Faith Venture

We recently drove about 2,500 miles on various trips from Illinois to Tennessee to Ohio to Illinois to Missouri. It was the middle-to-end of October. The deciduous trees were in full color.

Golds and reds blended with some green holding on to summer painting a beautiful landscape in the hills.

People who study these things say that the colors are always there. The green from chlorophyl hides the colors while the tree’s growth stage needs the sunlight energy converted by the green.

When the green fades away giving way to a new stage of life, the vibrant colors become exposed.

And I wondered, what holds us back? What negativity, cynicism, bitterness, or even pride and ego cover our innate vibrant self?

What do we need to start shedding in order to show our true colors?

You see a physician maybe once or twice a year. They measure your blood pressure. They make a diagnosis based on one snapshot, perhaps prescribing their favorite medication. 

Maybe they do bloodwork once a year. They make a diagnosis based on the one snapshot.

Your blood pressure varies over the day based on many factors. Your blood analysis varies also. Maybe your last meal before the fast included something you don’t normally eat that drives up cholesterol or triglycerides.

Jesus also observed the heart. But a different kind of heart. The heart as center of emotion, faith, empathy.

Do you monitor your own heart—the one that concerned Jesus? Maybe just a snapshot checkup after a religious experience? 

Maybe we need something for the heart like a continuous glucose monitor where we can check in several times a day to see where we’re OK and where we’re slipping.

Too much ego and we become obnoxious.

Too little and we are weak.

Too much leads to pride—and downfall.

Too little and we have not the strength to survive whole.

Sometimes we need someone to bring us down a notch or two.

Sometimes a little boost brings a momentary boost of energy to the day.

(Thoughts after the young woman at the conference registration desk sized me up for a conference shirt—Medium? I usually wear large. Thank you. Turns out the medium fit. I have lost weight. Then later at the same conference talking with another woman I know about my grandson’s looking into schools. Oh, tell me again, where does your son go to school? Thank you…grandson. Some days you just need that.)