Lost In the Static

…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1b-2a NIV).

As I sloshed through the melting snow and looked at the individuals busily crossing block after block, I wondered how these people were able to keep a focus on God in this hectic environment. This was my fourth day in New York City and the constant static seemed to put me in a state of numbness. As I returned to the hotel, I wondered how in just four short days my relationship with God had drifted so far from where it was just earlier that week.

 On Tuesday night, my cousin who lives alone in New York called to tell us that she was scheduled for major emergency, open-heart surgery set for Thursday morning. My brother, sister and several cousins hurriedly booked flights and headed to New York to accompany her. When we first arrived, we were concerned that the surgery may be more than her overall health conditions could withstand. The initial report was promising and she seemed to improve daily. Then we were faced with two winter storms that were headed our way with concerns of a major blizzard.  It seemed that from the very second we arrived, one thing after another was consuming our thoughts and time.

As I made my way back through the constant noise, I continued to think about the close relationship with God that I had so enjoyed over the past few months.  I had spent the last three months engrossed in the scriptures as I had been researching and writing a Bible Study. It was clear to me that staying in the word of God is crucial. We talk with God through prayer, but our answers are often given to us through the Scriptures. Sometimes we feel like God is MIA, when in reality we have allowed the static of the world to consume our time and thoughts instead of His powerful words.

Michele

Keeping It Shut

 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent (Proverbs 17:28 ASV).

I had been reading the story of Nabal, Abigail and David from the book of I Samuel. I was in awe over the wisdom Abigail displayed on two different occasions when dealing with her bad-tempered husband Nabal.  At one point, her household was in great danger of attack from David and his army of 600 men. This was due to the arrogant and ill-mannered response of Nabal when David was need of his hospitality and assistance. Abigail did something I often fail to do—she kept her mouth shut and chose to wait until a later time to approach Nabal. In the meantime, she addressed the issue with David using both grace and humility.

After I completed reading and studying the passage, I called my husband as I was in route to meet my sister for our Wednesday night walk. While walking, my sister and I catch up with the day-to-day happenings in our lives. I told her that I felt a bit bad because I had just gotten off the phone with my husband and once again approached him about our financial struggles and changes needed in our business. He asked me to wait and address it when he returned from out of town. He said, “I need to focus on the positive in order to acquire the two sales I am currently trying to make.”  I obviously picked an inopportune time to bring up this sensitive issue.

As we continued walking, my sister told me how each Saturday she asked everyone in her household to help her with the weekly menu, but generally gets very little response. So she does the best she can in her menu planning. She continued telling me how she cooked some quesadillas the other night and when her husband arrived home he said, “Don’t give me any of those.”  She wanted to respond, but instead she said nothing, continued cooking, set the table and told everyone to come eat. Her husband came to the table, ate what she cooked and never said a word.

 Prior to the conversation with my husband, I had written these words to ponder, “Sometimes not opening our mouth shows much wisdom.” I read it, I wrote it, but I did not practice it. My sister on the other hand, did!  She wasn’t dealing with an army of 600 like Abigail, but sometimes when trying to cook and please a variety of people and taste buds; it feels like you’re dealing with an army of 800! When the potential for confrontation arose, she made the wise choice and kept her mouth shut. 

We are told of the value of keeping our mouths shut in the book of Proverbs. It says, Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent (17:28 ASV).   Maybe I failed on this occasion, but if I continue to surround myself with good examples like Abigail and my sister, then I’m bound to get it right eventually!  

Michele