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And Not Quite Rebalanced

Last time I wrote about how swimming helps me to rebalance.  As I swim back and forth, alone with my thoughts, I often think or pray and feel rebalanced when I’m done.  Well, except for a recent time….

This time, I was totally distracted.  I had inadvertently left my goggles at work.  I do carry a new pair with me in my swim bag in case my old ones break.  So I took them out but it took a lot of swimming time just to get them adjusted to fit properly.  So much for rebalancing!

You could say that I was distracted by all the goggle challenges.  I think I also failed at something mentioned in 2 Corinthians.  In chapter 10 and verse 5, we are told that we should take every thought captive to obey Christ.  I was so distracted by trying to get my goggles to fit that I wasn’t taking any thoughts captive to obey Christ. 

You could even say that I was kind of acting like Martha.  You probably remember her from Luke 10.  She was distracted with lots of preparations.  She even said this to Jesus: “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone? Tell her to help me.” (v. 40)

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.” (v. 41-42)

Mary had chosen to sit at the feet of Jesus to listen to Him and enjoy Him.  But Martha was unable to enjoy Jesus because she was distracted (or pulled away) by the preparations.  And, when Jesus said she was troubled, it was the kind of troubled that borders on being upset.

Yep, that kind of describes what I was feeling with my new goggles.  I was pulled away from my normal ability to think and pray and I was upset to the point that all I could do was focus on my goggle challenges. 

When I got back to the office, I did send my wife my standard text code that said “rebalanced”.

But, while I had returned to the office, I was nowhere close to being rebalanced.  Due to my goggle distractions, I hadn’t been at the feet of Jesus as I sometimes am when I swim.

I must confess that I’m really struggling to bring this post to a close.  I should have some pithy thought or nugget of wisdom or stimulating question for you.  But, I can’t seem to stir up any of that.

I will say that somehow, in the midst of my distractions and being troubled, I need to respond to Christ’s invitation and sit at His feet.

And I also will say that somehow, in the midst of my distractions and being troubled, I need to invite Him in enter into those with me so that He can take care of them.

After all, it’s only in His presence that the rebalancing I so desperately need can occur!

 

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