I Don’t Know What the Future Holds

…but I know who holds the future. Have you ever heard that before? It’s a catchy, thoughtful little quote that Christians like to say when things are uncertain. I’ve certainly used it for comfort at various points in my life and when I say various points, I mean when I wonder who I’ll marry or if all my mistakes have lead me miles away from where I should be or could be. Earlier this week I thought more about the word ‘trust’ and how it connects to faith. Because that ‘holds the future’ thing is really all about trust. If we really believed, like if we really, really believed, knowing that God is in control, that He really “holds the future,” that we can really trust Him completely, believing that everything that happens, happens for a reason, and even beyond that, He knows about everything that happens and that nothing happens that He hasn’t accounted for or planned on, if we believed that even with the chaos we see every single minute in our hometowns, in our states, in our country, in the world, in our heads, that He is actually in control, that He actually has a plan, that He actually isn’t surprised by anything ever, that nothing happens beyond what He allows, that there is an end goal and a finish line for all of us, that the world, as in the actual earth, is longing for Him, too, that as society crumbles and people act more and more crazy, act more and more selfish, less and less tolerant to Him and what he brings, less tolerant to those they call intolerant, even through all that, He counts the hairs on our head, He’s still got compassion for those that love him and those that hate him, He reaches out to hug us, to protect us, He loves us and even likes us, His angels are entertained by watching His creation (us) like I’m entertained watching His creation (dolphins and horses, more specifically), to really believe he can hold all the love and all the hate and all the greatness and sadness, all the victories and defeats that every one of us face, all the disappointment and all the success, all the governments that may or may not acknowledge Him, he can hold all of that in a balance that allows us to still live even when we don’t deserve it, to love even though we don’t really know how, to laugh even when we might be suffering… well, if we really believe He’s actually in control, as if He’s actually got a plan for the big future (mankind) and the little future (mine and yours)…

I don’t see how that wouldn’t change everything about everything.

It Must Be That Time of the Month

I seem to be suffering from monthly “man stuff” today, but it’s definitely from unnatural causes—ahem, fantasy football. It’s funny and slightly disturbing that the start of the week can be so negatively affected by something this trivial—ahem, losing at fantasy football. Like, if I won this week’s matchup, all would be right in the world; I have a good job, good friends, two fun dogs, a couple of dates lined up, and an exciting week ahead. But when I lose, it’s just icing on the cake wreck; the world is falling apart, my job is difficult, my friends are lame, my dogs disobey and so do my dates, and this week’s outlook is boring with a chance of heavy disappointment. All because I didn’t start Dwayne Bowe and now—ahem, I’ve lost 4 games in a row.

This “man stuff” stinks sometimes. Period.

my life is just like this cake.

Dating Encouragement: For Guys

Go on a date that she’ll remember.

Go on a date that you’ll remember.

I’ve found that when I’m comfortable, she’s comfortable.
So if you don’t like sushi, don’t take her out for sushi!

You’re never too old for nerves to ruin a date.

If you can’t be brave for 20 seconds, be brave for 10.

I’ve learned being nervous can be a good thing.
It means she matters.
It doesn’t mean you’re a loser.

Date as if she’s the first girl you’ve ever dated.

Date as if every girl has always replied to your texts.

When the unexpected happens, make fun of it, and what I mean is make fun from it.

Remember the feeling when you first liked a girl? Find it again.

Believe the girl you’re hoping to find isn’t already married.

Go on a date with a 10.

Go on a date with a 5.

Because let’s face it, you’re a 5 on someone’s scale.

A girl’s not worth dating if she reminds you of scissors: Thin and curvy in the right places, but really, all she’s good at making you feel divided.

Don’t be a desperate single person because then you might end up married.

Believe you’re at least in the same ball park as your dream girl.

I think it’s sometimes better to ignore the signs and swing away.
Then again, a little bit of attention paid does make sense.

If you’re too scared to ask a 10 out, ask a 5 out first. No matter what she says, you’ll probably throw caution to the wind at that point.

Rejection is not a bad thing.
It means you’re 1 girl closer to your best friend.

I Gave the Best One Away

It was your favorite record. The last bite of lasagna. Or 3 years of your life. You gave it to her and don’t regret it for a second. Though the relationship didn’t last, you aren’t burned out on giving the best you have to the person you love because when it’s all boiled down, that’s what you’re supposed to do. Maybe it didn’t work out because she wasn’t doing the same for you. Maybe she isn’t the dream girl you remember her being or maybe you messed up and lost her. But don’t mess up by treating your future relationships with a cynical attitude. Because the next one may be the reason all the past ones are the past ones.

It was a normal, typical, forgettable day when I started looking for a stamp to mail my water bill. I came across a silly little Disney Vinylmation figurine that reminded me of a girl I once dated. You see, there were 2 figurines when I first returned from a summer trip to Disney World in Florida. I bought one for me and one for her. With the collection of these designer figurines, Disney was creating some mystery by selling them without the buyer knowing which one they were getting (they were packed in a black cardboard box). In theory (and a whole bunch of spending later), you could own the whole set! Go you!

After we opened them up, there was clearly a “cool” one and clearly an “ugly” one. I knew which one she wanted so I kept… this one: Yeah, clearly the lamest. But I didn’t care. I wanted her to have the best one. Do I regret keeping this one? Ehhh, maybe. Do I regret selling it online? No way. Hey, I’m sure somebody wants it (and if that somebody is you, eBay).

I never found the stamps but in a moment of nostalgia, I found out that whether it was gifts, time, or revealing the deeper things in my heart, I don’t regret anything I gave that girl and I don’t regret our relationship ending, either. That was meant to be, and giving the best of who I am is what I’m meant to do. My creativity, my time, my trust, what I cherish the most which could be my family, my dogs, keys to my house, or telling someone something no one else knows, I’ll give it all away.

I won’t stop giving my best to whoever I’m dating at the time. Because that girl may turn into my girlfriend. She may turn into my wife. She may turn into the mom of my kids and a grandma to their kids. And one day as we’re looking through old photos of our family, I’ll realize somewhere along the line as I was giving her the best I had to offer, we actually gave the world the best we had to offer… and we’re looking at pictures that prove it.

My College or Career Goal Is…

This is from a 9th grade career fair.
looks like someone has a ways to go.