A COMPLAINT-FREE MIND

         “Banish the word ‘struggle’ from your attitude and vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

                                                                                          Hopi National Elders

         I recently read the book, A Complaint Free World, by Will Bowen, and was so impressed by its 21-day challenge, I have decided to challenge the congregation to join me in the simple act of changing a rubber bracelet from one wrist to the other each time we complain. This includes griping about the weather, our mates, our aches and pains, our friends or family members,  the  economy,  the  government,  other drivers,  other  people’s

attitudes, etc.!  The purpose of the challenge is to increase awareness of what is coming out of our mouths and going o in our minds. As the author states, “Complaining can be likened to bad breath. We notice it when it comes out of someone else’s mouth, but not when it comes from our own.”

         Through September, my talks will focus on this challenge. All who attend services and accept the 21-day challenge will receive an official Complaint Free bracelet. This may seem a simplistic exercise; I believe it will be an interesting and revealing one. People often discover they must change the bracelet from wrist to wrist many times in a day. They begin to notice how truly difficult it is to keep from complaining, and that complaining may actually be a “style” of communication.  When we cease our complaining, we are forced to find other ways to initiate and carry on conversations.

         Mr personal complaints are usually about the weather, my stiff joints or my “bad”knee. So...instead of complaining, I personally accept the challenge of being complaint-free for 21 days, and going further, when I begin to complain about something, I am going to bless it instead. So I bless the 100-degree weather in the realization that our troops in Iraq are doing their work in 120-degree weather! I bless my joints because they have served me well for so many years and under truly challenging conditions. I bless my “bad” knee and call it a “good” knee, for it has put up with a lot from me, including jumping off curbs in New York City on roller skates!

         I challenge you to join me this month in becoming complaint-free and in blessing all. Instead of being “ an ‘ouch!’ Looking for a hurt to happen, become a “hurrah!” expecting a blessing to show up!