David Rische

Spring can be overwhelming. I’m still trying to make up for that lost hour of sleep. And I don’t know whether to begin purging the clutter from my garage, closet, or attic – so instead I watch reruns from The Office.

I was determined to discover a way to make spring cleaning and getting organized more user-friendly. After an extensive search, I found two great propositions in two excellent books. The first is Switch by Chip and Dan Heath, the second is from Essentialism by Greg McKeown

#1 – A Fast-Paced Time Management System

Chip and Dan Heath address the feeling of dread when we want to undertake any  project that will require extensive time and energy. The majority of us envision how the effort will result in a “perfect” house, garage, closet, etc. The work involved to achieve that state of perfection is overwhelming – so we don’t even start. Makes sense. Here is their advice:

“Get a kitchen timer and set it for 5 minutes. Then go to the worst room in your house – the one you’d never let a guest see – and, as the timer ticks down, start clearing a path, and when the timer buzzes, you can stop with a clear conscience. Doesn’t sound as bad, does it?” (Switch pg. 130)

One of two things can then occur:

*You have a sense of accomplishment, and can continue using the timer technique in the days to come until the project is complete.

*More than likely – the blood is flowing, your energy is vibrant, and you feed off of the progress you’re making – and you keep on going until significant progress or closure is made in your endeavor.

#2 – Uncluttering the Clutter

Let’s face it, we’re all holding on to stuff we need to get rid of. I need to face the reality that I’m not going to drop down 4 pant sizes and be able to fit into my Dockers that I wore in college. The Miami Vice white jacket from the 80’s probably won’t be coming back in style any time soon (plus the matching pants). And finally, the Little Caesars employee shirt with my name embroidered on it – I’m probably safe getting rid of it, and opening up that slot up to another article of clothing.

Again – an overwhelming task when we mentally think of taking it on. So where do we start?

I’m going to paraphrase from Essentialism (by the way, one of the best books I’ve ever read on prioritizing your life) regarding the steps to take to clean out an area. I’ll use Greg McKeown’s example of truly purging a closet:

1. Create 3 piles – Keep, Give Away, Throw Away
2. Physically handle each item and realistically evaluate will you ever wear it again? Use the two-year rule: “Have I worn this within the last two years?”
3. If you’re struggling with keeping it or not, ask the question: “How much money would I spend on this item right now?”
4. When finished, take immediate action with your piles.

I hope this helps. Like everything else in life – the challenge is getting started, and persevering until the end 🙂

On August 1st, 2015 – our kids were “deceived” into driving out to East Texas to pick up a new family member, a Golden Retriever we named Sadie. That day was filled with joy, laughter, and love for this innocent animal. On September 27th, 2015 – I created a very rough draft blog titled “Sadie and Me.” It was intended to be whimsical look at the joys of a new puppy – the dog falling asleep on my chest and snoring, puppy breath, discovering life, bringing happiness, and not being able to stay mad at her when she ruined something because she was so darn cute.
I also was going to write about the challenges of a new puppy – 2 am and 4 am wake up calls, EVERYTHING and everyone’s fingers becomes a chew toy, having more energy than everyone in the house combined, and how she would occasionally leave piles of “stuff” secretly throughout the household that I was magnetically attracted to and would step in.

Unfortunately, on January 27th, 2016 – a fluke, cancerous tumor took the life of Sadie. That incident completely changed what I wanted to write about.

Despite only having her in our home for 6 months, I learned a lot of life lessons from interacting with this amazing creature. Here are my top four takeaways:

1.Sadie loved everyone. Most dogs have their “favorite” person in the house. Sadie was best friends with whoever would throw her the ball, chase her, or wrestle with her. She would greet us every morning with her slobbery kisses that instantly started our mornings off in a good mood. And she would cry with joy when each of us came home everyday from work and school.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you . . .” (John 13:34).

2. Sadie had unending curiosity. She was always “getting into stuff” – but it came from her inquisitive heart. She explored every inch of our backyard, taste-tested every piece of wooden furniture and also rocks, taste-tested any food she could reach on the counters, and victoriously disabled every stuffed animal she discovered in the kid’s closets. The first time Sadie encountered rain, she was leaping in our yard trying to catch each drop in her mouth. She knew the process that curiosity leads to trying something previously unexplored, which leads to new experiences, which lead to new knowledge.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

3. Sadie loved to play hard. I already mentioned how she “danced” in the rain. She loved the rain so much, she would go outside and lay down in the yard during a storm. Dirt and mud were giant sandboxes to her, messiness wasn’t even an afterthought. “Fetch” quickly became “Keep Away” or “Tug of War” – the only time she would quit, was if she sensed us getting tired. Anytime we tried to catch her, she put on “football moves” that would be envied by any Heisman candidate.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men . . .” (Colossians 3:23).

4) Sadie taught me that life is short. As mentioned in the beginning, she was taken from us way too soon. Questions and emotions flooded our minds, I asked the unanswerable question: “Why?” Anger and confusion trying to understand why a creature that expressed love and joy freshly every single day was taken from us. Guilt: “Did we do something wrong?” Or more guilt: “I shouldn’t feel this way, there are people going through much greater loss than this.”

A wise friend shared with me, “No one gets to hold the ‘Sadness Card’ all the time. It is normal to feel deep sorrow at any kind of loss of life that we had invested in. Our feelings are valid because we loved and were loved during our time with Sadie. As painful as it sounds now, we can love an animal again like we did with her.”

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14)

When reflecting upon her short life, I am forced to ask myself some tough questions:

What am I investing my time, talents, and money towards?

What type of legacy am I leaving during the day-to-day grind of things?

Am I involved in a lifelong pursuit of something bigger than myself? 

Commentator Bill O’Reilly has written that we will be remembered basically for two things:  “During our lives, what wrongs did we right – and how did we make people feel?” Author Bob Goff mentioned in an interview, “Picture the six people you want standing around your bedside when your time comes – go invest in those people right now!”

The story doesn’t end here. If everything works out as planned, we should be getting a new family member in about two months. It will be Sadie’s sister! Hopefully then I can write a whimsical blog about the challenges of owning a new puppy 🙂

“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold I am making all things new'” (Revelation 21:5)

“It’s the ‘hard’ that makes it great. Otherwise, everybody would be doing it.”  Tom Hanks

2016 could possibly be the year that you pursue a challenge or dream that has been on your mind for a while. Could this be the opportunity for you to: go back to school or take a class, record a song, start a blog, audition for a part, interview for a promotion, start a business, teach a class, pursue a new hobby, try out for a team, write a book, etc.? Whatever it is – by strengthening yourself and your unique skill set – the ripple effect leads to impacting lives beyond your normal sphere of influence.

Several months ago I listened to parts of an “Influence and Impact Seminar” hosted by Micheal Hyatt (a GREAT person to follow on Twitter).  Michael interviewed a wide variety of high achievers. Time permitted me from listening to every segment. However, I was fascinated by the common threads each of the achievers had in their personal testimony. Below are four key points I gleaned from their wisdom and experiences.

1) They all had (and continue to have) fear.

“There is something amazing on the other end of your fear.” Pat Flynn

“‘I’m afraid’ is the most common theme, and it is a lie that you’re alone. Become more afraid of not trying something.” Jeff Goins

“Action cures fear. Procrastination and indulgence are really just creditors that charge us interest.” Rory Vaden

“There are trolls, and constructive critics, learn to ignore the trolls.” Crystal Paine

2) They started from humble beginnings and embraced a hard work ethic.

Dave Ramsey typed his first book at the kitchen table using Microsoft Works (yuck!). He would work on the book from 10 pm until 2 am after his children went to bed.

Lewis Howes refers to himself as an “8 year overnight success.” He would offer to apprentice and work for free to learn from the experts in his field.

John Maxwell was the pastor of a church that started with 3 people.

Rory Vaden and a friend divided the Yellow Pages in half to call everyone possible offering to speak their message for free. His philosophy is that “stage time is the secret to being a great speaker.”

Chris Brogan wrote a blog for 8 years that “basically he and his mother read” until he had his first 100 readers.

Jeff Goins quit his job and disciplined himself to write every single day until his first book became published.

3) Their focus changed to serving and adding value to others.

Crystal Paine advises, “Go back to your ‘Why?’ You want to be able to say ‘I did something that mattered with my life.'”

“Serve your audience, earnings are a by-product of how well I’ve served.” Pat Flynn

“It’s hard to be nervous when your heart’s on service.” Rory Valden

“Every day do something to encourage and add value to people.” John Maxwell

“If your dream is so small and you don’t need a team – you need a bigger dream.” Jeff Goins

4) They make mistakes, have critics, and yet keep moving forward.

“Be prepared for the work and critics, just go do it!” Dave Ramsey

Bob Goff’s view on critics: “They’re smarter than me, they’re probably right, and they’re probably having a bad day.”

“People give up too soon, we want instant success.” Crystal Paine

“Even performing poorly – a goal can be completed. It is a journey over years. People don’t see the work that leads up to the big win. People get discouraged and quit right before the breakthrough.” Lewis Howes

“Our greatest detriment is taking ourselves too serious. Don’t let perfection get in the way. Just laugh at yourself.” John Maxwell

My goal is that one of these phrases or ideas caught your attention, and you want to move from thought to action. Hopefully, 2016 can be our greatest year of impact yet! Who knows, maybe you’ll someday be interviewed for the next “High Achiever Seminar”???

“The world need your gift, and the world needs your story.” Crystal Paine

The holiday seasons can be such an ironic mixture of joy and sorrow, hope and disappointment, peace and stress, community and isolation, and so on . . .

Before we know it – the last dish will be washed, the final visit will be completed, the gift cards and cash spent, and the decorations will be strategically boxed up for another year. Besides New Year’s Resolutions (I usually break mine sometime after week two), what is something that we can strive toward between now and Christmas 2016 that will make us better people?

May I suggest there is an individual in the Christmas story that models traits we all can work toward getting better at this year (and the years that follow)?  I would like to take a glimpse at someone we possibly “gloss over” when looking at the familiar Christmas narrative.  That person is Joseph. He was a man of inner strength, faith, patience, and perseverance. And as he demonstrates for us, we can continue to build our character.

The text is found in the book of Matthew, chapter 1, verses 18 – 25:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, say, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” . . . And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but he kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Joseph exhibits for us these three key traits in this passage:

1. He was a man of Impeccable Character.  Notice that he was a “righteous man” before he heard the news of her pregnancy and before the angel spoke to him. In that society, he had the legal right to have her stoned to death since she was pregnant outside of their marriage and betrothed to him. However, he chose to “send her away secretly.” Think of what was going through his mind: Why was she unfaithful? What did I do wrong? What will happen to my business, family, and social relationships now?  As the scripture shows, he chose to protect Mary’s dignity, forgive the perceived wrongdoing, and give her an opportunity to start a new life. What about us? Are we quick to jump to conclusions towards people without hearing the whole story?  Even when we are wronged, do we have an element of mercy and forgiveness toward those that have offended us?
2. He Immediately acted on God’s Message. As soon as he woke up, he followed the angel’s command. He didn’t argue, over analyze, question what he heard, or wonder if it was just his imagination – he got busy doing what he was supposed to do.  What about us? When we are prompted by the Scriptures, a sermon, a podcast, a person, a book, or that “inner voice” – what do we do with it? Paralysis by analysis? Wait until a more opportune time? Or, like Joseph, do we take action by faith – even though we don’t have all the answers right now?
3. He was a man of Incredible Self-Control. Joseph loved Mary so much he was willing to wait until after she gave birth to fully become husband and wife. He may have had to take many cold baths in the Jordan River. Or go for late night jogs on the streets of Nazareth. I wonder how many times he had to cling to the promises of God when the voices of accusation toward Mary flooded his mind? What about us? Are we willing to delay gratification in whatever area of our lives we need to? Do we cling to the promises of God, or let accusations and bitterness build in our hearts?

Once again, we are reminded that Joseph had these internal qualities before this life-changing event occurred. We can take an honest look deep inside to see where we need to work in the areas of character, listening to God, and self-control. That is a worthy task that will last a lifetime, not just fade with a New Year’s Resolution. Robert Freeman once said, “Character is not made in a crisis, it is only exhibited.”

With the passing of Veteran’s Day a few weeks ago, I continue to reflect on the dedication and sacrifice the men and women of the Armed Forces have made historically and currently. I have always been fascinated by Special Operation Forces, particularly the Navy Seals. Every time I watch Zero Dark Thirty, American Sniper, Captain Phillips, and even The Pacifier – it is like I am viewing it for the first time.

Many active and retired SEALs have entered the business marketplace with fitness products, books, videos, keynote speaking, etc.  I tried to summarize three key areas from SEAL routines that ordinary folks like you and I can implement into our lives to become more successful.

• SEALs are incredibly punctual – Even though retired, Commander Jocko Willink still sets his alarm for 4:30 am every day. Not only that, he sets three alarms: “One electric, one battery, one wind up. That way, there is not excuse for not getting out of bed, especially with all that rests on that decisive moment.” (Extreme Ownership)         You and I – What would happen if we got up 15-30 minutes earlier every day? Think of our increased productivity. Or possibly time to sit still and have a devotional time before things start getting crazy. Commander Willink learned from his instructor to take extensive measures never to be late. What if we treated other’s time with the same respect and value? If someone is going to be late, it won’t be us.
• SEALs push their bodies and minds to the extreme – An early part of a SEAL candidate’s training is called “Hell Week”. This week consists of six days of cold, wet, brutally difficult operational training on fewer than four hours of sleep. On average, only 25% of SEAL candidates make it through Hell Week. However, those that survive it, describe the accomplishment as “the greatest achievement of their lives.” (navyseal.com) While facing extreme exhaustion, retired Commander Mark Devine was once yelled at during a drill, “You guys are capable of at least twenty times what you think you are!” (The Way of the Navy Seal)
• You and I – What negative mental barriers do we cling to and refuse to let go of? What if we approached every day with the thought, “I’m going to do one positive thing today that nobody else will?” In our families, work, churches, and communities – what can we do to push through physical and psychological challenges so we can experience “the greatest achievements of our lives?” What area in our lives do we want a major breakthrough? Where can we do five, ten, even twenty times better than we already are right now? Bottom line, are you and I willing to make extreme changes, toughen up, dig deep inside, and be uncomfortable for a while to achieve our goals?
• SEALs carefully select what words they use – Realizing the word/mind/belief/action connection, a Navy Seal approaches missions with an offensive mindset, not defensive. Any “failure” during a mission, is used as a learning experience to improve themselves and a motivator to keep moving forward until the mission is finalized. Here is a small sample of the words they intentionally replace:  Good vs. Great.  Maybe vs. Definitely.  Can’t vs. Will. Try vs. Do. Failed vs. Learned.
• You and I – What if we consistently replaced our vocabulary with some of the above listed words? What if we approached life with an offensive, pro-active approach vs. a defensive and reactive? I remember hearing a speaker years ago encouraging the audience to replace the word “but” in our vocabulary with either the words “however” or “and”. For example: “Son, you played a great game, but you did miss several tackles.” Instead: “Son, you played a great game, and I can only see you getting better at tackling.” Try it, you’ll be amazed at the positive flow of energy that comes from just changing the way we habitually talk.

  There was so much more I found in my research – hopefully I can do a Part II someday. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!!! 🙂

Several years ago in one of my graduate classes, the professor had us fill out a “getting to know you” sheet.  One of the prompts read:  “Fondest memories as a child _______.”  After a short while, the class shared their results.  Approximately 99% of the class shared their fondest memory was taking trips in the car as a family.  Of course, we all complained about the lack of quality (or no) AC, annoying siblings, endless hours in the vehicle staring at desolate landscapes, and various unpleasant odors that accompanied the trips.  However, despite having no smart phones or tablets, videos, or MP3 players (I’m really dating myself) – we all agreed those were the most cherished parts of growing up.  The destinations, of course – but also the journey there:  Stopping at hole-in-the-wall cafes/dives, using our creativity to invent games , spotting license plates from other states (still can’t believe we saw Hawaii one time), and praying feverishly that the hotel had anything that resembled a swimming pool.

Fast-forward to the present day.  As we occasionally reflect and discuss our favorite memories as a family – the majority of conversations hover around vacations, the experiences we’ve encountered, the “unique” individuals that crossed our paths (usually resulting in deep belly laughter), and the eager anticipation for our next trip.

However, most of these memories come at a price beyond the trip.  Confession time (gulp). Like the typical American consumer featured in some statistical chart somewhere – many of our trips have been funded by credit cards.  I would love to live on cash only as many books, seminars, and financial experts proclaim.  Excuse time:  Our vehicles break down, teenagers eat a lot,  medical expenses, holidays and birthdays, outdated appliances stop working, one of us always needs some type of new clothing, home repairs, college is on the horizon, did I mention teenagers eat a lot? 🙂   I know, it’s called Life.

Like the majority of families, we try to save.  But something seems to always come up that drains the “emergency” fund.  I’m reminded of this obscure verse in the book of Haggai:  “. . . and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.” (Haggai 1: 6b)

So . . . thinking about the quote in the picture and your own experiences – what is your opinion?  Is there a way to save for a vacation beyond hopefully receiving a tax refund check?  Only go if you have the cash?  Charge it now, pay later?  What about the opening scenes from the movie Up where Mr. & Mrs Fredricksen never got to take the trip of their dreams because things were always breaking down?  Are you willing to work a year or two extra to pay off credit cards?  Compare and contrast the two verses below:

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.  You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”  James 4: 14

Final thought:  It seems like yesterday we were signing paperwork for day care.  Now, we are looking at paperwork for colleges.  It goes so fast with the kids – I personally want to experience as much as possible now, even if it means I have to pay for it later 🙂

What say you?  Please comment below or on Facebook 🙂

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Marketplace Ministry is a short, seven-day devotional representing our work week. Each section provides an inspirational message, quotes, and scripture to guide you through your vocational journey, purpose, and calling. This is the first official publication featuring some of the stunning photography of Hannah Rische 🙂

“One of the strangest things is the act of creation.
You are faced with a blank slate—a page, a canvas, a block of stone or wood, a silent musical instrument.
You then look inside yourself. You pull and tug and squeeze and fish around for slippery raw shapeless things that swim like fish made of cloud vapor and fill you with living clamor. You latch onto something. And you bring it forth out of your head like Zeus giving birth to Athena.
And as it comes out, it takes shape and tangible form.
It drips on the canvas, and slides through your pen, it springs forth and resonates into the musical strings, and slips along the edge of the sculptor’s tool onto the surface of the wood or marble.
You have given it cohesion. You have brought forth something ordered and beautiful out of nothing.
You have glimpsed the divine.”

― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

It makes sense that the above quote refers to the divine, because God is the ultimate creator.  And being made in His image, we inherit the gift of creativity:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth . . . God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
(Genesis 1:1, 26)

One of the amazing things about creativity is that you can give and receive simultaneously when we choose to share it.  A powerful, inspirational, and enlightening force is unleashed when we make something out of that which was once nothing.  A common misconception is that we need to be artistic to be creative.  Part of the fascination regarding creativity is that it can be expressed in so many different arenas:

A stunning musical performance.

A mathematical breakthrough to solve a problem.

A film that can bring you to tears because of joy or sorrow.

A meal served in your home that truly belongs in a fine dining establishment.

A piece of writing or message that inspires you to take action.

The sharing of stories or jokes that make you laugh so hard it hurts.

A work of art that you can stare at and envision yourself in it.

A scientific breakthrough or invention that will improve the quality of life.

And on and on it goes . . . . .

Like every other worthwhile endeavor in this life – creativity is resisted, and has its enemies.  Fear.  Doubt.  Hesitation.  The Critic.  Embarrassment.  Worry.  Procrastination.  Comparison.  Time.  Frustration.

And on and on it goes . . . .

What are you going to choose to do with the ideas, talents, and skills that you uniquely possess?  Share them with the world (and be blessed at the same time)? Or, listen to the voices that are telling you to “stay in line, don’t make any waves, you’re not good enough, leave things the way they are . . . ”

I close with one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite presidents, Teddy Roosevelt:

     It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly . . . who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat.”

Please comment below sharing an activity that you enjoy doing, and you find yourself losing all track of time (a clear signal of creativity in action) . . .
If you haven’t already – please sign up at the top of the right hand column to be on our list to receive new material.  You will receive a verification email that asks you to confirm your subscription.  A free, full color eBook will be coming in July to all subscribers called Marketplace Ministry.  Have a great day! 🙂

My first thoughts when looking at the calendar were, “Oh good, a three-day weekend!” I had a completely different subject for a blog I’ve been working on the last two weeks. In the quiet of the morning, my heart tugged at me to draw attention as to the reasons why we have a  holiday on Monday.

Just like any other time in my life I need information – I went to Google to see the official definition of the Memorial Day Holiday (and the link led me to Wikipedia, the other great source of insight).  Here’s what it said:

“Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.”

So I want to use this time and space to say “thank you” to those currently serving our country.  “Thank you” to the veterans who have served in the past.  And the ultimate “thank you” to those that have given their lives while serving.

Just a small sample of my military heroes:

1)  My deceased grandfather who served in North Africa during World War II.

2)  Former NFL safety Pat Tillman who turned down a mult-million dollar contract to serve as an Army Ranger, and ended up losing his life.

3) My friend Jeff from high school that made it through Ranger and Green Beret training.

4) My deceased brother-in-law Charlie who served in the Navy.

5) The deceased Major Dick Winters, a man I never met – but highly influenced my leadership style after reading about how he conducted himself during World War II.  Here are some of his highlights summarized from various portions of the book Band of Brothers by Steven Ambrose:

“Winters was one of the leaders of the United States Airborne Division ‘Easy Company’ during World War II.  It was a company that ended up taking 150 percent casualties and considered the Purple Heart a badge of office.  In Band of Brothers, Ambrose chronicles how Major Winters earned the respect of the men under his command by having high demands, but also by participating in everything that they did.  Winters personal code was:  ‘Follow me.’  He was described by the soldiers as a leader that took out more enemy troops – and entered into more risks than anyone else.  Even after the war was officially declared over, Winters could be found doing midnight training exercises with new recruits, while his fellow officers ‘cavorted in Paris.'”
This entry was discovered in Winters personal journal, “I did not forget to get on my knees and thank God for helping me to live through this day and ask for his help on D-Day plus one . . .”

My apologies to anyone I forgot to mention in this brief discourse.  Have a wonderful Memorial Day – and please leave a comment telling me about your military hero.

I use The Cloud on my computer, but please don’t ask me to explain it to you.  When I try to understand it – I just get more confused. I don’t comprehend how it can store information for an innumerable amount of people. I can’t see The Cloud. A brilliant group of minds developed it. Can the information be lost? Can it be hacked? Can The Cloud break down somehow???
To me, The Cloud has some of the same characteristics of God. Though evidence of Him is everywhere to me, I can’t actually see Him. His brilliance is beyond my comprehension. Many times I don’t understand His ways. How can He personally meet the needs of billions of people at the same time????

Believe or not, thousands of years ago, the ancient Israelites experienced some of the same feelings. However, God actually appeared to them in the form of a cloud!
The story takes place after the Israelites had been freed by Moses (powered by God) from hundreds of years of being slaves in Egypt.  During their long trek through the wilderness to reach their ultimate destination, God asked them to create a tent place of worship called The Tabernacle.  Only priests appointed by God could enter it.  Anyway, it helped give the Israelites a visual reminder about who was really leading them.  But The Tabernacle was portable.  Check out this scene from the book of Numbers, Chapter 9:

” . . .the cloud covered the tabernacle, . . . Whenever the cloud was lifted from over
the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would then set out; and in the place where the
cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp.  At the command of the Lord
the sons of Israel would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp;
. . . Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the
tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out;
but when it was lifted, they did set out.”   (Numbers 9:  15-22)

Imagine the thoughts and feelings going through the minds of the Israelites:

“Uh, we just unpacked – now we have to leave again?”
“Last time He only took a day to move us – now we’ve been waiting for several months and nothing is happening!”
“Why is God treating us this way, is this some type of game to Him?”
“I feel like I have no control over my life.”
“Maybe it wasn’t so bad in Egypt after all . . .”

Sound familiar?  If we’re honest, we’d probably have felt the same way.  And if we’re completely honest, we probably feel some of those things now.

We can do one of two things with response to God as “The Cloud.”
We have the choice to either experience frustration or freedom.

Similar to the Israelites, the frustration lies in trying to figure out God’s timetable, thinking that we could do things better our way, and becoming impatient with Him.

The freedom lies in knowing that someone with unending power is in control.  He does have a plan and a path for my life.  He wants me to trust Him moment by moment.  It would be nice to have a “rough draft” for the next several months or years, but He doesn’t work that way.

BTW – one of my family’s favorite activities is to marvel at the cloud formations and take pictures.  The clouds are artistic, creative, peaceful, different every day, and create an internal sense of wonder – just like God 🙂