Green with envy on St. Patty's Day

60 miles to make me happy?  Sounds about right.  At least yesterday that is what it took. The week leading up to the 17th was long - factoring in the time change, the weather change, squirrely kids, work, church, funeral, birthday party - sure I forgot something - but that's how my week played out.  But Saturday was my day.  I earned it.  And I chose to spend my day doing something that makes me truly happy.  Biking.

I bet you are all Green with Envy that you didn't spend Saturday biking 60 miles to Forest Lake and back (with some side trips built in)!  But why should you be jealous??  Perhaps because it wasn't "your day" to do what you love?  Have you every felt that way?

 I texted my NEW buddy on my ride and told him how far I had gone and how much farther I was going to go and his response was "I wish it was me."  Guess what?   I knew exactly how he felt.   Last Sunday was my Do unto others day.  I had committed to helping at church, taking my mother in law shopping, running my daughter to a Girl Scout event, working for American Greetings and whatever else came up.  It was not going to be My Day.  That same day, my NEW buddy was doing his own triathlon at his health club.  Swimming, biking and running.  I was so envious that he had the opportunity to do that.  A beautiful day weather wise and the freedom from other responsibilities to have time to test your limits. That day I didn't really want to be Shari the good kid - I wanted to be off working out and doing what I love.  Pushing myself - not pushing a shopping cart!

So when my NEW buddy texted he wished it was him during my bike ride, I got to thinking - Why should we be jealous of each other?  It isn't that I don't ever get to workout and push myself.  And I am sure he feels the same way.  He has plenty of opportunities to exercise.  I think at times we all feel that Life should be perfect and we should be able to be happy all the time.  But what if that were true?  What if no one had money issues, or depression or physical pain?  What if everyone got along?  What kind of world would it be if all was right?  It might be nice.  And I believe that is how some might describe Heaven.

But if the world was perfect, how would we be able to grow as Christians?  What opportunities would there be to serve others?  Or to offer prayers?  What need would there be for us to sacrifice as Christ did?  I believe that for us to grow as Christians, we have to make sacrifices in our lives to help others.  We need to feel pain - ours and theirs - and to be able to work through that pain.  We need to feel sadness and turn to God to bring us through those difficult times.  Life is not going to be perfect  - at least not until we get to Heaven - so we need to look at the imperfections as wonderful lessons in growing in our Christian Faith.

My Faith in God tells me that He knows what is happening in my life - before it even happens.  So God knew I was going to be jealous of my Buddy's triathlon day. But  I have to believe that God also knew that I needed a lesson along the way - and that is what I got.  Through my journey to this NEW Shari, I have found that it is easier for me to be open to listening to God and paying attention to His desires for me.  Things that I may have ignored in the past, or brushed off as coincidence, I now believe those are messages from God.  Sometimes it would be nice if they were just  big billboards with the words right there telling me what to do - but that isn't the way it happens.  This time it was 5 little words in a text that got me thinking (and learning!)

The Bible tells us that we are to have the perfect kind of love that God has for us. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).  This verse to me is one of the best reminders of what God wants for us.  The perfect love that He has for us is what we should have for others.  And surprise - Jealousy is not part of it!!!

So don't be jealous of my 60 mile ride.  Don't be Green with Envy of your friends new car.  Don't be jealous of your coworkers extra day off.  Be Happy for them.  Show them God's perfect love.  Make that commitment in your life to push jealousy out of your life and let God's Love take its place.  It took me 60 miles to figure that out.  How long is it going to take you???