INSPIRASUNS

Reading the title of today’s little blog pretty much sums up the message. This could be the shortest of the 1,340 blogs I’ve written 🙂 . When you think about it, though, those three words sum up how to live our lives: just focus on Jesus.

Yesterday, one of our parishioners (let’s call her Jane for now), had a little problem. She had come to church to drop off some linens and participate in the Tuesday afternoon prayer group. My facilities manager called me a little after one to say that he had found this parishioner sitting on a pew in the church. She had turned wrong and wrenched a muscle in her neck and couldn’t move. She has had issues with this recently, and this appeared to be another flare-up.

I made my way over to the church to check on her, and she was indeed in some significant pain. She said that when she’d had this happen at home, she found that if she could sit and relax, the pain would subside in about 30 minutes. So, we sat and let her relax. No dice, the pain, the muscle spasms, were getting worse, not better. It was then that she shared she had medication for these episodes, but of course, it was at home. Fortunately here daughter and grandson were visiting, and I suggested we contact them to bring what she needed. A quick call and her grandson was on his way.

While we waited, her pain continued to worsen, and I was beginning to think we would need to call EMS to transport her to the ER. While we waited, I spoke softly to her and worked with her to slow her breathing and relax. I asked her to take deep breaths in through her nose and out through her mouth. “Focus on your breathing”, I said. She did, and she began to relax.

Her grandson arrived, she was able to take her medication, and within about 40 minutes, we were able to collectively move her to the car. We got her home, and again we went through the “focus on your breathing” exercise as she made her way out of the car and into her home.

This morning, as I was in prayer with Father, I was including Jane in my prayers when my mind wandered a bit to the events of yesterday. I took a few deep breaths to refocus, and that’s when I heard, “Focus on Jesus”, and a picture of our Lord came clearly into view. It made me think, yesterday, instead of “Focus on your breathing”, I should have said, “Focus on Jesus”, and just prayed with Jane. That was a “duh” moment, wasn’t it?

Friends, the unexpected events in our lives are opportunities to focus on Jesus. Whether good, bad, challenging, or exciting, they are moments to put Him first. He listens, heals, comforts, and gives us everything we need during whatever we face.

So, not the shortest little blog I’ve written, but maybe one of the simplest messages. Just focus on Jesus, let Him do the rest. Have a great day, friends.

Psalm 105:4
Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually.