We Have Some Choices to Make

Everything was fine until it wasn’t. My body periodically does not behave very well, and despite chiropractic care and analgesics, here I sit… rather here I lay. 

Being in this predicament reminds me of going to the rodeo recently. Rodeo in Texas is like Fashion Week in New York. The latest styles in western wear are donned, and for three weeks, cowboys vie for their ticket to the finals in their event. Literal blood, sweat and tears are shed in pursuit of staking claim to the championship round.
 
On the night of the finals, the coliseum was electric. One of the top bull riders prepared to take an eight second ride to what would be sure victory based on his current standings. I don’t know what happened. Maybe the might of the bull was too much when he took a notion to buck the other direction in a split, snot-slinging decision. Maybe his hand came lose. Whatever the case, he took a flying leap through the air and careened back down to the dirt within moments. No championship. No victory. But even though his name didn’t become emblazoned in history as this year’s winner, I saw a win that night. 

When we are faced with challenging circumstances, like being flat on our back in a health quandary or strapped to a 2,000 pound animal that is likely hangry, we have some choices to make. 

Kick worry to the curb, and bar the door. 
Studies show that of the thousands of thoughts we think in a day, more than half of them are negative.
 
No way. Not me. I think higher thoughts. I did a quick reel rewind of just the thoughts I’d allowed to marinate within the last few hours. Yikes. Many of my thoughts were centered around worry. Negativity. Most of which were things that are completely out of my control and may never even happen. Worry is a joy robber and peace stealer. 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all [a]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)

Change your focus. 
Worry is rarely just a little Lone Ranger thought. Maybe it starts that way, but those thoughts become bees. Where there is one, there is a hive nearby. Thoughts have to be lassoed, wrangled, wrestled with if need be, and presented hostage before the Lord as unwelcome invaders. 

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

When the bull rider flew off that bull, he stayed in the dirt for a few seconds. But when he got up, he held his head up as if to say, “See you next time. This won’t keep me down.” He has a race to continue running. Things to accomplish. Goals to work toward. 

Life is a mixture of proverbial eight second wins mingled with a few snafus of eating dust. 

At the end of the day, Jesus is Lord. His name is Majesty. Name above all names. And when those thoughts climb their way to the top of the chain, we win regardless of our circumstance.