BALENTINE MEMOIRS

Wisdom is defined as competence with regards to the complex realities of life.  Gaining wisdom is much different than gathering information. Wisdom teaches you how to react to the information you have.  Wisdom offers a deep abiding joy, and steadfastness in the midst of a trial.  Wisdom can also draw forth a deeper sorrow amidst tragedy because of the ability it give you to see beyond the surface.  Information can be positive, but does it give you the endurance you need to run the race?  Or does it just give you the map? Wisdom tells me that happiness is temporary, fleeting.  Happiness is a decision on how to react to the circumstances right in front of you.  Teddy is an amazing example of reacting with either happiness or sadness to the thing that is right in front of his face.  Last night when we picked up Teddy at my parents house, we brought everyone some chocolate chip cookies that we could all share together.  We walked in my parents'...

A desire to write down my thoughts on a variety of topics is a persistent urge of mine.  I've sporadically done it on iPhone notes and Evernote.  I had a paper journal that I wrote in consistently for a few years, but have since rarely cracked it open.  Now I think it is important to begin to aggregate these entries in one place.  I hope it helps my wife know me better and my children know me better.  If my friends and other family end up taking a look, that is great as well.  My prayer would be that my exploration of thought helps me come closer to Christ and know God better.  I believe that allowing yourself to be vulnerable forces humility and gives you a real opportunity to grow.  So much of life and relationships involve protecting and shielding ourselves from being vulnerable around others. God seizes your heart if you remove the barrier of your ego and you clear the path to seek his knowledge.  I want others to join me on thi...