Rick Warren, "The Purpose of a driven life"
Since my father's death and even before then I have been looking for meaning. I am by far NOT a religious person.
I've never believed that you had to go to church to believe in a higher power. If anything I subscribe to the Buddhist way of life but do not practice the religion.
When I was contemplating church Rick Warren's book "The purpose of a driven life" was a part of the Bible study course. I finally saw it at the store and bought it. Thus far I've been quite impressed by it.
There came a point and time in my life where I accepted that I was probably meant to teach. It started back in 1983 when I graduated school and didn't know what I wanted to do. When you have the emotional battle scares I did it makes it tough to figure it all out. It took me years to complete college and I think depression had something to do with it. I was in education from 1995 and then I went back to school for my Master's in 2001 or so and found the mental health profession to be to "sick" in the head itself. So I just decided maybe it was time to deal with what HE had intended for me to do. I just seem to have a knack for it. So long as I keep myself in check, I'm good. Although I will admit I still wonder what I am doing and is this it??
He also states that while you are fulfilling this mission and path HE is watching what you do with these gifts that he has given to you. I certainly believe that too.
Here are the chapters if you are curious:
1. What on earth am I here for?
2. You were planned for god's pleasure
3. You were formed for God's family
4. You were created to become like christ
5. You were shaped for serving God
6. You were made for a mission
What on earth am I here for? You were planned for God's pleasure, you were made for a mission. I always knew there was as purpose to life but I couldn't figure out what it was. Not until I accepted what I was good at of course. He states we are all born with gifts that were given to us to serve that purpose.
I think I mentioned in another blog that I used to believe in reincarnation. Since my father's passing, I no longer believe that to be true. I just felt like I had been doing this over and over and over again.
One thing that stood out to me was where he said something to the effect, "God gives you no more than you can
handle" Really? Well, I think I have had quite ENOUGH thank you! I don't think I can handle anymore loss and is there a REASON God wants me to deal with all this? I already lost my brother, my grandparents and now my father. I'm sure there is, I just haven't figured it out yet. I will admit that everything makes a lot more sense to me now than it did say 10 year ago. I just don't understand why it had to happen this way.
....so now that I've done all this work can I have a LIFE now? Is it my turn yet?
I am sorry things are rough right now. It does get to the point sometimes when it just feels like there isn't any relief.
I could tell you, "Hang in there," "Don't worry," "You'll be okay,"
that's all a bunch of crap.
I pick up from your blogs that you might be entering into the "Anger" phase of grieving. For anyone who doesn't know what I mean, there are 5 phases of grieving. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance, or DABDA. They don't always go in that order and two or more can be happening at the same time.
Back to minuet1965, I see some depression too. Just know that all of this is normal. Being depressed because something sad happened is appropriate. If you had sad and bad things happen early on in life, your Depression that you say you've had your life makes sense.
I don't know, I am only speculating. You know you more than I do. I know you have been on meds for a lot of your life, and you identify here that you have had Depression most of your life.
Maybe you do have a chemical imbalance and would still be depressed even if your father hadn't died. Maybe you just haven't found the right pill. I don't recall whether or not you shared whether or not you have tried Welbutrin? I know you said your mom takes it. If you don't ever get "manic" and haven't ever been told you have bipolar or other mood disorder, and if you've never had a siezure or hallucinations, it might help.
Anyway, no matter what, you have reason to be depressed. You don't have to think there is something wrong with you.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Hi.
As someone whose seen a lot of death in their lifetime I can safely say that, for me, anyhow, the stages of grief do not come in any particular order....they just sort of come.
Some days you can be more angry than the next depending on what you are thinking or feeling.
I think I'm probably more in the depressive stage of grief and with depression there's anger. No, I'm not on anything right now. I'm trying to make do with what I am doing.
I was on Zoloft which I'm sure you know is an SSRI. It did help as I was upbeat, happy, and well rested. I just don't want to be on anything.
All I do want to do is monitor my own moods and make sure I get sleep and watch my own behavior
I don't really think there's anything more wrong with me than the next person.
Susan
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A life not examined is a life not worth living.....plato
Enjoy!
Blackout
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Check out Progressive PRIDE, a Gay-Straight Alliance for the Progressive U community.
i just heard him say that we should study religions just like we do any other natural phenomenon, like global warming. He says that religion is a natural phenomenon.
Sorry if I am jumping the gun, I am excitable by nature.
I just want to know, my dear and divine Blackout, where and when have you revered religion as a natural phenomenon equal in importance to global warming?
If you have, and I have simply not been a worthy enough student to have read every one of your blogs, I willingly take my reprimand and will follow where you lead me.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
...but I'll attempt to answer as best I can.
I just want to know, my dear and divine Blackout, where and when have you revered religion as a natural phenomenon equal in importance to global warming?
I don't "revere" either concept, and I think you're overreaching the content expressed in the video. Global warming is a rare topic in ProU blogs. Relgion, however, is very commonly discussed, here. Global warming is a natural phenomenon that occurs in our environment. Religion is a natural phenomenon in that it is a psychological delusion that occurs within the mind. It is just as natural as any other, similar condition or event, such as schizophrenia. Both of these phenomena are detrimental to the future of the human race, and we should do everything in our power to reverse their effects.
How's that?
TTFN,
Blackout
---
Check out Progressive PRIDE, a Gay-Straight Alliance for the Progressive U community.
Interesting video. I've always studied different religions just out of curiosity to see what they says.
I don't really have problems with what he says.
Susan
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A life not examined is a life not worth living.....plato
St. Teresa of Avila once said "Lord, if this is the way you treat your friends, then it's no wonder you have so few!" (she was pretty outspoken : ) )
Life's tough, but it's nice to know that there's a purpose for your suffering. That knowledge can be soothing and comforting.
I understand not wanting to deal with more, though. Good luck with healing and you'll be in my prayers!
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
thank you for the kind words.
I've been looking for meaning to my life
Susan
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A life not examined is a life not worth living.....plato
Finding purpose and meaning are definitely a struggle. Ultimately, I guess it's just part of our journey in life. Good luck with finding your meaning. Know that every life you've touched and every smile you've given has added to a better world and for that, the rest of us are truly grateful.
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
I want to tell you about my dad, at 24, he lost his brother who was only about 30, at 25, he lost his dad, at 26 he lost his mom's sister. My dad prepared all these funreals because his oldest brother wsa in the USA, one of his older sister's was in Nigeria and his oldest sister was married.
My dad and his mom were the ones who had to do everything. I really have no clue how my dad got through all this, but I know his friends played an integral part. They left their lives and pipcked up the pieces of my dad's. They were the ones who kept him sane. His best friend made him the manager of his electronics store, and my dad left his home twon and never looked back except to visit.
Now, at 56, he buried his mother who had been his partner in almost every single step of his life and I can see it, I see his smile is not a smile, there is nothing in his eyes but he lives on, wakes up everyday and goes to work for us, for his kids and for his mom because she made him the strong individual he is today. She lived through all of it and he says, if she could do it, why can I not?
"No, not rich. I am a poor man with money, which is not the same thing." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Love in the Time of Cholera Fudge "It's the hard-knock life..."
Hi.
I can relate to this. At 16, I lost my brother. Then my grandparents, My uncle died unexpectedly. Life has been a series of tragedies.
but i have learned from all of them
Susan
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A life not examined is a life not worth living.....plato