Clouds

Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don't for a minute lose sight of them.  They'll keep your soul alive and well, they'll keep you fit and attractive. You'll travel safely, you'll neither tire nor trip. You'll take afternoon naps without a worry, you'll enjoy a good night's sleep.

No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound.

Proverbs 3:21-26 (The Message)

I used to smoke weed. Correction: I used to smoke A LOT of weed. And I’ve come to the conclusion that I enjoyed smoking weed because it helped me to escape my reality. It helped to fog my brain and cloud my vision. When I was high, nothing mattered. I had my head in the clouds, literally. And there was a few periods in my life that I was high QUITE often. I was high in class, I needed to be high to fall asleep, I went to work high a few times, I even went to church high a couple times. (Thank God for His mercy). At the time, I really didn't know what my problem was, I just enjoyed getting high because then I wouldn't have to think or deal with anything else going on around me.

So, why am I telling you this? I'm telling you this because we often use 'clouds' to escape our reality and keep us stuck. And for those of you who have never smoked weed, never been high and are thinking 'this girl must be crazy' please understand that 'clouds' can be anything you use to distract yourself from your reality, Such as, your job, sex, your partner, your children, religion, failed hopes and dreams, alcohol, shopping, illness and pets, just to name a few. 

'Clouds' are something we use on an abnormal basis to cope with the chaos in our lives. Some of you might be thinking 'well what's wrong with my children, or my partner, or religion being my 'cloud'’? And my answer is this: there is nothing wrong with doing most things in moderation. A glass of wine once a week doesn't make you an alcoholic  and it doesn’t mean you need alcohol to cope. Similarly, taking prescription medication to help balance mental instability (as prescribed) isn't wrong either unless you’re abusing it or prescribing your own ‘medication’ to cope, such as weed, which would be classified as forming clouds. This applies to all coping mechanism that are used out of balance with reality. In other words, if your 'cloud' controls the better part of your life and time and keeps you in a place of stagnation, you’re going to have to make some decisions about where you want your head to be: in the 'clouds' or above them.

Let’s talk some more about religion, partners and children... How could those things be classified as 'clouds'?  In innocence, we can use safe distractions to cloud our vision without even realizing that we are in fact causing damage. Because no one could condemn you for being religious or charge you for being overly caring of your children. But even positive intentions turn into crutches and excuses for not experiencing life to its fullest. I'm not saying to lose religion or start neglecting your children. What I am saying is don't use your religion as an excuse to not relate to people or life 'normally and/or logically' or don't use your children as an excuse to keep you from making purposeful steps in life when in fact it’s fear holding you back OR don't let your partner, father of your children or ex keep you in the 'clouds' to the point that you lose yourself and almost feel like you can't advance in life without them. Co-dependency will keep you stagnant if you allow it to.

In conclusion, I don't smoke weed anymore.  Although, there are times that escaping from reality sounds great when I have four kids running around me. Thankfully, I've gotten to the point that I'm above my 'clouds' and I'm reaching for heaven. Functioning on auto-pilot, even airplanes know that flying above the clouds is the best place to be. The air is clear up there. And when you can see clearly, you will see God and His goodness for you.

Be Blessed in RISING ABOVE YOUR CLOUDS

Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power - Proverbs 8:14 NIV

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. - Ephesians 4:18 NIV

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. - 1 Peter 1:14 NIV

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