"But I'll never get this project completed!"

"Those potholes are so huge – why doesn't someone fill them?"

"I'll never get these books read."

"I don't care for this music…. it's too loud/soft/fast/slow."

—–

The litany of complaints never ends.  It is a self-fulfilling prophecy that what you complain about with words but refuse to take action on will never be resolved.

Instead you stew, you vent, you get red-faced. And in the end you look like a clown: your face is discolored, your actions are animated (looks like you're juggling), and you might even shoot steam out of your ears.

Paul once wrote on the subject to the Christians in Philippi, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." -Philippians 2:14-16 NIV

I have learned that merely complaining never fixes anything.  I used to be a big complainer – to waitstaff, to 800-number customer service reps, to my friends, to family, etc.

I learned that in all those wasted breaths I accomplished nothing – it was as Shakespeare wrote, "sound and fury, Signifying nothing."

Instead of complaining, I choose to make a difference.  So where I see injustice – I seek justice.  When I am confused I pray for clarity.  When I am lost I seek guidance.  When I see that something needs to get done – I do it.

Funny thing is – when you become a person of action – you feel healthier because you're doing something about the situation.  Others however, get jealous very quickly and say, "What's so special about him?"

The answer is – nothing special.  Except for being fed up with being the clown. You can do this – it's easy.  Instead of problems focus on solutions.

May you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life!