My wife and I have been on a diet for awhile now. It’s a seriously focused overhaul of the types of food we are eating. It’s been quite an adventure and we’ve learned how to portion food, what to eat, and what to order in a restaurant.
I was thinking about this the other day when I ate a salad at Panera Bread. As I completed the order, I asked for some ‘girly dressing, on the side’ and the woman behind the counter laughed, and told me the poppy seed dressing was the one I wanted. I smiled at her and thought ‘I must be the only overweight man in here ordering a salad with girly dressing.’
To look at me, even now, you will see a guy that needs to lose weight. Currently, I’m still over 250, and at 5’7” I am well into the ‘obese’ category on every standardized weight chart… But I’m making better choices than ever regarding my health, and I’m committed to the permanence of these changes. Both my wife and I have dropped 35 pounds in 6 weeks. This interesting thing is that to others, my current appearance doesn’t reflect my current progress and ‘good’ choices.
I was thinking about the way others might view me, and in the way we judge people. I thought about a friend that’s going through a rough time legally right now, and to look at her circumstances, you could make some quick, harsh assessments about her. She confided in me that she’s been drug free for 2 months. She said it’s been the only sober 2 months she’s had in the last 20 years. We’re both thrilled with her progress, and her commitment to change. We prayed for strength and focus. To others, her current legal situation doesn’t reflect her current progress and ‘good’ choices.
I don’t want to suggest we ignore bad behavior or decisions, I’m just suggesting that we don’t always know where someone is on their spectrum.
One day sober is a good day for someone that struggles with addiction. One day of exercise is a good day for someone that lives a sedentary life. One day of kind words is a good start for someone that battles anger.
Someone you know needs a little less judgment and more encouragement from you today. There is a verse in the Message version of Matthew 7 that I love:
“It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part.”
My focus right now is on the next good decision, not that last bad one! I pray that I can view others in the same light.
Love,
Jason
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July 6th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Jason: Good for you and your wife on your next good choice….ME???…I think it was a good choice to read your message today. Many times I could kick MYself with my one step forward and sometimes two steps back. Your message is a good reminder that “Who cares as long as you keep moving…moving…moving forward!” Hugs
July 6th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
To look at you I see a man poised on the edge of change. To judge you would be wrong to think anything else. I saw a before picture, still seeing the same Jason, then an after picture, I saw a Jason happy with this change in his life. I’m glad you have your friends support. Even during drug addiction support really goes a long way.
Keep it up my friend!!! You look mahvalous.
Joni
July 6th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Well said my brother! Funny thing, we are all struggling with something. Yet we do tend to judge others and their struggles without thought for our own. Let us “live our part,” focusing on the next good decision and finding ways to encourage others to do the same.
PS. I am VERY PROUD of you guys! Keep it up!
Belinda Jane
July 6th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
“God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” –1 Corinthians 10:13
So many people see this verse and think of it applying to to their current struggles and pains, and I myself have taken comfort in it to help me through some of the enemy’s darts.
But, it also applies to what I have seen transpire in your life, Jason. When I first met you, you were a part of a group playing music and having a great time. I have seen you make the venture into blogging, and then launching this magazine. In your work, I saw you as you started out meekly doing your job and nervous about meeting clients to where you met meetings with gusto and moved on to the next when you weren’t able to bring someone “on board” yet never diminished in your perseverance.
When you’ve been hit, you’ve gotten up again, and here, when the work you were depending on suddenly stopped being the support you needed, you have stepped out and gone after the work for yourself.
Yes, the world is full of “Go-getters.” But you are a cut above the rest, in that you have done it all with prayer, and patience, and with your heart set on God.
Your own problems and struggles and pains and afflictions have not dampened your heart for others, and in fact I think have only enhanced it. With many people, struggling with a loved one in pain can be all they are able to deal with, yet the two of you together reach out to others with the passion of Christ.
I look upon you with love and admiration, and also to you as a source of inspiration as well. Instead of feeling bound by circumstances, I have come to see that I CAN do some of these things, in my life and my diet- And I love you for that. Keep it up, man- you’ve got a fan:)
In HIS love
Tom
July 6th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Thanks Jason, I needed this bit of Grace in my life today.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Great to hear you are on the road to feeling better. Thirty five pounds is like 35 lawyer at the bottom of the pond… at good start.
“One day at a time Sweet Jesus” you know the rest.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Thanks for the super kind words folks. This concept was burning a hole in me! So easy to look at a challenge or habit and say “well, I can’t change, that’s too big to overcome”… but it’s possible to simply make ‘the next good decision’ and move forward from there.
Glad this resonated with you all!
July 7th, 2010 at 4:35 am
Jason,
You are so right. In order to understand where someone is, you have to know where they have been.