Parable or Parabola? Where and How does your faith grow?

My apologies.

Another math question.

Sort of.

But not really.

It depends a lot on who, what, where, when, why and how you believe. And how you intend to “get there”. For wherever you are in the moment, at the moment. Moments have a way of either stealing our faith or stealing our soul.

Your choice. In the moment of course.

Most important sometimes, is how you choose to get there.(pf)

What path you walk along. What words, deeds, and actions you take each day. With who or whom☺️. Invisibly. Or. Visibly.

Visuals. Hmmmm. Proof something occured? Yes. Maybe. Maybe No. The motivations and intentions are somewhat more difficult to decipher. 1+1=2, 2+2=4, 4+4=8, and on and on and on.

Let’s begin with the similarities, the differences. Of who and what you may follow. Who teaches you. Who taught. You. Then as always, your choice. With some hints for you. A kind of “cheat sheet”, cliff note version. As the lifelong walk is usually messy, difficult and not a straight line. The Point A to Point B “thing”.

Parable: A simple story to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. Other similar words: allegory, fable, lesson, exemplar Haggadah, apologue.

A Simple.Story.To. Illustrate. A. moral. A. Spiritual. Lesson. As. Told, By. Jesus. In. The. Gospels.

Church hopping disallowed. Or welcomed? Not certain “it” works that way, but then again I have a history of always being late to the party.🤯😳.

Thank you for your indulgence. Of my “isms”.

Next. The cheat sheet, cliff notes of life also includes the constants, the “regulars”, the variables. Good luck with that. Would you not rather follow a “sure thing”……. Anyway. Here is contrary, a parabola of a life supposedly well lived. Ironic. Really. Becauses constancy can be a good thing and a bad thing. Depends on what is “goin’ on”

Parabola: In real life, the regular equation, a “regular” parabola is y2=4 a X, where the distance from the vertex to focus of the parabola. Some real life examples of a parabola: A yoga wheel pose is taking the shape of a parabola. The rainbow is taking the shape of a parabola. Other similar words: rainbow, yoga, puppies, kittens, ice cream. Equal. Equals. A “sure” thing. Not quite.

The lifelong lessons are usually messy, difficult, and not a straight line. How then will you exercise your faith. To service of others?

Good question, either mathematically or spiritually. Someone taught me a really good way. And I watched. Very closely. Very, very closely. And He has never let me down. Even when the greatest challenges came right to my doorstep.

Right to my doorstep.

I never wavered.

Because he never wavered.

I am so grateful I watched.

And learned

True and honest service to others.

From a good man.

A real man.

Who had a spirit that bubbled with enthusiasm, even when he did not feel his very best. Especially then. Because he knew he needed God’s grace. He knew he would see him soon. So. He followed Him. His.Word.His deeds. His actions.

And. most of all.

He never looked back.

Humbled by a life of many challenges, joys and choices. He consciously, clearly, coherently, continually asked for his help to feel better. He chose to follow his word. His guidance.

Never wavering. Or waivering. Never wavering. Never waivering.

He gave so much of himself. Because he asked Him. How to. When to. It matters not so much what you do. Just do.

He knew instinctively that life is a dance. His last discourse before being called home was to not dance. Just patiently, quietly, leader-ly said his goodbyes. If we had our last conversation with him we did know it.

But he did.

Amazing. Really. Otherworldly. Definitely. Make no mistake. There was no fantasy involved. A spiritual belief in greatness is no fantasy. Our last conversation with him was a day to day run down of our lives. Because he cared. Because he listened. Even when he felt rather crummy. He wanted our day to feel simple. Regular. Even.

His goal was to let us mortals down on earth know he was not abandoning us. It was, however. Time for him to go home. We did not know. But he did. That is both the mystery and the question. (pf)

How. Do. I. Do. That?

So very gratefulI watched the good show. And. Ignored the bad show.

So grateful. He went before me to provide a space for me, even though my heart felt empty, scared and sad. He was a rather great and warm hugger too.😀. The place where he strived and succeeded the most. In teaching us the place to welcome others is within our hearts. It is not a consolation prize. It is within our own hearts. Choose wisely. Choose carefully. But do make a choice.

Unless you think it is. “Not worth it”. Parabolically speaking of course. Take that road and you may be sorry. You may not be sorry.

Never been much of a gambler and do not plan to start now. Has nothing to do with being “bad” at numbers, but much to do with a simple story.

Morally.

Ethically.

Knowingly.

Coherently.

Gotta keep the destination in mind.

Compress our life into the present.

Shooting too far ahead may cause oneself to shoot oneself in the foot.

Ouch.

Lameness.

Ouch.

Cannot adequately serve.

Cannot adequately understand.

Cannot adequately understand the need and service of others.

Before the 501 3 (c)’s head for the exits. Perhaps a review of the mission statement needs a re-write, re-vamp, a re-ramp. Before some of our brothers and sisters are left in the proverbial dust…. while others, supposedly better, “call their shots”.

Problems are a part of the program. The life program.

Get used to it.

Before drowning.

In sorrows.

He said: “I am the way, the truth and the life” In abundance. How you choose to get there is still a choice. He you choose to encounter a life well lived. Your choice. Overwhelmed by His guidance, His love. His simple lessons. Walk the path.

We all come from somewhere. All have something yucky to deal with. Walking behind Him will leave you with few regrets. Few doubts. Walk behind someone, something else be prepared for bumps in the road.

Ouch.

Still. Your choice.

To choose closeness. Open-ness. In your heart of hearts. A road to travel that leads to unfailing happiness. (pf) Mixed with sadness of course. it is a part of the life program. Be. Able to deal with sadness. Signs of His love here on earth, next to you. Every minute of every day.

Choose another, perhaps dicier path, be careful of tripping over the bumps.🤨😞🙃😼👻💩🐢🦷🦊🙊🤯👹🤡🤖✌️