viewoutsidethepew

I caught some of a Joyce Meyer radio programme at work. I don’t get a chance to listen to much radio while working, for obvious reasons, but as I travel between sites where I am posted I do listen – occasionally.

Anyway, that isn’t the point. Since I did not catch her whole message I will not presume to summarize her point. What I heard her say is that our words can affect our condition of health: physical, spiritual and attitudinal.

Since that fits with the counselling technique I have used I thought I should just say again to myself what I already know, “Look at the positive and possible, then express that with words and that infects my being and, perhaps, even those around me”.

I do live a very positive attitude about work. Not only am I glad to have a job, but I enjoy it and the side benefits of experiencing the world at night which few people actually know about (animals, stars, planets, phases of the moon including its rise and set, traffic patterns and such).

Right now I’m working extra hours simply because they are available. Margaret volunteers with the Salvation Army toy drive (which she was paid to do the last two years) which involves close to full-time hours. So we have very little time together these days. But we both find ourselves doing what we like, and so we relish that for now. Besides, married for centuries now we have a solid relationship that gets through these strange times.

Now, I say all this because when I take a positive spin on life, thanking God  in these circumstances, that reminds me that, “The life I now live I live by believing in God’s Son, who loved me and took the punishment for my sins” (Galatians 2:20b God’s Word).

If I dwell on the victories of the Enemy, or having three university degrees and making barely more than minimum wage (and sometimes only minimum), indeed, any or all of the things that could drag me into the Slough of Despond (see “Pilgrim’s Progress”) then I will get stuck in that Swamp of Sadness. What a bog that would be to blog about!

I have experienced what evil comes from the malicious use of words. I choose not to repeat that horror and abuse on myself or others. I’ll spread Christmas cheer as much as possible – all year.

“We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray. Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head” (Ephesians 4:14b-15 God’s Word).