{"id":777,"date":"2013-08-12T08:23:31","date_gmt":"2013-08-12T08:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=777"},"modified":"2013-08-05T21:35:58","modified_gmt":"2013-08-05T21:35:58","slug":"is-it-hard-to-read-the-signs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/08\/is-it-hard-to-read-the-signs.html","title":{"rendered":"Is It Hard to Read the Signs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Santa<\/a>One day, I noticed these signs on a street in a quiet residential neighborhood where, most days, little traffic flows. I couldnt’ resist taking a picture – such a complicated set of do’s and don’t’s when, I’d imagine, simplicity would suffice.<\/p>\n

Beyond the obvious humor, however, I thought about how we often find it hard to read the signs that mark moments or decisions in our own lives. For example, if you have been recently diagnosed with an illness, you might find that lots of people have lots of ideas about what you should do next. And, you might wonder, “Which way do I go?”<\/p>\n

Or, perhaps you face a major decision about work, a relationship, or even where you might live. And, you’ll lay awake at night wondering, “Which way should I go?”<\/p>\n

Finding, or, rather, recognizing, God’s path for our lives can be equally confusing, especially if we cannot get out of our own way. With all of my recent difficult times that involved my own health, people close to me dying, and an auto accident, I did find myself wondering, “What do these things mean in the ‘big picture’ of my life?” and also wondering about other “signs” that God sends.<\/p>\n

As I mulled over these things while driving by in my car, another thought popped into my head. I’d paused and gotten out of my car to take this picture. But, I realized, as I drove by the signs, even at a slow pace, it was difficult for me to read everything posted. It was only when I stopped, stood, and took enough time that I was able to understand it all.<\/p>\n

So, too, with those of us striving to read the signs in our own lives. We can’t really ‘get the message’ if we’re on the go all the time, not listening, not even dreaming!<\/p>\n

If it’s hard to read your signs, try pausing. Pray. And let God’s message and purpose unfold for you.<\/p>\n

Blessings for the day,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. Through the blog, she hopes to bring issues of health, wellness, and spirit into focus and, especially, inspire others that, no matter what health challenges, illness, or hardships they endure, each person can find a good way to realize the wonderful potential God has placed within each heart and soul.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.maureenpratt.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/author\/mpratt"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/548"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=777"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":779,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777\/revisions\/779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}