOSHUA"

THE OTHER ONE:

"...it feels like so little has been in my control. Like life is just happening to me. I am not taking part in it."

***

"JOSHUA":

"Yeah it's tough. Really I know. But that's life. And until you can take responsibility for the bad you won't feel comfortable claiming it for the good."

THE OTHER ONE:

"...of course I want to take responsibility for the good stuff. But I don't want to think I had a piece in the bad. And there's so much bad to NOT want a piece of."

"JOSHUA":

"And your life will always seem out of control, like God is just playing you like a puppet. 

That's not the way it is. 

Not in the observable scientific universe, and not in scripture either.
God works his will through our lives, not in spite of our lives. 

I know it feels this way, but I honestly don't think God is torturing you."

THE OTHER ONE:
"I know. I know He isn't. But man it feels like He is. And it is a hell of a lot easier to believe."

"JOSHUA":

"Yes it's MUCH easier to believe. Because we can throw the blame on Him. Once you can accept your failures as truly yours, I think you'll also be able to accept all your victories. I know you have them even when you don't feel like it. Your writing, your beauty, your eye for color and design, your ability to keep going even when you don't want to."

***

THE OTHER ONE:
"WHY can't I see what my responsibility in all of this was? It certainly isn't because I don't want to. I would love to know where I went wrong."

***

THE OTHER ONE:
"I lost the childlike vigor I had for life and living. I became frightened and fearful and frail. And I hate that that is who I have become."

***

"JOSHUA":

 "Don't ever settle. You deserve the best. And if you can't find the best, then keep moving. Because "good enough" is never good enough."

HE'S A WISE ONE...