Bad Attitude

Woke up yesterday. Snowing again. The weather reports said
‘snow all day’. Ugh.

I couldn’t stay in bed. We had a meeting at the church. It wasn’t something I was particularly excited about going to. I felt it was an ‘add on’ at a time when my calendar was already filled. I was going out of loyalty to support another staff member who I really believed in and to the people I talked into attending.

The roads were slick. My self-talk was bad. My thinkin’ was stinkin’. Mumbling all the way to church I knew, just knew, that one of two things were going to happen. 1. When I got there the parking lot would be empty. All the sane people weren’t going to risk life and limb. 2. There’s be a big note on the door saying ‘Cancelled’.

Funny thing. I turned into the parking lot. It was quite full. No cancellation. Oh, there was lots of weather related mumbling but people were there and were engaged.

Bad attitude turned in the direction of an attitude adjustment. A badly needed adjustment.

My circumstances were dictating my attitude. My circumstances stood in the way of some ‘God things’ happening in my life. My ‘self talk’ was heading towards a predictable outcome until God opened my eyes, adjusted my attitude, and redefined reality.

It was a good morning. I had some good interactions with people. Our presenter, Mindy Caliguire, spoke about Soul Care and I had an ‘aha’ moment or two. I walked away feeling ‘blessed’.

So often in my life I let my circumstances and the thinking that envelops it to get in the way of something good. How many times have I rolled over, dug myself a deep attitude rut, and stayed away from what ultimately turns out to be an appointment with God? More than I count.

Sometimes you just got to gut it up, face the less than favorable circumstances, and do what you said you were going to do. We all know that. I just need constant reminders. And as we turn towards loyalty, responsibility, agreements, and ‘have to’s’ God can use even the most grudging turn to the ‘good’ to do something necessary in our lives.

I’m glad I got out of bed and did what I promised to do. Even though I was sowing seeds of a bad attitude God didn’t let those seeds take root. Instead, he chuckled and showed me that despite my stinkin’ thinkin’ He’s quite capable of still doing something good in my life.