Managing life's crises

Dang. I hate it when the computer just randomly shuts off while you're in the middle of something important...like blogging. It was so good, and then the computer just shuts down. Maybe its because I let my Anti-virus expire two months ago cause I didn't have the money to renew my subscription. Oh well, I bit the bullet and got it renewed...$50 later. Why should we have to pay $50 a year just for stupid virus protection? That's like half the price of my renter's insurance for a year. But what would I do without my computer...? Most of my life these past few years has relied heavily on this particular technology. How many hours have I spent searching research journals and writing papers for classes? How many job ads have I examined, how many resumes have I written and sent away? How many late nights talking on MSN to friends and now writing blogs? Perhaps the expense of virus protection is worth keeping my PC clean and virus free. Sometimes I wonder who invented computer viruses? Honestly, I don't know who would take the time to do such a thing. Come one guys, get a life! I really get a kick out of those people who send away nasty viruses to unsuspecting people's emails. What drives someone to do something so awful...and nerdy?

Anyhow, I was writing an email on how good church was and how I'm really glad that I forced myself out of bed this morning to go (and no, it wasn't just good because of the pizza). Since going to Central, we've been listening to a series on 'managing life's crises', which seems particularly fitting to my life right now, because it seems like I've been bombarded with one little crises after another (more than I've ever had at once, anyways). The messages have really been putting into perspective on how exactly I should go about dealing with these issues. Here's a little of what I've been learning.

First, it is important to define the term 'crisis.' The Chinese do that really well: they use the characters for 'danger' and 'opportunity' for crisis. The reality of our lives and how we deal with them can either spell out treading out into dangerous territory, or creating good opportunity from the bad circumstance. The vital part on the outcome is how God fits into the equation.

Reality- God = Danger

Reality + God = opportunity.

I could see on how we can create danger for ourselves when ignoring God to help us through our issues. We really are selfishly motivated creatures, aren't we, just looking to gratify the lusts of the flesh. Not adding God to the equation can spell disaster, leaving us angry, lost, cynical, hurt, and even more depraved than we were before.

Making God front and center into the equation is how we can create opportunity. Because, let's face it, God's quite a bit smarter than we are, and He knows what choices will be good for us, and which will be bad. So how do be include God in dealing with crises?

I think, once coming to terms with the reality of the crisis, one must come to terms with God and having faith in who He is. He tells us in His word to 'pray without ceasing,' and 'ask, and it shall be given to you.' So, we must pray in times of crises, being persistent, and expecting an answer. When the time is right, God will direct one of what action to take. For one who's lost their job, it might be "consider a career change and apply to this post-secondary program." To those with health issues, it may be "take better care of your body" or "take this opportunity to draw nearer to Me."
Once God gives guidance, we must trust His judgement and do what He says. There will be hardships and things hindering us from reaching our goal, but in the words of the author of Hebrews : "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

So, I've been really challenged in these messages, on how I am to deal with my present situation. I really do want to put God front and center in my life, and trust Him to lead me through these issues. I don't want to create more danger for myself (trust me, I've created enough for myself these past few years). I'm ready to make things right and get focused on the race set before me.

And I feel that I'm getting on the right track. This weekend was really good, and for the first time in a few months I've been feeling a sense of peace with everything. I may not like where I am, but I'm feeling o.k. It dawned on me, as I was cooking supper tonight, that I'm feeling more like "Me" than I have in four years. I'm feeling comfortable with who I am (in Christ), and looking forward to finding out where I'm headed.