A "Goofy" Success

Have you ever just sucked really badly at something? I mean, you try your hardest but still can't seem to get it right? Me neither, I'm good at everything. (Kidding guys, kidding) Some people pay for lessons, but no training seems to improve their ability to sing, or dance, or cook. It's the most frustrating thing --isn't it?-- when you really attempt to accomplish something, and it just doesn't come easily. 

Two weeks ago, my cousins and I decided to snowboard for the very first time in the Poconos. At the end of our 90 minute lesson, we rode that magic carpet up the bunny slope and I found out that....I suck at snowboarding! I would like to consider myself the athletic type -- or at least, the daring type. I'll try anything once. The problem is, I am also extremely competitive. I'm not even content with competing against people, so much as I enjoy competing against myself. I like to do things well --and when I can't-- I will not relent until I get it right. That wasn't the case 2 weeks ago though. 

My first attempt down the slope, I fell and hurt my tailbone so badly, it left a bruise that lasted over a week. That didn't stop me. I rode my bruised behind right back up that slope with my cousins who seemed to breeze their way down the mountain with ease. My second attempt, I was fearful of landing on my backside again, so when I felt myself losing balance, I dove face forward-- scraping my nose, upper lip, and chin. (No I wasn't wearing snowboarding goggles) You think that would have kept me down? Absolutely NOT! On my third and final try, I fell backwards again and hit the back of my head so hard on what felt like ice. (No, I wasn't wearing a helmet either) That was it for me. I unstrapped my board and walked down the slope --frustrated and defeated-- and in a whole lot of pain!

It is now two weeks later, and I find myself in Colorado on a work trip trying again. My boss is an avid snowboarder. During our previous trips up to the mountains, I was unable to accompany him, as I was recovering from a fractured foot. This time, there was no excuse for me not to join him. How could I turn down the opportunity to glide (or fall) down the Rocky Mountains? So.. terrified, I strapped on those moon-boot looking things, secured my helmet, lowered my goggles, and joined a group of 4 others for another lesson. Turns out, I caught on really quickly after learning that I have what you call "a goofy" stance. (But of course) All that really means is that I ride with my right foot forward on the board, when commonly most people ride in the opposite stance direction. It's comparable to which hand you prefer to write with. If you are a righty, it is usually very difficult to write with your left hand well. So for two weeks I thought I sucked at snowboarding, and the reality was that although I was doing it "the right way", it wasn't the right way for me...

You may find yourself in a very similar position --frustrated and defeated...and maybe even in a lot of pain-- because no matter how hard you try you just can't seem to get it right. Now, I'm not talking about snowboarding anymore. Maybe you are struggling with an addiction or a habit. Maybe you have experienced a heartbreak, and refuse to allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to love again. Maybe you are trying to be a better parent or spouse or student. Maybe you are trying to do things like everyone else who seems to be breezing through things that you are struggling with, and you keep stumbling backwards or falling on your face. You have two options-- 1) give up trying because hey, you've already tried so hard --or 2) get off your bruised behind and try again another way. Clearly, doing things the way you're doing them isn't producing any results. It may be uncomfortable at first, or may even seem "goofy", but how about attempting to do things differently? Be committed to make adjustments that will positively impact your life, no matter how difficult it feels at first. Albert Einstein said that "insanity is when you do something over and over again and expect different results." 

Not everything is going to come easily to you -- and maybe you have to make an extra effort to get things right. You are not like everyone else. You are uniquely created, with different quirks, talents and abilities. If you're able to properly equip yourself, pace yourself, and resolve to tackle any challenge with determination and tenacity -- it is more than likely that you will succeed. The question is, do you want to? 

Naked & Not Ashamed

In August of 2010, I had this idea that I would begin blogging and share with the world-- or whoever would read --the lessons I learned from my trivial day-to-day life experiences. I'd been a month into my marriage then, and what was supposed to be the most joyful time of my life, happened to be one of the most difficult seasons I've experienced. Not the marriage part, per se, but life in general. From the experience of a grievous loss and family tragedy, to relationships that were painfully severed, to the division of people I loved most, the violation of trust, the sting of betrayal and broken promises, and an extremely broken heart... It was then that I completely stopped writing for leisure. (Man, I sound depressing!) I admit, it was the only time in my entire life that I experienced that thing called 'depression' -- that feeling that I was completely alone, suffocating, stuck in a deep darkness with no light at the end of the tunnel. Fortunately, and pretty quickly, there was a light at the end of that tunnel. I am happy to say that with the support, prayers and encouragement of loved ones, I was able to drag myself out of that funk within a few short months, and learned heaps of invaluable lessons as a result of all of the experiences I endured. Lessons that -- in retrospect -- I wish I would have recorded then. There's nothing more life-changing than the power of a story!

The name of this blog is Naked & Not Ashamed. The thought came from Genesis 2:25, where it talks about Adam & Eve being naked and unashamed before they sinned against God. Genesis 3:7 goes on to share that after they pretty much screwed up, "the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." How often do we make coverings for ourselves, with our own feeble attempts to hide from God and each other because we are worried about what people would think if they really knew what we were thinking... or feeling... or doing? Oh, but there's nothing really new under the sun, is there? We've all heard that saying 'been there, done that' when we share our 'supposedly' scandalous experiences with someone older and wiser. Yet, we are all doing our very best to cover our asses, to pretend all is perfect, upkeep our social network masquerades, and walk around like we have it all together. 

Truth is, I'm not perfect. (Hard to believe, right?) I make mistakes...often. I find myself in situations where I still walk around with guilt on my conscience, trying to make restitution for my wrong-doings or -sayings (usually -sayings... I've got a big mouth sometimes). It's when I share these things with those trusted few in my life, that I am reminded that my feelings are normal, that the struggle is real, and I'm not the only one going through things. Jesus died a very public death so that my shame could be covered...there's nothing left for me to hide. So here I am, almost 4 years after I created this blog, picking up where I left off; attempting to strip all superficiality and share my story -- as it happens -- as openly and honestly as possible... (not that you guys are about to get a play-by-play of my life or anything; this is a blog, not a journal) ...with the hopes that maybe my transparency and the trivial day-to-day lessons I learn along the way will make your challenges less challenging or your story a bit more relatable.