Learning To Live Today

Small irritants can cause big problems. When ignored or not dealt with properly, they can negatively impact how we think and speak and act in other, more important situations. I was by myself and knocked a bull moose down in heavy brush. I was in a 'walk in only' area. The 'no-see-ums' were so thick and biting my exposed skin so relentlessly that I could hardly stand it. I started cutting very rapidly and got careless with my skinning knife. I ended up plunging the knife into my calf in a story that ended at a hospital (over 100 miles away) many, many hours later. 

I learned the next day that two of my friends had shot a bull in the same area earlier that week. I asked one of them, "Did the no-see-ums drive you crazy?" He replied, "No. We dealt with them before we got started. We built a small fire upwind of the bull before we started cutting it up and the smoke drove the no-see-ums out." I ignored those small irritants and my life got more complicated (and much worse). They dealt with the irritants up front and had a much better experience. 

So- how do we deal with those circumstances or people who irritate us? Before doing anything, get your HEART and your MIND right, and get your EMOTIONS under control. Remember the value of the people in front of you. Remember the importance of the spiritual mission you are on. If you were writing your autobiography and these irritating circumstances wouldn't make the title of a chapter, then they can't really be very important, can they? 

I doubt that there will be a chapter titled, "The kids didn't pick up their toys," or, "My co-worker was always rude to me." Learning to live TODAY with an eternal perspective calms so many of life's irritating storms. When you deal the right way with the small stuff, everything else gets better! Be blessed! -Pastor Brad