A friend greeted me recently: "So, how are you doing?" Says I: "Pretty good under the circumstances." Without hesitation he responded: "What are you doing under there?"After picking myself up off the floor, I began to reflect on what he was saying to me. Do I let situations and circumstances dictate how I am feeling? Am I controlled by what is going on around me, by what others do or don't do? Does something so simple as the weather affect my outlook and attitude for the day?
Or do I truly operate out of the center of my own being, out of the belief that God is in charge and therefore I am at peace. Does my equanimity reflect my trust in an all-powerful and all-loving God? Another friend said to me many years ago: "If you believe that Jesus is Lord, then an earthquake shouldn't shake you up!" I guess that even applies to a hurricane!
Many times I know this in my head, but it's my stomach that has a hard time catching up. Often my belief has to sink down from my head into my heart so that I can really be at peace, even though the circumstances are threatening to overwhelm me. I'm reminded of my friend, Greg, who says: "When you are up to your waist in alligators, it's hard to remember that you came in to drain the swamp."
What are your circumstances today? Are you under them, or on top of them? Where do you want to be?
Hi Ron,
ReplyDeleteThis reflection reminds me of a dear friend and mentor who, when asked "How are you?", always smiles and responds by saying "still rejoicing". And she is sincere regardless what the circumstances in her life may be at the time. (Philippians 4:4-7) She is in her 80's now and is recovering from a bad fall recently but she is back playing the piano at church and serving the Lord while she is able. She has served the Lord as a pastor's wife and has been through many heartaches including the loss of her beloved husband. She is truly an inspiration to me.