Tag Archives: advice

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You Get Hurt When Trying To Help

Silly Honeybee!   She caused nothing but hurt and I was only trying to help.

I was fixing her hive, making improvements, making things better for her.  Obviously, she didn’t see it that way.  Obviously, now I see things differently. (with only one eye!)

And now there you are……… not with a swollen, hurt eye, but with a big hurt of your own.  Hurt feelings, a hurting heart, and well, just a hurting all over.  Why?  because you are trying to help someone.  You are trying to help, but nothing but hurt is showing up.  Who is it you are offering help?  Maybe a friend, a family member, an ex?  Maybe a complete stranger………or maybe even yourself.  You honestly are offering true help, not a selfish “do what I say do”.  You are looking out for that someone, and whatever hurtful situation is there.  Now it is now being thrown back on you.

Hurt people hurt people.  Say it our loud.  Hurt people hurt people.

A difficult place for any of us to be.  You have nothing but good intentions, but the hurt person is hurting.  I’ve hurt before,……. so have you.  All the good advice, all the positive words, all the motivational speeches, ALL that can be said or done, will only meet a solid wall of hurt.  

Try hitting your thumb with a hammer, then adding 24+32+89.  Go………….

Years ago as a preacher, I would give scripture, advice, and counsel to a hurting world of church folks.  Now, on this journey with God as the wilderness preacher, I see things in a different view. (even on days with one good eye).

It’s all about the hurt.  Hurt people hurt people.  There it is again.  While I so wish that I could do or say something to make your hurt go away, it doesn’t.  While you so wish that you could do or say something to someone to get rid of their hurt, it doesn’t.  Bummer.  Matter of fact you and I get hurt in the process of trying to help.  Double bummers.  What cha going to do?

Jesus gives us a great example.  HIMSELF!!!  I don’t think anyone tried to help others as much as He did.  I don’t think anyone got hurt from trying to help like He did.  He died for our sins.  He was crucified for helping people full of hurt.

My different point of view is this.  Give that hurting person what it takes to get rid of the hurt.  Love.  God’s Love.  Help in word or deeds will actually become helpful when the hurt is relieved.

Just as it’s not pleasant to look at my hurting eye, it’s not pleasant to look on someone that’s hurting.  And now, now you got to love on them.  Can’t do it you say??  I know, cause it’s someone who just hurt you even as you are trying to help.  No love to share with them, right?  AHhhhhh, that’s why it needs to be God’s Love.  And you got to be the one that shares it.

These hurtful situations are just another opportunity for you to know God and His ways for you.  Ask God for guidance with what to do or say.  Keep asking.  Keep helping others.  Yep, you’ll also keep getting hurt at times as well.  But this journey will allow you to KNOW God better and better.  It’s in His word.

With my different view now, I feel like I no longer need to be an “answer man” trying to solve a hurting world’s problems.  Instead, I need to share God’s Love to others who are on this spiritual journey that you and I are on.

Maybe we all should share God’s Love as we “help” others with their hurt.  Love your neighbor, love the stranger, even love the “ex”.  You’ll need help from God for that.  I hope you yourself are not hurting so much that you refuse God’s help.  Are you hurting?  Remember, hurt people hurt people……and that hurt’s God himself.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17

Love Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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The B.S. in Your Christmas Season and How to Get Rid of It

christmas-tree

What? You are too busy doing and getting stuff for everybody to celebrate the Christmas season?  Whoa there pard’ner, friend, and fellow travelers.  Maybe you best get “off that horse” for a minute.  By that I mean, put the phone down, stop the car, take a break and seriously take a minute to get refreshed.  Do like me as I write this,….. grab a mug of hot chocolate.  Say what?  You’re even too busy for this?  Man, you ARE busy aren’t you?

Busyness.  While intending to do good, it consumes us in the process.  Busy at work?  Sure, the more I do, the better I am.  Busy with family?  Sure, the more I decorate, cook, shop, and buy gifts, the better father/mother/husband/wife I’ll be.  Busy with this Christmas season that is fast approaching?  Sure, the more cards, gifts, parties, candies, and whew!…….. I’m worn out just thinkin’ bout what all YOU got to do.

Don’t get me wrong.  I enjoy all this gifts, parties, candies, cards and whewwwww!  I have no desire to be a scrooge and “Bah, Humbug” everything that intends to bring joy during this season.  But when did all the Busyness (with a capital B) become our idol and start taking away from (and not adding) to our peace and joy?

Now, the stuff that you have.  When does all your Stuff (with a capital S) go from being fun things to give and receive, to stuff that now is done out of obligations, requirements, and (keeping up with the Jones, or who are they…… the Kardashians)  😉

We see people that have Busyness and Stuff taking over their lives.  When we see others living that way we think, “well I’m glad I don’t do that”!  But the problem comes when you and I don’t see ourselves living like that.  Ever wonder why we don’t see it in ourselves.  It’s because we are too Busy with too much Stuff.  The B. and S. in our lives.  B.S.  ……. It’s a fun card game, but a big problem in each of our lives.

Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.  He is the Messiah, the Lord.

The greatest gift……. Jesus.  He was given to me and you.  That’s what Christmas is all about.  Aren’t you glad that you don’t have to be busier than anybody else to receive this gift.  Aren’t you glad that Jesus loves you no matter how much stuff you have?

Our busyness takes over when we let it.  The older lady at a retreat in Lake City, Colorado was who first showed me about being too busy and the B.S. in my life.  I can do something simple like hang lights and decorations.  Does it bring me peace and joy or is it part of the B.S. in my life?  Honestly, it depends on where I’m at spiritually doesn’t it?  Think about it.

So what advice does your guide the wilderness preacher have as far as getting rid of the B.S. in your Christmas season?  Try this.  If you can do this, I honestly believe it will help you have a peaceful and more joyful Christmas season.  Here is my suggestion to you, (and myself as well).

Give a gift to someone that you know that really isn’t expecting anything.  It could be something nice, or something simple.  Could even be that you tell them what they mean to you.  But it’s the thought and action that counts, (to them…… as well as you).  If you are so caught up in your own little world that you can’t do this, well then there’s more B.S. on you than I thought.

Give a gift back to Jesus this Christmas.  I know the perfect gift for Him.  Our time.  Spend time with Him.  Sing a Christmas Carol to Him, just the two of you.  Read a Bible verse alone with God.  Share a mug of hot chocolate with Him.  He honestly could care less about our Stuff and our Busyness.  He cares about You!  Spend time with Him.  After all, it is His birthday!

 

In this spiritual world we travel, there will always be B.S. to deal with.  I’m so glad that my Messiah, Jesus Christ gave me a pair of “spiritual Cowboy boots” that protects me especially when I deal with my own B.S.  Remember, it’s not all the stuff we deal with on the outside, but what we let into our hearts (the inside).  A simple act of decorating, giving a present, picking out a gift could be an expression of joy, or it could be another B.S. moment.  You decide.

“Oh tidings of comfort and joy”    Merry Christmas friends!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, part time stocking filler upper

 

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Caught Until Mercy Came Along

deerfawn

Poor Baby Deer got caught in the fence.  But with my phone taking pictures in one hand, and my fence cutters in the other, this little fellow is fixin’ to experience mercy from me, ………and FREEDOM!

As  I was driving to the log barn, I saw this fawn at the edge of the field.  He took off running,….. well, running like a deer.  But this time when the poor thing tried to cross the fence, he got caught.  Lord have Mercy!  Wait, maybe I can have mercy on this young deer myself.  I’ll help him escape.

“Lord have Mercy!”  That’s the second most common sayin’ in the South.  It’s almost up there with “Bless Her Heart”.  It ranks just ahead of “Hey, whatcha doin’?”   This deer is in dire need of some mercy.  He is stuck.  He is trapped, caught, unable to get away, and having the “worsest” day of his life. (That’s badder than bad there).  Lord have Mercy. 😉

Hebrews 4:16 NIV  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Definitions of the word mercy:   a compassionate treatment of those in distress, it’s a kind or forgiving treatment to someone in a bad or desperate situation.

Much like this deer, I’ve been in bad situations, even desperate situations.  Just like this deer I’ve cried out!  He cried out “Baaaaaa”, as I cut the fence from around him.  I’ve cried out “Lord have mercy” even as I guess God was in a spiritual sense “cutting me free from fences”. I’m sure you yourself have been caught a time or two.  Did you approach God for His mercy?  I’m betting you did like this deer and kept trying to get out of the situation all on your own.  We struggle and struggle to get out and away, all on our own too many times.  Lord have Mercy!

So take some advice from this deer.  Approach God, allow Him to approach you when you are trapped “in your fence”.  Accept this mercy and grace from above.  We don’t deserve it, but God is more than willing to give to us.  Lord have mercy…….. and thank you Lord.

PS  The baby deer was not hurt in any way (except maybe its pride), just lost a little hair.

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, part time hero for a baby deer