I woke up early this morning… WAY TOO EARLY. It was one of those times when my mind was racing in a thousand urgent directions. Each topic was its own thread, all of them varying in color and texture; there would be no "tapestry" woven from this mental mess. I thought about a church member who was spending the day in an out of town hospital for tests. I thought about the noise and chaos that would arrive with the crew coming to replace our roof today… and about the insurance check that will make the payment possible— once it clears the bank!

Even the things I thought I knew didn’t go as planned. The redhead and I had a date to go walking at 6 am, but that went askew when from our home office I heard thunder and rain while reading my bible around 5 o’clock. I’d gone there hoping to give her a bit of respite from my tossings and turnings. Since walking was no longer feasible, I decided to leave her in bed and go downstairs to work-out on the Wii Fit in our basement. Perhaps the greatest point of insult with the entire morning was when, each and every time I stepped on the “fit board,” the voice on the TV said, “Owww!”

The reason I share all of this is not simply that I need to vent… Well, maybe that’s part of it. But the thing to be learned is this: When things aren’t going the way we plan, we can choose to let it wreck us or stretch us. In my case, the early morning Bible reading gave me great spiritual content to think about today. The rain watered our garden plots so we didn't have to. And even the annoying little “Wii dude’s” snide remarks have given me renewed vigor in my ongoing weight loss efforts. Finally, when today is done, having awakened so early in the morning will undoubtedly allow me to fall asleep with ease.

Perspective is EVERYTHING. Consider these words from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church:

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Blessings,
jph