Reflections from the Home Team - December 14, 2019
"As we prepare to celebrate the special season that is upon us, and
the busyness and stress that can often accompany it, remember, we can’t control the results in our lives… There’s really no way of getting
around it. You can do everything right, work hard and still not get the result
you wanted. Summon the courage to lay down the burdens and worries of the day –
to simply rest."
Greetings
from Cedar Falls,
It’s
been a busy month for me in many ways, and I was forced to slow down a bit as
I’ve been dealing with some upper respiratory issues over the past few weeks
that have been an ongoing issue for me since treatments. It’s always my goal to
make something good out of what can seem frustrating, and I wanted to share
some of those thoughts with you in this reflection.
I
don’t know about you, but for me, it's often hard to “put the bat and ball down”
and just rest… In today’s world, busyness is a reality for so many of us and
slowing down and resting can feel uncomfortable, almost like failure. The current
reality as I see it is that we’re wearing ourselves out, inviting anxiety and
restlessness in. Given that fact, I’ve had the opportunity to take a pause and
do some reading in “Whispers of Rest” by Bonnie Gray while recovering. It is a
wonderful guide to help eliminate the noise in our lives and to experience some
“whispers” of rest along the way.
I’ve
had some takeaways from Bonnie that have truly resonated with me as I deal with
life’s busyness, some frustrating health challenges and the stresses they can
bring. She does an amazing job of blending scientific research and loving
scripture passages while providing some tips on how to “detox” our souls and
find places of rest along the way.
Here
are several points Bonnie made that literally jumped out at me as she
identified some simple reasons we are stressed while making suggestions on how
we can restore some peace in our lives when dealing with that stress.
“You’re good at taking care of others, but bad
at filling your own tank.”
This
begs the question in my mind as to why are we so hard on ourselves, when God’s love is gentle? We need to
extend ourselves the comfort we want to
give others. We can’t be helpful in filling other’s needs if our own tanks are empty. We may feel selfish prioritizing filling our tanks, yet, God says we can
only comfort others, with the
comfort we first receive ourselves! (2 Cor 1:4)
“You are good at problem
solving, but what you need is rest.”
As
I’ve learned over the years, most problems that stress us can’t be solved in a day. I often tend to overthink
problem solving (guess it’s in my DNA
as aformer Principal) but it can lead
us to easily obsess about situations or relationships
leaving us feeling anxious. One way to reduce that anxiety is by enjoying activities that foster positive
thoughts. Music is often used to bring
calm and alleviate pain. Music therapy
was extremely helpful for me during treatments in
Iowa City. Music can help us pray without
words… Pull out your favorite playlist and enjoy! “He
has given me a new song to sing.” Psalm 40:3
“You are good at listening to
others but find it hard to share your hardships.”
Personally,
I typically don’t want to bother others, but, have you ever noticed how you feel better after talking to
someone about your troubles — even if the problem
hasn’t been fixed? Kind of like how writing these reflections helps me process…Take some time to tell a grace filled friend about both your hopes and anxieties. Carry each other’s burdens.
(Galatians 6:2)
“You’re busy getting things
done, but you forget to breathe.”
I learned in pain management during treatments
that you hold your breath when you’re stressed and feeling pain. Shallow
breathing creates tension in your body, raises your blood pressure, and
makes your muscles ache with tension and pain.
I’ve found it helpful to take a minute and offer up what I call a “breath prayer.” It’s is a special opportunity to
invite Jesus into my day and be refreshed. Experience
God’s peace and “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
“You are always planning and
thinking ahead but experiencing God’s grace comes only one day at a time.”
Our culture trains us to “plan” ahead. But, when it comes
to the important people in our lives,
people are not plans. Hearts are more like gardens to nurture with grace one day at a time. We plant seeds and watch
fruit grow slowly, while being nurtured
with faith and patience, instead of stress and coercion. Whatever’s happening this week in our lives, hold onto
God’s hand. He’s not letting go of you.
He’s walking into every situation you’re facing, with you. Ask for the strength to do what you must do, just for this
one next step. Trust He will provide what comes
next. Jesus will not abandon you. You are His beloved. “Let me hear of your
unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.” Psalm 143:8
As
we prepare to celebrate the special Christmas season that is upon us, and the
busyness and stress that can often accompany it, remember, we can’t control the results in our lives… There’s really no way of getting
around it. You can do everything right, work hard and still not get the result
you wanted. Summon the courage to lay down the burdens and worries of the day –
to simply rest. Don’t wait until your life is stress-free before spending time
on what really matters to God: loving your heart. Take a break and choose
what’s better: feeding your soul. Be renewed and be loved.
In
the Spirit of the Season!
Dave
Are you or someone you know
fighting cancer... struggling with the physical, emotional and spiritual issues
that accompany a cancer journey or other serious health issue? Making
ourselves available to others can open up the doors of opportunity for deeper relationships,
healing, and transformation. For many, time is one of the most valuable
commodities in today's fast-paced world. Sharing time with others is a
wonderful gift. It says, "Here I am. . . for you. To listen, to care, to
serve." The power of presence should never be underestimated!
Be an encourager in someone
else’s life!
To learn more about being an
encourager, and to view the Reflections blog, visit the Reflections from the
Home Team website at:
