LIFE - ENJOY THE RACE!

On Your Mark ... Get Set ..... Go!
By The Way, It's Good To Know Why Your Running!
Enjoy The Race!

Ever found yourself in a place where you couldn't do anything right? At least from other people's perspective?! Jesus describes this kind of situation in Luke 7:31,32:

"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'"

In other words, His reality at that moment was you couldn't win for losing! So what does a person supposed to do in the midst of the craziness of conflicting perspectives? A number of responses could be given so I'll just mention a few:

1. Count to Ten
   Don't panic .... and don't let stress kill you! Take a long, deep breath and, (to yourself), begin counting ....1,2... Then as you breathe out, allow your entire body to relax. Keep doing this until you have reached ten! This simple relaxation/meditation exercise helps to bring a degree of calmness to the body and the mind ... and lowers the emotional intensity one may be feeling at the time. In the words of Richard Carlson in his booklet, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.....and it's all small stuff", relaxation will enable one to increase one's perspective and better able to remain focused! In addition to this relaxation technique, I have found kneeling and positioning myself before God extremely helpful.
    

2. Step Back and Visualize the Principles Your Life Revolves Around
   In the words of Stephen Covey, correct principles are like compasses: they are always pointing the way. And if we know how to read them, we won't get lost, confused, or fooled by conflicting voices & values. This reality is very evident in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ - He knew what was truly necessary in order to fulfill the mission He was on. He couldn't afford to get distracted! I will always remember my school teacher telling his students about the importance of embracing the "Golden Rule" - 'So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).' It was only later that I discovered these were the words of Jesus!
    

3. Keep Asking Yourself, 'What's Really Important?'
   Wow! It's simply too easy to get lost and overwhelmed in the chaos, responsibilities, and goals of life. For myself, one of the more exciting realities of life has been to realize that regardless what is happening in the world outside of myself I still have a choice of what will be most important in my life and where I will put my greatest amount of energy. Joshua challenged the people in his day,

"....choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve......but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
(Joshua 24:15)