(09.30.21– Works of the Heart –Galatians 5: 22-24)
My friend, may I ask you a question? Is planning what you want to say, when and how you want the words to be delivered ahead of time, the best way for your conversations to produce the fruit that you desire?
My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I'm M. Clifford Brunner.
Years ago we took a family vacation that we'd been planning for a long, long time. It had been over a year since we were able to pack up the old travel trailer, gather up dogs and supplies, and travel to one of our favorite destinations, Lake Superior. There's a lot of planning involved just putting a trip like that together. First, the trailer had to be thoroughly cleaned. All electrical, plumbing and heating systems checked. Hitches, torsion and sway bars, and lighting harnesses had to be checked as well. The truck had to be serviced too. We had over 217,000 miles on the old truck and you just never know when something could have broken. Food supplies were purchased and packed away and the right clothing carefully packed away in lockers. Last but not least, maps must be checked to refresh the memory and road construction issues needed to be addressed. And, yes, there was the mandatory trip to the ATM.
We had accomplished all of these things and we were right on schedule to leave at 5:00 AM the following morning. Then, spontaneity struck. "Why don't we leave now and drive all night and be on the shores of Lake Superior by 5:00 AM tomorrow morning?" "Yea!" So, we drove all night and as the morning sun began to faintly poke through the eastern skies over the lake, we pulled into our destination only to discover that nearly every site in the park was filled. We slowly pulled to a stop in a turn-around and wondered, "Now what?" Had we left at 5:00 AM would some of these people have pulled out by the time we had gotten there? The "bear" and the "bull" faced off in the front seat. "Bear: If we drove for another hour or so to the northeast there is another park on the lake. But it is over some very rough roads." "Bull: If you're game, so am I. What's another hour without sleep?" So, away we went to our planned, unplanned destination right on a bearish schedule that allowed for bullish timing. It was without a doubt one of the best vacations we had every experienced and one we shall never forget.
I've often found that employing the "bearish schedule–bullish timing" rule of thumb to most things in life will often give the best results. Not only does it work with recreation, it also works well when we are trying to become better communicators one with another. Planning what you want to say, when and how you want the words to be delivered ahead of time is the best way for our conversations to produce the fruit that we desire. This is wisdom. It is even wiser to allow the joy of spontaneity to flow freely through every plan. In that way, we have given love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control every chance to succeed.
We pray. Heavenly Father, good timing when it comes to communicating with those we love is a good rule of thumb for most things in life; and Father You have determined that it will often give the best results. ByYour Spirit Father help us to continue to become better communicators one with another as we plan what we want to say, when and how we want the words to be delivered ahead of time. Forgive us when we don’t make it the best way for our conversations to produce the fruit You desire for us. Continue to bless us with Your wisdom in that regard, becoming even wiser as we allow the joy of spontaneity to flow freely through every plan we make. In that way, we have given love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control every chance to succeed. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
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<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.