Nope, It’s Not Always The Way You Think It Is
I wrote a blog entry some time back about how things are not always the way that they seem. Today, that thought hit me hard once again. I've really been sick for the past week and a half, and my daughter surprised me by bringing me home a piece of cake this afternoon. Not just any cake mind you. Those of you who are close to me know exactly what she brought! It was THE cake! That German Chocolate cake with coconut caramel icing that I've talked about for several weeks that just was tempting me to death at Innkeepers! I've been so good, not giving in, but hey... my baby brought this to me. YES! So, after dinner, I got me a glass of milk and sat down to enjoy my cake... and I took the first bite... and I was like, "REALLY?" Don't get me wrong, it was not bad (I ate the whole thing) but it was just such a let down. This cake was just so beautiful! I'm telling you, it was the best looking cake I have ever laid my eyes on... and I've had cake all over the US and 5 other countries. But somehow, this cake just did not live up to it's appearance. Again, it was not that the cake was bad... it was just not what I expected.
Isn't that how it is so often in life? Things we look forward to with anticipation just did not meet the expectation... leaving us feeling unfulfilled. I personally believe that this is one of the biggest things destroying marriages. People live with this fairytale notion and they get married based on a feeling... and then the stress and trials of everyday life come and bursts the bubble of expectation... and people bail. They have not learned that marriage is something you work hard at, fight for and defend, because the pitfalls of life will try to steal the joy of life, and if you don't make a 100% commitment, you will never make it. It is that way with drinking, drugs, sex and so many other things. We look to it with excitement and expectation... we will sell our souls for it... and then we discover, that it is not at all like the 30 minute comedy on TV that we laugh at. It is real, and the outcome and destruction and pain... it is all real... there is no commercial break or cute wrap up at the end of the show. It's not what we expected at all!
And it is just as true in reverse. TV, the movies and the media make those who are Christians out to be buffoons and losers... so the vast majority of the world, when they consider the church, or seeking out this whole "God thing" they have a tainted view Christianity. But I would say to those people... "It's not always the way you think it is."
Isn't that how it is so often in life? Things we look forward to with anticipation just did not meet the expectation... leaving us feeling unfulfilled. I personally believe that this is one of the biggest things destroying marriages. People live with this fairytale notion and they get married based on a feeling... and then the stress and trials of everyday life come and bursts the bubble of expectation... and people bail. They have not learned that marriage is something you work hard at, fight for and defend, because the pitfalls of life will try to steal the joy of life, and if you don't make a 100% commitment, you will never make it. It is that way with drinking, drugs, sex and so many other things. We look to it with excitement and expectation... we will sell our souls for it... and then we discover, that it is not at all like the 30 minute comedy on TV that we laugh at. It is real, and the outcome and destruction and pain... it is all real... there is no commercial break or cute wrap up at the end of the show. It's not what we expected at all!
And it is just as true in reverse. TV, the movies and the media make those who are Christians out to be buffoons and losers... so the vast majority of the world, when they consider the church, or seeking out this whole "God thing" they have a tainted view Christianity. But I would say to those people... "It's not always the way you think it is."
