One of my favorite post cards came in the mail the other day. "You're overdue for your dental checkup/cleaning." Those post cards look so nice and innocuous, but I think I'd rather get audited by the IRS then go to a dental checkup. The scraping, x-rays, awful tasting polish, and the wonderful news you need something done...there isn't much I would put below these visits. I'm not degrading dentists at all. I love to eat, and I'm sure food tastes much better if I'm able to chew it with healthy teeth instead of sucking it through a straw or gumming it to death. Dentists provide a much needed service, but man I hate getting that service. Anyone else feel the same way?
I've been lucky. I haven't had many cavities or any trouble with my teeth throughout my life. I'm not sure I should divulge this tidbit or not, but I've had such good teeth that I've never flossed much in my life. At all of my dental checkups, and I promise you this, they've always told me to keep doing what I've been doing. Well, what I had been doing was brushing my teeth once or twice a day and not flossing. So, for years, and I mean probably 30 some years of my life, that's what I kept hearing, "You have great teeth, keep doing what you're doing." So I did, until about a year ago. I had my first cavities, and they were two flossing cavities. Flossing cavities are the ones that form between your teeth because you don't floss and get the food out. So, you figure I'd learned my lesson and after those cavities were filled I started flossing to keep that from happening again. Nope...I'm going to the dentist today for my checkup and I know I have a couple more flossing cavities. Some habits are hard to break and some habits are even harder to start!
I was reflecting on my lack of dental hygiene and it occurred to me how this might relate to our spiritual lives. When things are going good do we tend to forget a little bit about God, and building our relationship, and continuing our daily devotions? Sometimes when things are swimming along nicely we tend to neglect somethings...as I did with my flossing all those years. But, when things get tough we immediately turn back to God and want/desire that close relationship and to feel the Spirit's presence in our lives. The kicker is...if we'd continued to build that relationship before the tough times hit then we'd have that connection built in more quickly. Just like if I'd learn to keep flossing now I could avoid these wonderful checkups where I know something is amiss with my teeth.
It is not that God won't be with us and comfort us when times get tough if we've kind of fallen away from God for awhile while times were good. It is just that like any relationship the more time we spend at the relationship the better the connection will be. The reception doesn't improve from God's end...the reception improves on our end because we've been in the habit of connecting with God already so it is easier for us to feel God's presence. When we only seek God's presence when we feel we need help then we won't be as practiced in recognizing the Spirit in our lives and it may take some time before we recognize/feel God at work. So, the moral of the story...floss and make sure you continually build your relationship with God. That way, when the checkups, and life's difficulties come you'll be more prepared to handle them.
PS-anyone's teeth hurt while reading this? Mine did while I was writing it!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Quiet weekend...
It has been a quiet few days around our house. Friday the boys went to my parents place for a few days so Tracy and I had just ourselves to keep us company. 3 days without kids! What were we going to do?!? I was certainly looking forward to some time off from chasing the rugrats around. We spent some time shopping and Tracy had the quote of the weekend. We were in Target and she was just aimlessly wondering up and down the aisles and I asked her what she was doing. Her reply, "I'm just looking. I never get a chance to just look around." I laughed. She was right. When you're toting around two boys you don't really have the luxury to just look around.
As I said earlier I was looking forward to the peace and quiet, but honestly that lasted to about Saturday morning. I already missed the little buggers jumping into bed and waking me up. I even missed watching Mickey Mouse Club House and fixing the little guys break fast. Funny how you think you are so looking forward to the time off , and then when it finally arrives you find yourself missing the noise and energy. It wasn't nearly as fun waking up this morning without Alex climbing on the bed and making sure I was going to open his fruit snack and turn the TV on. That's right...they get fruit snacks in the morning...its dad's little treat.
Contemplating this I was reminded of the saying that you really don't know what you've got until it's gone. The sermon yesterday was on the 10th commandment which tells us not to covet stuff we don't have. I talked about learning to be content with what you have and to count the blessings you already have without being consumed and preoccupied with stuff you want and think you need to be happy. I know I take for granted my life and all the blessings I have. How can I be thankful enough for a wonderful and healthy family, a church that I love to serve, a community we love to live in and rallies around one of its own, and the freedom to do what we want? Is it possible to be thankful enough for all of that and not take it for granted? I don't think so, but I'm going to try. I do my best to thank God every day for all that I have, and I try to not take for granted the opportunities I and my family have. While the hooligans were gone I was reminded how much I love them and how I can't take for granted the time we get to spend together.
I think the challenge for me is to be reminded in the daily grind how blessed I am. I think that is a challenge for all of us. I know some are struggling, but I bet if we thought about it we all could find something to be thankful for. Let's take some time to thank God right now for all the blessings in our life. Even if this might be a tough time in your life...think of the blessings you do have. They are there, and you don't want to miss them!
As I said earlier I was looking forward to the peace and quiet, but honestly that lasted to about Saturday morning. I already missed the little buggers jumping into bed and waking me up. I even missed watching Mickey Mouse Club House and fixing the little guys break fast. Funny how you think you are so looking forward to the time off , and then when it finally arrives you find yourself missing the noise and energy. It wasn't nearly as fun waking up this morning without Alex climbing on the bed and making sure I was going to open his fruit snack and turn the TV on. That's right...they get fruit snacks in the morning...its dad's little treat.
Contemplating this I was reminded of the saying that you really don't know what you've got until it's gone. The sermon yesterday was on the 10th commandment which tells us not to covet stuff we don't have. I talked about learning to be content with what you have and to count the blessings you already have without being consumed and preoccupied with stuff you want and think you need to be happy. I know I take for granted my life and all the blessings I have. How can I be thankful enough for a wonderful and healthy family, a church that I love to serve, a community we love to live in and rallies around one of its own, and the freedom to do what we want? Is it possible to be thankful enough for all of that and not take it for granted? I don't think so, but I'm going to try. I do my best to thank God every day for all that I have, and I try to not take for granted the opportunities I and my family have. While the hooligans were gone I was reminded how much I love them and how I can't take for granted the time we get to spend together.
I think the challenge for me is to be reminded in the daily grind how blessed I am. I think that is a challenge for all of us. I know some are struggling, but I bet if we thought about it we all could find something to be thankful for. Let's take some time to thank God right now for all the blessings in our life. Even if this might be a tough time in your life...think of the blessings you do have. They are there, and you don't want to miss them!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Sweet Vacations
Aren't vacations wonderful?! Although I don't think they ever last long enough. And, wouldn't it be nice if we could ease back into the work week? Maybe work 1/4 day the first day, 1/2 day the next, then 3/4 of a day and finally a full day on the week we return to work. I think I'm going to talk to the boss and see if I can make that a policy here at church! Seriously though...adjusting back into the real world after taking some time off can be jarring. I believe vacations, time away from the rat race, are a vital part of our lives. And maybe because starting that rat race up again when we return from vacation is so hard it is a sign that we need to get away.
Taking time off has almost become a four letter word. We feel we have to put in the extra hour or 4 and maybe come in on Saturdays and Sundays because if we don't get the work done then they'll find someone who will. I understand that there are times when you need to work extra hours, but we need to be aware when those extra hours start to hurt our productivity at work and our productivity at home. I know I don't work as hard or efficiently when I feel like all I've been doing is working. We need to find time to get away and relax and recharge.
Relaxing and recharging is different for everyone. And everyone has different schedules and demands in their lives and at work. But the Lord created the Sabbath for a reason, and I believe that reason is because we need to get away from the daily grind to remind us there's more to life then the 8 to 5. There is more to life then the pursuit of the that next promotion and raise. Providing for the family is more than bringing home a paycheck. Providing also means being there as a spouse and parent. If I've said it once I've said it a million times...we need to find time to reconnect and recharge. Reconnect and recharge with God, with our families, with our friends, and with our selves. If we don't do that then we risk becoming over worked and stressed out. I don't know about you but I am no fun to be around when I'm over worked and stressed out...ask my wife! Find some time to take a walk with the family, take some of that vacation time you've been saving up and take a trip. You'd be amazed at what just a little time away can do to one's well being.
Taking time off has almost become a four letter word. We feel we have to put in the extra hour or 4 and maybe come in on Saturdays and Sundays because if we don't get the work done then they'll find someone who will. I understand that there are times when you need to work extra hours, but we need to be aware when those extra hours start to hurt our productivity at work and our productivity at home. I know I don't work as hard or efficiently when I feel like all I've been doing is working. We need to find time to get away and relax and recharge.
Relaxing and recharging is different for everyone. And everyone has different schedules and demands in their lives and at work. But the Lord created the Sabbath for a reason, and I believe that reason is because we need to get away from the daily grind to remind us there's more to life then the 8 to 5. There is more to life then the pursuit of the that next promotion and raise. Providing for the family is more than bringing home a paycheck. Providing also means being there as a spouse and parent. If I've said it once I've said it a million times...we need to find time to reconnect and recharge. Reconnect and recharge with God, with our families, with our friends, and with our selves. If we don't do that then we risk becoming over worked and stressed out. I don't know about you but I am no fun to be around when I'm over worked and stressed out...ask my wife! Find some time to take a walk with the family, take some of that vacation time you've been saving up and take a trip. You'd be amazed at what just a little time away can do to one's well being.
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