Agility and Irony

I enjoy irony. So here is some irony for you. Elsie, my four year old, doesn't recognize a whole lot of the alphabet. But you know what two words she does recognize? Elsie and princess. Go figure.

Princess Elsie

I also find euphemisms a bit ironic. You know what I mean. Under the weather for sick. Sloshed (and whole lot more) for drunk. Pleasantly plump for overweight. Expecting for pregnant. A personal favorite of mine is millage for taxes.
Our local community college is asking for a raised millage in tomorrow's election. A  millage tax by definition is a levy on property that the owner is required to pay. It's a tax, through and through. But, maybe they think that if they use the term millage, it will get passed. Euphemistically, it doesn't seem quite as harsh or whatever, to ask for a millage increase. Personally, I have a principle to never vote for increased taxes-millage or otherwise. I also find it ironic that a lot of people don't know what the term millage means. Maybe they think we are voting to reallocate already received tax funds. I don't know what they are thinking. But I do know how I am voting. I use the college facilities several times a week. But I'd rather have them increase my usage fees than to increase the millage. Once raised, taxes rarely get lowered. And that's a fact. To quote Pa in Little House On the Prairie, "the only thing for sure is death and taxes."=) That is not exactly accurate, but it's still a great saying.=)

At least they made nice signs.

Another great quote that went through my mind this morning was,
“ Strive to choose, not that which is easiest, but that which is most difficult. Do not deprive your soul of the agility which it needs to mount up to Him.
— St. John of the Cross

It is hard to choose the most difficult. It is even hard to choose difficult, especially over easy. Often we look at the challenges and obstacles in our path or day, and decide this must not be what God wants for me. "Closing a door, " and all that. We need discernment to know when an obstacle is placed to change our path, or to make us stronger on our path. Butterflies need to break themselves out of their cocoons to develop their wings and bodies. Similarly, "whatever doesn't kill you make you stronger."=) 

I like Jude's benediction. It ties in well with my life verse. (Psalm 37:23-24, right there inscribed on the feet) 

Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24

This benediction concludes Jude's letter urging believer's to earnestly contend for the faith. Earnestly contending is not the easy path. But, Jude finishes up his letter letting us know that while we have a job to do, our success is not based on our perseverance. It's based on God's perseverance. That is awesome. We only need to rely on God and He will do the rest.

No irony, no euphemism.