What Do We Do?

The morning after the tragic Florida shooting, the news radio anchor was recalling all the mass shootings that have happened in past years in our country. As he read off city after city and the number of deaths, my heart sank as I remembered each one. Parkland. Sutherland Springs. Las Vegas. Orlando. Charleston. Sandy Hook. Aurora. Tucson. Virginia Tech, Columbine and many, many more.

What do we do? Of course, we want to do what we can to stop such tragedies from occurring. Indeed, there are many things we can do to make changes. Sadly, because we’ve gotten used to so many of these mass killings, we respond with sadness, send thoughts and prayers, debate on what to do, complain about what’s not being done, try to make a difference and then go back to our daily lives. Repeat the cycle.

I have to admit that it’s been a while since I thought about the Virginia Tech shootings and those still grieving. Sadly, I haven’t prayed for a while for those families in Las Vegas who have lost a loved one or been injured. I can’t remember when I last gave thought to those families who lost loved ones in Sandy Hook. Even with Sutherland Springs so close to home, I can forget!

You don’t forget when you’ve been affected. You don’t forget when your life is changed forever. Many families are waking up this morning with lives changed forever. They won’t forget. I must say, my family has tasted such horror and I can assure you, you never forget.

And every time another shooting or trauma happens, I want to get mad. Even mad at God! Why and how could He let yet another something happen? Why is there so much evil in this world? Why, why, why????

This morning, I read God's Word for help. God knows full well tragedy. He allowed His One and Only Son to die on a cross. God isn’t some distant, detached deity that is watching us from a distance. God isn’t the creator of evil and suffering. God is not unfamiliar with our own suffering right now. He is near to the brokenhearted. He is near your broken heart and mine. Is it really profitable to get mad at God?

While being imprisoned in a Nazi death camp, Corrie ten Boom wrote these words “No matter how deep our darkness, God is deeper still.”  Every tear we shed, He cries too. So, what do we do? When tragedy and suffering comes, make the choice to run to God’s arms. He is deeper still. He will give pure peace for this day and hope for your future. Be a difference maker in your community with God’s help. The One who never forgets will help you navigate the challenges of our day. Try Him.

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. But be courageous! I have conquered the world! John 16:33

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

Sweethearts Valentine Candy

I can’t get through Valentine’s Day without having some of those adorable Sweethearts candy. (Pink’s my favorite color.) I’ve tried avoiding them, but somehow, those cute little (or big) hearts are just way too tempting for me. I blame it on my grade-school Valentine’s Day exchange parties. I got hooked then.

Created by the Necco Company years ago, these candies are anything but stale. This candy hits HEB the same day the Christmas decorations came down. Throughout the years, Sweethearts sayings have reflected how our country and culture have changed. New sayings for today’s culture are: Text me. Tweet me. LOL and Bestie. The company has even added and dropped sayings based on how people communicate. What’s cool. What’s not cool.

Even though Valentine’s Day would be under the heading of a Hallmark Holiday, I have a feeling God loves when we focus on love. God LOVES it when we love other people well. It was His idea in the first place! So, I was drawn to 1 Corinthians 13:3-7 (MSG) this week as we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

“If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything.
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.”

How can you show those that you dearly love this kind of love? How can you show those that you don’t like so much this kind of love? How can you show those you try to avoid this kind of love? God has given us a pretty good idea of His kind of love. May each one of us ask God for the ability to truly love people well. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Busy Rushing Around?

I just did my "to do" list for this week. My "to do" lists can be a joke. I write a ton of things down, but always seem to fall short in getting items crossed off my list. Sometimes, my "to do" list causes me great stress. How will I get it ALL done?

One of my YMCA Ragger Goals for this year is to live a peaceful, calm and relaxed life, looking to Jesus Christ as my model. It turns out that Christ seemed to be pretty busy, yet at the same time he was not busy. Jesus, how did you do it with so many people wanting your attention? At times, Christ was so busy that his disciples tried to keep people away. They were like secret service agents trying to protect Him from the chaos! But, they didn’t stop Jesus from loving people! 

Jesus didn’t have a calendar or phone or cool strategy on managing his busy schedule. His aim in life was to do the Father’s work and to please Him…. and He did that perfectly. He had alone time with the Father and never did one thing outside the Father’s will. And so how do you think Jesus was so content, relaxed and peaceful?

I don’t see many people living this type of life, but it is possible. The closest I saw to this was a professor of mine, Dallas Willard. I had the incredible honor of being in a graduate class with him at a monastery in California for two weeks. He modeled such peace, despite being a very sought after and busy man. Watching Dallas inspired me to such a life. 

How does your busyness send you soaring in anxiety? How does your busyness paralyze you from loving those in your world? Why not try doing a few things well today with a non-anxious heart?

Let’s start today remembering what really matters and who matters. Meditate on the verses below.  I pray that God gives you the wisdom you’ll need for today to get done what needs to be done….AND the grace to do it with a peaceful, relaxed and calm spirit. It is possible.

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

"This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him." Lamentations 3:19-24

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

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

Alexa

I met Alexa about a year ago. I never realized her potential until I started asking her goofy questions. Let's stump Alexa, right? There’s something novel about adding Alexa, an artificial intelligence assistant, into one’s family.

Just ask for a song or artist and she’ll play it. Ask for a sports score and she’ll give it. Have her check your calendar, weather or traffic and she has the up-to-date information. She can even manage your HEB shopping list. Alexa can quote movies and help with the meaning of life. If you ask her about happiness, she could possibly play Pharrell’s popular song. She’s quite a talented lady and always getting smarter! 

Just think…not only can we have an addiction with our smart phones, we can now purchase a disembodied virtual assistant who can be at our beckon call. She can both change everything and affect nothing. 

With all of Alexa’s abilities, she’s a far cry from the One who knows you inside and out.  God is and will always be at our beckon call. I think we fail to turn to God simply because there are too many other things vying for our time and attention. Why talk to an invisible entity like God, when we have a smart phone in one hand and Alexa in another?

God has had and will always have sovereign will over the universe. I find the greatest peace in my life when I live knowing He is God and I am not. He doesn’t answer all my questions at the moment I ask them. God does as He pleases, not as I beg. I’ve prayed some prayers for years and years, only to receive a “no.” God used those “no’s” to draw me closer to Him. Just because God doesn’t sit like an Echo on my counter and respond aptly, doesn’t mean He’s not present and available. 

In our finite minds, we can become lost in the fake news of thinking we’re in control of things. We are not in control. God is faithful and trustworthy and longs for us to run to Him for wisdom, advice and insight. Yes, sadly, we will run to our devices for the news of the day before Him.

So, as this day begins, please know that the sovereign God of the universe rules over all things. Not only does he care for the birds of the field, but for EACH one of us. His love for you is incomprehensible. Won't you run to Him?

“The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.” 2 Chronicles 20:6

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

Digital Distractions

So, are you addicted to your smartphone? Many experts say yes! Check out Tony Reinke’s first words in his book ‘Twelve Ways Your Phone is Changing You': “We check our smartphones about 81,500 times each year, or once every 4.3 minutes of our waking lives, which means you will be tempted to check your phone three times before you finish this chapter.”  James Stewart writes  “The average user now spends fifty minutes every day- in the Facebook product line (Facebook, Messenger, Instagram) a number that continues to surge by strategic design.” (New York Times, May 4, 2016)

Do you have your phone or does your phone have you? I had to stop and think about my answer to that question! I take pictures. I keep my calendar. I text people. I write emails. I check the weather. I use my alarm. I check the news. I check facebook. I check ESPN and twitter. I can even practice Spanish on my phone!

So, grabbing our phone first thing in the morning is pretty typical for most of us. So, what is the problem with that? I love the wisdom of the seventeeth-century Christian, mathematician Blaise Pascal. In his day, he wrote “I have discovered that all the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.” How many of us unconsciously grab our phone with the flick of a thumb at the first thought of boredom? I certainly do!

To be without distraction is a harsh reality for many. We’re all just one ping or alert away from something that will redirect us from our heart’s greatest need. A distraction can come in many forms. We can be worried about the news or weather. We desire to be amused. We want to know what’s happening with people. We don’t want to miss out! We're bored. There's nothing wrong with any of these things, but sometimes they consume us. When was the last time you evaluated your personal digital use?

Check out some of the diagnostics questions we can ask ourselves in the digital age: (Tony Reinke, Twelve Ways Your Phone is Changing You, pp. 52)

Do my smartphone habits expose an underlying addiction to untimely amusements?
Do my smartphone habits reveal a compulsive desire to be seen and affirmed?
Do my smartphone habits distract me from genuine communion with God?
Do my smartphone habits preoccupy me with the pursuit of worldly success? 
Do my smartphone habits center on what is necessary to me and beneficial to others?
Do my smartphone habits disengage me from the needs of the neighbors God has placed right in front of me?

So, do you have your phone or does your phone have you? I encourage you to cultivate wise thinking and healthy habits with your phone. I’ve started the new year with a new goal in place to deal with my personal digital distractions. How about you?

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

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

The Words of a Great Man

Martin Luther King was the civil right’s most influential leader and used his ability to speak with courage about African Americans’ grievances. Sadly, King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. In 1983, Congress made the third Monday in January a federal holiday to honor King. 

Prejudice seems to be a weakness of all of us. We are prone to judge others by external characteristics rather than who they are as beautiful humans created by God. In fact, sometimes, we’re so busy judging people that judge other people that we can’t even see that we judge too!
Martin Luther King HAD to do something. He HAD to speak up for such atrocities! He challenged the status quo, and spoke with boldness and conviction. Have you thought about his words for your own life? As we celebrate Martin Luther King Day today, thoughtfully consider some of King’s powerful quotes:

"I have decided to stick to love…Hate is too great a burden to bear."   King taught us so much about love.  Where does the burden of hate exist in your heart? With whom (individuals or races) have you withheld love? What better action could you have today, but to love ALL people?

"Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude." Forgiveness is not a popular topic. Who wants to own up to un-forgiveness? Yet, King knew, if he didn’t forgive, it would eat away at him. It's true for you and I as well.

"No person has the right to rain on your dreams."  Whom have you given too much power in your life? King knew that if we doubt ourselves, so will others. Dream! Dream BIG. Don't let the judgements and opinions of others hold you back from your convictions.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase."  I want the faith of Martin Luther King. He had a great faith for a future where everyone would co-exist in love. He trusted in God, even when he didn’t see the whole picture.

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Who wants to speak out? Speaking out can get you into trouble! For MLK, it cost him his life. But, how can we remain silent if God has called us to speak?

"If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But by all means keep moving." Where have you got stuck in life? King reminds us we can’t give up. No matter what. What is God calling you to do? Never, never give up. Make a difference.

"Courage is the power of the mind to overcome fear." King believed in God and lived for God. He stood up to his fears and was a very courageous man.  Would others see you the same way? "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

As we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, consider your own personal life and choices. May God use this great man to inspire and challenge us for a greater life.

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

Hand in Hand

Zoe, our English Springer, has an endearing habit that makes even the non-dog lover take note. When guests come to our home, Zoe props herself up on the back of the couch and holds out her paw as if to say "Welcome!" Zoe gushes love on us as well. If she’s sitting next to us, you can be sure that one of Zoe’s paws are touching one of her human parents. Dog experts call this pawsy. I call it love.

I’ll never get tired of Zoe holding out her hand for me. I have to admit that sometimes it’s a bit annoying when I need both of my hands for something. But, on the other hand, I’m so thankful that she always wants a connection with the peeps in her life. 

As I consider the New Year ahead, I want to be very intentional about partnering with God in everything I do. I need God so much! My marriage, my work, my choices, my actions, my words, my relationships, and my service opportunities. I literally want to reach out and hold God’s hand as I walk through 2018. He and I walking through the year ahead....together. Why? Because I know that I can’t do 2018 alone! I need God and you do too. 

Give serious thought to these verses and notice the connection we can have with God:

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  Psalm 41:13

“Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.” Psalm 73:23

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

So often, we're too busy seeking validation from others that we miss the One who loves us most! We wander aimlessly around seeking other loves, hoping against hope that they will satisfy. We long for approval, likes and validation, all the while missing God’s voice. We can even find God’s gentle ways of reaching out to us annoying. We don’t have time for this religion stuff! We can do life on our own, thank you very much. 

I urge you to consider Zoe and her need for human touch. We need God’s touch in our lives whether we know it or not. Go ahead. Take His hand. Discover how a relationship with God can change everything about your coming year. Happy New Year!

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