LADDERS

What ladder are you climbing?

Isn't it always something?  The "just got to get to the...."  I'm a good 2.5 months post graduation and 2.5 days post becoming a licensed pharmacist - And yet again, I find myself wondering what's next.  What's next? HELLO, Hart, you've been waiting on the no-study days for quite some time... Rest in the now for once.  I don't know about you, but I feel like the world is screaming at me to take another step on the ladder.  Another step?  I've been climbing SO long- isn't it OK to just get off now?  How far do I have to climb to feel like I've "arrived" and  what is this magic destination at which I'm hoping to reach?  Success? (What is that, anyway?) Dream job? The "happy" place? Contentment? Having "enough"? (and what is that?)  Aren't we all sick of this ladder? Its exhausting and unsteady. It's a dangerous ladder. With each undirected step, the ladder becomes less and less stable.  A step of selfishness here, a step of people pleasing there.  I step of pride here, a step of self-gratificaiton there.  All these steps up a shaky ladder and well, where is this ladder going anyway?  Does it even end?  Do I ever arrive?

So I've been debating.  Do you just decide to hop off the ladder?  Do you quit working so hard, quit trying to set yourself apart?  Do you quit working for the promotion or your dream job?  Do you decide to just be content?  Content... or complacent? Oh, there's complacency. Do I just decide to not take any risks? Stay in my comfort zone? My phrase as of late has been "After this residency, I'm hopping off the ladder, yall!" Is that what I should be thinking?  Complacent. That sounds not only boring, but also like a life that's not lived out in faith.  Not one bit.

So there must be another ladder, right?  I think there is...  I think there's a ladder leading to sanctification. This is a very, very tall ladder- but the only reason we know it's tall is because there IS a destination (or top, if you will).  There is somewhere to arrive, but it involves us taking steps every day.  These aren't easy steps to take, but they are much more stable- and even if this ladder feels shaky sometimes, you trust that there's someone holding it at the top.  You take every step with Faith- with your eyes fixed on CHRIST and NOT on yourself.   Take every step knowing you have someone guiding you up each inch if you simply ask. This ladder is one we must aim to climb our whole lives despite the false glow of the other. The only thing keeping us from taking just one step is to look back at ourselves.

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus....
17Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Philippians 3. 


So what ladder are you climbing? The ladder of the world?  Or the freely accessible ladder towards Christ?  Or are you just stuck on the step of complacency?

Get climbing :)

good reads

Can we talk about how much I LOVE Ann Voskamp's A Holy Experience?  Seriously, do yourself a favor and go read back as far as you can.  She hits the nail on the head every time.  Some of my personal favorite posts are:
Don't Give Up
Overwhelmed
Such a Time as Now

Just wanted to share :)

To blog or not to blog?

I've asked myself this question several times over the past few months... Yes, it is nearing 6 months since I've made an appearance here, and there are several reasons for that.  Like everyone else, I've been pretty busy... Secondly, I didn't want a blog to feel like a chore.  Thirdly, I have been really struggling with the point of my blog.  My dad cracks me up... on our family vacation a couple of weeks ago, he asked the million dollar question...

Dad: Hart, what is a blog???
Me: Well, it can be a lot of different things...
[Chad interrupts: It's like a diary on the internet!]
Me: No, not necessarily.  Sometimes it's peoples thoughts and ideas.  Sometimes its recipes or the latest fashions.... Sometimes its just an inspiring thought... Mostly people sharing happy times or "things to try..."
Dad:  You mean to tell me that people write about themselves on a webpage and think that other people care to read it?
Me: Dad, your missing the point...
[Chad interrupts again: Yes, Van.]

Anyway, the rest of the conversation went something like me trying to rationalize why people blog..

What I didn't tell Dad is that I actually have one. Ha! Again, he's a guy and I think for the most part, they don't appreciate a cool DIY or new recipe... or what anyone else does or think.  Most guys don't care and oh how I wish I was like them sometimes!  But it made me stop and think... Most people do only blog about their happy times.  I mean lets be real, I don't want to read about someone's horrible day... I'd rather ponder the happy, myself!  However, when I read other people's blogs, it sometimes leaves me feeling insufficient or "Oh, I wish I had that" or "I really need that" or "My life is so boring" or "Why can't I just be a Mom..."  this list goes on.  Basically it makes me want to live in some fantasy world where all I do is bake, garden, make projects, travel the world, and be happy ALL the time.

Now, before I am misunderstood, I want to make sure you know that this post is about ME and MY blog.  All you bloggers out there, keep doing your thing- I enjoy you so mcuh!  Many blogs I read are super encouraging and the writers are very transparent- and man do I appreciate that.  Also, a lot of blogs I read have a theme or specific audience.  Many blogs are for a certain adventure, a mission trip or a new lifestyle change- those are all so great.  For me... well... I don't feel like I really have a point.. you know?  I'm just living life and the LAST thing I want to do is portray that it is in any way perfect.  I have my highs and definitely my lows.  Yes I have a sweet husband and cute dog, and yes, I love to cook and grow things, and yes, I have the dearest friends in the world.... but I am also a sinner in need of grace, I mess up a LOT, I put my foot in my mouth more than not, and like everyone else, I have the more than occasional emotional breakdown. So if I do decide to keep up the blog, please know that.

In the meantime, I'll be deciding a direction for this little space on the internet (and get adjusted to my new job).  Hang in there- I'll probably be back and hopefully with something that will be worth your time.  Hope you are having a happy summer!

Hart