The Practice of Reflection on Scripture

Wow! I read this chapter earlier this week. I don’t even remember when. I was experiencing FREEDOM.

When the roads decided to be ice and snow-covered, and the winds decided to blow faster, I decided to skip the running at least for a while. I have it on good authority that I will be getting some very nice cold weather running gear for Christmas. GOODY. only slightly sarcastic. very slightly.

But I still set my alarm to get up early so that I could read and write. And I have snoozed every single day. That does not mean that I am anymore well-rested. How easily we fall back into bad habits.

What I HAVE learned is that I can be flexible in my schedule. All week, I have been flexible. And I have let go of the things that are not required in order to do some things that might be mentally healthy.

I read my chapter in the LSA parking lot at 2:30 p.m. rather than at 5:30 a.m. and I didn’t keel over dead! Remarkable. And I haven’t written about it until today and I’m still standing. Wowee wow wow. In fact, most of my days have been topsy turvy. I’ve gotten things done that were required and let other things that were not so important fall by the wayside. And I’m only a bit flustered and or snarky about it.

What have I gained? This book … well, I was hoping for a bit of transformation. It’s not really happening. I’m no better or worse for reading it, but I don’t think I’ve found anything close to the “Life [I’ve} Always Wanted”. If anything, I’m probably thinking about myself a little more than I should. I’m focusing upon myself a lot more.

Right there in the title is the word YOU. The second word in fact. This is a self-help book. DUH. Of course it is. It’s kind of like a horoscope, in that you read it and so identify with it that it’s kind of magical. The author knows you sooooo well. He just knows himself soooo well. And we all happen to be a lot alike. We LOVE ourselves. We LOVE to talk about ourselves. We LOVE to listen to ourselves. We LOVE to hear about ourselves. We LOVE to see ourselves. We just don’t want anyone else to know about it. Don’t worry. Anyone and everyone else are so concerned with themselves that they’re not paying any attention to you!

So what am I going to do about it? I’m going to finish the book. I’m going to finish the Study Guide blog. I’m not going to punish myself over it. And the holidays will soon be over and maybe I can find an alternative for transformation. And I have a feeling, it’s all about JESUS! If I cannot get anything else right, Jesus is still waiting for me at the end of the day, with open arms. That’s how He conquers us. He loves us even when we hate ourselves …

For everyone who asks receives,
and the one who seeks finds,
and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:8 (ESV)