Shower, natch: “Okay, God. Whatcha got for me today?”
“The first thing to try when all else fails is again.”
I’ve been letting my spirit baste in 2 Corinthians for awhile. 4:7 reads, “But this precious treasure–this light and power that now shines within us–is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.” That’s the nice version from the New Living Translation.
Here it is from The Message: “If you only look at us you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at.”
Add 5:2— “We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.” (NLT) Paul got beat around some by those not wanting to hear what he had to say. By the time he wrote these letters meant to encourage new Christians, his body was starting to let him know its displeasure every morning.
I’m 65, and a three-time survivor of life-threatening trauma, a bona-fide coffee-slurping miracle. I get where Paul’s coming from. This morning I’ve already been working on my shoulders and arms, and as soon as I publish this I’m off for a 2-mile walk. “Well, look at you-ou.” No. Don’t. You don’t see how hard I work to get done what used to be of no effort at all. I’m a card-carrying UCP. Unadorned clay pot. Stay with me. So, yeah–I get where Paul’s coming from.
You do, too. You’ve heard the sibilant hissing: “Nah, you don’t need to get after it today. You deserve some down time. What’s it gonna hurt to take today off?”
None, if you need it. Rest and renewal is vital to ongoing health and wellness. It’s when you’re laying there tomorrow morning and it seems the hissing is a little louder, more inssssissssstent and you fall for it that things get dicey.
Here are the 3 ways.
- Remember where you’ve been. The path ahead, your as-yet-untraveled journey, can seem a forever thing until you turn and look back at how far God’s brought you. There’s nothing back there for you.
- Remember where you’re headed. Of course the path you’ve chosen isn’t crowded. Eagles don’t run in flocks; you have to find them one by one. God’s custom-designed dreams, and the goals He’s helped you set to realize those dreams, are still ahead of you, just waiting. You must supply the effort. You gotta be the jazz and provide the groove. You.
- Remember who’s always been there with and for you. God has never once left you out of His care and protection. Let’s be real. Occasionally you and I both have thought, “I got this” and He, being the wise Father, let us try. Yep. Yet He never went anywhere. And there’s been a handful of balcony people – spouse, solid friend, accountability partner, fellow survivor, sometimes individuals you’ll never meet Earthside – who’ve been right there, cheering you on.
So this morning? If you don’t really like the person you see in your mirror? Again. Don’t like your present circumstances? Again. Disgusted with yesterday? Again. Tired of glad-handing, fair-weather types who disappear too fast? Again. Want a job? Again. Want a better job? Again. Off your devotional habit? Again. Praying nonexistent? Again. Frustrated with something that hasn’t worked out yet? Again.
The first thing to try when all else fails is again. Tomorrow just might be the day~~~!
I love you, and I believe in you.
© D. Dean Boone, June 2017