Contentment? Patience?

This morning I had a mental coaching session from a friend who is an old friend. We’ve been friends since we were “rugrats” together on the shores of Lake Erie at Sheldon Calvary Camp. Generations of my family have gone to Calvary and someday my boys will go, too. It is that kind of place. It is that special kind of place that leaves you with lasting friendships, lasting impressions of life. From Cabin 11 to Cabin 20, I have had and found many fond, precious memories and friendships.

So my friend, my mental coach of the day, was sharing with me about his new goal for the year which was contentment. Contentment. That is what I’m thinking about today.

I have a hard time being content. I can be honest about that. Someone I care a lot about recently in anger or frustration (still not sure which, probably a little of both) told me that I was not a patient person. I am not. That is so true. I think patience and contentment are evil, conspiring twins, with Patience being the big guy and Contentment being the mini-me of Patience (pardon the Austin Powers reference but I need a little humor for this post). If you want to be content, you need to be patient. And if you want to be patient, you need to be content. At least that is my experience and how I view it. How about you?

So the whole subject of contentment arose out of a discussion about taking our goals (personal, relationship, fitness, etc.) one day at a time, dealing with “what is” instead of “what could be” or “what could have been” or what we “want things to be” or “what we want to have.” Gosh, seeing this now actually written I realize I am the most impatient person and therefore a person highly lacking in contentment! How about you?

One of my favorite books (I say that a lot on here don’t I? I like books, so be prepared to see that phrase overused) is “The Cathedral Within: Transforming Your Life by Giving Something Back” by Bill Shore, founder of Share Our Strengh. As a former AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA Director, I used to give a copy of this book and Robert Cole’s “A Call to Service” to all my members when they were sworn in as an AmeriCorps member. Why? These are powerful books about life. Both books openly share in such an inspiring way how all of us are hungry for contentment within ourselves and our world.

At the heart of “The Cathedral Within” is the premise–no, the reality–that all of us have stengths we need to share. But if I don’t find contentment within myself and patience with myself and others, how can I do that? What kind of friend can I be if I am not patient with you? What talent can I possibly share if I am not content with the talents I possess, the abilities God has given me?

I am a person who strongly believes in the power of DO SOMETHING. Perhaps this is because I am impatient and need to just get moving and get acting. (A little emotional ADHD perhaps?) This is where I go wrong. If I was patient and thought through the process of how I was going to do something instead of just moving ahead recklessly, perhaps I would get it “right” more often. Do you know what I mean? I open my mouth and share something and then later kick myself for saying it. If I had been patient and content with myself I would have thought about it. I would have thought about the consequences of a particular statement or action. Patience and Contentment? Not my best area in life. But a goal to work on.

“The Cathedral Within” focuses more on making more of our personal lives by helping others, finding contentment in giving back. “The Call to Service” is similar, but a more intellectual examination of the psychological & sociological aspects of service to others. Either way, through these books and many others (remember, I said I like to read) I’ve discovered that I have no problem helping others. I prove that day in and day out in my actions and words. My past history affirms that as well. Right now I need to focus on helping ME! I need to achieve contentment via a patient life, a life where I can identify “what I can do without” to get through each day, each hour, each moment that meets me head on. I must identify what I need to let go of so that my life is more positive, more fulfilling and contentment can begin to overflow.

Here’s the start of that list:

I can do without rude people. I need to ignore rudeness, not internalize it. It is them not me.

I can do without failed friendships or friendships that are too much work. My time is better spent on cultivating friends here for me every day, no matter the circumstance, no matter how annoying I may be (see, I can admit that, I can be annoying).

I can do without tears. I don’t need to cry. I need to smile. I need to smile more.

I can do without a heart that hurts. God, give me a healthy heart that makes me feel alive each day.

I can do without the hypocrisy of the Christian world. Yes, I can say that. This is my blog. Christians that can talk the talk but don’t walk the walk are not needed in my life.

I can do without people that forget how to say thank you.

For today, that is my list. As I said, I’m tackling this Patience/Contentment thing one day, one moment at a time.

What is your list? What can you do without to achieve patience and contentment just for today? Just for this very moment?

A Cathedral of Patience and Contentment is what I need. But, as Bill Shores states in his book, “Cathedrals ain’t cheap.”

I am going to build a cathedral of Patience and Contentment. Join me?

And my friend and coach in all things mental and physical (still not buying a bike Joel) is duel blogging with me today on this subject. His post should be up tonight. He promised not to read mine so it will be interesting to see how to old friends approach this subject! Go check out his blog and make sure you leave a comment:

http://jjkehm66.blogspot.com/

Here is a little gift for you–some extra elements not included in my “Manger” kit that I found on an External Hard Drive last night. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD

Today is Help Haiti Day at Compassion International. Can you give a little help today?

http://helphaitiwithcompassion.org/

Have a wonderfully patient day full of contentment,

Cyndi

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
1 Timothy 6:6

“Do something that counts. Something that not only makes a difference, but has a lasting impact. It’s a basic human need, like water…” Bill Shore, “The Cathedral Within”

High above the sky blue waters
On the inland sea
Where the Indians used to pow-wow
Stands Camp Calvary
Dragons, Tigers, Panthers, Indians,
Tribes of braves once more,
Gathered here from Pennsylvania,
On Lake Erie’s shore.