In the midst of The Great Sunglasses Search, I may have lost my sense of humor. Now, you could probably guess that it wasn’t just the sunglasses, or the way a friend called me out for being inconsiderate, or the way I reacted to someone else being inconsiderate, or the many errands I have run over the past couple of days, or even my obsession with the Minimalist Challenge (I’ve completed 15 days in 2 days — that’s 120 items so far, but who’s counting?).
No, it wasn’t any one of those things that made me lose my sense of humor — it was a cumulative effect. I was chugging along with tons of energy, feeling very positive about this trip to Israel, when I suddenly noticed that the space between my eyebrows was wrinkled, my jaw was set, and little things were starting to bug me. Eh, whatever, I thought, so I’m a little irked. I’ve still got to mail two packages, stop by the library, pick up a few things at Target, print out two documents, and doggone it, did I look in those other suitcases? Maybe my sunglasses are in there!
Yes, yes, I know, I need to pace myself. How many times have we been over this. Fortunately, my body hasn’t revolted and flung me on the couch. That is probably due to the fact that although I accomplished all of the above, I also sat at the puzzle table for a few hours last night and had the satisfaction of completing a 1000-piecer, tossing it back in the box, and adding it to the donation pile. (Yes, I’m a little out of control.) Also, I know myself well enough that I made sure to do yoga twice last week and twice this week already, following each 75-minute session with a soak in the jacuzzi.
Nevertheless, I’ve got to calm down a little. I mean, we are leaving TOMORROW with THIRTY STUDENTS for TWELVE DAYS! The one thing I can’t leave at home is my sense of humor!!
So, you know, in the spirit of my commitment to Return to the Lord, I came home after yoga this morning, did three more things on my to-do list, then grouchily opened my Bible Reading plan. If you have read this blog more than three times, you know what happened. I was convicted right in the middle of my reading, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: …enmity, strife,…fits of anger, …dissensions, divisions,…and things like these.” Darn flesh.
Keep reading, Rathje, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Well, of course not, silly. Who would outlaw kindness or gentleness? patience? peace? Nah, we don’t have to outlaw those things — those are the things we forget to do, the things we turn away from. The things that need to be outlawed are the ones we are bent on doing — like getting irritated and ticked off!
So, what’s a girl to do? Ahem, keep reading, “…those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Really? Because my flesh seems to be alive and kicking, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
There it is. My flesh is alive and kicking; it’s true. It’s got to be crucified moment by moment. It’s a continual act of turning away from the flesh and toward the Spirit. That’ll probably be easier to do in the Holy Land, right? Ha-ha. That’s funny.
Alright, guys, I’m headed out one more time this afternoon. I’m not coming home tonight until I have located one pair of sunglasses, two travel umbrellas, a pile of cash in small denominations, and a well-fortified sense of humor.
Because tomorrow, my friends, we go to Israel.
“…the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Amen, Come, Lord Jesus.
(I Peter 5:10)
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