Since January we (the MBA) have wrestled with a chronic
septic problem which has been exacerbated by extenuating circumstances which
are outside our control: namely, uncertainty (and more than a little acrimony) between
us and the local utility about what exactly is causing our problem. It is
sufficient to say that septic issues are no fun, but this one is supremely frustrating.
It feels like a good time to pray the serenity prayer! Or to repeat the mantra
from that Seinfeld episode: “Serenity now!”
There are times when circumstances dislodge any notion
that we are in control. If you’re a type A control freak (like me), it
eventually becomes apparent that when there’s nothing you can do there are some
things you should do:
Just Trust – God’s
got this! It may be beyond you but it’s not beyond Him. It’s clear in Scripture
that we never face a single problem that is lacking in a divine purpose. When
we face adversity, we’re being tested. In school, we were tested to evaluate
our competence. Even the worst, most jaded teacher had this as a tertiary
motive. And God isn’t about rubbing our noses in anything. Far from it. He is
imminently trustworthy and we need to keep that in mind.
Just Pray – Did
you ever play tetherball as a kid? The objective was to wind a ball tethered to
a rope past an opponent as tightly around a pole as possible. When trouble is
knocking us around, ideally it should draw us into God’s orbit. We may feel
helplessly slapped around, but what if God is using our trouble like a
centrifugal force to pull us into His center? Prayer moves us toward God.
Just Serve – Trouble
looms larger when my focus is just on me. All I can see is how this affects me
and woe is me! Serving others gets me out of my pity party. “It’s better to
give than to receive.” Therefore, when we give things are better. When we give
of ourselves we’ll get better. That’s God’s paradoxical truth.
Just Laugh – Anne
Lamott said, “Laughter is carbonated holiness.” This is true, even if I can’t find a chapter
and verse for it. I’m wary of humorless people. Don’t let life do that to you. “When we laugh, our blood pressure and
pulse rates drop slightly, endorphins (chemicals that suppress pain and help
you to feel better) are released into our bodies, and T-cells (key fighters in
our immune systems) increase.” Laughter is good for you. Since something
is going on over which you have no control, why compound it by being simultaneously
emotionally miserable? I can’t think of a good reason.
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