Lent Day 18

God speaks to us in different ways at different times.  It seems lent is always a time God gives me a book to read, which is what I need to read to transform my heart.  A recent book I read was The Zen of Listening.  It starts out by saying, "Welcome to the Age of Distraction!"  We are inundated with distractions.  As I read it I realized my biggest barriers to successful relationships and endeavors are my distractions.  Later, in the book the author writes, "Many of us think that more toys, stocks, and houses we accumulate the happier and more serene we will be."  It is so irrational - because as soon as it's on paper it's easy to see the opposite is true.  Unfortunately, we're inundated with the message which perpetuates the rat race.  However, it's worse, "We can be deluded into thinking that if we lose what we have, we will be miserable."

It is a great reminder, for me, that the most valuable things in our lives are not things at all.  They are the gifts that God provides us, in our love, our joys, and our faith.  I life without these is empty - or at best fleeting in satisfaction.

Today's Focus:  Sugar can be an addiction.  Here is a great article which highlights our addiction to sugar.  Once again, those pesky dopamines, which we saw in Gambling, Shopping, and Porn addiction is coming up.  Remember, the World Health Organization, the American Heart Association, and the Food and Agriculture Association all recommend no more than 50 grams of sugar in your diet per day.  If you're getting more than that, on any kind of consistent basis, then you may be putting yourself at risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  If it is indeed on a consistent basis you should probably ask yourself whether your sweet tooth is more of an addiction.

Today's Positive Action:  Today in addition to drinking eight cups of water – please use a reusable bottle or cup.  Our unnecessary consumption is not just in the food we eat. The Environment Action Association estimates America alone consumes and wastes approximately 400 Million disposable cups just from coffee alone - every day - that's more than one for every per person.  This is not good environmental stewardship – and it reflects another area where our complacency will destroy us.  So today when you drink your water use a reusable cup or container – it’s good for you and good for the environment.

Dear Lord, far too often we are distracted from You and Your word.  Sometimes we feel like happiness will be around the corner - with the next promotion, with a little bit bigger house, with a faster car, or with a promotion.  We know that happiness doesn't come when those things arrive.  We've been through the process before.  They only create more clutter in our lives.  After we achieve those things we find we're only more distracted.  Today in our journey remind us that happiness comes from positive and grateful attitude.  An attitude that includes Your message and Your hope.  Then help us commit to that attitude and share it.  Let us bring hope where there is doubt.  Let us bring hope where there is despair.  Let us bring light where there are shadows.  AMEN!

Thanks for letting me share.