Crazy stress

Our dog, Gracie Lou, went crazy last night.  She’s normal today, but last night she was C-R-A-Z-Y.  Pacing.  Freaking out.  High heart rate. Anxiety.  Panting profusely.  Not normal for sure.  Even the vet was a bit perplexed.  Let’s just say there was no way you could actually sleep in the midst of her craziness.

Gracie Lou’s anxiety attack last night was over the top strange.  I’ve never seen anything like it in a dog.  However, as I reflect on last night (trying to keep my drooping eyes open) it occurred to me that sometimes we humans might have “similar” reactions.  Call it what you want….I’ll call it stress.  Worrying about a deadline.  Stressed out about the finances.  Fearful about the future. Can’t sleep at night worrying. Wondering about the right education for your kids.  We humans can get pretty absorbed in worry, anxiety and stress.

The preoccupation, business and stress of running here and there to accomplish much takes its toll.  It can sabotage our relationships, affect our work and destroy our joy.  Right now, you and I probably have several things that seem to keep churning around in our brain.  We think ad nauseam about them.  Before long, we can pace, freak out and even become anxious just like Gracie Lou.

 

I can worry until the cows come home.  It will do nothing to change the situation. The cows won’t come home either.  However, I can run to God, knowing that He loves me and cares about everything that goes on in my life. The same is true for you as well.  Because of His great love for us, we have good reason to trust him with all the stuff in our hearts- our longings, fears and worries.

What’s the stuff that you are highly anxious about today?  Trust the Lord with the matter at hand. Seek understanding from Him.  He is the God of peace and desires us to come to him with our concerns. Also, be willing to ask others to pray for you. Be willing to share your concern with others. Burdens become lighter as their shared with God and others.

 

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it.Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30

 

“Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.” Author Unknown

 

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

39 Assists

I love a good Spurs game when I don't have to anxiously bite my nails in the last few minutes of play, wondering if they're going to pull it out.  This past week, I enjoyed such a game.  Instead, I actually painted my nails as well as other non-mental tasks while watching them stroll to an easy win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That night, the Spurs became the first team in league history to have 13 players record an assist in one game, per NBA states. Now, I'm not much into keeping track of sports statistics, but this one made me stop and pause. 39 of San Antonio's 43 baskets (90.7%) were assisted in the easy victory. That's just mind-boggling. It seems rather fitting that the Spurs set such a record, as their deep rotations and team-oriented basketball demonstrate that basketball is not about being a one-man show.

 

In the game of basketball, assists are indubitably underrated. People value points. Points determine wins. However, the Spurs get the value of team. They also realize that if one player dominates with points, eventually the other team will adjust by double teaming him, which leaves another player open for the assist. When a team is passing the ball and working together as an entire team, it's just easier to score points by relying on the team as a whole.

 

We would do well to learn from the Spurs. How would my ratio of assists be in my work? In my home? With others? When we assist someone, we give support or aid to help them in their endeavors. When we are high in assists, we recognize we have a job to do, but we make sure to aid, encourage and help those around us as well. I can be so busy reading emails or doing my list of tasks that I miss that co-worker in front of me who could use help on a project or just a listening ear.

Finally, we won't succeed by being a one-man show.  Sure, you might be very good at what you do. It might even be easier for you to do the job than ask others to join you. We may hunger for accolades. Getting the credit. Scoring the win. But, in the long run, there is much more value in working together to achieve the common goal. Everyone brings to the table their unique self. That's the beauty of team.

 

Take a moment today and ask God to give you a heart that assists those around you. Get outside yourself. Go ahead and make somebody's day.

 

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

Selfies

Selfies.  The Urban dictionary defines one of the latest and greatest new words as "pictures taken of oneself while holding the camera at arm's length." In our visual cuture, the selfie is a quick way that easily shows how you're doing, how you're feeling and where you're at.  People seem to like selfies, because as actor, director and writer James Franco writes, "The 'likes' spin out of control when I post selfies with me and my two handsome brothers." And don't we want a lot of 'likes'?

Franco goes on to write "But a well-stocked collection of selfies seems to get attention.  And attention seems to be the name of the game when it comes to social networking.  In this age of too much information at a click of a button, the power to attract viewers amid the sea of things to read and watch is power indeed.  It's what the movie studios want for their products.  It's what professional writers want for their work, it's what newspapers want, it's what everyone wants: attention."

There's nothing bad about a good selfie.  Been there; done that.  I just want to lean into the above quote for a minute.  Attention.  Everyone wants attention. That seems very accurate.  We all want to be known.  To know.  To make a difference.  To have others interested and ask us questions. Yes, we all want attention.

It seems that the times where I did receive the attention that I longed for, it was never enough.  I wanted something more.  Honestly, I believe that we all long for God. We just don't know it.  He's the only one who can truly satisfy our longings. Seeking out attention from others may work for a while.  But it never satisfies.  There is a God who knows you and me more than we know ourselves. His focus is entirely on you.  His love for you is never-ending. And that God seeks a relationship with you and me.  Amazing.

In our new era of social networking, the selfie is the new way of looking into someone and saying "This is me." Did you know that God cares more about your "self" than any one in the world? 

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you my God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?" Psalm 42:1-2

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

Lessons from the Rodeo

I love rodeo time!  Whether it's hanging out with the horses, visiting the barns or going to the rodeo and concert, I just can't get enough of it.  Each year, I serve in Cowboy Church as a volunteer. Throughout the rodeo, we get to visit with people, pray with them, and just be there to listen.

A ton of student tours invaded the rodeo this past week.  One morning, I happened to be volunteering when quite a few student tours came through our tent.  We welcomed them and told them about Cowboy Church and how we like to pray for people.  Then I asked "Can we pray for you?"  Dozens of hands shot up!  As my fellow volunteers and I walked around, handing out prayer cards and pens, I couldn't have been more excited at their eagerness.  Yes, they wanted prayer and they weren't afraid to say so.  On top of that, they were honest. Really honest.  Some lived in fear.  Some experienced sadness.  Some horrific loss.  Many broken homes. A good number of these children had very hard lives. Yet, the smiles on their faces showed their happiness for being at the rodeo that day.

I was really touched by serving those children that day.  I loved their humility. Jesus says that we must "become as little children."  What did he mean?  Jesus was speaking about humility. "Whoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:2-4) Great-ness in the kingdom was not based on great works, a certain position in a company, making lots of money or talking with eloquence.  Greatness was childlike humility of spirit.

 

As we grow into adults, we sadly lose that childlike spirit.  We realize we can't trust everyone. Some even begin to doubt God, because they've seen pain and loss up close and personal.  Others look for ways to hide their true self.  We get caught in the adult trap and miss the beauty of a child.  We miss being ourselves.  Free. Simple. Honest.  Without guile.  

Did you know that the most influential and inspiring people are often marked by humility?  Maybe it's time you took a risk.  Risk sharing yourself with someone. Ask for prayer.  Share what's really going on.  I saw kids at the rodeo do this.
They could teach us adults a thing or two.

"Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.  Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:2-4

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