Now is the time

It was just one week ago we were staring at the TV or phone watching the aftermath of the Moore, Oklahoma.  If you think about it, there’s been a lot of devastation this year.  Super storm Sandy on the Jersey coast. New Town, Connecticut.  Boston, Massachusetts. West, Texas.  And now Moore, Oklahoma. 

 It seems like as time marches on, we can forget the horrific things that happened in the past.  Unless we are strongly connected to people in one of these locations, we can easily just get back to our normal lives. However, those in New Town feel their loss every day.  Victims in Boston are trying to learn to do life as an amputee.  People in West are still displaced.  Those in Moore are still in shock. 

Devastation takes a toll.  Yet, once we get a glimpse of the pictures, people and stories of what took place, we too experience a bit of that devastation.  We wonder. We question.  We hurt.  We want to come along side and help.  We want to give.  Yes, we want to be Americans that care for one another.  What a great country we live in!

When in the midst of hard times like this, our faith matters.  Trusting God when things are going great is one thing, but trusting God when devastation occurs is yet another thing.  It’s so easy for us to question God…. “God, how could you allow yet still another tragedy?”  I think it’s important for us to know that God’s word does not say we will be shielded from all pain and suffering.  However, his Word does tell us that He will be with us through the pain and suffering.  There is nothing that can occur in your life that can catch God by surprise.  It might certainly catch you by surprise!  But, not God.

Now is the time to nurture and develop our relationship with God.  Now is the time to learn to pray.  Now is the time to let go of your pride and ask some questions about who God is. Now is the time to admit your relationship with God is lacking. Now is the time to trust God with your life. Don't wait until the devastation comes.  Now is the time.

 

Nancy Abbott serves as Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Everwhichaways

A while back, I was a member of Toastmasters, an organization designed to help develop confidence and abilities in public speaking.  One year, I decided to try my hand at speaking in a humorous speech contest.  Since I lived in Dallas at the time, I thought it might be fun to give a talk on "How to Speak Southern."  Even though I was a Yankee by birth, I thought with a bit of practice I could pull it off.  I designed some big white cardboard flash cards with a southern word written out boldly on each.  I would say one of the words, then give the definition and then give the audience a chance to enunciate correctly the southern word together.  Even the locals seemed to have a bit of fun with their drawl. One of the words I used was "everwhichaways."  Everwhichaways means "scattered in all directions."  Used in a sentence, it might sound like this:  "That train hit the chicken on the track and that chicken flew everwhichaways!!!!"  (All done with an over-exaggerated Texas twang) Perhaps, if we're honest, everwhichaways, a made up Texas word, might best describe how we do life.  We might also say we're "going in twenty directions" or "feeling scattered."  That's usually not a good sign. Let's be honest.   How often do you feel like you have a hard time slowing down?  Too busy?  Tired?  Distracted?  Never getting enough done?  See people as objects, not people?  If honest, most of us would say YES!  Many of you feel that way today. An enemy of our physical, emotional and spiritual lives is exhaustion.  We are living beyond our means physically.  Dallas Willard writes "You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life, for hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our world today."  For many of us, we don't know to live life without hurry.  Even weekends and vacations have become busy!  In our day to day life, the idea of rest or taking a nap or just simply doing nothing for an afternoon seems unproductive. Is your life everwhichaways?  Why not try an experiment?  It's Spring in South Texas and oh, so beautiful with the bluebonnets and cool temps.  Take a moment and consider the importance of rest, recreation and play in YOUR life.  What would a perfect day of rest and recreation look like for you?  Just like you plan for an appointment, plan for you (and your family) to do what refreshes you.  For me, we'll grab the dog, a picnic lunch, our kayaks and head to the river.  So, what about you?  Plan your perfect day...and then do it! "We must have some room to breathe.  We need freedom to think and permission to heal.  Our relationships are being starved to death by velocity.  No one has the time to listen, let alone love.... Is God now pro-exhaustion?  Doesn't He lead people beside the still waters anymore?"  Richard Swenson Nancy Abbott serves as Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.  Do you have a specific prayer request?  Need support?  Encouragement?  A referral?  Please feel free to call or email.  Your prayer needs are kept in confidence.