Taken Out Of The Game

My modis operandi is to meet as many friends as possible in any given week.  Since life is about relationships (first with God and then with others), I love meeting with people when I’m not traveling to visit family.  Because I usually fly, I witness the flight attendant giving her standard spiel, but is anyone listening?  Nope.  However, in the repertoire of instructions they always advise, “Put your own mask on first.”  I have shared this bit of wisdom with several friends over the years.

Any other senior citizen (like me) can relate to being surrounded by friends who are going through many issues in their lives.  It’s difficult to watch others suffer and that in itself can be overwhelming at times.

So, what does God do?  Sometimes He takes you out of the game for awhile.  Time to sit on the bench.  What happened to “put your own mask on first”?  Was that just for everyone else?  Sitting out the game is frustrating.  You want to be out there – moving and doing.  The bench is downright boring.

I was into my third week (weak!) hacking and coughing.  God had me idle.  I couldn’t do much for anyone, but I could pray and leave it all in His most capable hands.  He knows I’m stubborn and a slow learner, but He didn’t give up on me (nor did He let me off the bench right away).

Are you on the bench?  Have you been taken out of the game for awhile?  Is there something He’s trying to teach you?

“Come unto Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest…”  (Matthew 11:28)

“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.”  (Proverbs 3:13)