|
Reflections
As of now, the Thursday afternoon before Labor Day, the Tropical Storm, Earl,
is veering up the East Coast, and working havoc on the Outer Banks of South and North Carolina. By the time this hurricane
reached Hatteras, it spun out vast streamers that went trailing after the inner wheel of the storm center. The uncertainty, the vagueness, of the direction any hurricane or storm takes,
is often the worst part of the experience. If Tropical Storm, Earl, or any storm, turns eastward as it travels up the
East Coast of the U.S., we’ll have some rain and wind, but it will be short-lived. If a storm turns inward, heading
West, we’re in for some trouble, sometimes big trouble. Like the crisis in our lives: the waiting, the wondering, “will it come, won’t it?” ...we can most
often face trouble when we know for sure what it is and where is it. If a storm is coming this way, let’s
have it now, and get it over-with. If the storm is weather
related, and the forecasters have no doubt about it, we quickly move into a crisis mode, checking food supplies, securing
windows and doors, making sure our loved ones are out of harm’s way. If the storm is emotional or spiritual, we might have a tougher time, especially if it drags on for
weeks, months or years. This is when “Big Attitudes” can help, and step in to carry us through the
emotional or spiritual storm. Big Attitudes are learned over the years, and can bear the burden of feelings. Big
Attitudes are the shoulders to help us carry the weight of negative feelings. Jesus had Big Attitudes: love, mercy, compassion, patience, courage, etc. These Big Attitudes had
to be formed long before putting them into practice. Jesus was already, when the storm arrived. Jesus’ preparation included
understanding the Scriptures, understanding human nature and how it works, meditation, prayer, and conviction. fb
|
