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I’m Surprised Every Time I’m Asked For More

When I’m asked for my input, I’m always surprised more is expected of me.

I'm surprised every time I'm asked for more

We’ve all heard the statement, “This isn’t what I signed up for.” Usually we make that statement because there is more to be done than we had initially thought.

… Like when a friend asks you to help him move out of his small apartment, in your mind you estimate a quick job, thinking it will be simple. So you agree to help.

But when you get to his apartment, you’re surprised. Nothing has been packed and your friend doesn’t have enough boxes. This means that the truck will not be loaded in a neat uniform, stacking format. Odd shaped individual items will create a haphazard, uneven load … and the move will take twice as long as you thought. 

This type of scenario happens to us repeatedly. And we are surprised every time.

As much as we don’t want it to happen, we can’t seem to learn from the previous experiences.

There have been times when I’ve gotten a phone call asking if I would complete a short survey. They promise it will only take five minutes … but it never does. 

Then they ask you to use only the words they give you to describe your answer. So your answer isn’t really how you feel. You want to answer “fine” but they will only accept “substandard” or “outstanding”. “Fine” doesn’t fit with either of those two options.

What bugs me is I fall for these asks over and over. I’m surprised every time and have to slap myself on the back of the head because I’ve gotten sucked in once again.

Apps are famous for asking us to rate them. They offer 5 stars to pick from. But when you do, they take you to another page with a series of questions they want you to answer.

This week I got an email about a product I purchased from Amazon. I saw the five stars and, like some kid who’s repeated grade 9 math four times, I hit the star of my choosing. Instead of accepting my rating, I was whisked away to a site that not only wanted a star rating but also a title for a review.  

“Great”, I typed. But that was not enough. They wanted a picture of the item … probably a picture of me holding the item with a big smile on my face. 

They also wanted a review of up to 200 characters. Without providing all this information I was not able to submit my rating. 

I spent another two or three minutes trying to get around having to provide all their requirements and finally quit the rating review all together. 

What a waste of time. No one was satisfied. They didn’t get a rating and I spent way too long attempting to give one.

The worst thing is that in six months I’m probably going to get a request to rate another purchase or an app that I used … and I will have forgotten the whole experience, expecting to click on 4 stars out of 5 and be done. 

Here’s the thing: There is more to our life than we realize. When you put your faith in Christ, He accepts you as you are, but He will ask you to grow deeper with Him and it will require more of you. The difference is the more you get to know Christ, the more you trust Him. You will give more of yourself to Him because you want to. Giving to God comes from a desire to enjoy Him more.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What has surprised you lately? Leave your comments and questions below.

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A Taste Of Something Good Is Never Enough

We’ve all experienced a taste of something and then wanted more.

a taste of something good is never enough

Sometimes you can get more, but there are times when you are left with only a taste. 

That’s frustrating.

Recently when I was at a wedding reception, the waiters brought around appetizer finger foods while we waited for the bride and groom to show up.

I got to try one item that was offered me and it was very good. But as quickly as the waiter brought the little morsel, she disappeared with her tray and those bites of whatever they were. 

To be fair, it was getting near dinner time and I was a little peckish. A one-bite of anything was not going to cut it for me. But I sure liked those little, crispy, rolled things dipped in a sweet, tangy sauce.

Shortly after my taste buds had been perked, I spied another waiter with a tray. I moseyed over, but she had some asparagus thing wrapped in a seaweed-like twine.  

I passed on that one and kept looking for that one waiter who had the food that I wanted more of. 

Have you been there? You got a taste of something but really wanted more? 

A little over a month ago I got an inflatable stand up paddle board for my birthday. About a month later, after some anticipation, I finally got my paddle board up to our cottage. I inflated it and was excited to take it down to the beach and get it into the water.

That first try was great. I got tossed off the board multiple times – some spectacular wipeouts – and it was probably a little too wavy to try for the first time, but I didn’t care; I was having fun. 

We all gave it a shot, I tried it, my daughter, Karlie, and her husband and Lily all gave it a go. We had a wonderful afternoon on the water. 

I would have gone back the next day, but I had gotten a little too much sun so I needed to press pause for a day or two. In the mean time, I had to figure out where I would store this giant surf board that is fifteen feet long. 

I bought some hooks and mounted them on the side of our deck. I had no sooner placed the board on the hooks and turned around to get something when I heard a loud balloon-like pop. … Well, it wasn’t a balloon; it was my paddle board! 

One month waiting to use it, one day of using it and I was left with a taste of something that I wanted more of. 

Now I couldn’t have more. 

Replacing it meant hours of driving and more waiting, but we finally got a new one. 

I sure hope I don’t get just another taste, but instead get the full experience. 

Here’s the thing: There are times when we truly experience God’s love. We feel it, sense it, can even describe it. But then the hardships of life come and we wonder where God’s love is. We want to feel more of it, not just a taste of it. God is not far off. He is with you no matter what hardship you are experiencing. Keep seeking Him and giving yourself to Him and you will find what you are looking for – more of God’s love.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What are you hoping for more of? Leave your comments and questions below. 

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Everybody Wants Me To Be More Intentional

I have to be more intentional this year when it comes to flying my drone.

The other day I took my drone out for the first time in about two months. It’s not easy to fly it in the winter in Canada. You have to wait for the perfect day – a day that is not too cold and with not too much wind. 

Even then, standing almost still outside in winter for about 30 minutes starts to turn one into a human popsicle.

The other day the temperature was above zero and I had a little time. So I charged all my batteries and got all my gear together. 

Lily was willing to go with me, so we made a plan.

With new regulations for drones coming into effect shortly, it’s not as simple as going over to the nearby park or high school to send the thing up in the air. You have to know where you can fly your drone and the areas that are restricted.

I found a website that shows all the restricted areas in Canada. Granted all that is marked on this site are areas around airports and prisons … which covers much of Kingston.

I had to look outside the city until I found a great spot – just north is one of the locks on the Rideau Canal.

I thought it would be perfect. No one would be around. I would get to fly my drone and capture video of water rushing down over the rapids, possibly disappearing under the ice.

So with everything ready, we hopped in the car and drove about twenty minutes to the spot. 

As we approached, there were a lot of vehicles in the parking lot even though it was a Saturday, the lake was still covered in ice and the ground was frosty. 

I quickly realized that all the activity at the locks was by workmen. They are making repairs and doing it before the water starts flowing and boats want to make their way up the river system.

There were fences everywhere; the property was virtually off limits. 

… Even my plans and efforts to fly my drone were thwarted.

We got back in the car and looked on a map for another spot. 

There was a place I wanted to film – it’s an on-ramp to the 401 that they literally cut out of the rock. It looks really cool. But when we went to the spot, Lily thought it was too risky for me to fly there. 

I wanted to stand near the edge of a cliff above the ramp so I could see what I was doing but she didn’t like the idea of me being so close to the edge.

So we started randomly looking for a spot on the map. We ended up going to a place that will be the site of a new subdivision north of the city.  

It sure wasn’t the landscape I was hoping to film. 

This year flying my drone is not going to be random, but much more planned and intentional. 

Here’s the thing: How intentional are you in growing your relationship with God? Do you ask Him what He wants you to work on with Him? Or do you randomly attempt to work on some problem in your life that happens to pop up? Be intentional. If you ask the Lord, He will show you what you should be working on. The good thing is He works with you on it so you’re not on your own.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What is the number one area of your life you need to work on right now? Leave your comments below.