You Gotta Know.....

When to Hold 'Em, Know When to Fold 'Em....

Okay, you already know I suffer from musical tourettes according to my last blog so today during yoga this is the snippet of a song that came barreling through my mind. Granted, tourettes is when you vocally speak it out and since I am at silence-ridden Bikrams I had to hold in the words until now when I give them to you. The teacher was droning on with her instructions when suddenly she corrected someone and said, "Do it this way, don't be creative." And within two sentences she said, "Create a hook with your fingers to grab your toes." My radar was UP as I picked up on one of my favorite words in the world - CREATIVE coming out of the teacher's mouth. Well, which is it? Create a hook or don't be creative????? So there goes my mindful serenity as I start blogging away in my head. Isn't it always the way? Someone comes along and tells you that you can't color outside the lines and then gives you their line.

And before I start ranting I CAN'T BELIEVE I actually had a picture from California to illustrate my song lyrics. (minus the poker cards)  I was about to do a google image search without even looking in my iphoto library. Sweet. The lovely hand models are Mom, Linda and Lori. Madge would be proud.

So knowing when to fold them presupposes that you already know how to hold them.

I am convinced that we need to learn structure, discipline and skill and they become the form into which we can pour our creativity.

(Now that I've had lunch and my yoga brain has subsided I'm not sure why I thought the song fit my ideas but I'm having fun anyway.)

If our lives consist of just structure, discipline and skill and we forget to be our creative, wonderful selves than I think that is really sad. The skills should serve as tools to be used to express creativity.

I love learning new things and when you learn proper form or skill, creativity has a very bouncy yet sturdy springboard from which to jump higher, dive deeper or start swimming farther.

 I hope you are always learning and ever experimenting with fresh ideas and willing to fold the old ones. What we build into our lives has to be dealt with sooner or later for better or for worse. So we must be careful how we build. We will either enjoy the fruits of our labor or go around doing clean up from the messes we've made of things through poor choices.

As for the yoga class, you see I've had a lower back that has been locked and tight and stiff. All the months and years of yoga training begin to pay off and you know when to "hold em" and listen to your body. I've had a wonderful lady who has been helping me with some specific exercises (new skills) that are designed to help my particular injury. What might have worked last year or might work again next month are just not working right now and we have to know when to hold em and know when to fold em.

The Bible says there is a time and a season for all things under heaven. What season are you in?

Talking with Gina today I can see that all the skills and hard work and discipline that she put into Sam and herself in the last three years is a wonderful springboard for a much easier go of it with Lola on many levels. There will be new challenges ahead, but once you've learned your lessons you don't have to go back and repeat them over and over if you do it right the first time.

The comment was made that with your first child you are still learning to give up your 'life' and with the second child you don't even have a 'life' by this time so what's the big deal?

Didn't Jesus say something about that?

As we give Him our lives may we flourish in both skill and creativity as we dare to bring Him Glory in all things.

Blessings upon you!