Changes in Attitude

Happy Comment Day! Remember to read all the blogs you can and leave comments on every post you read!  It's a simple as that! Looking for some blogs to check out?  Start by visiting  http://incitingincidents.org/stories.php and checking out the over 30 posts that were part of the Inciting Incidents synchroblog on Tuesday.  That gives you lots of choices.  Or you can stop by some of my favorite bloggers by clicking any of the links listed below:

Andrea Ward

Kevin Weatherby
Amy Nabors
Jennifer Kuramochi
Tom Zalatnai
Jennifer Eckert
Beth Green
Brook Teoli Phelps
Gavin Richardson
Heather Campbell
Eric Hendrickson
Kimberley Mills
Krystle Singleton
Laura Godwin
Marie Allen 
Christie Weatherby
Ashley Goad Broadhurst 
Jason Huffman 
D. Marie
Tracee Persiko
J. Brent Bill

                                                                                                                       
Now on with today's post...

Lately I have had an attitude problem.  Actually, the problem is that I have developed an attitude.  It seems that I am constantly wanting things that I cannot have, and when I realize that fact I get frustrated and whiny. It is not a pretty sight. These are not material things that I am coveting. These are emotional and personal needs that I am struggling with, and so they are difficult to talk about. To be honest, many of them are selfish things- things I want to change, places I wish I could go.  I get moody and people worry about me, because I am not generally a moody person.  And then when people worry I get defensive and my attitude problem grows.  It is a vicious cycle.  The world sometimes gets crazy, and when it does, I tend to get a little crazy right along with it.

There are several things that help me survive such times.  Prayer, of course, often brings great peace to my soul.  Family and good friends who offer love and support help me remember that I do have a purpose.  But when my attitude starts sinking, there is always one thing that brings me back to life.  Laughter.  Laughing brings great energy into my heart. Making others laugh is one of my life's great joys.  When life gives you lemons, you can make lemonade- or you can make grape juice and leave the world wondering how you did it!  That is what laughter does to my grumpy, self-involved attitude.  It's like Jimmy Buffett wrote all those years ago:

"It's those changes in latitude, changes in attitude,

nothings remains quite the same.

With all of the running and all of our cunning

if we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.

If we weren't all crazy we would go insane..."

One thing I learned from all of my years in student ministry is this- when life gets a little crazy, go with it. Embrace the craziness, and get a little crazy yourself!  And remember that God created you to be a unique individual.  Even when your attitude makes you grumpy.  Have a good laugh today.  And share the joy with someone else who might need one as well. Never forget that laughter is one of God's great gifts to humanity.

Because of Jesus,