May 1, 2020
“Pay me now or pay me later”. This old phrase always pops into my head when I have to spend money on things that aren’t absolutely essential at that moment. Take car maintenance for example. The finance note, the insurance and the gas to keep it going are all obvious, upfront expenses when owning a car. But eventually you have to get the oil changed, buy new tires, replace the wiper blades, maybe even wash and vacuum the french fries out of it. To not do these things (spend this money) when needed, can lead to bigger problems down the line. Car engines like clean oil. Old tires go flat at the worst possible time and location. Going 70 on the freeway in a blinding rainstorm with bad wipers is terrifying. And ants WILL get in your van if you leave enough fries in there. So, pay now or pay later. I think all procrastinators and/or penny pinchers have learned some lesson of this type in their life. Personal maintenance is no different. There is the obvious physical maintenance required. (some of us more than others) Hair needs cutting (or coloring), nails need manicuring, skin needs moisturizing. The dentist is a necessary eventuality. (sooner and often is better). Then there is the inside physical self that must be maintained. That’s too long a list to make. (But annual doctor visits should not be put off.) And I don’t want to talk about exercise. Gosh it’s exhausting to be a semi-attractive, healthy adult these days! Perhaps the most important “work that needs to be done” that is most definitely the most ignored is on our inner mental and spiritual health. But who has time for that? Can’t I do that LATER? Before this quarantine situation I used to squeeze in 10 minutes every morning to read a devotional and pray real quick while my mind was already being pulled away with what the day would bring. I usually fell asleep sitting up before I got to my nighttime prayers. My conversations with God were always one-sided and “on the go”. My mental and spiritual engine was not running well. Writing this blog has enabled me to sit, think, pray and most importantly, LISTEN to God at the beginning of each day. Yesterday when I was too busy to write and reflect, my whole day felt strange and disconnected. This new habit I’ve been blessed to form has improved my inner self in ways I could never have imagined. I am finally doing a better job at maintaining the part of me that matters most. On the outside I’m a van that needs a trip to the car wash and vacuum station but on the inside my engine is running smoothly! 2 Timothy 1:7 says: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” And 1 Chronicles 16:11 says: “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” Take care of yourself! Let God wash your cares and worries away! Smile and be joyful!
“Pay me now or pay me later”. This old phrase always pops into my head when I have to spend money on things that aren’t absolutely essential at that moment. Take car maintenance for example. The finance note, the insurance and the gas to keep it going are all obvious, upfront expenses when owning a car. But eventually you have to get the oil changed, buy new tires, replace the wiper blades, maybe even wash and vacuum the french fries out of it. To not do these things (spend this money) when needed, can lead to bigger problems down the line. Car engines like clean oil. Old tires go flat at the worst possible time and location. Going 70 on the freeway in a blinding rainstorm with bad wipers is terrifying. And ants WILL get in your van if you leave enough fries in there. So, pay now or pay later. I think all procrastinators and/or penny pinchers have learned some lesson of this type in their life. Personal maintenance is no different. There is the obvious physical maintenance required. (some of us more than others) Hair needs cutting (or coloring), nails need manicuring, skin needs moisturizing. The dentist is a necessary eventuality. (sooner and often is better). Then there is the inside physical self that must be maintained. That’s too long a list to make. (But annual doctor visits should not be put off.) And I don’t want to talk about exercise. Gosh it’s exhausting to be a semi-attractive, healthy adult these days! Perhaps the most important “work that needs to be done” that is most definitely the most ignored is on our inner mental and spiritual health. But who has time for that? Can’t I do that LATER? Before this quarantine situation I used to squeeze in 10 minutes every morning to read a devotional and pray real quick while my mind was already being pulled away with what the day would bring. I usually fell asleep sitting up before I got to my nighttime prayers. My conversations with God were always one-sided and “on the go”. My mental and spiritual engine was not running well. Writing this blog has enabled me to sit, think, pray and most importantly, LISTEN to God at the beginning of each day. Yesterday when I was too busy to write and reflect, my whole day felt strange and disconnected. This new habit I’ve been blessed to form has improved my inner self in ways I could never have imagined. I am finally doing a better job at maintaining the part of me that matters most. On the outside I’m a van that needs a trip to the car wash and vacuum station but on the inside my engine is running smoothly! 2 Timothy 1:7 says: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” And 1 Chronicles 16:11 says: “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” Take care of yourself! Let God wash your cares and worries away! Smile and be joyful!
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