Last Sunday I gave a children's sermon that was supposed to get us thinking about faith and how it might be difficult to explain,yet we can still believe. I asked the kids if they could explain how gravity works. I asked the kids what would happen if they jumped off their bed...of course they responded that they would fall to the floor. Then I asked if they could explain how the force of gravity works. They couldn't explain it and I don't think I could either. My point was that just like we can't explain gravity we might not be able to explain how faith works either. But, just because we can't explain or define exactly gravity or faith we can see their effects. I was hoping to get the point across that we can believe and have faith in God even if we can't understand how all that "stuff" works. Well, I think I failed. We get home from church and Isaac has a question. I'm feeling good because I think the fantastic children's sermon stirred something in him and he has a deep theological question...naw...he wants to know how he can jump off the bed and float up the ceiling! Yup...figuring out a way to defy gravity is more exciting then faith I guess.
Isaac's question did get me thinking though. Do we take our faith for granted? Do we just expect our faith to be able to carry us through the difficult times and always be there for us? Of course we can expect God to always be there, but if we do nothing to strengthen our relationship the connection on our end might get a little bad. God never moves. We instead move away from Him when we neglect our relationship with him. The trick to keeping our faith alive and growing is feeding and strengthening it at all times especially when times are good. I have a tendency to let my devotional time slide when things are going good in my life, and then when I hit a rough patch I of course tend to read the Bible and pray more. Silly I know, and then I wonder sometimes why I can't feel God as well when I think I need him the most. Well, I've neglected the relationship and it takes time again to tune my soul and spirit to God's Spirit. Again God's Spirit didn't move away from me, I neglected the relationship and had to rebuild it again.
I need to be better about continually building my relationship during the ups and downs. How about you? Can you be strengthening your connection now so it's ready and strong when then the rough patches come?
Monday, June 3, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
And breathe....
As some of you may, or may not know, it has been a bit of a hectic past few weeks at the Wohlhuter household. Tracy started the process of looking for a new job, and has since accepted a position as US Embassador to Bora Bora, so we are getting ready for some transition. Gonna be a big change in weather patterns. No more going from snow one day and 95 degrees in little over a week, but I think we'll get used to the tropical weather and deep blue ocean. Ok, Ok...Tracy didn't get the Embassador position, but she did accept a position at TD Ameritrade and will start her new job on May 28th. A few neat things happened along the journey to a new job and I wanted to share them with y'all.
As anyone knows making a big decision in life is hard. You want so badly to know that you're making the right decision that you almost paralyze yourself with all your analysis. We want so badly to control everything that when we make a decision that is going to have a large impact on our lives we can really struggle because no matter how much you pray and think about the situation there is a certain amount of unknowns. Has anyone been there? Wouldn't it just be easier if God told us what to do? I suppose it would, but have we ever been real good at listening to God? As Tracy decided she wanted to look for another job we asked a lot of questions and did a lot of praying. At no time did I get a flash of light and hear God's voice directly, and I don't think Tracy did either, but there were some cool "God-things" that happened along the way letting us know everything was going to be alright.
For example she had interviewed at two different companies and one company offered her a position and she was waiting on the other company because she really felt she wanted that position. Well as the time got closer and closer to where she had to make a decision the pressure mounted and after she chose to pursue one job she received an email stating the other job wasn't going to offer her a position. So, good choice there. Another day when she was making some tough choices she read her daily devotional and it spoke almost directly to what she was going through....the devotional spoke about letting go and trusting God and that with new opportunities comes worry, but trust that God will see you through it all. Coincidence that devotional happened to fall on the day she had to make a choice? I think not!
Looking back all along the way signs popped up letting us know we were on the right path. Just little things that you could chalk up to coincidence, but looking at them now you see God's hand in it all. Even if things don't work out as we have envisioned and hoped we know that God will see us through it all. There might be some rough patches, but we know that God will still be guiding us and helping us through. The whole experience was a neat reminder that even though God doesn't generally speak through lightening or direct booming voice we could see and feel God's hand in the process. So, if you are struggling with a tough decision know that no matter what the outcome God will still be with you, and if you heard the sermon on Sunday never underestimate the power of prayer! God will help guide you...you just need to know how to listen!
As anyone knows making a big decision in life is hard. You want so badly to know that you're making the right decision that you almost paralyze yourself with all your analysis. We want so badly to control everything that when we make a decision that is going to have a large impact on our lives we can really struggle because no matter how much you pray and think about the situation there is a certain amount of unknowns. Has anyone been there? Wouldn't it just be easier if God told us what to do? I suppose it would, but have we ever been real good at listening to God? As Tracy decided she wanted to look for another job we asked a lot of questions and did a lot of praying. At no time did I get a flash of light and hear God's voice directly, and I don't think Tracy did either, but there were some cool "God-things" that happened along the way letting us know everything was going to be alright.
For example she had interviewed at two different companies and one company offered her a position and she was waiting on the other company because she really felt she wanted that position. Well as the time got closer and closer to where she had to make a decision the pressure mounted and after she chose to pursue one job she received an email stating the other job wasn't going to offer her a position. So, good choice there. Another day when she was making some tough choices she read her daily devotional and it spoke almost directly to what she was going through....the devotional spoke about letting go and trusting God and that with new opportunities comes worry, but trust that God will see you through it all. Coincidence that devotional happened to fall on the day she had to make a choice? I think not!
Looking back all along the way signs popped up letting us know we were on the right path. Just little things that you could chalk up to coincidence, but looking at them now you see God's hand in it all. Even if things don't work out as we have envisioned and hoped we know that God will see us through it all. There might be some rough patches, but we know that God will still be guiding us and helping us through. The whole experience was a neat reminder that even though God doesn't generally speak through lightening or direct booming voice we could see and feel God's hand in the process. So, if you are struggling with a tough decision know that no matter what the outcome God will still be with you, and if you heard the sermon on Sunday never underestimate the power of prayer! God will help guide you...you just need to know how to listen!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Patience...I'm told it's a virture
As some of you may or may not know I do not have a lot of patience. I can do a good job of faking it for awhile, but I would say on a whole patience is something I really, really have to work at. I'm also starting to suspect that my two young boys are rapidly figuring out I don't have a lot of patience and are continually finding new ways to test them. I think by the time they're 10 they will have out grown this...right?!?! I know, I know...your kids will always test your patience.
Take this morning for instance. The boys know there is not video games before school, and if mom had her way there wouldn't be video games period! But that's a different post. Usually I get the boys up, then as I get dressed for the morning so do they, and then I usually have to take Alex's clothes off and put them on the right way, but at least he's trying. So this morning I come out of the bedroom and I hear a funny noise...sounds like a video game. Sure enough...for the second morning in a row one of my son's is sitting in his underwear playing a video game instead of being dressed and ready to go. I didn't handle it well yesterday, and I surely didn't handle it well this morning. As I stated above I don't have patience for stuff like that. They both know the rule, but they just have to test the boundaries. I could spend a day or two writing about how my patience get's tested, but I bet anyone reading this can relate to people/kids testing their patience at some point or another.
As I was sitting in the bus this morning I got to wondering if I can increase my patience level. I'm 36, and I'm fairly stuck in my ways, but there has to be some trick to getting more patience right? Maybe I count to 10 before I dole out any discipline. Maybe I remember all of the times I've tried my parent's patience. Maybe I can pray for God to help me in this area. I suppose all of those things will help, but I'm afraid this may always be a character flaw.
Every time I consider my lack of patience and how frustrating it can be to watch a 7 year old eat with his fingers and drop food on the floor for the millionth time I wonder how God does it. How many times have I, and has all of humanity, caused God to lose his patience? I think Noah and the flood might have been the closet God has come to just throwing God's hands in the air and saying enough! Then, think about all of the stuff that's happened since then. How much war and bloodshed and suffering. I think about the times when I've made the same mistake for the millionth time or I have failed to learn a lesson. How lucky are we that God doesn't lost God's patience with us? If anyone every had just cause to I'd imagine God reached that point a long time ago. Thank God that the Spirit is infinitely patient and that no matter how many times we've messed up we can repent and be forgiven. In many ways God is like a parent, except God is the perfect parent. Never losing patience, never giving up on us, and God will never stop loving us. I think I need to realize that more, and not take for granted how good God is. Maybe if I can be more mindful of how patient God is with me I can be more patient when mud is tracked through the house again for the 100th time! Remember, God is great, and God loves you! No take a deep breath...in out...in out...
Take this morning for instance. The boys know there is not video games before school, and if mom had her way there wouldn't be video games period! But that's a different post. Usually I get the boys up, then as I get dressed for the morning so do they, and then I usually have to take Alex's clothes off and put them on the right way, but at least he's trying. So this morning I come out of the bedroom and I hear a funny noise...sounds like a video game. Sure enough...for the second morning in a row one of my son's is sitting in his underwear playing a video game instead of being dressed and ready to go. I didn't handle it well yesterday, and I surely didn't handle it well this morning. As I stated above I don't have patience for stuff like that. They both know the rule, but they just have to test the boundaries. I could spend a day or two writing about how my patience get's tested, but I bet anyone reading this can relate to people/kids testing their patience at some point or another.
As I was sitting in the bus this morning I got to wondering if I can increase my patience level. I'm 36, and I'm fairly stuck in my ways, but there has to be some trick to getting more patience right? Maybe I count to 10 before I dole out any discipline. Maybe I remember all of the times I've tried my parent's patience. Maybe I can pray for God to help me in this area. I suppose all of those things will help, but I'm afraid this may always be a character flaw.
Every time I consider my lack of patience and how frustrating it can be to watch a 7 year old eat with his fingers and drop food on the floor for the millionth time I wonder how God does it. How many times have I, and has all of humanity, caused God to lose his patience? I think Noah and the flood might have been the closet God has come to just throwing God's hands in the air and saying enough! Then, think about all of the stuff that's happened since then. How much war and bloodshed and suffering. I think about the times when I've made the same mistake for the millionth time or I have failed to learn a lesson. How lucky are we that God doesn't lost God's patience with us? If anyone every had just cause to I'd imagine God reached that point a long time ago. Thank God that the Spirit is infinitely patient and that no matter how many times we've messed up we can repent and be forgiven. In many ways God is like a parent, except God is the perfect parent. Never losing patience, never giving up on us, and God will never stop loving us. I think I need to realize that more, and not take for granted how good God is. Maybe if I can be more mindful of how patient God is with me I can be more patient when mud is tracked through the house again for the 100th time! Remember, God is great, and God loves you! No take a deep breath...in out...in out...
Monday, April 15, 2013
I'm SUPER excited!!
Some of you may or may not know, but our family took a trip to Kentucky this past week for my sister-in-law's wedding. Kentucky is a beautiful state, and the wedding reflected the beauty around us. Congratulations to Darcy and Jeremy! One of the neat things on the trip was sitting by my youngest son Alex. This was his first airplane ride, and man was he pumped! All I heard on that first flight was, "I'm super excited dad...I'm super excited! This is super fun...this is super fun!" His eyes were wide opened and he loved looking out the window and watching the small cars and semis below us. I've never seen a kid maintain that level of excitement before. He was truly having the time of his life, and his excitement was infectious. Even I enjoyed the plan ride even though I could have used about 12 inches more space in between my seat and the seat in front of me. One couldn't help but have a good time
Attitude has huge influence on the way we experience life. I know I'm not revealing anything new, but I was reminded of that fact on my flight with Alex. I never like plane rides (they aren't designed for tall people), and I was certainly wondering how a flight would be with a squirmy 3 year old by me. I had visions of cramped quarters, irate passengers because they didn't appreciate the massage his little feet could give them, and an hour of are we there yet. I had decided before I even got there I was going to have a bad flight. If Alex hadn't been so good and so excited my attitude would have made it a bad flight and experience for both of us.
How many times have we made a situation worse because our attitude was terrible? I'm afraid to count honestly. I'm really good at letting my preconceived notions about a situation dictate how I go into it. If I think it's going to be a bad experience before I even get there then you know what....more times then not I have a bad experience. When I look back at those experiences I can see that if I would have went with an open mind then the experience wouldn't have been so bad at all. Attitude shapes us all the time, and we can control our attitude.
Thinking a little deeper I believe our attitude changes others around us too. Think of a time when you were in a meeting and someone walked in with a sour attitude. What happened to the tenor of that meeting? It generally follows the grumpy person right? Conversely, what happened when someone with some real excitement and enthusiasm came into a meeting? The energy picked up and most likely it's was successful meeting, or at least as successful as meetings can be. A 3 year old had a huge influence on my experience on the airplane, and I'd even go as far to say he influenced how I experienced the rest of the trip. His unbridled enthusiasm got the trip started off on the right foot and it was great from there.
I challenge you, and I challenge myself, to take a look at my attitude before I go into something. I certainly don't want to be the person who brings the whole room down. I'd rather be the person who lifts the spirits of the room. I know that I can't always be sunshine and rainbows, but at the very least I can keep the negativity and preconceived notions at bay so I can at least start the experience with an open mind. Do you think you could try that too?
Attitude has huge influence on the way we experience life. I know I'm not revealing anything new, but I was reminded of that fact on my flight with Alex. I never like plane rides (they aren't designed for tall people), and I was certainly wondering how a flight would be with a squirmy 3 year old by me. I had visions of cramped quarters, irate passengers because they didn't appreciate the massage his little feet could give them, and an hour of are we there yet. I had decided before I even got there I was going to have a bad flight. If Alex hadn't been so good and so excited my attitude would have made it a bad flight and experience for both of us.
How many times have we made a situation worse because our attitude was terrible? I'm afraid to count honestly. I'm really good at letting my preconceived notions about a situation dictate how I go into it. If I think it's going to be a bad experience before I even get there then you know what....more times then not I have a bad experience. When I look back at those experiences I can see that if I would have went with an open mind then the experience wouldn't have been so bad at all. Attitude shapes us all the time, and we can control our attitude.
Thinking a little deeper I believe our attitude changes others around us too. Think of a time when you were in a meeting and someone walked in with a sour attitude. What happened to the tenor of that meeting? It generally follows the grumpy person right? Conversely, what happened when someone with some real excitement and enthusiasm came into a meeting? The energy picked up and most likely it's was successful meeting, or at least as successful as meetings can be. A 3 year old had a huge influence on my experience on the airplane, and I'd even go as far to say he influenced how I experienced the rest of the trip. His unbridled enthusiasm got the trip started off on the right foot and it was great from there.
I challenge you, and I challenge myself, to take a look at my attitude before I go into something. I certainly don't want to be the person who brings the whole room down. I'd rather be the person who lifts the spirits of the room. I know that I can't always be sunshine and rainbows, but at the very least I can keep the negativity and preconceived notions at bay so I can at least start the experience with an open mind. Do you think you could try that too?
Monday, March 25, 2013
Holy Week
Isaac asked me the other day if it was still winter. I told him that according to the calendar it was spring. He proceeded to tell me that the evidence outside would seem to indicate that the calendar is wrong. Frankly, I couldn't argue with him. Aren't we all eagerly anticipating the arrival of spring? I personally can't wait until the warm weather hits, the grass begins to green, and we can start our spring sports with an eye towards summer break. My thought through all of this is whether or not we are anticipating the celebration of Easter as much or more.
We have begun one of the most important weeks of the Christian year, but how many of us truly pause to consider what this week means to us. It is easy to glide right through this week, maybe attend church on Easter Sunday, eat some Easter ham, and then go right back to waiting for spring to arrive. If we do that, I believe we miss an important chance to reconnect and deepen our connection with the Spirit. Will we take the time to ponder what it means that the creator of everything became a human, suffered, and died for us? Will we take a minute to consider if we are living our lives in a way that honors that sacrifice? Will we even be able to pause and take a breath from eating all the Easter candy to consider what we are celebrating that early Easter morning? I certainly hope so.
I've been on a kick lately because I've discovered that I all to easily jump right from the celebration of Palm Sunday to the celebration of Easter Sunday. Didn't I miss an important event somewhere in the middle there? What about the trial, torture, and death of Jesus? There were certainly some dark times during that week, but I don't like to think about that too much. Why I ask? Maybe it makes me feel uncomfortable thinking about how Jesus was treated. Maybe I feel a little guilty that my sin may have been one of the reasons he had to endure that horrible experience. Maybe, just maybe it makes this whole faith thing a little to real when I think that God died to show me just how much he loves me. When I think about it that way, then I can't help but want to strengthen my connection and tap into that sort of love. Wouldn't you? There is no greater sacrifice then one's life, and our God showed us just how far he'll go to show us his love. Are you willing to accept that love, and then do your absolute best to live a life to honor that love? I hope so...I hope I am. Let us celebrate that show of love this Holy Week.
We have begun one of the most important weeks of the Christian year, but how many of us truly pause to consider what this week means to us. It is easy to glide right through this week, maybe attend church on Easter Sunday, eat some Easter ham, and then go right back to waiting for spring to arrive. If we do that, I believe we miss an important chance to reconnect and deepen our connection with the Spirit. Will we take the time to ponder what it means that the creator of everything became a human, suffered, and died for us? Will we take a minute to consider if we are living our lives in a way that honors that sacrifice? Will we even be able to pause and take a breath from eating all the Easter candy to consider what we are celebrating that early Easter morning? I certainly hope so.
I've been on a kick lately because I've discovered that I all to easily jump right from the celebration of Palm Sunday to the celebration of Easter Sunday. Didn't I miss an important event somewhere in the middle there? What about the trial, torture, and death of Jesus? There were certainly some dark times during that week, but I don't like to think about that too much. Why I ask? Maybe it makes me feel uncomfortable thinking about how Jesus was treated. Maybe I feel a little guilty that my sin may have been one of the reasons he had to endure that horrible experience. Maybe, just maybe it makes this whole faith thing a little to real when I think that God died to show me just how much he loves me. When I think about it that way, then I can't help but want to strengthen my connection and tap into that sort of love. Wouldn't you? There is no greater sacrifice then one's life, and our God showed us just how far he'll go to show us his love. Are you willing to accept that love, and then do your absolute best to live a life to honor that love? I hope so...I hope I am. Let us celebrate that show of love this Holy Week.
Monday, March 18, 2013
March Madness
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "March Madness"? NCAA basketball? Maybe the
madness that creeps in as winter gets too long and you can't wait for spring to be here? Whatever you might think of...the first thing that pops into my head is the college basketball tournament. I admit that I do fill a bracket out trying to predict the winners, and I'll also admit that I'm not very good at it. Case and point is the fact that my wife and I have been competing against each other year after year to see who does better with their brackets. We've been married 11 years, we've done a bracket each year, and I have won once. Yup...I'm 1 for 10, a 10% winning percentage.
Isaac was asking me about the brackets this year and as I was telling him about this competition, as if it is really even a competition anymore, and I tired to explain to him how hard it was to lose each year and make it look like I was trying to win. I told him it was important to daddy that mom's self esteem be built up this time of the year and that I had to let her win most of the time. He wasn't buying it...the kid's 6 and he has already figured out I'm full of it a lot of the time. I promised him that the honor of the Wohlhuter men was on this years challenge and that him and I combined could take mom of her championship post. Stay tuned to see what happens.
If you'll engage in a little mental stretching with me we are about to celebrate another kind of tournament victory in a couple months. Jesus is going to win the ultimate game against sin and death when he is resurrected from the tomb. As we prepare for the joy of Palm Sunday, the darkness that follows Maundy Thursday and Black Friday, and eventually the greatness that is Easter I want all of us to think about what Jesus' victory means. How do we say thank you to Jesus for his gift of eternal life and forgiveness that he secured for us so long ago? Do we live a life that reflects the selflessness that Jesus showed on his journey to the cross? Does the fact that our freedom has been bought with a price affect how we live our lives? Easter is certainly a celebration, and it should be a reminder that we are called to live as best we can as lights of the Spirit. Take these next two weeks and take note of where we could do better, and take note of where we are living a Godly life. And, if you have some inside tips on the tourny I'll take those too!
madness that creeps in as winter gets too long and you can't wait for spring to be here? Whatever you might think of...the first thing that pops into my head is the college basketball tournament. I admit that I do fill a bracket out trying to predict the winners, and I'll also admit that I'm not very good at it. Case and point is the fact that my wife and I have been competing against each other year after year to see who does better with their brackets. We've been married 11 years, we've done a bracket each year, and I have won once. Yup...I'm 1 for 10, a 10% winning percentage.
Isaac was asking me about the brackets this year and as I was telling him about this competition, as if it is really even a competition anymore, and I tired to explain to him how hard it was to lose each year and make it look like I was trying to win. I told him it was important to daddy that mom's self esteem be built up this time of the year and that I had to let her win most of the time. He wasn't buying it...the kid's 6 and he has already figured out I'm full of it a lot of the time. I promised him that the honor of the Wohlhuter men was on this years challenge and that him and I combined could take mom of her championship post. Stay tuned to see what happens.
If you'll engage in a little mental stretching with me we are about to celebrate another kind of tournament victory in a couple months. Jesus is going to win the ultimate game against sin and death when he is resurrected from the tomb. As we prepare for the joy of Palm Sunday, the darkness that follows Maundy Thursday and Black Friday, and eventually the greatness that is Easter I want all of us to think about what Jesus' victory means. How do we say thank you to Jesus for his gift of eternal life and forgiveness that he secured for us so long ago? Do we live a life that reflects the selflessness that Jesus showed on his journey to the cross? Does the fact that our freedom has been bought with a price affect how we live our lives? Easter is certainly a celebration, and it should be a reminder that we are called to live as best we can as lights of the Spirit. Take these next two weeks and take note of where we could do better, and take note of where we are living a Godly life. And, if you have some inside tips on the tourny I'll take those too!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Habits...
As some of you may or may not know I've been taking a class to become an EMT. So far so good, as long as I can pass a few more tests I'll be certified as an EMT(and that is a big IF). As part of my class I have to spend some time in an ER and riding along in an ambulance. The past 2 weekends I've spent 16 hours divided between Jennie and Mercy Hospitals in Council Bluffs. I have learned a lot, but what has struck me is the habits that people get in and can't get out of. Like I'm one to talk much though...I have more than a few bad habits that I'd like to stop but I can't, and I'd like to implement a few better habits but can't. But what I've seen amazes me.
A patient comes into the ER with complaints of chest pain. The pain was a 9 out of 10, which is pretty bad, and he/she was really scared. After running some quick tests it was determined the patient wasn't having a massive heart attack, but the patient still needed to wait for some blood work to be done to see if a minor heart attack had occurred. I imagine the only minor heart attack is one that happens to someone else! As we're waiting for the results the nurse and I get some history from the patient. The history sounds like this: smoker, diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, no exercise, poor diet, heart attack in December last year, father died of massive heart attack as did the patient's mother. Holy Cow! Walking time bomb.
I kept thinking to myself how many signs does this patient need to let him/her know that maybe it's time to change his/her lifestyle before it's too late? I mean really...this patient had every risk factor known for heart disease and he/she wasn't controlling the risk factors he/she could eliminate. Why? Are habits that hard to break? Does it take surviving 3 "minor" heart attacks to change your lifestyle? Maybe it takes a major heart attack before things will change.
I know I find it hard to change a habit unless I see immediate results or the negative effects of the habit are hurting me right now. I struggled forever starting and sticking to a diet until I finally committed to one and saw results. I fail sticking to it now because the results aren't as obvious and maintaining isn't as exciting as losing. Other habits I'd like to start are difficult because the payoff isn't going to come until well into the future, such as saving more for retirement or a house eventually. We humans like immediate gratification. And sometimes working on our relationship with God doesn't seem to pay off immediately. We don't get the immediate answer to our prayers, or at least the answer we think we need/deserve, and we don't get an immediate voice or light from heaven. Sometimes the pay off doesn't come later until we really need that connection and the time and effort put into building it pays off. It is hard for me, and I'm going to assume others, to get into habits that don't payoff immediately, such as tithing to church, having a strong prayer and devotional life, and so on and so on. We don't see immediate results so we wait until there is a disaster and then turn to God in prayer and maybe we give more of our time and of ourselves for awhile, but after the immediate threat is gone we fall away again. Would a stronger relationship before the disaster kept it at bay? Probably not, but having a strong foundation to stand on helps in all aspects of life instead of struggling when crisis occur and you'd wish you had something more solid to stand on.
Just as staying healthy is an investment in our future, building our relationship with God is an investment in our future. Let's hope that by being proactive now we don't have to have a crisis to turn our attention to what's important and shift our focus. Can we make it a priority now to spend some time getting to know God better and making that a habit? Build a solid foundation now and it is less likely to crumble in the future.
A patient comes into the ER with complaints of chest pain. The pain was a 9 out of 10, which is pretty bad, and he/she was really scared. After running some quick tests it was determined the patient wasn't having a massive heart attack, but the patient still needed to wait for some blood work to be done to see if a minor heart attack had occurred. I imagine the only minor heart attack is one that happens to someone else! As we're waiting for the results the nurse and I get some history from the patient. The history sounds like this: smoker, diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, no exercise, poor diet, heart attack in December last year, father died of massive heart attack as did the patient's mother. Holy Cow! Walking time bomb.
I kept thinking to myself how many signs does this patient need to let him/her know that maybe it's time to change his/her lifestyle before it's too late? I mean really...this patient had every risk factor known for heart disease and he/she wasn't controlling the risk factors he/she could eliminate. Why? Are habits that hard to break? Does it take surviving 3 "minor" heart attacks to change your lifestyle? Maybe it takes a major heart attack before things will change.
I know I find it hard to change a habit unless I see immediate results or the negative effects of the habit are hurting me right now. I struggled forever starting and sticking to a diet until I finally committed to one and saw results. I fail sticking to it now because the results aren't as obvious and maintaining isn't as exciting as losing. Other habits I'd like to start are difficult because the payoff isn't going to come until well into the future, such as saving more for retirement or a house eventually. We humans like immediate gratification. And sometimes working on our relationship with God doesn't seem to pay off immediately. We don't get the immediate answer to our prayers, or at least the answer we think we need/deserve, and we don't get an immediate voice or light from heaven. Sometimes the pay off doesn't come later until we really need that connection and the time and effort put into building it pays off. It is hard for me, and I'm going to assume others, to get into habits that don't payoff immediately, such as tithing to church, having a strong prayer and devotional life, and so on and so on. We don't see immediate results so we wait until there is a disaster and then turn to God in prayer and maybe we give more of our time and of ourselves for awhile, but after the immediate threat is gone we fall away again. Would a stronger relationship before the disaster kept it at bay? Probably not, but having a strong foundation to stand on helps in all aspects of life instead of struggling when crisis occur and you'd wish you had something more solid to stand on.
Just as staying healthy is an investment in our future, building our relationship with God is an investment in our future. Let's hope that by being proactive now we don't have to have a crisis to turn our attention to what's important and shift our focus. Can we make it a priority now to spend some time getting to know God better and making that a habit? Build a solid foundation now and it is less likely to crumble in the future.
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