“Dave, Get Your Mind Right”

We’re getting ready to go on vacation. We’ll be gone for 10 days. You would think we were moving to Mars for 50 years the way we are thinking and planning and worrying. “Gee, what’s the weather going to be like… what should we bring… should we bring a neck pillow”. Of course I have my “machines” to bring along…my CPap machine, heart loop monitor machine, hearing aid charger, fit bit charger…oh yes, what about my phone charger. I haven’t flown for quite a while…what will that be like…hmmmmm, do you have to pay for a glass of water, can you get some free peanuts, what if I need a blanket. 

I’m exhausted and we haven’t even left. We’ve had too much time to plan and think about the trip. If I had a one day notice, I’d toss some things in a bag and zip away. 

Then of course the question thousands are now wondering ….”what about the BLOG”. Are you going to do the BLOG while you’re away? I’m not saying anything about that now. Please check out the BLOG on Monday (June 27^th) for more details. No, please don’t try to pry any more info out of me…my lips are sealed. 

But what does all this say about me… this intense preoccupation, overreaction to going away for 10 days. Well some possible diagnoses might include… “Dave is losing his mind…hmmmmm, or Dave has already lost his mind…..hmmmm, or this is pretty normal when you’re old and not used to traveling…..hmmmm.”

Well let’s calm down and see if we can bring a “sliver of spiritual perspective” to this situation. Ready ….. here’s a thought. When I don’t have a mission… “small m or BIG M”, I tend to focus on myself…it tends to be all about me…my plan, my comfort, my concerns. When that happens, I can quickly lose my peace.

Yet when I have a “mission” for the Lord, again maybe a small mission or large mission, I tend to get energized by the Holy Spirit. What does the Lord want me to do… how can I serve him thru this trip…who can I bring the love of Christ to while traveling.  If I can love God and those I’m with during this trip, I want to do that. This thought brings me peace and energizes me. Maybe the Lord will use me to help someone in need? I want to do that. I want to be his instrument. When I’m focused on loving God and my neighbor, “I’m good …. I’m ready …. I’m hopeful.” Holy Spirit please help me to keep my focus in the right place. 

So, as the warden said to Cool Hand Luke …..  “ Luuuuke, you got to get your mind right”. (If you’ve never seen the movie, just forget I said this.) Instead listen as the Holy Spirit says, “Dave, you’ve got to get your mind right…. you’ve got to think right…think about what is pure and holy and worthy of praise. Remember Paul’s exhortation…. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil. 4:8-9) 

Okay Lord, you have my attention. I need to think right and focus on your will and mission for me each day, whether it’s at home or on vacation. And as I do that, all will be well with my soul. Yes, that is very good news.