Sensory Impressions

“They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound.” (Psalm 115:5-7 NLT)

My neighbor, Daniel, lost one of his arms in a farming accident years ago. His missing limb has been replaced by a prosthesis with a hook. His other arm, which he refers to as his ‘good arm’,  is large and muscular.  Daniel has learned to develop his good arm to compensate for the one that he can no longer use. He can now do more with his one good arm than most of us can with two. 

During the pandemic and subsequent period of physical distancing, I have noticed something peculiar.  Some individuals seem to develop new ways of adaptation while others shrivel. Many of us who were dependent on physical proximity, appearance, feedback, body language, social diversions, etc., now feel ill-equipped. While it is true that all these resources were valuable, we can learn to thrive without them.

Humanity has been granted the ability of movement, vision, hearing, smell, and communication. We have idolized and trusted a few of our gifts while allowing others to atrophy. Our skills of connection, imagination, understanding, articulation, and movement can be developed further to compensate and adapt to a new normal. We need to become aware of our emotions and express them transparently. We must learn to use our words to speak, write, and create.  We have to move our bodies--even when no one is watching, sing out loud--even when no one is listening, and reach out to others--even when we cannot touch them. 

The Gift of Words

“Then the LORD reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!” (Jeremiah 1:9 NLT)

Dogs have more olfactory receptors than humans. Their keen sense of smell allows them to gather information from the scents around them. Dogs can also hear sounds four times farther away than human ears. They can move each ear in different directions and gather more available sound waves. Dogs can also see further than humans because they have a wider angle of view, but since much of what they see is not in focus, they cannot always identify what they see. Since they are not able to talk, dogs communicate with other dogs using body language: positioning of their ears, movement of their tails, leaving their scent as markers, growls, baring their teeth, etc. 

Unlike dogs, humans have the gift of verbal communication. We are able to hear, speak, and understand words. We have developed multiple ways to use language to express ourselves and comprehend each other--talking, writing, and myriad forms of digital communication. 

The ability to constantly receive and convey thoughts through words is unique to humans. However, not all of us have learned to use this gift adequately.  Language is an art that needs to be practiced. Communication is a lot like painting with words. Depending on our medium, we can use various tools and methods to reveal and recognize concepts. Thoughts are shaped during contemplation. Words are selected to fit the correct shade of meaning. Speech allows us to use intonation, volume, and conversational phrases. Writing enables deeper thought and additional time to craft concise sentences. Reading empowers us to learn, digest, and retain information. May we use this precious gift of words fully and wisely. 

Hungry for God

“You never got hungry for me. You continued to ignore me.” (Amos 4:6 MSG)

Every evening I get hungry for chips and cookies. I can keep eating and eating--and still remain unsatisfied. I have tried substituting healthier snacks for my late night cravings, but that has not helped either. The only workaround I have discovered is to ignore the emptiness and go to sleep early. 

I suspect that my late-night eating habit is connected to my emotions. But unpacking all of that is a lot of work, and my energy is drained by the end of the day. Thus, I must ponder this issue when my mind still works. I need to listen to the inner wisdom of the Spirit, ask questions, wait, learn, and take notes. My recurring hunger is a symptom of the emptiness within me that cannot be filled with food alone. I am dependent on God for sustainable sustenance. Nothing less will hit the spot. 

 

The Legacy of Kindness

“He’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,

    what God is looking for in men and women.

It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,

    be compassionate and loyal in your love,

And don’t take yourself too seriously—

    take God seriously.” (Micah 6:8 MSG)

The last piece of our ancestral homestead in India is being sold right now. The old, empty house had been torn down years ago and there was no one to take care of the land. All the children and grandchildren grew up and moved far away. I am feeling a bit sentimental about this symbolic loss. It has made me think about concepts of legacy. 

Legacy is what we leave behind after we pass on from this earth. We may inherit material possessions, memories, ideals, wisdom, talent--as well as negative things like debt, disgrace, or suffering. Mostly we think of legacy as how we are remembered.  Thus, we try to shine a light on our honorable contributions while concealing our shame. 

What if our gifts to this world go unnoticed? Does this make them less real? I believe that every moment of thoughtfulness, every encouraging word, and every act of kindness can make a difference--whether or not they are recognized or remembered. Each day is an opportunity to spread goodness, decency, fairness, compassion, loyalty, and love. The legacy of kindness is the most precious endowment we can leave on this earth. 

The Price of Nice

 

“There’s no room in my home for hypocrites,

for I can’t stand chronic liars who flatter and deceive.” (Psalm 101:7 TPT)

Buffer zones can be extremely useful in interpersonal relationships. When you meet new people, it is wise to take time to assess how close you want to be. Certain individuals can be trusted to respect your boundaries, while those who are abusive need to be kept at arm's length. Learning to recognize the signs of a breach can also be helpful: 

--Be alert to hypocrisy, chronic lying, flattery, and deception.

--Do not dismiss passive aggressiveness as uncalculated behavior. 

--Check to see if you are constantly making excuses for being disrespected.

The desire to be seen as tolerant and kind is universal. However, the price of always being ‘nice’ can be steep. Unfortunately, there are those who take advantage of others. They seek to bolster their own ego by manipulating and diminishing those who are willing to let them get away with it. People with unclear perimeters need wider buffer zones. They are at higher risk of allowing others to define their identity and behavior. Like immunocompromised patients who are more susceptible to pathogens, ‘nice’ people may benefit from personal protective barriers. They must be extra cautious not to allow untrustworthy individuals into their inner circles. 

Buffer Spaces

“Measure off 3,000 feet outside the town walls in every direction—east, south, west, north—with the town at the center. This area will serve as the larger pastureland for the towns.” (Numbers 35:5 NLT)

My new car came with several driver safety features including an automatic emergency braking system (AEB). The vehicle has built-in radar sensors that continually assess the distance of other objects within its buffer zone. The warning system alerts you when you are too close to a possible collision. If you don’t apply the brakes, the AEB kicks in to stop your car. 

In addition to having clear boundaries, it is wise to maintain wide buffer zones in all areas of life. Living well below your income can allow you to save for emergencies. Allotting extra time for every task helps you to be punctual. Assessing your energy levels and adjusting your plans accordingly can avoid needless headaches. There are times when you may have to stretch beyond your normal parameters, especially during a crisis. This is when having wide margins is useful. But acknowledge that you are now outside the lines of peace and heading toward chaos. Do not mistake this state of imbalance as your new normal. Pay attention to the warning signs. Apply the brakes.

Boundaries

“These are the borders of the land you are getting...” (Numbers 34: 1-2 MSG)

On the edge of our farm ground is a hedgerow of native trees and bushes. It was probably planted a long time ago, before any of us were alive. These hedgerows serve several purposes: They mark the boundaries of a property, they decrease soil erosion from wind, and they provide shelter for small wildlife. Unfortunately, many farmers have chosen to cut down these shelterbelts for economic reasons. Clearing the land of trees allows planting of more crops as well as space for large machinery to move about easily. 

I wonder if there are similar reasons why people willingly pull down their personal boundaries.

For example, I know an elderly woman who used to work as a nurse. She believes that wearing a mask during the COVID 19 pandemic is an important safety measure. She wears her mask diligently when others around her have a mask. She feels sheepish about wearing it when others around her are maskless; so then, she pulls down her mask. 

For some, perimeters are built on principle; for others, boundaries are broken down by the desire to be accepted. Scanty hedges may allow you to create rapport quickly with others. Unfortunately, people also perceive you as lacking self(-)respect--thus, deserving less respect. Hedgerows can make us seem unfriendly and intolerant. But it is better to let people know early how much you are willing to be pushed instead of snapping at them after they have infringed too far. Having clear boundaries helps you to know how to behave under social pressure. It also gives signals to others on how you want to be treated. Boundaries are self-honoring; they protect your soul from erosion.