People have struggles because they are people. We live in an imperfect world, because we are imperfect. Families struggle because they are composed of people. Groups of people struggle and nations struggle. What is the solution? People are. But, how can people be the solution if people are the problem?

We are not yet in paradise, but it is helpful if we have hope and direction ...and that motivation comes from the belief that we will some day be in that paradise, and that we aspire to what it represents.  That paradise does not represent an ideology in my own head, it is a place described in the Bible which I believe is real.

So what do we do with that?  Our daughter posted an article that explained that often it's not what we do.

"Sometimes the route to happiness depends more on what you don't do."  There were ten things listed ...I'm only going to list 3 of the top 5, not because I don't like the rest, it's just that these seem to go together:

• Blaming ...it's always better and more effective to each focus on what we can do, while blaming mostly omits this thought and focuses on another
• Complaining (the article said whining) ...which usually makes it worse. We've been told that we need to vent, and get it off our chest ...which is often true, but not if it gets in our chest.  The heart of the matter is, that it often becomes so much a part of us, that it can become our first response.
• Impressing ...this can be so self-defeating.  It is good to do our best, but we try to impress everyone we can go insane.  It's also not good to impress those that may not lead us in a healthy direction.

Our family had a struggle the other day ...and just naturally, we all had our point of view. I'm glad God didn't create us as robots. Some people seem to deal with struggles better than others ...and there are healthy coping mechanism, as there are also unhealthy ones. I don't like struggles, but I don't have an immediate inclination to ignore them either.

Often we don't like points of view other than the ones we are comfortable with.  So, what do we do with that?

In the heat of the struggle, I am thankful that my family will not be in the heat as we enter eternity ...and that gives a great perspective, but our saving grace in a disagreement has to somehow move past other emotions other than this.  

I thought, if Jesus was physically standing here, at the time of the struggle, we may each look to Him to reconcile our differences ...but there is a tendency at that moment to want God to be on our side, to have Him agree with us.  Just for the record, God  ...the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ---are all in agreement always.

I had to be honest at this moment ---we were all probably wanting to think God would agree with what we were presenting, but in truth, in the heat of the discussion ---none of us would probably like what He had to say, the whole of it.  Because we don't always look to what is holy, but to try to point out that someone else is wholly wrong.

We want to think of Jesus in our own way ...and want to think He often thinks the way we do.  But, this is the wrong focus.  We should instead focus on the way He thinks.  But, it is absurd to say He is a certain way, if we are also saying that the Bible is not accurate.  What authority are we then using, or claiming to use?

My family may struggle, but I don't think you will hear any of us discount the Bible.  How would you feel if Jesus told you that you were wrong?  Would you pay attention?  And you must try to understand the entire Bible ...as I mentioned before, Jesus said that He and the Father are One.

At the point of emotional conflict, whether it's a constant thing, or just momentary ...there are various ways people adjust and cope. But, we best serve ourselves when we adjust our eyes upon Him.

Some people question the whole of life ...and don't value it, theirs nor the life of others.  This is the worst, and it manifests itself in many ways, to many degrees ...all bad.  Some people go on a 'drunk', some people are reckless in other ways...but we should never be so overwhelmed in this life that we cannot manage ...we do not have to do it alone, if we feel we can't.  Managing life here on earth at our imagined worst, is still better than trying to manage without Him for eternity.  And we should call unto Him, so we aren't managing without Him in the present.  To go the road without Him is sure tragedy.

Jesus didn't just pick an obscure location as his preferred place to live and die. He died for us ...so we can have eternal life, but we may imagine he could have done that anywhere. But, He chose where it seemed to matter most ...and He showed us how to live.

His disciples, mostly apostles, were enlisted ...but didn't quite seem to fully understand the mission.  They were like soldiers, enlisted with Jesus, but somewhat lacking understanding for their commission.  After Jesus was crucified and died ...they got new life with seeing their resurrected Lord, and they received a full commission with the Holy Spirit.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, while Jesus was praying before His crucifixion, an angel came to minister unto Him.  One of the greatest things we can do is minister to one another, to encourage one another, and help guide one another on the right path.

We must keep on the right road!!  We create some nasty curves, but return to the straight and narrow.