Happy Monday!
Some of the past week’s events remind me of this word-of-the-week…
Pause
Do you ever feel like you get too caught up in your own stuff? I sure do.
Last night I watched some people pick through the aftermath of horrible storms in the southern U.S. They looked dazed, confused, and utterly hopeless as they searched for any intact personal articles amid the rubble that once was their homes.
The past three weeks haven’t been particularly pleasant for me—an infection, apparent recovery, then another setback. I’ve tried hard to maintain a positive attitude, but I have to admit that I’ve found myself feeling a bit of self-pity.
It’s so easy to “awfulize” one’s own circumstances, to turn completely inward, to forget that there’s a big old world out there with a lot of stuff happening.
Watching those folks search through the remnants of their lives reminded me to pause.
That doesn’t mean our individual circumstances and struggles don’t matter. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.” (Matthew 10:29)
So when I’m tempted to think my petty problems are too small for God to care, I need to pause.
Like most everything else, it’s a matter of balance and perspective. When I put myself and my concerns at the center of the universe, I need to pause. When I pretend I don’t matter, I need to pause.
Where are you as you begin this week? Are you a little too centered on your own concerns—do you need to pause and look at the bigger picture? Are you overwhelmed by disasters and wars and poverty and economic issues—do you need to pause and focus a bit on what you can do to make a difference?
Let’s remind each other to pause and remember who’s really in control.
Have a great week.