Straight-Faced With A Strong Sense Of Invincibility…

The sign said: 
“No trespassing”….
But I walked passed so I assumed it didn’t apply to me…

Should I repeat that?

The sign said: 
“No trespassing”….
But I walked passed so I assumed it didn’t apply to me. 

At 17-many would have labeled me “smart”.
My high school GPA and ACT score would have backed up that assessment. 

So then why the gap…?
Why the lack of judgment?
Why the misfire of cognitive function between my ears…?

Because….
Someone said it would be fun-

Unfortunately, it sometimes was an unhealthy motivation to
Think the rules didn’t apply to me….
Literally-
I didn’t break them on purpose. Straight-faced with a strong sense of invincibility- they didn’t apply to me…

I encroached this path many times over the course of a particular summer-
Each time strangely assuming the sign didn’t apply to my situation. 
(I’ll have to apologize to my angels someday who had to show up in groups to keep me safe from stupidity.)

If you were to ask me if I thought it was ok to break the law-
Even at 17- I would have replied with an emphatic “NO!”

And yet….

So how do I sort through this so many years later as I watch myself continue to do things that compound my troubles and ultimately cause a bit of (un)expected grief….?

Mistakes are made. 
Even with the best of intentions, I fall short. (We all do.)
Be it in action, speech, progressing in spirituality, or doing the work to improve mental, emotional, or intellectual health.
We fall. 
We fail. 

A few weeks ago I was walking with some friends and finishing up a phone call. Seemingly without warning, I stumbled…
Literally I went from being upright and leisurely walking to a tumble that sent my phone flying ten feet in front of me, and my left shoulder bracing my hard fall.  My friends gasped, gathered my phone, and quickly joined me in laughter as I simply had no explanation for the near face-plant.  
I fail.
I fall.

What a blessing…
Because I know exactly how to get up. 

My character and relationship with my Savior are strengthened not by obsessing about avoiding the fall- but by getting up. 

Over and over and over again…
I’m pretty good at it. 

Some might suggest I try a bit harder to stay upright. 
I don’t know about that advice…
I’m not suggesting a “sin on purpose” mentality..
…Rather a sure knowledge of what falling feels like. 

My Savior is my Friend, my Brother, and my Advocate with my Father in Heaven. 

How else would I have such perfect knowledge of Him if I wasn’t such an expert of falling and doing the work to get back up…?

-JC

Chocolate Whoopie Pie Cookies

1 cup soft butter
1 cup sour cream
2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
⅔ cup dark cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Cream butter, sour cream and sugar with an electric mixer on medium high for 2+ minutes or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla extract; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2+ Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Scoop out 40+ 1 ½  ” mounds of dough. Dough will be sticky.  Bake at 375 degrees for 12+ minutes. Do not underbake.  Cookies should dome slightly and be cake-like. Let cool completely. Frost the bottom side of ½ of the cookies with Marshmallow Creme Frosting. Let set. Share!

Marshmallow Creme Frosting
½ cup soft butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup whipping cream
Dash of salt
14 oz. marshmallow creme (Fluff)

Beat butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, whipping cream until smooth.  Mix an additional 2-3 minutes on high speed.  Fold in marshmallow creme.