Stress Free or Free Stress – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

There will be stress.  It will be the result of many things but it will occur.  We will decide how we handle it.  We can mitigate much of it by refusing to worry.  Worry is a choice we just make it a habit.

It is really this simple.  If my focus is following Christ then I need worry about nothing.  Stress will come at me from all directions.  I must choose to let Christ carry my cares.  I must choose to do what is right.  It is in the following that freedom for worry is found.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Stress Free or Free Stress - Time and Schedules

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of the things that I used try to control was time.  Not just for me but for everyone around me.  I like things scheduled, planned, evaluated, revised, and followed.  Of course that is not how many people work.

This does not mean that it is wrong to schedule, plan, evaluate, revise, and follow (SPERF).  It does mean that I must allow for the needs of others in my SPERF.  It means that just because the SPERF is up no one else should be forced to get on board.  When I want things done this way I am not allowed to impose my needs on others. 

If others agree to the schedule then they have an obligation to follow it or communicate if they cannot.  I have an obligation to look for their needs and adjust where necessary.  Time like everything else is a gift given for us to use to follow Christ. 

Too often as a project manager I see people make the schedule the god over the needs of people and even the project.  I have respect for the schedule but it is a plan not the holy writ.   Doing the project right and being good to the hard working people involved is the priority. 

If we think about it, time is subjective to the constructs we build around it.  We should adhere to our time commitments but we should not stress others or become stressed over them.  We should communicate honestly and see that most time constructs are subjective.   We must never but the subjective ahead of the needs of people.

I must redeem the time given me but I must not stress others to make a dead line that I created.  I must give every moment to Christ but not damage others for the sake of the clock.  I must keep my time commitments but be honest if I am in a crunch.   It is time that it our tool not being a tool about time that matters.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Stress Free or Free Stress - It Is Only Money

Greetings Dear Reader,

Money is not the root of all evil.  The love of money is.  Lack of money can be the root of much stress.  There are so many reasons why we do not have enough of it.  Some are our own doing.  Many are not.

Many factors contribute to this stress.  We are not supposed to have any of it.  Let me be clear that I do not believe the teachings of those who say we are supposed to always be in prosperity as Christ followers.  We will have needs.  We will not always be rich.

We will have our needs provided for if we follow in faith.  Sometimes we do not agree with the Father as to what our needs are.  When we disagree with God, however, we are always wrong.  Again, we may not agree with that but it is nonetheless true. 

So what should be my approach to avoid stress over money?  I think a list is appropriate here.  Remember Dear Reader, I am not dictating to you and would never minimize your concerns over your needs.  I am merely pondering aloud for the sake of my own journey and sharing it with you.

I must not try to live above my means.  It is OK to want things and to save for them but if I use my money or go into debt just to have the thing, meal, or experience I want then the stress of that debt is my own creation.

I must not fail to give to others.  When I am vigilant to share what I have with those in need then it mitigates my worries and allows the Father to pour his blessings into my life.

I must not be dependent upon my job for my needs.  The Father has promised to supply my needs according to his ability to supply.  This means that if I follow in faith my needs will be met.  He never promised to give me all I want.  He knows my needs before I know them.

Worry over money never creates more money.  Stress what I have or do not have will never make me wealthy or healthy.  If I truly believe that the Father has all things under his care then worry and stress over money are not my place.  Problems associated with lack of money are opportunities to follow in faith.  If I chase money I will always have stress.  If I chase Christ I will find peace.  It really is that simple.

The Power of Gold – Dan Fogelberg

The story is told of the

Power of gold

And its lure on the unsuspecting

It glitters and shines

It badgers and blinds

And constantly needs protecting.

Balance the cost of the soul you lost

With the dreams you lightly sold

Are you under

The power of gold?

The letters and calls

Got you climbing the walls

And everyone wants a favor

They beg to remind you

Of times left behind you

But you know the past is a loser.

The face you're wearing is different now

And the days run hot and cold

Are you under

The power of gold?

You're a creature of habit

Run like a rabbit

Scared of a fear you can't name

Your own paranoia

Is looming before you

But nobody thinks that

It's a game.

Balance the cost of the soul you lost

With the dreams you lightly sold

Then tell me

That you're free

Of the power of gold.

The women are lovely

The wine is superb

But there's something about the song

That disturbs you...

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Stress Free or Free Stress - Dramatis Persona

Greetings Dear Reader,

People can be stressful.  There are those who cause stress without meaning to do so.  There are also those who cause stress because they thrive on it.  There is also the aspect of the problems of others causing us stress.

I have a friend who thrives on drama.  He never has a good day.  On the very best days he can find the dark cloud that produced the silver lining.  He injects drama into everything.   This is how he copes with the unhappiness in his life.

When we let the drama of others cause us stress we become bit actors in their passion play.  That is not our role.  I do not wish to push the metaphor too far.  I also want to be clear that when we draw others into our drama we create stress for them.  That is not loving or kind.

There is drama enough in life without inventing it.  The problems of the real world offer enough challenge.  When I create drama I am robbing others of peace.  I am putting them in the position of having to deal with my problems when they may not wish to be involved.

We are all party of a story.  That does not mean that we have to impose the hard parts of our story on others.  Further we must never create drama just to get what we want.  It is in Christ that we find all the supporting cast we need.  If I give my drama to him he will care for me.  To walk in any other path is bad lighting and poorly scripted.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Stress Free or Free Stress – Imagined Adventures

Greetings Dear Reader,

The week before I went on vacation the two fine people I report to at work had a meeting with me.  It was all good.  We worked through a customer issue and learned how to handle it in the future.  I must say that these are two of the finest people for whom I have ever worked.

At the end of the conversation one says to the other, “Should we talk with him about the other thing?”  The other one say, “Not now.”

They both look at me letting me know that I can leave.  Now this is a real challenge to my obsessive paranoid brain.  I determine to be patient and leave.  I mention it in passing to one of them the day before I leave for vacation.   She laughs at me with that laugh that says “I like to turn the rotisserie and you are the chicken.”  

I want to be clear that she and I have a relationship where this is acceptable and even beneficial to me.  Still it is two weeks past my vacation and no word about the cryptic question.  The man I used to be wants to worry, stress, ponder and imagine.  He wants to imagine adventures that end in my demise.

I am a master a turning the benign into stress.  I am working hard to master this mastery so it is no longer my master.  The trick is to capture the first thoughts before they can become a horror story.  The process is to realize that if I imagine a bad adventure it will only cause me stress.  If I create the horror story before it happens then I live the horror whether or not it happens.

Instead I look at the truth.  I look at the fact that if I am following Christ I can let him carry the future and I need only do what is right in the moment.  In the moment it is always right to trust.  It is always right to have faith.  The joy is in the journey not in imagining adventures that will harm me.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Stress Free or Free Stress – Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

A certain level of stress is unavoidable.  There will be tension in life and we must learn how to properly handle it.  There is also the stress we manufacture.  We create unnecessary stress over things that do not really matter.

We create tension over things that we cannot control.  We create stress in our lives over worry.   We let the unrealized problems of the future rob us of the present.  Stress kills us.

I have learned how to handle all the stress well.  I need to focus on how to give my stress and worry the boot.  I need to assure that I am only concerned for the things about which I am supposed to be concerned.  I have never fixed anything by worrying about it. 

Stress does damage.  I know that I function well under a small amount of it.  I must examine the rest and find ways to put my faith in Christ over the things I cannot control.  It is in mitigating the stress that I find a way to peace.  Christ wants me to be at peace. 

Walk with me Dear Reader as I try to destress my life.  Your company always makes the journey less stressful.  If we follow together maybe we can help each other.  Let me know if we need to discuss anything.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Why I love Christmas – Shopping

Happy Christmas Dear Reader,

Before you t think that I have gone over the edge stay with me a moment.  When I say I love shopping it is not because of the rush, greed, and stress.  I rarely find myself in that position.  Since I plan for Christmas all year long I find that I am often finished shopping long before Christmas. 

When I go out among my fellow travelers at Christmas time I do so with the intent of being kind to others.  Sure there are few things I need to find to fill out the corners of my gift puzzle.  The joy for me though is the random opportunity to be kind to others.  I also am thrilled to spread a little Christmas cheer.

I sing as I shop.  I smile at people and say nice things to them.  I seem a little crazy but it is worth it.  I go out of my way to be good to clerks and shopkeepers.  I picture the Ghost of Christmas Present spreading the cheer from plenty’s horn as I move among strangers offering them a glimpse of joy.

I will never know if I make a long-term difference until God tells me.  I do know that I can create momentary smiles in the hearts of others.  I can be a bright spot in a grumpy checkout line.  I can be a moment’s peace for a harried cashier. 

I love shopping because it can be a real opportunity to remember why I celebrate Christmas.  I can go into the fray of the hustle and swim against the tide.  I can test my determination to be salt and light in a good way.  Perhaps I can even help someone else do the same.    

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store." 

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)