Mindfulness and Mayhem

I am musing over the fact that the Twin Cities have made it onto National News coverage due to the death of George Floyd. My town , usually a sleepy suburb of St. Paul, is home to the police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck. The block where the officer lives is far from sleepy now as protesters are flooding the street. Oakdale squad cars are blocking the street and police presence is keeping the swelling crowd at bay.

In between my home and the offending officer is a Hy-Vee and a Cub. This afternoon both were cleared out and closed due to looters. I saw a nearby smoke shop get it’s windows boarded up. I don’t understand how one act of injustice leads to senseless crimes. The officer was clearly in the wrong, even if Mr. Floyd had survived. How does ruining a family, a neighborhood and local businesses make things equal? Is there not another way for the community to let out it’s frustrations?

After all these years, Rodney King, we didn’t get it. We still can’t all just get along.

Gory Glory

In “Your Nail – Meditations for Lent” today’s reading is about Christ’s Glory – Christmas-time, changing water into wine and more. But what about his death on the cross? How was that “his final glorious triumphant act?” The miracle of his birth and all the miracles he performed demonstrated his power and love. His power and love are his glory. His death also demonstrated his power and love. Jesus could have stepped off the cross even as his feet were being nailed down. He could have used his power to make the earth crack open and swallow all those who were shouting “Cruxify him!” All those who were mocking him. He used every bit of his love for us to not use his mighty powers to rescue himself. To let himself suffer horribly, then die in our place, for our forgiveness. No human on earth showed such Glory. Nor will they ever. Thank you, Lord, for demonstrating your love and power on the cross for me!

 

Colossians 2:13b-15 …and then, having disarmed all the powers ranged against us, he exposed them, shattered, empty and defeated…in his final glorious and triumphant act.

Under Pressure

Today, once again, I read from Your Nail – Lenten Meditations by Arden W. Mead. The scripture to read our entry is Romans 8:31-39.  Your Nail  writes of St. Paul and the list of enemies that Christ has “disamed” for us – tribulation (translated as pressure), distress, persecution, famine and more.  Mr. Mead asks us, “How, in this modern age, has Christ disarmed our enemies?”

We may feel hungry – not for food but for more of everything. God promises that in Him we have all that we need (2 Peter 1:3). As a matter of fact, we have just enough.  I may not be persecuted in this life but I may be rejected for my Christian morals and beliefs. So be it, for in heaven I will be welcomed and loved – forever.  I might have pressures and stress in this life.  However, even if only for a moment at a time, I can pray and turn them over to God.  I can do my best and know that God is there to help me, for he promised to send his Spirit and to always be with me.  Once our earthly lives are finished, we will have eternal peace.  Everlasting bliss. Nothing can harm us forever – except unbelief!

Thank you, Lord for disarming my enemies with your nails on the cross; for bestowing your gift of faith upon me. May I cherish these gifts of forever.

Nailed it!

John 16:22 “Now is your time of grief, but I will see  you again and you will recjoice, and no one will take away your joy.”  This was one of the passages to review for today’s entry in “Your Nail – A Lenten Meditation” by Arden W. Mead.  I came across this very passage a few weeks ago and wrote it down for my husband to give to his father.  Jack is 90 years old and suffering from dementia – he has no short term memory. The next time I see him, I am going to reread this verse to him. He is a Christian and will be going to heaven. What hope we Christians have! Hope is not wishful thinking. It is knowing and relying on something that one day will happen! The lenten meditation speaks of our “nail” as our griefs, sorrows, sickness. Jack is living with his “nail”. One day he will be at peace – knowing an endless joy with his Savior. Jesus took all of our “nails” with him when he died on the cross.  I am so grateful that Jesus “Nailed it!” – so I don’t have to! Thank you,God.

Holy Holes

On Tuesday, Your Nail- Daily Lenten Meditations by Arden W. Mead, asked the question “Who are the enemies Christ has “disarmed” for you? One enemy is my conscience. I am no longer condemned by my sins. We as believers in Christ are forgiven, we are cleansed! The booklet Your Nail recommends that we actually get a nail and keep it with us or within sight. When I confront my nail, I get to tell my conscience to “Be quiet! Be still”- for I know God. I trust God. When Jesus gasped with his last breath, “It is finished,” I know that he did the deed. My sins are forgiven. I can put my finger into the holes in his palms. My sins were washed away by his blood and by the water of my baptism. I pray that I may use my nail to hang up my anxieties, my pet sins, my ego. I pray that the cool clean wind of the Spirit may blow, moving me closer to the cross, Jesus and my salvation. May I continue to trust in Jesus when my seas are turbulent or when my sails are slack- for God knows my path. He will see me to my journeys end – home with him in eternity.

 

Support Beams

I’ve been reading Your Nail, Daily Lenten Meditations by Arden W. Mead. On Monday one of the Bible verses to consider was 2 Corinthians 2:12-16. This is the opposite of the parading of prisoners or prisoners of war. I feel it coinsides with Isaiah 54:4 – ” Fear not: for thou shat not be ashamed.” We believers in Christ do not have to do the walk of shame.  We get to hold our heads up high. We are propped up by the cross of Christ.  The very tree that held our savior as he died is now our support. Because of His death we are saved.  We are washed clean of all our sins – sins committed and sins still yet to be done. Your Nail raises the questions “Who or what are your enemies?” and “How has Christ defeated them?” My enemies are my sins and the devil and his death angels of temptation.  Jesus defeated them but I still have to resist as best as I can,  quote the word of God back to them ( as Jesus did when tempted in the desert). Then I need to remember that Christ has overcome the world and death. He lives and because of that I, too, shall live. When in the throws of temptation, may I turn to the cross of Christ and there find my support.

Prayer to Baby Jesus

Dear Lord Baby Jesus,

I hear your cries, your cooing, your raspy breath of sleep as you lie in a bed of straw, breath of animals puffing frosty clouds around you and your family.  You came to us in weakness so that we may be strong.  I am weak and in my weakness, let me grasp onto your strength. Let your strength be revealed to me, so that I may show it to others; that they,too, might see your strength and experience it for themselves.  May I learn to imitate your humble spirit. May I give of myself in the coming New Year and shine your unfailing light and love to others. Thank you, Lord, for coming to live with us, as one of us.

2 Corinthians 12:9  But he said to me,”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

May the Blessings and Spirit of Christmas follow us into the New Year.

Happiness Button

I discovered a button that can truly help me attain happiness! It’s the mute button on my remote control. I love watching The Dog Whisperer on One Magnificent Morning but the loud and often hyper background music on the commercials jarred my early morning nerves. Ceasar and the dog were doing well and off to a commercial. I pressed the mute button and viola! I was doing well, too! The quiet enabled me to stay calm and get a few more rows of knitting done. When I saw the show coming back on, I unmuted and was able to get back to what I wanted to see and hear, Ceasar training a person and rehabilitating a dog. Hmmm. I think I am now trained to utilize my remote control in a new and peaceful way!

Holiday Spirits or Mindfulness and the Holiday Season

To be mindful is to be honest, beginning with self. Dictionary.com defines mindful as attentive, aware, or careful (usually followed by of):

mindful of one’s responsibilities.

For me to be mindful, I, as an alcoholic, must remember that although I’ve not had a drink for quite a while, I am still an alcoholic.

I need to pay attention to and be aware of what is going on around me and my reactions to things.  Am I getting stressed, agitated, bored, hungry, angry, lonely, tired?  If so, I need to remedy the situation. Eat, sleep, or remove myself from the situation.

I find can be more mindful during the holidays if I’ve taken some time beforehand to visualize a few scenarios.  How can I act/react if someone offers me a drink?  What if that person is persistent?  What if the party goers seem more intent on “boozing and schmoozing” than true conversation and fun?

In the chapter on the 11^th Step, the Big Book of Alcoholic Anonymous states, “As we go through the day, we pause when agitated or doubtful and ask for the right thought or action. We constantly remind ourselves (as in are mindful) that we are no longer running the show. We have done Steps One, Two and Three.

Quoting a story in the BB, To Handle Sobriety, “We begin to live in the present, one day at a time. We reject fantasizing and accept reality.” This is to be mindful or present.  Because of working the steps, I have had a spiritual awakening or an “Attitude Adjustment” if you will.  I no longer fantasize that I will be able to handle my alcohol, or drink like a “normal” person.  I no longer need to “fit it” with people, for I am spiritually fit. I now fit in with the God of my understanding.  I’ve learned to live one day at a time and stay in the present. For me to live, I must remain sober. As the BB states, “For us to drink is to die.” Going against my new found spirituality or against AA’s Spiritual Principles, is to lie to myself and my Creator. This is not being honest or mindful.

The authors of the BB state, “Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. These are indispensible.”

For me, this is to be mindful, of my disease, my reactions to life, to reality. It’s trying to live the Serenity Prayer. My Higher Power can and will get me safely through this holiday season, sober, if I remain mindful and seek His help.

The Elevator is Broken

“My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.” Psalm 17:5

Seven of the twelve steps in 12 Step Programs are taken from the Lord’s Prayer.  Many people have recovered who have followed these steps along with the other five.  We need to follow the path set before us via the 12 Steps as well as the Ten Commandments.  If we stay on this intersecting pathway, keeping our faith burning within us, we will not relapse.  God is always there for us if we but reach out to Him. He will steady us on the most uneven of trails when we ask Him to. On the path of life, there is no elevator, one must take the steps.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105