Life in the Spirit, Part 12

Picture of God #93, Mon 3/19/1

Alive, awake.  And grateful.

Who do you count on when everyone counts on you?

I know many good, honest, loving, hard working people who get themselves in trouble by always being the care-giver.  I know.  I tend to be one of them.  People count on them at work, their family has many needs, and all around them they have friends and acquaintances who have problems, needs and desires.

The thing is, when the care-giver is always giving, and isn't taking care of him/her self, the care-giver will become tired and depleted.  It's a mathematical certainty.

And then it becomes oh so easy to take a "little something" to help deal with being tired, or the stress, or whatever.  Back through the late 90's I would wake up with a diet soda, have as few during the day just to keep going.  At the end of the day I was so pumped-up and stressed-out that, you guessed it, I'd have a couple drinks to relax...I confess I rode that roller coaster for way too long.

Fortunately, by YHWH's grace, I have been cured of that for nearly 2 years now.  I'm not saying that to brag.  I'm only saying it to let you know that I too have fallen into the traps, and know that we can be delivered.

But I have also learned that I cannot always, endlessly be strong...Trying to move ahead with the ministry, answering emails to people I really do care about, staying focused on the business and those who have come to rely on my work product, not to mention friends & family who all have their own financial, physical, emotional and spiritual challenges...Wow.  It can, at times, be overwhelming.  And then, at least for me, all "circuits" fail, like blowing a fuse.  I get sick, and can't do anything for anyone.

I think that's nature's way of restoring balance.  I know many people, too many, who work more or less all the time, 7 days a week, for weeks on end.  They are good, well intended people.  Just out of balance.  And when you lose your balance, losing your strength is not too far behind. 

Frankly, I think women in general do a better job with this than most men, though in this age they are certainly not immune.  But men seem genetically predisposed to need to get out there, fight the battles and slay the dragons...until we fall in an exhausted heap.

What does this have to do with life in the spirit?  Well, everything, it turns out.  Our spirit can only express itself in this world through our body.  When we are sick & too tired to move, we cannot help anyone, even ourselves.

Over and over Jesus removed himself from the masses (and all the craziness they brought) in order to pray, rest, and sleep.

It is OK to be tired.  It is OK not to be the universal-solve-it-person-for-everyone.  We all need nourishment and rest.  In relationships there must be a relatively even balance of both give and take, or else the relationship cannot be sustained.

That's what I have learned over the last couple weeks.

And remember, keeping the Sabbath is not an ancient, stupid idea meant to burden people; it is a huge blessing especially needed by today's modern person.

Peace & love, 

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