Pause and Reflect 2010-02-17 15:19:00
My bathroom mirror.
It's been awhile since I've blogged. There are a few good reasons for that.
Reason #1: twitter on my phone! No need to say any more.
Reason #2: gmail distribution lists. I have been sending updates to our sponsors and prayer partners and haven't been taking the time to blog them. If you'd like to be added to the list let me know.
Reason #3: Other projects. I've been outlining a couple book ideas on other blogs, office work has been intense lately, and fundraising efforts have by necessity been renewed.
Reason #4: My bathroom mirror. No, really. My bathroom mirror has become my spiritual insights workshop and drivel drawing board. While it may be sad that my best time of focus is in the shower, it is still true. And so there's a dry-erase marker in my bathroom, and notes all over the mirror. Whether its a 3am epiphany, a bed-time nugget, or a shower sermon, my bathroom mirro is always waiting for my thoughts.
So the question, of course, on the collective mind (is that a thing?) of my readers is this: What is on that bathroom mirror now?
Well, drivel, of course. But beside the drivel is a thought. I am becoming convinced that all of our weights that the writer of Hebrews (this is one of the places he/she sounds like Paul, with all this metaphorical race speak) alludes to can be traced to a misdirection of our attention. When we focus on self rather than on God we fall into the following traps.
Depression: I'm not
Arrogance: I am
Fear: I can't do
Self-reliance: I can do
Pride: I did this thing
Guilt: I failed in such-and-such a way
Rudeness: I am important
Self-deprecation: I am less-than
Stubbornness: I won't
Excessive Liberty: I am sovereign
The list could go on and on. If you can think of a negative personality glitch, it can be traced to a misdirected focus. But when we focus on God, "I'm not" or "I am" becomes "He is". Each of the above list is kind of paired with its opposite extreme. Depression and arrogance are two sides of the same coin. Pride and guilt. Rudeness and excessive humility or self-deprecation. Each pair focuses on a different aspect of life and the success or failure of self-absorbed, self-guided results.
When we focus on God, the results are His responsibility! When we truly put things in hands our focus comes off of us and on to Him. Then truly, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (also on my mirror).
It's been awhile since I've blogged. There are a few good reasons for that.
Reason #1: twitter on my phone! No need to say any more.
Reason #2: gmail distribution lists. I have been sending updates to our sponsors and prayer partners and haven't been taking the time to blog them. If you'd like to be added to the list let me know.
Reason #3: Other projects. I've been outlining a couple book ideas on other blogs, office work has been intense lately, and fundraising efforts have by necessity been renewed.
Reason #4: My bathroom mirror. No, really. My bathroom mirror has become my spiritual insights workshop and drivel drawing board. While it may be sad that my best time of focus is in the shower, it is still true. And so there's a dry-erase marker in my bathroom, and notes all over the mirror. Whether its a 3am epiphany, a bed-time nugget, or a shower sermon, my bathroom mirro is always waiting for my thoughts.
So the question, of course, on the collective mind (is that a thing?) of my readers is this: What is on that bathroom mirror now?
Well, drivel, of course. But beside the drivel is a thought. I am becoming convinced that all of our weights that the writer of Hebrews (this is one of the places he/she sounds like Paul, with all this metaphorical race speak) alludes to can be traced to a misdirection of our attention. When we focus on self rather than on God we fall into the following traps.
Depression: I'm not
Arrogance: I am
Fear: I can't do
Self-reliance: I can do
Pride: I did this thing
Guilt: I failed in such-and-such a way
Rudeness: I am important
Self-deprecation: I am less-than
Stubbornness: I won't
Excessive Liberty: I am sovereign
The list could go on and on. If you can think of a negative personality glitch, it can be traced to a misdirected focus. But when we focus on God, "I'm not" or "I am" becomes "He is". Each of the above list is kind of paired with its opposite extreme. Depression and arrogance are two sides of the same coin. Pride and guilt. Rudeness and excessive humility or self-deprecation. Each pair focuses on a different aspect of life and the success or failure of self-absorbed, self-guided results.
When we focus on God, the results are His responsibility! When we truly put things in hands our focus comes off of us and on to Him. Then truly, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (also on my mirror).
