Not feeling it.

[cleanfreak]

Joe--may I ask....how long have you been a Christian?

If I may compare, it seems you are the genius 7th grader sitting in a 12th grade class with seniors wondering the whole time how in the world did they pass the 7th grade, much less become seniors.

Your intellect shines thru even on this forum. The best thing I can suggest, is to find a Bible study group that studies the deep things of God, the Hebrew and the Greek so to speak. Shallow small talk, and Sunday School Bible stories will not get it.



I am truly sorry to here about your Mother. I went thru the same thing with my Father, just last year.

 

[for_his_glory]

Yeah I kind of suspect this could be part of the problem. I'm neither the person with grave problems like legal, drugs, alcohol or anything like that.

And I am also not in a great place where I can play "conspicuous consumption" games.

The worst part is right now with what I'm going through I really could use some supportive friends. I mean I'm literally watching my mother get worse all the time. I don't think most understand how it is when all your family bails out because they don't want to help care for an aging parent.

I really feel like people are looking at me like I must have done something terribly wrong to end up in a situation like this.

I've seriously had people ask me if I am drinking or having a problem with drugs. It's really kind of degrading. Then they don't understand why I am mad at them.

Joe I can feel for you as I too had to take care of my Grandmother before she died and my mother-in-law before she died and had no help from my siblings or my husbands siblings. I was consumed with their needs as I put my life on hold. Sometimes in a situation like this you just need someone you can vent to as we suppress our emotions until we feel like we are going to explode. We love the ones we take care of, but it can be taxing on us at the same time where you almost begin to hate them, even though you love them.

I think in cases like this we even look for some self recognition, which is not always a bad thing, but just want someone to appreciate what we are doing and say so. In many Churches we find a superficial acceptance, or love that only stays within the four walls of the building and when you leave it never manifest again until the next service.

We can make friends without faces on the internet that we can talk to, but just not the same as having someone you can talk to face to face that you can confide in. We can even sit and talk to God and allow the Holy Spirit flow in us for that moment of needing a touch from God, but eventually fall back into that same despair. What we need is an evenly yoked fellowship with others who hold the same interest we do that will accept us with all our baggage we bring with us to that relationship of friendship.

Joe, this is what you need as well as all of us to have just that one person who will accept us for who we are with all our baggage and God will put the right people in your path, but it's up to you to recognize them and put yourself out there to meet them. You and your mother are in my prayers and we know God will work everything out for you as you seek God for your needs.

 

[reba]

The worst part is right now with what I'm going through I really could use some supportive friends. I mean I'm literally watching my mother get worse all the time. I don't think most understand how it is when all your family bails out because they don't want to help care for an aging parent.

Joe you are not alone in this...i think more siblings bail then help.... There is a lot of evidence of that here on these boards...
It can be so easy to loose sight of His hand on/in our life. He is there Joe He really is....

 

[Comprehender]

Build and modify machinery

I was one of those kids who was literally raised in a shop. And I mean from the time I was in diapers. My toys were tools and the junk from my grandfather's shop that he gave me to tear apart so I could see how it worked.

I really never had interest in anything else. I didn't play sports, I was always in a garage or a machine shop building something. Either that or I was building forts or tree houses in the woods.

I think the only other thing I enjoyed was reading.

When I was 9 I was allowed to start flying

My experience growing up was kind of unusual. It really didn't prepare me for those little sessions of small talk about the local team or anything.

What can I say, I guess I'm a bit of a geek

Those pictures are priceless!
I don't think you're a geek... you have a passion.

I wonder if you could combine that passion with others, to get both your passion lit up & also finding a way to relate with others - & what better way than your specialty?
Maybe finding a type of club, class or group that builds things.
You could always try one of those modern dance classes that you build upon each other.

Just kidding.

What else inspires you?
When you are completely tired - even too tired of working on an engine or in the shop... what do you find inspiring?