Five Minute Friday ~ Fill

I've kinda gotten to the point where I resent that "Is the glass half empty or half full?" question...

Because I'm nothing if I'm not a realist (I think I get that from my daddy) and the real side of me realizes that on some days, the proverbial glass feels half full even though there are storms building. On other days, that glass feels very half empty, despite the bright sunshine and cotton ball puffs floating through a brilliantly sky blue sky. Yet ALL that those two realities really proclaim is that regardless of what's going on around me, there is exactly the same amount of liquid in the glass in both circumstances. I get tired of hearing that the problem is my perspective. I get tired of feeling that the problem is my perspective.

Because my perspective, is... at that moment... needing realignment or not... it is my present realm.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! 

(And yes, my kids will affirm that I tend to growl when frustrated.)

Then one day, I stumbled across the image at the top of this post. (Is that what they call a meme?) 

It immediately became my lap top home screen image for a season... and is saved for when I need it again.

Because I needed to know that I can be a realist and optimist all at the same time. How I define the amount of liquid that fills the proverbial glass is irrelevant. Life is full of good and bad moments, easy and hard times, joyful and sorrowful seasons. As a realistic optimist, I'm free to understand that this too will pass, that God's grace is sufficient, His sovereignty can be trusted and that life is so much more than an empty glass waiting to be filled.

Life is a dance!

An amazing dance that God gifts us.

Praise the LORD!

            Praise God in His sanctuary;

            Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

      Praise Him for His mighty deeds;

            Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

      Praise Him with trumpet sound;

            Praise Him with harp and lyre.

      Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;

            Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

      Praise Him with loud cymbals;

            Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

      Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

            Praise the LORD!

Psalm 150

A dance that moves forward and backward, fast and slow, choreographed and improvised, direct and circular, precise and loose, intimate and public, synchronized and uncoordinated... never perfect but never all bad either.

When I think like that, then I'm not controlled and limited by circumstances and perspectives...

but the sons of Israel walked on dry land 

through the midst of the sea. 

Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, 

took the timbrel in her hand, 

and all the women went out after her 

with timbrels 

and with dancing. 

Miriam answered them, 

"Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; 

The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea."

(from Exodus 15)

And my heart is full...

The LORD strengthens and protects me; 

I trust in him with all my heart. 

I am rescued and 

my heart is full of joy; 

I will sing to him in gratitude. 

(from Psalm 28)

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Five Minute Friday has moved to its new home. Come join us over at Kate's today, and write about the topic of "fill."

I know my meanderings didn't really dwell on the word "fill" but they certainly were inspired by that word!

meme found at: salsabythebay.com