Basic Truths | Finding God in Everyday Life

  I watched the Super Bowl last week. I was impressed by all the preparation that the players and their coaches made in getting ready for the game. They showed total dedication to their profession. It made me wonder about the sacrifices they had to make in order to be so single-minded in their focus.   As Christians, we have a calling that demands that same level of dedication. We should be devoted to serving our Lord and Savior. We are part of a “team”, the Body of Christ. If we get distracted by the affairs of the world and don’t fulfill our role, it affects not just us but the rest of the team.   We shouldn’t become complacent, accepting mediocrity instead of wholehearted effort. Paul urges us, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last...

  At several of the places I worked at, I was given the task of calming down and taking care of angry patients. I approached the task by asking the Spirit for guidance in knowing what to say and do. When I walked into the room. I put on my biggest smile and my most cheerful voice. Thus equipped, I began by stating my name and asking what I could do for them. This didn’t always work to calm the situation but it usually helped.   Our attitude has a lot to do with how we view the world and our daily activities. Positivity breeds positivity and negativity breeds negativity. This is true not just for our outlook but for our relationships as well.   Pope Francis said something that spoke to me. “Each day that begins, if welcomed in prayer, is accompanied by courage, so that the problems we have to face no longer seem obstacles in the way of our happiness, but messages from God, chances to encounter Him. When a person is accompanied by the Lord, he or she feels more cour...

  I’ve been battling vertigo this week. I’ve had it for many years. It’s usually just an inconvenience but every once in a while it flares up and the dizziness is so bad that I can’t do anything. Vertigo is typically caused by an inner ear problem. The inner ears control our sense of balance. They send messages to the brain, allowing it to know what position the head is in and whether it is moving or not. When one ear is working and the other is not, the brain gets conflicting messages. At first, the brain can’t figure out which is the correct message, leading to severe dizziness. Eventually the brain figures out what is going on and only pays attention to the good ear and ignores the bad ear.   We are all at risk for spiritual vertigo. We are constantly getting messages from the world, which often are not in alignment with God’s message. If we try to pay attention to both messages, we will become spiritually dizzy. The dizziness will interfere with our spiritual walk if i...

  I remember going shopping when our daughter was just a toddler. She was enthralled by the 180 degree mirrors in the clothing section of the department store. I suspect we could have left her there for an hour and she wouldn’t even have noticed.   Our leaders, and society at large, are promoting a 360 degree mirror view of the world. Whichever way you look, all you see is your own reflection. Whatever problem you look at, whatever people are affected, all that matters is how it affects you. You don’t see beyond the mirror to anyone else.   As Christians, we must reject this self-centeredness. We are called to be people of compassion, caring for others, especially those with the greatest need. We don’t wall ourselves off. Rather, we remove any obstacle that separates us from those we are called to love and serve. We are called to BE the mirror, reflecting the light of Christ into the darkness. “ But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory ...