Check Your Silence Switch

I recently acquired a new iPhone after using an Android for several years. Along with this new purchase came the frustrations of trying to use the thing. But, I was determined to make the transition.

This morning, I awoke to notifications that I had missed 21 text messages, five calls, and two voicemails the night before - all from my employer, so I knew it was important.

"What?! How did this happen?!" Frustration erupted in my confusion over what could have occurred to miss all these communication attempts. 

"I knew this would happen," I thought, followed by going through all the settings to confirm I had not overlooked anything.

"It must be the cellular service," was my next conclusion. If it's not the phone, then it has to be the service provider. I was absolutely certain.

Then a bit of doubt crept in, "Did I sleep through all of this? Unlikely. Not ALL of those attempts. It has to be the phone or the service. No other reason."

And then it hit me... the slider switch on the side. Yep. It was switched to silent. When? Oh, yeah. Earlier that day. I had forgotten all about it.

LIVEGOOD - HELPING YOU STAY MISSION-READY AND CAPABLE

Spiritually speaking, when things are tough - and even when things are going well, we can feel disconnected from God. You know. That "I just don't hear from Him anymore" feeling. And, we start blaming everything and everyone (even Him) without taking time to truly examine ourselves.

Is your "silence switch" turned ON? Maybe it is and you had forgotten all about it. Maybe it was long ago in a fit of anger over life's problems, or due to bitterness toward someone, or the loss of a loved one, or just simple laziness. 

I'd challenge you to, as the Word says, examine yourself daily and test yourself to see if all settings are in proper order. Go back to remember the time when your spiritual ears were switched OFF and address the issue to set it right. 

He's always trying to connect with us. We just have to be set and ready to receive Him when He calls.

Clear Vision

I have an eye exam coming up soon. One of the issues with my vision is astigmatism - which basically means that the curvature of my cornea or lens isn't normal. Blurry vision at both near and far distances is the result, but in addition, nighttime vision is also greatly affected. The brighter the light entering the eyes, the better; less light, poorer vision. The absolute worst time of day for me is the twilight, right as the sun begins to set. Everything becomes a gray haze and I'm forced to really concentrate on whatever I'm viewing. Driving? Definitely not my favorite time to be on the road.

LIVEGOOD - HELPING YOU STAY MISSION-READY AND CAPABLE

Our spiritual journey down a winding road of life is sometimes the same: not always black and white, crisp and clear. Sometimes, what we're trying to see is somewhere in a gray haze. We try to do our best while hoping we don't run off the road. In those moments, it takes some extra effort to stay focused on the path ahead and not get distracted by the things that are simply passing by. There are even times when it may be wise to just stop in your tracks and wait it out until things become clearer. Yes. It may delay the arrival at your destination, but it's much better to arrive in one piece than "fall to pieces" while enroute.

The Word of God puts it this way... sometimes... be still and know that I AM. Wait on The LORD. Then, when proper vision is regained, the world around you can be seen in a much clearer light and you're better equipped to stay on that straight and narrow path.

Re-Newed Vision

This past week, I scheduled an eye exam - not so much due to degraded vision, but to simply check on my eye health. Soon afterwards, while rummaging through a desk draw, I came upon an eyeglass case that I didn't recognize. To my surprise, upon opening it, I discovered an eyeglass set several years old.

"I did like these frames," I said to myself as I removed them from the case. "I wonder if the optometrist can simply replace the lenses?"

Slipping the set onto my face, I realized in amazement that I was able to see clearly. In fact, my corrected vision using this old pair was even better than with my current prescription.

"What?!" I exclaimed not believing the experience.

Walking to the door to gain a better appreciation for what was happening, I traded the eyeglasses back and forth to compare both close-up and distance clarity. Sure enough. I was able to see even better through a prescription that had expired long ago.

LIVEGOOD - HELPING YOU STAY MISSION-READY AND CAPABLE

What happened to create such a change? I don't know. Eyesight improvement? Maybe. But, being over fifty made me chuckle at the thought.

Even though I now had hope that an even newer prescription may not be needed at my upcoming visit, I thought it best to keep the appointment. If for no other purpose, I'd be certain of my overall eye health. 

However, what started as puzzling curiosity focused on a physical change, soon shifted to spiritual introspection: What viewpoints in my life are now out of spiritual focus? Maybe I need to take a fresh look through lenses that were once thought to be no longer needed. 

The experience reminds me of a Biblical imperative instructing us to "remember your first love". I guess, revisiting ideas and instruction that were deemed to be old and outdated can sometimes provide a clearer perspective on the things of today.