Wearing Sunglasses in Tunnels Makes it Pretty Hard to See Clearly

I was recently in a very "freaked out" temperament. I couldn't see the light at the end of the short tunnel  that I was driving through. It was interesting, because I was frustrated with myself and the things that I hadn't taken care of or had forgotten to be disciplined with. This, of course, led me to get a little frustrated at myself. I began to put on my own sunglasses of self-centeredness that are aimed at trying to skew my own view of what is going on in my life. I tried to ignore certain things so that I could deal with doing my job, living my life, and continuing to press on. But, the problem is, you can't see very well when you have sunglasses on and you are driving through a tunnel.

And like the sign says, you have to watch out for slow moving traffic in tunnels, because some other people aren't willing to drive as fast as you are. So, I get overly frustrated at the slow moving traffic because I can't see them coming up, all because I have my self-centered sunglasses on and am just being stupid. After this, my frustration begins to build up as I get frustrated at the fact that there is even a tunnel here. Why in the world am I doing what I'm doing and why am I trapped in this place? I begin to question so much more than just the slow moving traffic or my the conditions of the road. I begin to question and get frustrated with the tunnel that is my path in life through the mountain and my life turns into this big crying towel fest where nothing gets done all because I didn't read the signs and see that I should just take off my sunglasses.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33


Take off the sunglasses of self-centeredness. Focus on the Son and the tunnel that He might have us in so that we can come out on the other side trusting that it is the path He has set before us. Trust in His plan and purpose. Trust in the people He has put in front of you. You will make it. He has overcome the world.

The Own Goal

The game of soccer is quite obscure to me. I've watched many times but rarely, have I come to totally comprehend the sport. It's a curious game to me. So much is determined on spacing and timing. More coordination than maybe even Sychronized Swimming (which I'm not sure I'm ready to call a sport).

At any rate, while much planning and coordination goes into this sport, there is always a very specific moment where a goal requires absolutely no coordination and sychronization at all. A moment when the chance of someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing a specific action with a result that usually changes the game's feel, pace and momentum.

The Own Goal.

Hardly ever a purposeful action, it produces the worst feeling in the world. Never feels good, always makes the doubt inside of you rise to levels never felt before and typically gives the other team a spark they might not have experienced otherwise.

Reminds me of the battle we face, as followers of Christ. Those moments in our lives when we score a goal for the other team. The moments when we simply choose to ignore the guidelines we have been given to help us live lives that are holy and set apart.

The crazy thing is that when we commit these moments of unforeseen disobedience, it makes us feel unwanted, unworthy and unqualified, and most times these are our own applications of shame.
So, today, when you tally that Own Goal, remember He saw it coming. He died for all of it. And no matter what, you are wanted, you have been made worthy, and you are qualified to do the work He has set before you.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? - Romans 6:1-3

GC