January 21, 2005 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer     

      I heard a really neat illustration not that long ago.  In reference to struggling church congregations, it was suggested that they need to learn to breathe water.

   This concept could be applied to any situation.  Instead of feeling like we’re drowning in work, obligations, worries, concerns, troubles, stress, responsibilities, committees, have-tos and so on, we need to learn to breathe water.

   This means that we need to look at life from a different perspective, approach our responsibilities in a different fashion, start looking at our have-tos and decide what we want to do, and stop dwelling on what we can’t change in our lives.

   When you think about this concept, most of us have experience with water breathing in one or more aspects of our lives already.  What we need to do is apply the concept to all areas of our lives.  

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gBZ00HNJ8aSCjDobEw7kSfsyWsMNrju2/view?usp=sharing

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January 7, 2005 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer     

   Sometimes something that should be a good thing turns out, through no direct fault of your own, to be a really bad thing.

   In November, a project was started in my life that should have been a good, positive thing...and it should have been completed by the end of that month.

   Unfortunately, the project continued into the next month and, besides inconveniencing a whole bunch of other people, totally turned my life upside down and inside out.  It still is not done and will become a massive undertaking to rectify the situation.

   Now, every once in a while we all need shook up and jolted out of our favourite ‘ruts.’  However, there is a difference between a rut-jolting and major upheaval that affects every aspect of your life in a very negative manner...health, jobs, social interactions, emotional and mental stability.

   When these ‘earthquakes’ rock our world, we have to make sure that we have something to ground us and keep us tied to the solid and sane.  It is important to have a support structure (friends, family) in place to lean on when needed until you get your feet back under you.

   We are at the beginning of a brand new year...and whether we are trying to survive a natural disaster, are grieving the loss of family or friends, are dealing with a major health crisis, or are having to deal with an unprofessional employee, we have the choice...either we can let the tragedies of life overwhelm us, or we use that time of upheaval to strengthen us. 

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gFK9Tou6WUX3a0dj09BKRL7lB8NU2bs1/view?usp=sharing

To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.