Green Guitars

Hey wassup my OGs? 

...That means original gangster for all you not hip people...

Anyways...It is hump day and I just got done enoing with some preeettttyyy aweome people. And, as you probably have (not) guessed, this is not Jenna. It's actually her best friend Alyssa here...writing her a blog post. 

WHAAAAT??????!!!!?? NOT JENNA??!?!??!??!?!???!?!??!

I know, I know. This wasn't what you were expecting, but is anything really? And are we reallu happy with what we get in the end?
(hahaha smooth transition there)

Well since we got introductions out of the way, today we will be talking about something Jenna has touched on before, but it is something I have been struggling with: wishful thinking and being content at where you are and with what you have.

So, first, I will start off with a question: Have you ever been at  pinnacle in your life where everything is so awesome and you're so happy, but then that time changes and you don't feel that way anymore and all you want is to get back to that time where you were happy? Well, this may not ring familiar with you, but it sure does hit me in the gut...and makes my gut actually hurt with what we call wishful thinking. 

Right now at this point in my life I have been doing quite a lot of this and I have come to the realization that it is dangerous. Very dangerous.

I wish things were different. This is a phrase that I have been thinking to myself lately and it seems so innocent, however if you get caught up in it...in only those five single words, you can't enjoy all other words and things in your life. I mean, if the thing you wish was different can be changed and made different, then good for you. But, most times it's things we can't change. 

Let me repeat that again.

It is things we can't change. 

That can't has large weight on it for being such a small word, doesn't it?

We, or rather I should say I, can't sit around saying "I wish I went here...I wish this had happened and not this...blah blah blah". This is because it leads us to not have the ability to be content in our lives. We can't enjoy the things and people and times around us. It sucks. Yeah. I'm not going to sugar coat it. Things can't always be as good as they were in the past, but they can still be good.. You just have to be able to move on and enjoy life as it goes. 

And not keep looking behind your shoulder. Have you ever tried to walk through a wooded forest while looking behind you at the beautiful  flat field you just left? If you haven't...DO NOT TRY AT HOME, because you will trip. You will fall. You will get hurt. And you won't be able to see the small beauties in front of you because you will be flat on your face. Wishful thinking is painful and addicting, but it inhibits and holds you back...and causes you to trip up. 

And after that little anecdote, I have come to the point to say we need to learn to be content. 

You know, thinking about this whole thing reminds me of someone who needed to learn to be content. This person is Paul and he was in prison for many years and in his letter to the Philippians he states

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-12

Now this is a man who has been in prison for years. He's been through so much and he is sitting there writing and saying that he is CONTENT. How can he be content??????!!?!??!

Well, he has stopped looking back and he has kept looking forward...And most importantly, he has God and he trusts his happiness in God's hands at all time.

If we stop trying to control what makes us happy and let God take the reins for a while, maybe..just maybe, we can be content at where we are. I know I'm having trouble with this and so I know it's not easy. It takes a lot of prayer...and not the prayer asking for things to change or to have certain things. This prayer is one asking to be content with what our situation is...even if we feel like no one is listening.

With all that being said, OGGs (That's Original Green Guitars)...be cautious in what you wish for and don't let wishful thinking ensnare and hold you back. Enjoy the present and don't let the past haunt you.

And so readers...I hope you have a wonderful day and before you leave, I will leave with a really cheesy quote (that I had to google to find out who said it)..

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” - Bill Keane

Haha...punny AND inspirational, am I right?