This week’s post is going to be a little short and sweet — just like our summer has been! After many weeks off due to Covid-19, these last few weeks of “official” summer seem to be going quickly! As usual, we always have bigger plans that never get accomplished… but hey, that’s life, right?! One of the goals was to do more casual reading… which didn’t really happen to the extent that I hoped for, but I thought I would share an update this week anyway! Maybe it will wet my appetite to buckle down for the last few weeks and escape with a good book!
(Did I mention I have another goal to learn to make better videos? That will be a big process! I am certainly learning in that department! ) What about you, my friends? Have you been devouring literature and setting goals for renewing your minds? Books are a good way to supplement our Bible knowledge, and often seeing or reading about someone else’s perspective helps to enrich our own! In today’s world, I sometimes find it difficult to enrich my mind without contaminating it. There are so many less-than-holy media options these days, it’s hard for one to keep it both entertaining and enriching!
Philippians 4 reminds us to meditate on things that are pure, lovely and praiseworthy! It’s my thought for you this week! It’s a challenging task, for sure. Shall we help each other out? Share your favourite read or video in the comments below or on our socials — we’d love to hear from you!!
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I learned an interesting life lesson this week. At least it was a muse that could possibly turn into a life lesson. As you know, we have a new puppy added to the Mitton zoo. “Reese” has been with us for about a month now, and is slowly adjusting to our world — and the two cats that live with us. So here comes the lesson: yes, cats and dogs can get along. Sort of. As much as our pet rats and the cats get along. Let me paint the picture for you:
Large domestic cat wanders up the stairs and comes face to face with stinky, slightly smaller, energetic puppy who sees said cat and decides this may be a fun new friend to play with…. large, grumpy cat who has no tolerance for said bouncy pup, makes deep growling noise, lets out a hiss and with a quick paw swipe, communicates his distaste for the new invader to the household. Then large cat proceeds to walk by, hop up on the windowsill and bathe in the sunbeams, leaving bewildered dog rendered speechless. Second scenario: somewhat smaller and, shall we say, less “streetwise” cat, comes upon said bouncy (and still naive) puppy and considers that this creature may be worth the play. Well, a chase pursues, and cottony white fur flies as female cat finds the highest point to perch and proceeds to bless the world that she is still alive. Dog barks excitedly and decides the fluff is not worth it.
All that being said, as I write this post, two cats are on the windowsill with sleeping dog contented at their feet — and peace ensues once again in the Mitton household. Will they be best friends? More than likely not. Will they learn to live at peace? I hope so. I suspect the cat food will forever be eaten by the greedy dog, though, and we will have to be on constant watch. Frenemies. Have you heard of this word? The “urban” dictionary informally defines it as “a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry.” Do you have such a person in your life? A co-worker? Boss? Facebook friend who posts those political quotes you would love to sink your teeth into — but don’t because who wants to see that on Facebook? A family member perhaps? We all come with our own set of opinions and passions. This is a good thing — but it often ends up in, well, a cat and dog fight.
Scripture is full of words encouraging us to live in peace with one another. To love our neighbours as ourselves and do good to even our enemies. But does God expect us to get along with everyone? Is that even possible? I’ve had this conversation with my kids several times. “It’s not fair” “This person is so…” “I hate so and so…” Strong words full of emotion and sometimes hurt. Deserved hurt after spilled words that were unkind or uncalled for. A conversation or action that spews evil. I’m guilty of it myself. Yet, when I dig deep, I’m usually tired, or upset at something totally unrelated, or unsure, and I lash out in a last ditch effort to find comfort in my own skin by barking out at someone else. Still, we are called to forgive. I remind my kids to be kind — even when it is hard. Those actions speak so much louder than words.
So how does a Jesus follower respond? Are “frenemies” okay to have? Do they only lead to back stabbing and fur flying? Sigh. Isn’t it comforting to know that God is so much bigger than our quarrels? He can heal the broken heart and melt the callous one. He can miraculously establish peace when there should fundamentally not be any. Does it mean we have to “do lunch” and smile and nod and agree all the time? No. But we are called to love, and to be at peace with one another as much as we are able. Even if the fur does fly now and then. Blessings, my beloveds! May you be encouraged in the journey this week… and aim for peace.
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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!
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