Good Morning! I'm going to jump right in. (Pool humor intended.)
Turbulence is defined as a violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or some other fluid.
Sometimes while I'm swimming I get a lot of turbulence from other swimmers. Not all swimmers are concentrating on the same goals. And some swimmers create more turbulence the longer they swim...I'm guessing because they're getting tired.
Anyway, a swimmer who is kicking in and out of the water instead of under the water, or one who is thrashing the water with his arms instead of cutting into it, creates turbulence. It's not just a gentle movement of water around them.
What that means for swimmers in the other lanes (me) is a much more difficult swim. I'm pushed and pulled according to the direction of the swimmer creating the turbulence. Compensating becomes difficult. Weaknesses in my stroke become more pronounced and I grow tired much more quickly.
There are times I want the other swimmers to go away. I've even considered trying to strike up a conversation and gently telling them the more they're outside the water the less efficient they are with their energy. Of course, I would never have the guts to do that while standing around in my bathing suit and being a novice swimmer. Who do I think I am?
What's the spiritual lesson I've been learning? Just as I cannot control who swims laps while I swim laps, I cannot control who I will encounter throughout my day. There will be people who've had a bad morning when I'm at the store, driving, and even at church. Or maybe they're experiencing some sort of grief and they're in survival mode. You ever notice how self absorb we become when we're just trying to make it through the day? Or how about this, they have said "Yes" to too many things and are now in such a hurry that they are oblivious to you and common courtesy is nowhere to be found.
All of these things create turbulence in our daily lives. And short of staying home and never getting around anyone ever again, we're going to encounter turbulence on a regular basis. It takes concentration and compensation on our part if we're going to continue living in the way we should live and doing the things we should do in the way we should do them.
I've begun intentionally paying attention to my interactions with others. Do I create turbulence in the lives of those around me? Am I so self absorbed I do not think or care about those around me and how I'm affecting them? Have I filled my day so full that the lack of margin has me frazzled and unaware of the people I encounter? What about the ones I love? Are they getting beat up as I beat my way forward in my hurry to get everything done?
These are hard questions and I'm no where near living a turbulent free life. But, I'm practicing daily. I'm getting stronger and learning to move more smoothly through my days. Just like when I practice swimming my laps. Practice makes perfect; when we practice right!
The verses I've chosen for this swimming lesson are Galatians 5:13-15. You were called to be free. Only do not let that freedom become an excuse for allowing your old nature to have its way. Instead, serve one another in love. For the whole of the instruction is summed up in this one sentence: "Love your neighbor as yourself"; but if you go on snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, watch out, or you will be destroyed with each other.
LORD, help me to throw away my old self absorbed ways and practice living in both freedom and love. At the same time, please help me to receive all the peace and joy of the relationships you have given to me and bless others instead of beat them up. Amen.
Turbulence is defined as a violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or some other fluid.
Sometimes while I'm swimming I get a lot of turbulence from other swimmers. Not all swimmers are concentrating on the same goals. And some swimmers create more turbulence the longer they swim...I'm guessing because they're getting tired.
Anyway, a swimmer who is kicking in and out of the water instead of under the water, or one who is thrashing the water with his arms instead of cutting into it, creates turbulence. It's not just a gentle movement of water around them.
What that means for swimmers in the other lanes (me) is a much more difficult swim. I'm pushed and pulled according to the direction of the swimmer creating the turbulence. Compensating becomes difficult. Weaknesses in my stroke become more pronounced and I grow tired much more quickly.
There are times I want the other swimmers to go away. I've even considered trying to strike up a conversation and gently telling them the more they're outside the water the less efficient they are with their energy. Of course, I would never have the guts to do that while standing around in my bathing suit and being a novice swimmer. Who do I think I am?
What's the spiritual lesson I've been learning? Just as I cannot control who swims laps while I swim laps, I cannot control who I will encounter throughout my day. There will be people who've had a bad morning when I'm at the store, driving, and even at church. Or maybe they're experiencing some sort of grief and they're in survival mode. You ever notice how self absorb we become when we're just trying to make it through the day? Or how about this, they have said "Yes" to too many things and are now in such a hurry that they are oblivious to you and common courtesy is nowhere to be found.
All of these things create turbulence in our daily lives. And short of staying home and never getting around anyone ever again, we're going to encounter turbulence on a regular basis. It takes concentration and compensation on our part if we're going to continue living in the way we should live and doing the things we should do in the way we should do them.
I've begun intentionally paying attention to my interactions with others. Do I create turbulence in the lives of those around me? Am I so self absorbed I do not think or care about those around me and how I'm affecting them? Have I filled my day so full that the lack of margin has me frazzled and unaware of the people I encounter? What about the ones I love? Are they getting beat up as I beat my way forward in my hurry to get everything done?
These are hard questions and I'm no where near living a turbulent free life. But, I'm practicing daily. I'm getting stronger and learning to move more smoothly through my days. Just like when I practice swimming my laps. Practice makes perfect; when we practice right!
The verses I've chosen for this swimming lesson are Galatians 5:13-15. You were called to be free. Only do not let that freedom become an excuse for allowing your old nature to have its way. Instead, serve one another in love. For the whole of the instruction is summed up in this one sentence: "Love your neighbor as yourself"; but if you go on snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, watch out, or you will be destroyed with each other.
LORD, help me to throw away my old self absorbed ways and practice living in both freedom and love. At the same time, please help me to receive all the peace and joy of the relationships you have given to me and bless others instead of beat them up. Amen.
I really like this!!!
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