Feeling dead

Written by jamie on May 2nd, 2011

Sudafed seemed like a good idea at the time.

I have been struggling with a clogged, fluid-filled ear for a month now. When dosing up on vitamin C and various antihistamines didn’t work, I went to the doctor, only to be told to continue taking antihistamines and try an overly priced, not-over-the-counter nasal spray. When that still didn’t work, I was put on antibiotics. When the round of antibiotics finished and the problem was still lingering, I was desperate to try anything. Alcohol drops in the ear. When that didn’t work; peroxide. Both only made it worse.

So on Sunday, when I was still struggling with this same annoying problem, I was desperate. I decided to try Sudafed. The real Sudafed, with the crack in it. When I was struggling with a bad cold last year, that stuff was the only stuff that cleared me up and let me breathe. I thought it might help dry up the fluid in my ear.

Unfortunately, despite the non-drowsy label, that stuff will knock me on my butt. Doubly unfortunately, the crack makes my heart race and refuses to let me sleep, no matter how exhausted I may feel. Insomnia in pill form. Perfect.

So there I sat yesterday, completely useless and absolutely dead. When my racing heart refused to let me fall asleep, I gave up and collapsed on the couch, watching Lifetime movies simply because I lacked the energy to reach for the remote and find anything better. I longed to read or blog or do something productive, but I literally felt completely incapacitated. The mere act of lifting my arm was too much to bear. So a worthless lump I became.

I decided that absolutely exhausted and dead feeling was not worth it and opted not to take a second dose today. Although still water logged in the ear, I am much more coherent today.

Sometimes I feel like I have that dead feeling about life. It takes all my energy to just make it through the day to day actions. I’m just sluggishly going through the motions, and feeling like I’m getting the life sucked out of me as I go. Not that I have a bad life. I love my life. But sometimes those day to day to day to day things that become monotony become too much. I wonder where the passion went in my life. I long to pursue dreams and emerge re-energized rather than sucked dry.

Which is why I’m so excited about this book.

I can’t remember the last time a book was more well-timed in my life. It is exactly where I am at right now. (If you’re curious to what the book’s about, click on the pic and read the link.) And from what I’ve read, it’s where a lot of people are at right now. I can’t wait to dig into it.

(And for those curious, I do have another doctor’s appointment this week so I can hopefully get this ear issue sorted out…)

 

Confrontation

Written by jamie on April 27th, 2011

I do not like confrontation. I don’t think anyone really does. If someone thrives on the uncomfortable sensation of being in someone’s presence who doesn’t see eye to eye, then they’re just sick.

I am the type that will most often run from confrontation. Running the other way, I hope that the awkward situation will magically sort itself out. More often than not, it doesn’t. What a surprise.

This week, I’ve tried a different, more healthy approach. I’ve tackled the confrontation and dealt with it. In three different situations. I am confrontation-ed out.

Not all the situations were awkward, uncomfortable ones that left me fidgeting in my chair. Two were just conversations that needed to happen, to get communication flowing. And they went very well. I was proud of myself. I spoke up and said what I needed to say, rather than just smiling and nodding and keeping my mouth shut to keep the peace. Go me.

The third one was definitely more uncomfortable. In this one, I confronted someone that has verbally abused me for too long. I have been beaten down by this person, and my frustration finally bubbled above the surface. I blew up (in the calmest way possible) and before I knew it, words came out of my mouth that surprised me. This person found the words to be slightly offensive, but I believed there to be truth in the words, and I did not apologize. There was a slightly heated confrontation (“discussion” according to this person, but more like “argument” in my eyes) and we both left ticked off. But I felt good that I had stood up for myself and had attempted to handle a situation that I was feeling like was hopeless.

What happened the next day surprised me.

This person approached me again, and I could feel my heart beat quicken. The thought of revisiting this tense situation almost made me sick. There was a bit of an argument, and then before I knew it, this person that has beaten me down apologized. I was floored. We reached as close to a conclusion as we could, and both left mostly smiling. Time will tell if the situation is fixed, but at least I stuck up for myself and confronted it head on.

I still think I’ve hit my confrontation quota this week.

 

Comment love

Written by jamie on April 27th, 2011

I get jealous of blogs with hundreds of comments. It’s terrible, I know.

The biggest reason I blog and journal is for the therapeutic effect. Problems and thoughts sort themselves out better in cohesive words on paper or computer screen. I can think clearer. My brain thanks me for it.

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t write in hopes of having lots of comments. Or at least a comment. When there is a blog post with the words “No responses” blazing on the bottom, it’s like digital crickets. (I wish I could claim credit for that brilliant joke, but it’s all Jon Acuff.) I like attention. I like knowing that what I’ve written is worthwhile and meaningful. I should probably get over that.

I do the same think with Facebook. Often a status update is simply a way to see how much attention I can get. How sad am I?

I have been reading a couple of the hundred comment a day blogs for awhile now. I have clicked on some of the links on the comments and read some other blogs. I will see their no comment beacon in the night and decide to spread a little comment love. Just a little encouragement: “Great post,” “Thanks for sharing,” or maybe a short similar story.

Yesterday I received some comment love of my own. Someone left a comment. Someone new. Someone not related to me. Someone not a friend. Someone left a deep, meaningful, encouraging comment.

I am feeling the love.

 

Easter

Written by jamie on April 24th, 2011

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, He is risen, just as He said.”

Matthew 28:5-6a

This is the greatest news ever, the very foundation of all I believe in. This mere fact allows me to live a new life full of joy, completeness, and wholeness.

So why do I feel totally empty?

I feel frustrated. I can’t pinpoint it, and have been trying for awhile. What used to inspire and encourage me feels fruitless lately. Easter used to get me excited. Shouting “HE IS RISEN!” at the top of my lungs before leaving church left me grinning all day. This morning, reading all the “He is risen!” status updates on Facebook made me want to roll my eyes. What the heck changed? And why?

It’s the same with worship. The different aspects weaved throughout worship services that are meant to enhance worship usually only distract me. The fancy lights, background music played during any and every prayer; this stuff used to seem cool. Now it only calls away from the One I’m trying to focus on.

I hate to be judgmental. But it seems it’s the only emotion I can evoke during church anymore. I am weary of the show we as Christians try to put on. Who are we trying to impress? The few people that only show up on Easter? That if we make it cool enough, they’ll want to come back? I’m all for using our gifts to the best of our ability, but I also long for authenticity.

I know a lot of this is my own junk that I need to continue to work through. But it worries me when I feel I can have a better worship experience on a long, quiet drive alone than I can in church. I’ve spoken to others and I know I’m not alone. I’ve watched other expressionless faces during worship and they speak volumes to me. There is a disconnect happening somewhere.

I will continue to fight through the nothingness and frustration I feel. The living Savior that I love and serve is big enough to help me handle it.