Monthly Archives: March 2015

Yesterday was an opportunity not often afforded to me.  I met with a friend from a few years ago.  We talked of the varied paths we have both taken.

A theme continued to run through the conversation.  As we age, we have taken bits and pieces of others thoughts, actions and opinions.  For better or worse, our own lives have been a copy of the original – in fact, we could often be seen as mere footnotes of another.

Now we are both looking for our own voices.  We desire to be original for the sake of others.  There is a contribution that each of us has to this world.  Big or small, in the spotlight or in a dim light, we are models as well.

There is a bridge that is crossed (perhaps more than once) when we realize God has gifted us for the sake of others.  We cross from knowledge seekers to wisdom givers.  Not for our own sake, but for the sake of others.

Our voice rings in harmony with others, but we also solo – a glorious voice for God’s kingdom and all who dwell therein.

Well, I wore a Holtor monitor for 24 hours.  I’m about to have the wires released from my body.  My heart feels fine.

I guess that’s why we monitor and test and check things out.  I’m trusting the return of the monitor will show that my heart is in good shape.

A way to check life (before death) is a good thing.  Diagnosis for illness is helpful and if we find that we are normal . . . all the better.

A large part of diagnosis is testing and checking and asking and listening.  Today I continue with testing.  My doctor has been following my progress over the past few months – I had an undiagnosed tiredness, cough, stomach problems and who knows what else.

We began with the simple bloodwork, an xray and ultrasound and today I will get a Holtor monitor to check my heart.  Family genetics play a part.  We have heart problems and cancer in the background.

Better to work through elimination than through surprise – I’m thankful for preventative medicine.

When I began my ministry, one of the greatest desires was to serve others.  I had been typed in various surveys and inventories as one who shows mercy, organizes and leads.

The biggest problem with this?  A martyr complex can arise.  A sense of indispensability overcomes common sense.  The pull to burn out is way too easy.

In this last while I have been working on taking rest days! 

I used to think one day of rest was sufficient (and perhaps in my twenties this was true).  I did read in the Bible that priests were good to go hard at their work until they were 50.  At that point they became the gatekeepers for the building (OK, that’s a little simplified, but the carries the basic idea).  There was a recognition that the hard work was too much for an “older” person. 

And now I find that one day of rest is a good start, two days are better.  And so, two days at home doing something other than work has been good for me.