Wisdom From John
Is Your Basketball Flat?
I awoke at 3:34 AM this morning with this question running through my mind and as usual I asked God, "OK, what is it that I am suppose to learn from this question?" His reply was simply, "In difficult times, many people are living lives that are like sailing ships that have no wind: they are kids playing basketball with a ball that is flat."
Most of us have, at one time or another, tried to bounce a ball that is flat and been disappointed when the ball had no bounce. Imagine what it must feel like living a life that has no bounce. So, the question that now comes to mind is, "How does a person who is stuck with a deflated ball, get their ball pumped back up?"
Let me explain what I'm talking about. In difficult times such as in the case of a family tragedy, the lost of a job or graduating from school and not knowing what to do next, many people experience what I call, "Frozen in Time." They truly do not know what to do next or how to get their lives restarted. How do you get on with the rest of your life when the spirit within you is gone?
Well, I'm not going to tell you to pick yourself up and get back in the game and I'm not going to tell you to pray through. If you have ever been deflated, you understand that statements like these only bring on feelings of guilt and more despair. Most people who have deflated lives have already tried these solutions or have at least made the attempt to get back in the game. For some reason they just cannot get air back into their lives.
So, what's my solution? Let me throw a couple of suggestions at the wall and see if anything sticks. First, if we're stuck in the mud, we must admit we're stuck; admit we have a problem. Then share this problem with God. It is also helpful to share this with someone on earth who will offer the voice of wisdom, instead of the voice of nagging.
OK, you say you have already tried this and nothing happened; you're still unemployed. Now try this....sit back and truly realize that it is your life that is stuck and only you can get it out of the mud. All my advice, all my nagging, and all my praying will not get you out of the mud. Getting back into life is something that everyone must do for themselves. I can hold your hand, God can give you an open door, and Dad can hand you the want ads, but only you can get yourself off the couch and back into life.
God has given us the precious gift of life and he expects us to use this life for his glory. The secret to putting air back into our lives is to find a purpose for living. The gift of life from God comes with a purpose. It is up to each of us to find that purpose for which we were created. The scriptures are right…if you seek God's purpose, you will find it. Trust me, I know. I once had a deflated ball and then God filled me with his love.
John K ICWAO@hotmail.com
