Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, my mighty followers (few that you are), do be patient with me and my bloggin'. Just as with my dissertation writing, I'm not sure what I am doing here. Yes, I have given up on ever being as sharp as I once was. I was sharp as a prickly cactus before I started my PhD program. The coursework killed many crucial processing cells. I have accepted that they are never returning. Did you know that "acceptance" is the key to a peaceful existence? I watched a Mother Teresa video recently, and she said something about it. She said "acceptance" in the good and the bad is key to finding peace--if you have food on the table today, and you have done everything for God that day, accept it. If you have no water today, but you did everything for Jesus today, accept it (I'm paraphrasing here). I accept that I am brain dead. I accept that I might be brain dead today and tomorrow--possibly forever. I am happy I'm brain dead. I accept that these dead cells will miraculously empower my fingers to type a worthy proposal and dissertation. Oh, oh, hold on a minute, my oatmeal cookies are burning. My God-given lacking brain cells forgot they were cooking. But that's Ok. I accept it. :)Ok, I'm back and happy to report my cookies did NOT burn. They only smelled like they were burning. See what acceptance did for me. I did not panic at the burning smell. I walked slowly to the stove--I didn't run. I accepted they burnt. And what happened? I was pleasantly surprised that they are edible. Maybe I will be just as pleased when my dissertation proposal is written and palatable to my diss director. Well, that is it for my first blog. Here's to more blogs and cookies! Peace, from Accepting MAM
PS I thought I would look for a transcript of Mother Teresa talking about "acceptance", and I found it. As you can see my paraphrasing did not do it justice. It goes as follows (maybe I can find a video of it on Youtube)
Everyday, you have to say - Yes!Total Surrender!To be where he wants you to be.If he puts you on the street, and everything is taken from you.And suddenly you find yourself in the street. To Accept to be on the street at that moment. Not for you to put yourself in the street. But to Accept to be put there. This is the difference. To Accept! If God want you to be in the Palace, Well then to Accept to be in the Palace. So long as you are not choosing to be in the Palace. This is the Difference. This is what made the difference in Total Surrender. To Accept whatever he gives, And to give whatever it takes with a Big Smile. This is the Surrender to God! To Accept to be cut to pieces, yet each piece belonging only to him. To Accept the people that come, and the work that you happen to do. Today, maybe you have a good meal. And tomorrow, you maybe have nothing. Maybe theres no water in the pump. To Accept!And to give whatever it takes.It takes your good name, It takes your good health.It takes - Yes: That's The Surrender! And then you are Free!
PPS I found a link to video--
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Woohoo! Your cookies didn't burn and I got my feedburner to work--technological illiterate that I am! Ha! Can read all these BIG books and canNOT figure out this facebook/twitter/blogging/feeds/RSS/etc. interface STUFF! Yeesch! :(
ReplyDeleteAh well, Trustful Surrender all to Him!
((hugs)) and prayers to you on/in your new endeavor! booklady
Ohhh, my first comment. Thank you Booklady!!!What is a feedburner???? UGH. I used to be good at this stuff. I'm trying to figure out how to add videos to this blog. Can you add youtube videos?
ReplyDeleteYou can do it, MAM! Just do what we tell writing students: Write something, let it be crappy, and go from there. Okay, maybe I don't say it to students quite like that. And I'm sure even your first attempt won't be crappy, per se. But you get my drift.
ReplyDeleteI really really like the quote you used from Mother Teresa. Thank you, and thank you for starting your blog, it's so cool!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement, Sarah!!!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteYour welcome, Livy, I hope it stays cool.;)
ReplyDeleteMary Alice, I figured out how to be a 'follower' and how to post a comment! yay! So here goes.. Your reading list is overwhelming me! Yikes. I sure am glad *you* are getting this PhD and not me! You are going to do it, I know you will! Here is your first step. A blog. I can't wait to read it when it's published!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Fab!!! Those are just "some" of the books. I have read most of what is on that list. This semester I need to concentrate on reading published dissertations that are similar to my topic. That way I will get a "feel" for what is out there. :)
ReplyDeleteHow fun to be able to follow your dissertation journey. Love the stuff by Mother Theresa on acceptance. So true.
ReplyDeleteOh, Thank you Zoe for being a follower. I just hope I can be a good and worthy leader! Ha! At least if I disappear all my followers can hunt me down and force feed me words to put on paper.
ReplyDeleteTry to touch it everyday, and when you take a break, limit it to just a weekend, a week tops. Sometimes you need the intellectual and psychological distance, but boy does it take some time to re-immerse yourself if you are away from it for too long. And call me anytime to commiserate :) hang in there!
ReplyDeleteAwwwwwww, thank you Lisa!! That is so sweet. Makes me feel good to know their are those who understand the dissertating angst. :)
ReplyDeleteSo excited to have found you -- very cool to be able to follow you from blog post #1! Super happy that the cookies didn't burn. I have accepted that I need to think about food less and that I weigh too much... oh well. I do so love Mother Teresa. She was so blessed with such eloquence and holiness. I accept that I truly need to try to live my life more like she did. I also accept that you are one smart cookie (oh look another cookie reference!) to have read all the books on the left for your dissertation! Why no CS Lewis? Just curious...
ReplyDeleteHi there, Kristin. Thank you for following. I love C. S. Lewis and have read many of his books. And how right you are. He has authored some writings that apply to my dissertation topic. Thank you for the TIP!!!!! :)
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