Birthing a Beluga

There's a story in the Bible where Jacob is wrestling with God (or an angel - depends on who's translating the story). They wrestle all night and at dawn his opponent demands to be let go, but Jacob tells Him he won't let go until He blesses him (this is why I personally believe it's God - asking for a blessing from an angel makes no sense to me). Anyway ... that doesn't matter right now .... it's the wrestling part I'm on here (And, I normally tag these with scripture/verse, but I'm not this time. You can trust it's in there in Genesis). Anywho .... decked boldly in a Spiritual singlet, head gear and mat shoes .... I am wrestling with God, and I am not letting go until He blesses me.

The truth is ... God and I have been on the mats for weeks now. Not really sure who's winning, but man oh man, are we ever locking it up. I have fleeced like Gideon. I have challenged like Abraham. I have declared like Job. I have questioned like Moses. I have cried out like Habakkuk. I am down in strength, but my resolve is steadfast. My Spirit is so stirred that I can hardly contain myself!

I am feeling something in this battle I have never felt before. At first I thought it was anger, but it wasn't. Then I thought Spiritual frustration better described it. Alas ... no. Then, I was in the bathroom one morning, getting ready to go somewhere else I had committed to .... when I burst out laughing. Through the thoughts careening through my mind that day .... I came to a dead stand still at the realization of Spiritual Labor Pains. Conveniently acronymmed ... S.L.o.P. !!!!

How re-donk-u-lous-ly appropriate!!!!

Then I began thinking about when I had my son Malcolm, and the 24 hour labor marathon I went through with him. Pain and suffering nearly to delirium, only to, not only feel no pain, but have no memory of it either immediately after he was born. Then I came to the agreement with myself that I must be birthing a beluga whale!!!! :0)

God is a big God, and I am wrestling Him for a big blessing ..... He knows the Word he spoke into my heart. I know the Word He spoke into my heart. I am pruned. I am broken. I am on my face. However, doing my best Samson impersonation ...... I wrestle on, and I am NOT letting go until He blesses me ..... too much is at stake to get this close and let go.

Looking to Philippi,

Kalena Grappling

Shakespearean Comic Relief

In every Shakespeare Tragedy, there is an intermission referred to as the Comic Relief. I have many of these in my daily life where something so ridiculous happens in the middle of my comedy/tragedy existence that is it re-donk-u-lous!!! True to the intended Shakespearean Way, I had a Mucho Maxine Moment the other day.

I was getting dressed to go to church for something ... not services, but some something. Anyway, I was fully dressed, make up on, hair brushed and getting ready to walk out of my bedroom, when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

:/

Understand that I've lost a few pounds over the past months, and my clothes don't fit exactly the same as they did earlier in the year. For me, the first two places I lose weight are my face and my chest. Well, because of the latter, I now find much more comfort wearing undershirts that have a shelf bra, like I had on on the day in reference. Welllllllll ........ my reflection in the mirror was most telling. Not really sure what I actually looked like, but here's what I saw:

My chichis had disappeared, and I was in desperate need of some upper ab work!!!!!!

What the heck?

Laughing Out Loud from the streets of Sag City,

Kalena Re-dressing