SHOW RESPECT

SHOW RESPECT

Show TODAY the respect that it deserves. How? By respecting the pace of the day. How? By not rushing forward into tomorrow. How? By not ruminating about yesterday. How? By quieting your restless head and heart. How? By surrendering the need to control. How? By tempering the tendency to grasp. How? By releasing the fear of there not being enough. How? By knowing that you are enough. Respecting TODAY should be simple and straightforward. It is all that you have. It is not simple nor is it straightforward. Why?

Regardless of social status, age, lifestyle etc., humankind shares a common struggle, a hungry heart for something or someone. That struggle has the potential to be rooted in the belief that there isn’t enough for everyone to have what they need, therefore one must grab all that they can while they can. Second to that is the belief that what someone else has diminishes the size of the pie available for me. Which then pushes one to ask, “What is enough?”

Enough is subjective at best. For the sake of argument – enough is the quantity of something needed to satisfy hunger. For what do you hunger (having a strong desire or craving)? I don’t know and your answer may not be readily available. But I seek to know. Frantically grasping and working to fill an unidentified or non-specific hunger is one way one might disrespect TODAY.

The root of hunger has greater potential to be revealed when rush (a disrespect-or of today) is shelved and replaced with a good serving of rest, reflection, and relaxation. “The present well spent builds the future.” Nobel Prize Winner, Dennis Gabor

The brain signals for hunger and thirst are difficult to distinguish from one another. The two can overlap. Unless one is mindful of their hydration levels and their specific sensations of hunger versus thirst, thirst may be mistaken for hunger which may lead to grabbing food. Ingesting food when thirsty may lead to overeating. AND overeating is never going to be enough. Overeating is not the answer for thirst nor is over drinking the answer for true hunger.

Knowing your body’s physical and emotional needs is the road map to better health now and in the future. Respecting the rhythm of the body is essential for good health AND is one of the ways we can show respect for TODAY. How? Acting on what is known allows one to be intentional about constructing a pace that honors the body, environment, and well-being of the individual. One intentionally creates boundaries that supports the needs of TODAY. Boundaries, if respected, provide guidance and guard one from grasping more than is needed for the present. After all each day is a priceless gift – not promised and not to be taken for granted…learn to respect it.

Matthew 6:31-34

PONDER THIS THOUGHT ----For what are you hungry? It may not be what you think.