Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Thankful!

The Weather Channel called it correctly.  100 percent chance of rain.  We were hoping it would hold off as we made our way up I-10 for the Boerne Turkey Trot.  However, the Weather Channel knew this time. The rain didn't see fit to wait until after the race.  It wasn't long before the phrase "raining like cats and dogs" had new meaning. Even a rain poncho held no hope for the torrents of rain that came down.  Puddles perfect for soaking a new pair of running shoes. Intermittent thunder that added to the fun.  Even the turkey looked drenched!

As we huddled under the tent after the race, I couldn't help but think about the memories being made that day. Yes, it would have been nice to have a perfectly sunny 70 degree day for the race. However, it wasn't.  But, this day was made for memories to be made.  We won't soon forget this year's Turkey Trot. And we'll remember to be thankful.

Yes, thankful.  This week, I heard on facebook that a friend from high school had been tragically killed while driving on a cold snowy morning in Ohio.  It had been wonderful to reconnect with her after many years.  We had enjoyed similar careers with older adults, while also sharing our faith journey with each other.  In the last few years, she had enjoyed quite an exciting life as her son had been the 3rd string quarterback for the Denver Broncos.  She was one proud mama! Her sudden death was a reminder to me of the gift of life.....and how tragic when taken suddenly.

Yes, that Turkey Trot wasn't by any means the perfect day for a race.  But, it was special.  It was a day to be alive.  To run a race with my husband.  To be able to live. Breathe. Sweat. Laugh. Trounce through puddles. Enjoy co-workers. Care. Serve. Appreciate others.  You know, we sometimes just don't get it. We just think life is handed to us every day and forget it's a gift. I was reminded this week what a gift life is.

As you prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, would you take some time to just stop and reflect? Consider your blessings. Don't just count them. Thank God for them. God has given you life itself. Life that is a precious gift.  And be thankful for your family. Even the dysfunctions that go with family. Thankful for the long drive or flight delays. Thankful for the stress and busy preparations that go with a holiday. Thankful for even the challenges that come with holidays.....because they can drive us to the very one we need most.  God.  Being thankful isn't just about Thanksgiving.  It's a way of life.  A good life.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Monday, November 17, 2014

A Healthy Me!

On a bright 3X5 neon green card taped on my desk, I have written "Putting Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all." We at the YMCA should be proud of such an awesome mission! How many other organizations have such a broad mission that reaches the whole person?

We're all about helping others be successful in building a healthy spirit, mind and body.  I can't help but be impressed with the last two words of our mission... for all.  For ALL!  All means all.  All types of people.  All ages of people. All faiths of people.  All people.  A healthy 'we' starts with a healthy 'me.' You matter.  As staff of the YMCA, we care about YOU.  Your healthy spirit, mind and body matters.  It matters a lot!

As we start this week, I encourage you to take some time to consider your own spirit, mind and body health as you read through these questions.  Be honest.  Really take note of your health. What's going well.  What's not so well.  Ready?  Here we go!

Spirit: Do I tend to avoid this part of me?  If so, why?  Do I make it a practice to read the bible, knowing it is a guide to everyday life? Do I take time to pray each day...for myself and others?   Am I growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self control? Am I happy with God or mad at God? Consider why.  Do I have someone in my life that I share my spiritual journey with?

Mind: Do I have an attitude of gratitude each day? Am I open to receiving criticism? Do I struggle with focus? Is my mind multi-tasking throughout the day? Do I struggle with worry, doubt, fear or anxiety? How is that affecting me?  Is my heart at total peace? Am I plagued with shameful or guilt ridden thoughts? Do I practice forgiving those who've hurt me? Do I ask for forgiveness when I've hurt others?

Body: Do I make eating nutritionally a daily practice? If not, what needs to change? Do I get enough sleep? Am I stressed out consistently? Do I take times to rest, refresh and recharge? When I relax, do I feel guilty? Do I make exercising a daily practice? Do I make a point to have regular medical check ups?

These lists are just a start to prodding you to take seriously your OWN spirit, mind and body health. As we continue to engage in our Healthy Me program, it's good to do some personal assessment. What's going well? We salute you and encourage you to continue to excel!  What's not going so hot? We encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and engage in some personal changes that could very easily change your life and others too!

You matter to us!  You matter to God.  Thank you for being a part of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

"Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritual fit." 1 Timothy 4:7 (Phillips Translation)
"I thank you, High God- you're breathtaking!  Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration- what a creation." (Psalm 139:14 The Message)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

A God-Sized Equation

Over the weekend, I had a chance to take my 8 month old English Springer, Zoe Belle, out for a walk on a nearby trail. Since it was just before the crack of dawn, the deer were enjoying their quiet area, free from runners and cyclists.  All at once, my gregarious, full of energy Springer was making her debut down the path, scattering the deer to and fro.  With every deer sighting Zoe tugged, pulled, and tried to lunge her way toward these beautiful creatures.  Zoe has more capacity, energy and smarts than I would have thought possible for a pup of her age.

As human beings, we too, can do a lot in our own strength.  We are capable of accomplishing amazing things.  The list is endless as to the gifts and abilities that God has created us with.  Within our own organization, some are gifted in fitness leadership.  Others with hospitality.  Others with cleaning and organizing. Managing finances.  Operating computers. Leading. Teaching. Training. Managing. You get the picture.  God has made us in His image and blessed each of us with gifts and abilities unique just to us.

The problem?  As we grow in skills and abilities, we can depend on ourselves and what WE can do. We get comfortable. Even prideful, I might add.  We start thinking we're pretty good at something.  A notch above the rest. Yep, it's easy to always look around and make sure we're a bit better than the next person.  This is the dilemma of human pride.  Our life equation for success?: Human Effort+My Talent= My outstanding accomplishments. Many gifted and talented individuals go their entire lives on their own strength, missing out on the power of God.

Imagine if we took our own human abilities and invited God to help us each day?   Our equation for living?: God+ Human Efforts= God-Sized Accomplishment.  When we partner with God, we still do our best.  However, we invite God, to do what we cannot accomplish on our own.  It's supernatural.
What might your life look like if you trust God for doing immeasurably more than you can ask for or hope for?  What if you realized the power of prayer to actually make a huge difference in your meetings, decisions, relationships and dreams? What if you realized that God longs for a relationship with you and wants to help you in daily life? We have not because we just don't ask.

I want to believe God for big things.  Extraordinary things.  Things I can't do on my own. Things only God can do.  Don't you?

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." Ephesians 3:20

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Let it go!

Our young puppy has a problem letting go.  Her mouth is usually the culprit.  Already, at 8 months old, Zoe has a hankering for certain items that don't belong to her.  Shoes. Flip Flops. Eye Glasses. Socks. All these items have seen their way outdoors onto the soppy wet grass.  Better yet, Zoe dunks these items in the doggie swimming pool.  We call it "baptism by immersion."

You'd think we'd be quicker on the draw and take precautions to stop such thievery.  Oh, we do try.  But, once the game starts, it's hard to get it back. Keep away at it's best.  She's faster. Of course, I want to belt out the song from Frozen to my pooch..."Let it go, let it go...PLEASE let it go!"  but to Zoe, the words may as well be "Blah, blah, blah, Zoe, blah, blah, blah."

Let it go.  There are a ton of things in our life that we could let go of.  Let go of the past that can't be changed. Let go of trying to be in control. Let go of anger.  Let go of those that hurt us.  Let go of the mistakes that continue to haunt us.  Let go of condemnation.  Let go.  Let go.

I think sometimes it's just plain hard to let go.  We want to hold on tightly to the past, yet as we do, we miss out on the present.  We miss out on what God wants to do today, tomorrow and in the future. You and I can't control the past.  The past is the past.  But, what we can do is embrace today and grab hold of God's grace.

What do you need to let go of today? Bitterness? Anger towards someone? A past relationship? Give up what you cannot control to embrace what you can.  God is ready to forge a new path in your life. A good path.  But, you must trust Him for your life.  Believe that He is God.  He is in control.  You are not.  A good reason to let go, right?

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:12-13

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Shifting the Blame

Life seemed a lot simpler then.  No cities.  No roads. No congestion. Just a garden. No rain. Perfect temperatures.  No crime.  No violence.  And two people.  Adam and Eve.  How could anything go wrong? Perfection in its truest sense.

Yet one day, as we read in Genesis Chapter 3, things changed dramatically.  It all had to do with an apple, a serpent, and a man and women walking through the garden.  God had given some garden rules: They could eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but they must not eat fruit from the tree that was in the middle of the garden.  They couldn't even touch it or they'd die.  Adam and Eve knew that God meant business.  But as the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her hubby and he had a helping too!  Life as they knew it would never be the same.

All at once, God shows up unannounced.  Uh oh.  If you had siblings, you know what it was like to make sure your parents knew it was THEIR fault, not yours.  Well, Adam was pretty savvy in shifting the blame back in garden days. In Genesis 3:12 "The woman you put here with me- she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it." Not only did he shift the responsibility to Eve, but to God as well.
It seems there is a message for us. Why do we always want to blame the other guy?  What is it about pointing the finger to others, not to self? No one likes to be wrong, including me. I hate to have to admit to my husband one more time that he's right on a certain matter. Shifting blame to others is often a good sign that we have a prideful heart.  when we walk in humility, we find it easier to say "I'm so sorry, I blew it.  Will you forgive me?" 
 
We also are good at blaming non-humans for our actions.  Let's say you show up at a work meeting 15 minutes late.  Traffic is bad, but not that bad.  To be honest, you left 15 minutes late.  You run into the meeting huffing and puffing, blaming your lateness totally on the bad traffic, never thinking to admit you were late because you were late.  Why not accept responsibility for being late, and make a point to leave earlier next time?  We try to do everything we can to make ourselves look good, all the while lacking honesty and responsibility.

As you start this day, take some time for reflection.  How have you tended to blame others for things that really are your issues?  Acknowledge your own weaknesses.  We all have them, right? Practice the beautiful art of humility.  Own your stuff.

"When we make a conscious effort to accept responsibility for our own blunders and offer grace when others do the same we gain inner peace, freedom from the burden of guilt and become truly blameless in the eyes of God."  Rae Lynn

"The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions."  Dwight D. Eisenhower''

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.