January Doldrums

Many years ago I gave a talk called “The January Doldrums ”. The point of the talk was that January can often be a “down time” … Christmas is over, the presents have been opened, the bills are starting to arrive, and there aren’t any holidays to look forward to. It can be a time of being a “bit sad and even bummed out”.  “Oh what to do, what to do…ooooooh what to do???” I think you know what I’m talking about.

Well, if you’re experiencing a bit of the January Doldrums, I’d like to pass on a few helps to getting over them. Are you ready? Here we go.

• First, don’t take yourself too seriously… laugh a bit.  
  1. “Remember if life were fair Elvis would still be alive today and all the impersonators would be dead.”
  1. “Have you noticed that the first piece of luggage on the carousel never belongs to anyone.”
  1. “How about that lawyers believe a man is innocent until proven broke.”
• More importantly, if you’re patient, you will see the answers to your prayers. God answers our prayers in the perfect way and in the perfect time. 
• Remember Simeon…. “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ… and when the Mary & Joseph brought in the child Jesus, …he took Jesus up in his arms and blessed God and said,  “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation…..Luke 2:24” Simeon was patient and  finally got to meet the messiah…it took a long time, but he was patient and his prayers were answered.  
• Always keep your ultimate goal before you. While we have many short term goals, like getting a better job with a nice raise, achieving good grades in school, making the basketball team, meeting a wonderful person that you eventually marry, the Giants making the playoffs, (wow, they clinched a spot yesterday) …. remember our ultimate goal and destination is serving God and going to heaven. We can have some short term disappointments, and still be on track for heaven; Christ will help us to stay on track for heaven.

So let’s be patient as we wait for the Lord to answer our prayers,  remembering that heaven is our ultimate destination. And in the mean time, let’s keep our sense of humor. The famous astronaut John Glenn once said, while strapped in his seat waiting during the countdown, one thought kept crossing my mind ….. every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.” John was a pretty funny guy, even while under a lot of stress. 

And hey before you know it, the January Doldrums will be over… it will be February. 

P.S. And thanks to my staff of writers who keep sending me some pretty funny stories. One of them looks a bit like Elvis.