In the Zone

As school starts, if you are driving you have to slow down.  You have to slow down when going through school zones.  You have to completely stop when the bus stops.  School buses frustrate most because of the frequent stops made.   Maybe there are some zones in our lives that we need to slow down as we go through them.

Slow down in the zone of criticism--words and thoughts.

We live in such a critical world.  Most have an opinion that they cannot wait to share.  It is easy to look from the outside and solve the problem.  Some believe it is their duty to share criticisms.  

What if we slowed down our critical thoughts and offered prayer instead?  Now I am fully aware that it takes some intentional effort to respond instead of react.  I find myself reacting more than I ever want to confess.

Slow down and be fully present.

I am amazed when I realize how many times I am not paying attention.  I am physically there but not fully present.  Sometimes it is because I am so easily distracted.  Sometimes I fail to stop thinking long enough to be fully present.  Other times I am just tired.

Being fully present means giving your entire attention to the precious now.  It is really what we have. Yesterday is behind us.  Tomorrow may never come.  NOW is what we have.  And it will pass so quickly.

Slow down and rest.

When I was chaplain at Centenary College the number one enemy of young adults was sleep deprivation.  Students just kept going and going until they crashed.  Today our calendars are for the most part too full.  Young families are trying to let their kids do everything.

The body and the Spirit need to rest.  Jesus when confronted with the crowds would withdraw to pray and rest.    He knew this was necessary for what was ahead.

Maybe we need to realize when we are in the zone in our life's travels.  Slowing down does not make you a weaker person.  It does not mean you are lazy. It means that you have begun to sort out what is important in life.  You have come to understand what gives life versus what takes away life.

You only get one life.  There are no replays.  Play the one well!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

Retired.

www.midweekmanna.com 

Beat The Heat

It is hot outside.  Not warm--hot!  Next week it is supposed to be hotter, not warmer.   In Louisiana it is feast or famine.  You either have too much rain or not enough.  A month ago we were praying the Red River would stop rising.  The rain was almost everyday.  Everything was soggy and wet.  Today there is no rain in sight for quite a while.  It is so hot that you just dread going outside.

The heat wears you down.  Attitudes are affected by the heat.  You can become a little testy.  Some will become whiners.  The body, inside and out, responds to the weather.  

As Christians we face a similar battle of the spirit.  We are not insulated by the outside conditions.  We are confronted with the world's cynicism.   The cruelty of the world's actions and words wear on us.  Harry Emerson Fodsdick in his writings years ago reminded us that being a Christian in the world is a more difficult task. 

In Galatians 6:9, the apostle Paul reminds us to not become weary in doing good.  Paul knew the struggle to keep the faith was real.  Paul knew that there were times that Christians would be beaten down.  The outside conditions of life can conquer the inward spirit if we allow it.  So what is one to do?

1. Remember the good deeds of life are in response to Jesus not the world.

You do good to those around you because you love Jesus.  You do acts of mercy and kindness remembering the mercy and kindness Jesus has shown to you.  It is not a reciprocal relationship to the world.  It is a response relationship to the person of Jesus.  The failure of many in the faith is the expectation that the world is going to somehow reward them for acts of goodness and mercy.  The reward is know that we have been obedient to what Jesus said.

2.  Rest in the shade and drink some water!

Just as the body needs rest and sustenance, the Spirit does as well.   Spend some time refreshing yourself in the presence of Jesus.  Read and listen to Scripture, song, and creation.  Breath--deep breathe--in the presence of Jesus.  Imagine that you are the woman of Samaria at the well seeking water day after day.  Imagine that this man, Jesus, shows up from nowhere to give you living water!  You are given the water not because of how good you are but because you are present!  

3.  Focus.

Many of our life struggles are due to the wrong focus.  Change your focus by changing your thoughts.  Put a scripture in your head instead of critical thoughts of others and yourself.   Focus on the positive instead of  the negative.

When I was growing up, I played golf at the Minden Country Club.  On hole number two, about fifty yards out, there was a ditch.  As a young boy, I would stand on the ditch and look at the ditch.  I would worry about hitting the ball in the ditch.  One day I was playing with an older guy and he could see my focus.  He gave me a new perspective.  He told me to look way down the fairway at the tree almost to the green.  "Hit the ball at the tree!"  I stopped hitting my ball into the ditch!  Why?  Because I changed my thought and my focus.

If the world is weighing you down, look towards the kingdom!

We can beat the heat.  The conditions outside do not have to determine the condition of the outward and inward witness of the Spirit.   May it be well with your soul today!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

Retired