Who is in charge?

Is it your boss, your job?  How about your family?  Your relationships (or lack of relationships)?  Your baggage from the past?  What is your identity?  Where did that come from?  Is that who's in charge?  Cup half full or half empty?  Are you happy go lucky or troubled and passionate for all the hurt that exists on the planet?  What about the economy?  Politics?  Or the society or culture that you live in?  Who is in charge?

Ultimately, I think we all know that we are not "ultimately" in charge.  I think most would agree that we do have some power or influence over this world or our life.  In fact, the list above is full of things that influence us and the course of our lives.  THIS is where much of our "power" exists:  CHOICE.  We have the power to choose how to react to things that influence our lives (see list above).  We can ignore it (some call this denial) we can let it get us down (which can be positive if it drives us to action) or we can learn from it (we're not ultimately in charge anyway right?).  So many thoughts here, hope I can get them all out coherantly.  

As we take in and react to things I like to consider the following:

Circle of influence:  What do you have a reasonable chance of influencing?  Spend your energy there.  I'm not saying that we shouldn't change the world, but if we are diverse and passionate on 5 fronts we might not make progress on any! 

Serenity Prayer:  God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Who's ultimately in charge?

This is another key to my world view, really it's my bedrock.  If it weren't there, I'd be lost and might as well be drifting through space :).  Not sure what you think or what you believe or who/what is in charge of your life (see list in paragraph 1) but for me, I'm gonna say that God is in ultimately in charge.  I believe he made the world and everything in it (including you and me).  I also believe that when it's all done (and no, I'm not sure how that's gonna happen) God wins in the end. 

To be continued...

Sunday afternoon

   Sunday afternoon.  Yes, that's what it is but what exactly is a Sunday afternoon?  Good question.  This Sunday the Vikes lost, it's cold and grey in MN, Monday is coming so we catch up on groceries, laundry, friends and get ready for a new week. 

   Sounds a little bla doesn't it?  Maybe a little, but Sunday is a day of rest ordained by the Maker so who am I to complain (and I'm not).  I don't know about you, but if you know me, you know that I busy myself with friends and am often on the go barely giving myself time to ponder and think (ha ha). 

   In fact it's quite ironic that one of my favorite things to do is to have unscheduled time yet most of the time I schedule!!  A personal retreat, yes that would be good.  Haven't had one in awhile.  I've been to Pachem en Terris a few times (small personal retreat place north of the cities). THM (take home message) to self:  schedule a little time for your self and "be intentional" about time spent alone and with others.  (see meaning of life post)

Meaning of Life - Take 1 (just in case there are others...)

So here we go, tackling the big issue that everyone is wondering about...
(and if they're not wondering about it, their avoiding the question :))

I think the 1991 movie City Slickers captured it well:  The secret of life is "one thing".  But what is that "one thing"?  That's what you've got to figure out.  Hmmmm, what is that one thing.  I'm sure it's different for different people.  What is it for you?  Heck, what is it for me?  I'll have to get back to you on that. 

Step 1:  Write down what your "one thing" is.
Step 2:  Take the little test below.
Step 3:  If they're the same, pat your self on the back.  If not, whatcha gonna do about it?

The little test:  There's two things we have in this life.  Grab a sheet of paper and for the past month write down roughly where you spend your time.  Include sleep, driving, working, napping, with others, alone, etc.  Then write down where you spend your money.  Include housing, bills, dining, charity, etc.  Once you're complete, your answer is there.  (For the slower folk, where we spend our time and money reflects what's important to us.)  How does this compare to your answer from Step 1?

Note:  I don't always pat myself on the back in step 3, but sometimes yes :)  That's why the blog is called "benpondersnthinks" and not "benhasitfiguredout". 

Energy saving tip

It's another cold windy night in MN, but in the past 2 hours I warmed my bedroom from 52.5 F all the way up to 63.5 F via CANDLES!!  Yes, Ben has not turned on the heat yet :)

Why Blog? (who IS my audience?)

Windy cold night in MN, cozied up by the fire with cashews and Coke with a little rum :)
     Why am I here?  Why am I writing?  Who cares what I have to say anyway?  All good questions!
     I'm here because Facebook is a little much.  Seriously, are you really "friends" with 1,546 people or does the deception of Facebook make you think you are?  Don't get me wrong, I am on Facebook (all things to all people...) but if you know me, you know I'd prefer to see people live and in person (strange concept, I know). 
     Really, I'm here because I can't be constrained to a 140 character "tweet".  I might have more to say!
     OK then, why don't I just keep scribbling and bibbling in my journal?  Don't worry, I'll still do that :)  Only here will be my more refined thoughts.  It's the information age - I'm DIVING in (oooh, look at me, aren't I trendy...)
     Two other reasons I'm here:  #1 What the heck, why not?!  #2  You can comment on my blogs.  Tell me I'm off my rocker or should get more sleep or probably most likely, I should work on my grammer.  So I dare ya.  Tell me what you think.
      Speaking of you, let's talk about you for a bit.  Who are you anyway?!  Well, for starters the first yous are probably my close friends/family that out of courtesy decided to check out "Ben's new blog".  After that, maybe (or maybe not) you might read an interesting post and pass it along to a friend.  This happens over and over again (since my posts are oh so insightful and thought provoking) and eventually this blog is the most well read blog on the web!!!  My secret plan to influence the world!!!  (insert sinister laugh here)  Then, I'll put a few ads on the blog, retire early with all the revenue and blog from my private island in the Caribbean.  Hey if you are meeting all your goals, your not challenging your self, so what the heck, let's see where this goes... 

1st Blog Post

So yes, new to this.  Blogging.  Interesting concept.  If you know me, you know I like to think and ponder, to figure things out (or at least think I have them figured out) whether it's life, relationships or how to mount a trolling motor :).  So I thought, what the heck, it is the information age afterall, why don't I blog my deep profound thoughts, questions, conclusions, wonderings and see if anybody want to read them!