Fork in the Road

Upon boarding a flight, what ifs begin to flow throughout our minds.  From simple to complex what ifs: What if I forgot to lock the front door?  What if my luggage gets lost?  What if I lose my cellphone?  What if I get sick midair?  What if the pilot gets sick midair?  The list goes on and varies among individuals.  We try to sit patiently in seat as others jam bags into above compartments, gather all items to keep entertained throughout the flight and nestle into their seats as well.  The anticipation of takeoff builds along with slight anxiety. 

To make matter worse, a flight attendant stands in front prior to taxi and adds to the what if list.  The attendant explains scenarios along with proper reactions to ensure safety.  To sum it up, you are on your own should the plane go down!  Your seat will serve as a floating device, only two exits encompass the whole plane and oxygen will shoot down from the ceiling.  So, what ifs increase in complexity:  What if the seat does not detach?  What if exit door fails to open?  What if a mad rush to the exits leaves me trampled on the floor?  Okay, I think I need the supplemental oxygen NOW!

Deep breath, calm down and listen to instructions.  Failure to listen will lead to increased problems should an emergency occur.  The attendant gets to the oxygen portion and reminds the flight to place oxygen on self prior to helping anyone else.  Seems a little selfish, right?  It is, but failure to do so leave you unable to help the next person.  Lack of oxygen will eventually lead to physical weakness, mental fog and passing out.  What good would you be then?

What ifs pile into our daily routine.  These can overtake and destroy the joys of the moment.  Our minds fail to listen for instruction due to consumed worry.  Anxiety builds beyond control inevitably landing us in an emergency (which we are not prepared to handle).  Oxygen please!

Deep breath, calm down and listen to instructions.  Our Teacher shares countless instructions varying day to day.  He provides instruction neatly written down for all to pick up and have as a guide for life.  Turn around; it is that dusty Book which sits on the bookshelf.  Clear off the dust and open the pages to find instructions for any situation. 

His Truth will reveal that you must first fill up with Him, learn His character, believe in His free gift, trust Him to guide your feet and take that first step prior to helping anyone else.  Seem a little selfish?  See, we are mere vessels working on Earth to bring others to know Him.  We borrow these bodies which hold the Holy Spirit inside to be revealed to others.  Honor God with the body given: nourish the mind with Truth, soul with Love and the physical with proper nutrients for each day.  Activate the Holy Spirit with an invitation each morning. 

Filled up, you may now go and poor out.  Failure to do so each day leaves a body unable to function properly itself, let alone help another.  The example set forth by an unnourished body may even hinder the next person or veer them from Truth.  Eventually, the empty vessel will crash and burn: physically become weak/unhealthy, experience brain fog due to lies overtaking each thought and fall down in surrender.  Surrender to what?  Here in lies the fork in the road. . .

Throughout our journey we will hit these times when we forget or fail to fill up.  We eventually hit a fork in the road:  conform to the world’s way of healing or lay it all at the cross?  At the cross, you will gain strength, health, clarity and direction.  In the world, you will gain heartache, illness, addiction, lies, failure and dead end paths.  What good would you be to anyone around if consumed with this world?

Let us take this day and honor God with the bodies given to us.  Trust His instructions.  Use the tools given for times of emergency.  He will not fail you.  Therefore, rid yourselves of any what ifs and stand firm on His Truth.  The example you set will spill onto others and help them in ways never imagined.  It is then, purpose occurs!  Take this step with me and become selfish!  Take care of self to then take care of others!

Keep praying harder than the devil can work.