In this week’s readings, the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we are reminded to remain faithful to our beliefs when challenged by the trials of our lives. (Always easier said than done!)
We hear of Job, who suffers everything there is to suffer: “I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted me…I shall not see happiness again.” Sounds familiar in terms of everything that is happening with the pandemic and politics, and our own personal expectations and disappointments. All of us have felt this way at many times, but we are called to remember that Jesus has healed us through the Good News of salvation.
Times are tough all over; you know the litany of problems plaguing people around you. Our lives in Community are to remind each other of the Good News when misery comes knocking—because life being what it is—it will knock—and very loudly and hard at the door. We are meant to hold each other up; to be wounded healers for each other; to be helping hands to drive away the demons and evil spirits of any misfortune. We are to be voices that challenge each other to always turn to God in our trials.
I have a few suggestions that may help—these are called “Christian De-stressors.” (This is a reprint—sent to me from a friend.) I hope and pray that I may be a voice that may challenge you with these good sense suggestions! (They certainly challenge me…) Try one or two, don’t stress yourself out with too many changes at a time... Keep singing in your hearts!
Elizabeth Dyc
Just a note: The text of this piece is a call (petition) to God to enter into our lives—to come our way to be life, breath, truth, light, feast, strength, joy and love—to make our lives be what God created us to be in the world. Challenging...
We hear of Job, who suffers everything there is to suffer: “I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted me…I shall not see happiness again.” Sounds familiar in terms of everything that is happening with the pandemic and politics, and our own personal expectations and disappointments. All of us have felt this way at many times, but we are called to remember that Jesus has healed us through the Good News of salvation.
Times are tough all over; you know the litany of problems plaguing people around you. Our lives in Community are to remind each other of the Good News when misery comes knocking—because life being what it is—it will knock—and very loudly and hard at the door. We are meant to hold each other up; to be wounded healers for each other; to be helping hands to drive away the demons and evil spirits of any misfortune. We are to be voices that challenge each other to always turn to God in our trials.
I have a few suggestions that may help—these are called “Christian De-stressors.” (This is a reprint—sent to me from a friend.) I hope and pray that I may be a voice that may challenge you with these good sense suggestions! (They certainly challenge me…) Try one or two, don’t stress yourself out with too many changes at a time... Keep singing in your hearts!
- Pray (Singing is praying twice…especially hymns, spiritual songs and Psalms—but not yet in church.)
- Go to bed on time. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
- Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or those that will compromise your mental health by being over-busy. Delegate tasks to capable others.
- Simplify and unclutter your life. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.) The exception: Backups: an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, batteries, etc.
- Allow extra time to do things and to get to places (especially in “weather”).
- Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together and at once.
- Take one day at a time.
- Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, if you have no control for change—forget it.
- Live within your budget.
- K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
- Do something for the “Kid in You” every day.
- Have a Bible to read while waiting anywhere (on your phone, in your car maybe—although an actual book is good advertising for reading).
- Eat right. (You are what you eat.)
- Get organized so everything has its place. (One little area at a time, like a single drawer a day…)
- Listen to good music or a book (music and stories that are uplifting) while driving that can actually help to improve your quality of life. Don’t waste precious time on not-worth-the-time junk… You become what you spend with your time…
- Write down thoughts and inspirations, keep a folder of favorite scriptures and inspirational thoughts.
- Find time to be alone every day. (Even for just a few minutes!)
- Having problems? Talk to God on the spot to nip small problems in the bud before they become larger ones. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to pray for encouragement, discernment and strength in any moment of challenge..
- Make friends with Godly people.
- Be kind always—no exceptions.
Elizabeth Dyc
Just a note: The text of this piece is a call (petition) to God to enter into our lives—to come our way to be life, breath, truth, light, feast, strength, joy and love—to make our lives be what God created us to be in the world. Challenging...
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