Craydar

“When you see crazy coming, cross the street.” (Iyanla Vanzant)

Some people can sense craziness within the first encounter with someone. They sense the underlying instability and steer clear. Others may sense that something seems a bit off, but they ignore these instincts and stick around. Initially, unstable individuals can seem entertaining, laid back, spontaneous, and easily fixable.

Craydar is an internal radar that detects craziness  as soon as it approaches. (Word origin--from  cray cray--meaning crazy to the second power.) Some people have a built-in craydar. As soon as they sense a high level of craziness coming, they try to get away from it. They don’t stick around and get sucked up into the vortex of drama, chaos, and instability.

If you don’t have a good craydar, it can be developed. Think back on previous relationships that, in hindsight, were obvious lapses in judgment. There were signs that the cracks ran deep and you might get trapped in them. But you made excuses to hang around. Learn from these prior experiences--recognize early warning signs of deep instability that is beyond your ability to repair. Cross the street; walk in the opposite direction; steer clear.

(cont.)

To Know and Be Known

“Knowledge, biblically, is interactive relationship with what is known.” (Dallas Willard)

Most of us know of God, but we don’t know Him. In order to know God, we must have an intimate, interactive relationship with Him.

Interactive relationships change us. There is a transformation in our attitude, perspective, decisions, and eventually our actions. If I spend an hour in prayer, Bible study, church, etc., and I come away without being influenced by God, then I have not communed with Him. I may have connected with my own thoughts or with other people--but not with God.

It’s like the difference between walking on a treadmill versus walking with my friend outside on a beautiful day. Both provide exercise and movement. Yet, the interaction with my friend and with nature transform me in ways that the treadmill cannot.  

I don’t want to waste time anymore. I want to know God, to interact with Him, to be influenced by Him, to be transformed by Him.

Afternoon Swim

Light is refracted as it enters water. A straw in a glass of water displays the principle of refraction. The straw is not bent, just our perception of it. As Truth enters this world from above, it looks a bit askew. It’s not that Truth is distorted, just our earthly perception of it.

The word eternal means always existing. Yet most of us think of eternal life as something that hasn’t started yet. I think of temporal life--this earthly life--as just a small segment of eternal life.

It’s as if I went for an afternoon swim. Under water, my vision is blurred. I can’t breathe. It takes effort to move forward. I am not meant to live under water. I come up for air. I was created for life above--where I am in synergy with the Spirit who is around me and within me. Even though I’m not done with my swim, I can take breaks. Sometimes I just tread water and breathe. Other times, I just float, face up--basking in the light and warmth. When I am finished with this swim, I shall rest on the shore--breathing easily, seeing clearly, interacting intimately with the One who waits for me.

Head Above Water

When we are immersed in trials, how can we keep from feeling overwhelmed?

“While a man’s head is above water, he cannot be drowned.” (C.H. Spurgeon)

“None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.” (Romans 8:37 MSG)

My body may be surrounded by earthly concerns, but, if I can keep my mind in the presence of God, inhaling the Holy Spirit, exhaling trust--I won’t drown.

“Well-formed love banishes fear.” (1 John 4:18 MSG)

The love I feel must be half-baked--because it is mixed with agitation, panic, worry, and bossiness.

Fear and anxiety are like lead weights that pull my entire being down, whereas God’s well-formed love is like a floating log that I can hang on to. It helps me keep my head above water.

Who Am I?

“You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit...” (Rom. 8:15 NLT)

Who am I?

Am I a fearful slave who is controlled by the expectations of others? Thus far, my image has been molded by those around me. It’s hard to differentiate my true identity from the roles that I play: dutiful daughter, devoted wife, loving mom, loyal friend, hard worker. I have chosen these roles, because this is who I desire to be. Plus, I don’t want to disappoint any of my loved ones.

“God’s Spirit touches our spirit and confirms who we really are.” (Rom 8:16 MSG)

Lord, help me to recognize Your confirmations of my true purpose and identity.  Show me how to be the person that You created me to be.

The Pope and the Janitor

Can low-profile individuals be significant?

Take, for example, the Pope and a janitor. The current Pope is charismatic, influential, and inspiring to millions of people. A janitor may notice that one employee’s trash can shows signs that he/she is struggling and needs a friend. The Pope cannot go anywhere without a crowd following him. His personal ministry is limited. Whereas, a janitor can reach out to  an individual without much fanfare. Both roles are significant in their own way.

The New Testament has its share of celebrity apostles, but it also mentions a few low-profile disciples. Stephen and Philip are two such examples (Acts Chapters 7 & 8). They show us how to be effective, covert operatives.

Philip goes wherever the Spirit leads him, does what he is meant to do, and leaves the premises before the public acknowledges his contributions. He fills in wherever he is needed. He is reassigned frequently, always on-call, with neither title nor recognition.

Stephen reminds us of the truth. We cannot be self-absorbed and be absorbed by God. He shows us how to look past our earthly circumstances and focus on God.

I believe that God calls each of us to fill in wherever He needs us. Unlike Stephen and Philip, I tend to get exasperated easily. Sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed by the problems of this world, I can’t even find the words to pray. All I can manage is a wordless supplication, a silent moan, a sigh of submission. I exhale the name of Jesus.

Using Our Power

We have power over very few things in life. Yet, we rarely exercise the powers that we have; instead, we expend more energy trying to control things that are beyond our power.

Things I have some power over--When I go to sleep, how much water I drink, what I eat, whether I exercise or not, how I spend my discretionary time. My choices, reactions, and attitude.

Things I have little or no power over--When I wake up. (I have sleep issues that make me wake up in the middle of the night. I could take sleep medication, but I choose not to.) My adult son’s safety and his future. External circumstances. Natural disasters. Suffering. Other people’s choices, reactions, and attitude.

Instead of doing the things that are within my power to do, I waste my energy worrying about the things I cannot do!

“What lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do.” (Aristotle)

“When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt.” (Aristotle)

If we have the power to worry, we also have the power NOT to worry. Doubt keeps us in bondage; it drains energy and determination. Let us act on the power we have, and trust God to take care of the things that are beyond our power.