Category Archives: Inspiration

Fear Factor

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Have you ever been afraid? Sure, I think just about everyone can relate to that gut-wrenching feeling of fear. The panicked, flight or fight response when your body tenses up or goes into complete meltdown because of some deep seated fear of dying, or falling off a cliff, or your youngest going off to kindergarten, or being poisoned by some foul toad bewitched by an unlikely fairy godmother. Well. You get my point. Big fears are easy to pinpoint and easy to explain away.

Yet, what about the little fears? The nagging, “uncomfortable” feelings that are not rational fears, but take hold of you nonetheless? Do we talk about those fears? Do we even call them fears? “Anxieties” perhaps? Unease. Apprehension. Worry. Perhaps this worldwide pandemic has heightened those unforeseen thoughts for you as it has for me. Do I send my kid to school this fall? Do I ride public transit ever again? Why am I finding it so nerve-wracking to be driving on a four lane highway again after so many months of going nowhere? Will I ever fit into real pants again?

I must tell you a little story about my weekend in order to assist you in following my web of convoluted thoughts about fear, and consequently, my muse this week. We spent the weekend up at the trailer, near the lake and welcoming the final weeks of Canadian summer (albeit a strange one à la Covid-19). My beloved convinced me it was a perfect opportunity to spend a little time canoeing with him. Now, I like canoeing. I used to canoe often. I’ve even canoed with my husband. I’m not a white-water portage expedition canoer, but I can paddle. Yep, I can even steer the motorless boat! Still, the initial reaction to the invitation was fear. I have not been in a dugout piece of floating wood in a very long time. Years. I’m a little curvier now. And less agile. And a whole lot “awkwarder” in a wobbly floatation device than I used to be.

Our old canoe was light, and very tippy, and sank to about an inch off the water’s surface. But, our new-to-us boat is wider and sturdier and “will certainly hold you” assures my beloved. I agree to a short paddle. Then fear. True, my fear was irrational. There was no reason for it. No clear explanation of why my brain went to where it went. I had a lifejacket. I can swim and paddle and have a partner with me. We were barely going offshore. Yet, there it crept: the nagging trepidation of the what if’s.

As I thought about those feelings and how irrational they were (we had a delightful time on the water by the way!) I was reminded of 2 Timothy 1:7. The Amplified version expands it out nicely:

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 AMPC

Why do we get so caught up in our petty thoughts when the God of the Universe has given us a spirit of power and a mind that is in control? Do we let Satan weasel his way into our thoughts and twist them into self doubts, creeping anxieties and irrational fears? How much more does God want me to share my faith? Surely more than He wants me to try paddling a canoe after so many years. And yet, so many of us have an underlying fear factor there, too. Why do we find it so hard to share our faith? God is bigger than those fears! He gives us the power and the confidence and an extra dose of love to push us along the way. Like the gentle wake of our canoe, may you be encouraged by the wave of power that is God promised, and may calmness and self-control be your guides this week as you paddle through your faith journey, one small fear at a time!

Breathe.

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Breathe. Just Breathe. It’s a phrase we hear all the time. Sometimes it is a little out of context — like those old sitcoms when a couple is having a baby in the middle of the night and the crazy husband is driving to the hospital, bags packed, but all in a panic. He assures his labouring wife to “breathe” and everything will be just fine. I used to say it to my middle kid who struggled with anxiety. Focus. Count to ten. Breathe. Or we remind ourselves to remain calm when the university acceptance letter arrives. Or the call comes from the doctor’s office with your latest test results. Breathing seems like such a simple thing to do until you forget how. Forget how to breathe? That seems strange, considering our sympathetic nervous system jumps in to make sure we don’t die from lack of oxygen during stressful times in our lives. The so-called “flight or fight” response makes us breathe. Still, we need reminding now and then.

Trained athletes are good at breathing. Stig Severinsin (age 39) just broke the record for holding his breath the longest — a whopping 22 minutes (according to the Huffington post). You have to train for that, though. The average lung capacity of an adult is about 6 litres of air. Factor in age, gender, health and stress level, and we get a slightly different picture — but 6 litres is still a fairly large amount. Interestingly enough, though, great studies have been done showing that if we slow down our breathing and focus, we can improve that number significantly. We need to breathe to survive. However, I’m not here to present the health benefits of breathing techniques, nor am I an expert in the science of lung capacity. In fact, walking this new puppy of ours in the heat of this summer has proven I need some serious work in the shortness of breath department! But that’s a different story altogether!

So, why do I bring it up? As I mentioned last week (what?! You are not caught up on our weekly muses? Join the adventure, here!). I’ve just finished a short devotional on rest and refreshment. Day 4 of the study, a familiar verse struck me in a unique way (don’t you love when that happens with scripture?!) Here’s the verse:

Perhaps, it is a familiar one to you, too. Now look at the first part again: Scripture is God-breathed. Have you ever thought about God breathing? An interesting muse. For me, it is a reminder that the scriptures I study have been given focus and deliberated before being marked down for generations. Perhaps the words were full of sadness, knowing how fallible humanity will be. How disobedient and far from God we will wander. Perhaps the words were in great anticipation of good things and God had to “control His breathing” to find just the right words to speak in order to get His message across. Or perhaps He whispered the words under His breath with a hush of secrecy, knowing the splendors of Heaven and other spiritual secrets were far too grand for our capacities to handle just yet.

Above all else, I am positive the scriptures were focused words. Focus. Count to ten. Breathe. Fully equipping each of us — all the people chosen to walk upon this earth — to do good work. Mind blowing, actually, that each one of us have specific gifts, talents and words spoken just for us. And so, in turn, we too must focus our thoughts. Rest. Breathe. Focus on the thoughts given to us and meditate daily on the words. I’m trying. Sometimes I need a good reminder to breathe, too.

Will you join me, friend, in this faith journey of breathing slower, focusing on the Words of God, breathed with life giving essence for each one of us? Join the adventure! See you next week!

Fresh. Then Refresh.

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Whew! It’s been a week. We’ve spent the last six days up north, house sitting for friends who have an even greater zoo than we do: Chickens, bunnies, dogs and more! Plus my kids, and a restless husband who thinks holidays must include several walks and trail exploring, makes for a busy, but full week of adventures! Not to mention our new (currently untrained) puppy added exhaustion to the list. Chores were to be done and early morning walks were on the agenda. No wonder farmers are in such great shape! However, we also spent some time just chillaxin’ on the porch reflecting in the sunshine. It was a different kind of ‘vacation’ – and perhaps many of you have experienced similar days during this pandemic. A forced rest, even.

The youngest of the Mitton crew lapped it up. She’s a lot like her mama — animal lover with a keen sense of devotion, and less inhibition and worry than I do now that I am older (and know more than I should). She was definitely in her happy place! Baby bunny cuddles and dog belly rubs are this girl’s zone. One of her favourite things to do was check the nesting boxes for chicken eggs. Poor birds were disturbed several times a day, as she hoped to discover their treasures… it was a bonus if the egg was still warm! One day we discovered the perfect egg. I know, weird thought… but really. It was the perfect egg shape, with rounded edges and ever-so-slight point at the top. A beautiful tan colour, dappled in a smooth textured shell with a few darker specks to give it just the right amount of shade. If I were a painter, it would be a perfect still life subject, nestled against a lightly stained wood grained table… but perhaps that’s not your thing. Just work with me, okay?

The perfect egg… what a treasure!

Nonetheless, the discovery of “the perfect egg” had me thinking about God’s provision. His treasures, given to us in nature. Rich colours of flowers and sunsets, the smell of morning dew, the ruggedness of flint rock cliffs, the softness of my new puppy’s fur. As we devoured fresh eggs one morning this past week, we talked about whether “fresh eggs” were different tasting. My verdict is yes, most definitely. Fresh always seems better! If you google “fresh” the top ads are all about food. Next come “natural based” skin care products…. and then something in Fortnite? That seemed a little off topic, but whatever. Summertime is an explosion of freshness! My socials are filled with farmer’s market produce and your country lakefront cottage pics. It seems like holidays are the perfect time to renew and refresh.

If you look up the definition of “fresh” and it’s similar based “refresh”, you’ll discover a myriad of definitions: not stale, pure, new, or recently come into existence. Even bold and brassy, as in don’t get “fresh” with me, young man. Interesting, eh? I recently embarked on a 5 day study/devotional on Refreshing. A big part of that “refreshing” is rest. Our physical bodies need that rest to recoup, recover and refresh. Our spiritual souls need that renewal again, too. It’s exciting when a piece of scripture becomes “new” again, isn’t it? Like fresh oxygen breathed in, our souls need a good cleansing every now and then as well.

a quote from my new devotional study

I’ve missed some of that worship as we’ve been isolating. It’s hard to have deep conversations and rich discussion via a webcam. Radio praises aren’t the same as revival concerts where fellow believers are singing from the heart, and straight up to heaven! But God is still very much present, and very much behind the scenes, preparing our hearts for revival, renewal and refreshment. Perhaps many of you have been forced to “rest” right now. To reflect on what is important. Maybe others of you are looking to “refresh” and start anew. I think it is a God thing. This desire to reflect and gather perspective. To assess and refocus. Then you are able to appreciate small treasures, and reflect on the simple things that God gives us — like the perfect backyard chicken’s egg.