Update #139 - Navel Gazing

"For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold his face." Psalm 11:7

Candidasa, Bali, Indonesia

I really like The Message version of the Bible. It gives me a fresh look at verses I have read hundreds of times.

Like the one above. I read it one Saturday morning:

“God’s business is putting things right; he loves getting the lines straight, setting us straight. Once we’re all standing tall, we can look him straight in the eye.”

I love things organized, neat, orderly – tidy – so this action of God sounds great to me! But, what would keep me from standing tall? What would keep me bent over and unable to rise? What would prevent me from looking God straight in the eye? Hmmm…navel-gazing.

Wiktionary defines navel-gazing as: excessive focus on oneself; introspection; i.e. an intense spotlight on me and my situations; concentrating on the pressure I am feeling; the fairness or lack-their-of in situations I am experiencing; the pity party with or without other participants I am holding.

What else would keep me from having eye contact with God? Hmmm…comparison.

How come they get a new car? How come they get the great job offer? How come they have a spouse and family and I don’t? How come they have the money to go on vacation? How come? How come? How come?

Why didn’t I get promoted? Why didn’t I have that opportunity presented to me? Why didn’t I get invited? Why can’t I be included? Why can’t I have the same thing offered to me?

Excessive navel-gazing /comparison can be costly. What is weighing you down so you can’t stand tall? What keeps you from bringing your shoulders back and chin up? What causes your back to curve and chest to cave? What pushes you down?

Where is your focus? Yourself? Others? Is it on what others have in comparison to you? Is it on what you lack? Is it on your perceived weakness and inability? Is it on what you want but don’t have?

Or is your focus on the sovereign God? Are you able to look him straight in the eye? More importantly, have you let him come in and organize your life, lay things straight, put things right; clean things out?

God is a God of righteousness and simplicity. He isn’t complicated, he isn’t tricky to understand. Focus on him, let him have access, ask his opinion and things go relatively well, and most likely your life will be blessed. But, spend too much time picking the lint out of your navel and wagging your head to the left and right comparing yourself to others and relational intimacy with God is lost.

What is more important, having the God of the universe looking you in the eye telling you how awesome you are, how treasured you are, how incredible you are – or keeping track of your pain, pressures, and problems while comparing them to others?

I’d rather have the former!

Updates:

• Work – I am almost caught up! We had two events last week admist a HUGE rain / wind storm but they went well.
• Heath – I am back to healthy! My sleeping schedule has finally synched with the local time zone and I am not peetering out at 4pm.
• Travel – Everyone is home safely... even Linda who battled a volanco in Jakarta!

Requests:

• Health – That I will continue my streak of good health, I won’t be susceptible to anything on my next few plane rides, and that my immune system stays strong.
• Travel / Work – I am off to Cairo Monday the 29th for 5 days! My boss and his wife are speaking at a conference there - I get to help with backoffice stuff. Pray that all the travel goes smoothly / safely, we make the right contacts at the conference, we stay healthy, jet lag isn't a problem, and that we articulate God's message when the opportunities arise.

PS Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans!