Trying To Fit a Square Peg in a Round Hole

There have been a few times in my life that I was working on a project and something started to go wrong. It could have been a screw head was starting to strip to left over parts to pieces not fitting properly. The project may cosmetically look correct, even be structurally sound, but not ideally be put together.

When constructing those projects, frustration followed because of the lack of fluidity in the construction process. Sometimes pushing or pounding harder has been the result. Sometimes these methods worked. Sometimes it made things worse. Sometimes it simply didn't make a difference.

When it comes to some people's religious views and/or their faith, there are instances where they may feel they are putting a square peg in a round hole. They may become frustrated because the square peg doesn't seem to work out the way they think it should. In frustration, they want to keep trying to put that square peg in that round hole. One of three things will happen as a result: 1) The peg will splinter and make it through, 2) the peg will not fit, or 3) the peg will break and splinter but not fit. This is somewhat the result with one's faith, with the analogy of the square peg.

As Sunday's lesson was about Jesus answering the question of John's disciples from Matthew 9:14-17, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

• Splintered ~ When you are involved in a religious controversy, you may have an inclination to want to be right. If that desire to be "right" becomes too big, you will simply fight and fight so that the result is what you desire. However the result can be a splintering - that of relationships. Causing these relationships with people or God to never be the same. Not good to force an issue...
• Not Fit ~ Trying to force an issue for the sake of getting the issue, and then it never "fitting" will definitely result in failure. When I think of something that should be right but it never fits correctly, I can become pretty frustrated in the moment. Later on I will mellow, but in the moment is a whole different story. As we have the option to be flexible in a situation, may we try not to force things and let God handle the things that we cannot control.
• Break and Splinter ~ Continuing on the thought process, forcing an issue through a round hole may cause the peg to splinter off and break. This will look like someone trying to push their agenda on a particular area and things get worse. The result is detrimental to the individual and many around them. They can force an issue so much this result will cause lots of problem.

May we think about what we are encountering in life as we need to be flexible with the new wine that is added into wine skins - make sure the wine skins are new, as well.

Now it's your turn...What have you encountered that was difficult for someone to remain to be flexible with something new, so they don't have to "burst?"

Stagnate Water Starts to Stink

I would think it would be safe to understand that practically everyone understands that the earth's complete rotation is a day and its one trip around the sun is a year. Recently, I was teaching my four-year old this concept. I was not using a ball but a stuffed animal and my fist (very primitive but it was a "teachable moment"). He understood it in the moment, but a few days later, he had forgotten.

Days are a constant change. The rotation of the earth causes things to change continually. Whether it is the shadow that is moving as the earth rotates, the temperature that is changing, or the weather patterns. Each day is filled with constant change. We seem to be able to come to terms with this, for there is nothing we cannot do about it. However, it seems that we are not so comfortable with change in other areas. That brings us to this week's quote...

They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom. ~ Confucius

Change is going to happen. Change in the day. Change in one's life is inevitable. The way we approach change is going to vary.

It is interesting to see in the quote about the point that "change" and referred with happiness and wisdom. Can you imagine living in your current happiness and wisdom? Maybe for a little while, but it will lose its attractiveness. You would likely want to do something to create additional happiness and wisdom. Something like finding a new hobby, working in the yard, or going on a trip. Plus, you would want to find some additional knowledge to increase your wisdom; not just remaining where you are in your wisdom.

Imagine simply stopping where you were at in your happiness or wisdom and never changing. How fun would that be? It would probably be similar to water that is stagnate, it would be fine for a while, but then it would start to stink.

The next time you are thinking that the world is changing too quickly or that things need to remain the same in some organization you are with, think about this verse and how things simply must change.

Now it's your turn...What changes in your lifetime have really caused you to grimace and dig your heels in (either at first or if it continues)?

Progressive Minded

When I was a young child to teen and I would go visit my extended family (most lived in the same town at the time) I didn't want to spend much time with my mom's side of the family. This was basically because there were no cousins near my age and the only thing that seemed to happen at my maternal grandmother's house (or later on, my maternal aunt's house) would be visiting. It was boring to me. Nothing to do (except get into trouble with my brother). I would ask and ask and ask if I could go over to my cousin's house, on my dad's side. I loved it there. So much to do! He always seemed to have the coolest toys - including a pinball machine and a go cart!

I could not simply sit around. I wanted to be moving and going in the direction of my cousin. That was where happiness was for me.

In life, things should be the same way. To sit around means we are not going anywhere. To be moving toward a goal means we are heading into something usually better. That brings us to this week's quote...

Happiness and success are to be found in forward motion. ~ Unknown

As I minister in a church, I aim to get people going. I think that having a "happy" faith-life, you need to be moving also. If we are not going anywhere, we are simply stagnate. To be progressive sometimes will have a bad rapport with people. Thinking one is "liberal" in their theological mindset. On the contrary, one can be the most conservative, but yet still be moving forward - it may simply be a bit slower than others.

Whether you are a business person or a patron, moving forward has its definite successes. May you find them in your daily tasks, as well as, your epic tasks! 

Now it's you're turn!

What do you think? Can there be happiness and success found when you're moving forward? Feel free to leave a comment...