Grit and Glory

green flossers and good intentions

alece — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:00:25 +0000

The ziplock bag filled with green flossers caught my eye this morning, and reminded me that good intentions aren’t enough.

Two weeks ago when I packed for this trip, I deliberately counted out enough flossers for every day I’d be gone. Even though I don’t normally floss everyday.

Oh, I wish I did. But the reality is… I don’t.

Yet I put 19 flossers in a ziplock and tossed them in my toiletry bag. Somehow simply bringing them made me feel better about my oral hygiene habits.

As if the desire alone is enough to get the job done.

But as I repacked my toiletry bag today, I couldn’t escape the truth that I didn’t floss any more than I normally do. And that I was bringing 16 flossers back home with me.

All my good intentions got me was a false sense of accomplishment at the start and a guilty conscience at the end.

Though I started off feeling quite proud of myself, the end result is a sense of failure. Over something silly like flossing.

But that’s because this is actually about something far bigger than dental care.

It’s really about self-discipline. And follow-through. And genuinely doing something about those things I want to do something about.

Because good intentions alone won’t get me very far.

So excuse me… I need to go floss…

what is good

alece — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 07:00:36 +0000

I am still on my blogging break. (Hope you’re not getting sick of these “talk amongst yourselves” posts…)

But I wanted to let you know that I’m sharing the most painful part of my story over on my friend Jenni’s blog today. She’s in the middle of a series on God’s redemption even in adultery. You need to read every single one of those posts! The raw honesty of the hearts being shared there is so incredibly beautiful.

And today is my day to share.

As the only contributor without an obvious “happy ending”, I’m hoping God uses it to uniquely speak into the hearts of others who find themselves in a similar situation. And that the right people stumble upon the post if it’s something their hearts need to hear. Pray with me for that?

Trusting today that God can redeem even this.

Now… Back to our regularly-scheduled program…

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Which of those three statements resonates most deeply with you?

things that matter

alece — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:00:26 +0000

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What do you need to speak up about?

take care

alece — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:00:28 +0000

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Now what?

dangerous prayers

alece — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:00:13 +0000

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What’s the most dangerous prayer
you’re too afraid to pray?

all that is necessary

alece — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 07:00:35 +0000

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What do you need to do?

risk is calling

alece — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:00:09 +0000

What will it be today?

the end is the beginning

alece — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:00:09 +0000

Does your experience tell you this is true?

of feeling safe

alece — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 07:00:08 +0000

Do you have someone you feel safe with?

delicious ambiguity

alece — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:00:03 +0000

Do you have some uncertainties/mysteries
you need to choose to embrace right now?