Faith Venture

Michael Hyatt, chairman of Thomas Nelson publishing and blogger, recently posted an interesting commentary on disciplines for strengthening your heart–meaning more about courage than health. But if you’ve felt overwhelmed and someone advises that you should “take heart,” here are some thoughts. Check out his blog page for complete explanations.

1. The Discipline of Reflection.Intentionally pull away to a quiet place, pause, and reflect.
2. The Discipline of Rest. One of the quickest ways to lose perspective is to cheat ourselves out of this God-given “off switch.”
3. The Discipline of Recreation. Recreation involves any activity that gives us the opportunity to express our creativity.
4. The Discipline of Relationships. Arguably, this is the most important.
    

When something is on your mind, your subconscious brain is ever watchful for signs and suggestions. So, this thought came to my Inbox a short time ago, “Most of the stress people experience comes from inappropriately managed commitments they make or accept.”– David Allen, author & productivity consultant. (By the way, if you have never read a little book “Getting Things Done”, rush out, buy it, read it, practice it. GTDers, and I’m one, develop a practice of thinking and doing that is designed to reduce that stress.)

I’m in Los Angeles this week. Trying to finish a 2,500 word article and two 600-word columns for a magazine that is supposed to go to the printer in two more days. I’ve been on the road every week since Labor Day. Next week I go to Nashville before having a week off and then another four weeks including a week in Germany. Even though one of those weeks was vacation and another was family-related, it’s hard to feel in control. Then there is the class I have wanted to take for a few years. I’m finally eligible, but it occurs during all this travel. Can I fit that in? That, not the travel itself, is the stress point.

Ah, maybe I’m overcommitted? Probably so. Thanks David for the reminder.

It’s good to look at Jesus when things seem to pile up. He took a little time to himself, went off alone, and talked with God. He always returned refreshed.

Are you either overcommitted or about to be? Might be time to take some time away, even if only a half-hour, to listen to God. Then figure out what you can do. This kind of stress can kill you. Take care of yourself.

Have you ever been involved in youth sports as a coach or parent? If that was in the past, do you look back at yourself and your actions with fondness…or with a grimace? I started out in soccer as a coach. I knew nothing. But that didn’t prevent me from loudly expressing my opinions. I remember some times as a parent that now make me ashamed.

This was especially true after I became a referee and heard how bad all that sounds. Try it sometime.

I’m trying to draw a spiritual lesson from an incident that affected me deeply last weekend. There is a young girl (about 16 or so) who has worked as a referee for me for several years. She is good, if young. Last weekend I put her in the position of authority in a match of 12-year-olds. Should have been fine. But, coach went berserk. She should have ejected him, but she was too kind.

After the game, he approaches her and puts his arm around her shoulders. OK, that’s totally inappropriate in any situation. Touching a referee (unless you’re friends) takes the inappropriate to the next level. Then in this intimate setting, he proceeds to tell her how terrible she is. So we go to yet another level of inappropriate. Assistant coach then offers — if she doesn’t report them, they won’t file a report on how bad she is. Oh, by the way, if you haven’t guessed already, they lost the game.

Now, for all I know, the coaches are fine, upstanding Christian gentlemen. Or, they may not have seen the inside of a church since their wedding. But I’ve been at this for over 25 years, and I still can’t believe how people act. All sense of proportion is lost.

James instructed us to tame our tongues. What a simple little instruction in a good, but short, letter. But how hard to do. And nothing seems to bring out our inner anger than a sporting event–especially one in which our children are participating. I know better, and I’ve failed in my life. But what a teaching moment was lost on those coaches. Maybe we need to be reminded when we fall short?

This spring was cool and very wet in western Ohio. You had to mow the grass twice per week to keep up. The soil was moist and fertile. This morning I’m on the patio reading and meditating. I notice the ground is hard, dry, unsupportive of life.

Thinking back to the parable of the soils and the talk I heard a few weeks ago about how you can improve the soil by clearing, cultivating.

But it works the other way. How easy to harden your heart. You start, maybe, by becoming suspicious of someone. Or you get hurt. Or you think someone is getting something you’re not. Soon you’re shutting out people. You become more alone. Your thoughts are dark and brooding.

This is a danger that is real. It can happen to us all. And it’s insidious. It can sneak into your life and be there before you realize it. Just like the soil here became hard and the grass started going into dormancy and the garden had to be watered before the realization sunk in that we have gone from flood to drought.

I see this effect in our political life where hearts are hard and battle lines drawn. I see it in relationships all the time. I can see it happen to me on occasion.

Just like any change, you first must recognize it. Then you have to water your soil. In your life you do it through reading the Bible (and letting it sink in slowly). Through positive relationships you can nurture. Through prayer.