How to have Inner Joy- Even if your Outer Person isn't Cooperating

Flapping.  It’s actually flapping.  For real. That clapping sound I hear as I vigorously comb out my long, wet hair is not my husband applauding my de-tangling technique.  No, it now appears that my upper arm flab has become so, well, flabby, that it swings freely and contacts my body with every motion of my arm.  Oh no.  Oh no.  Oh no, no, no, no.    

Behold: yet another one of the indignities of old(er) age.

If you’re like me, you have now reached the stage of life when you have all the physical ailments and oddities that you used to make fun of about your mom or grandma.  More pesky hairs on your chin rather than in your eyebrows?  Check.  Chicken-ish skin on the backs of your hands?  Check.  Unlovely varicose veins?  Check.  Saggy boobs*? Check.  And on it goes.  Yea, verily, I have had to repent of much.

Recently, on a day when I was particularly emotional -depleted, hangry, and pretty much reveling in peevishness, I catalogued and expounded upon all this UNFAIRNESS in a “discussion” (rant) with God.  In my younger days, I had shapely legs.  They may still be shapely, but now they are discolored, painful, and damaged due to complications from deep vein blood clots and varicose veins. I hate to wear shorts.  And I live in Florida.  I’ve always had very oily skin and suffered from horrible acne in my teens. I was sure that in my older years I would be recompensed for this trauma by being spared wrinkles.  Instead, I now have wrinkles ---- AND rosacea and must deal with its constant unsightly breakouts and redness.  Why???  It’s not fair!

Perspectives change:

But during the pandemic and even just a few months ago, events came to pass that brought some things into focus for me.  People that I knew and worked with…died.  People MY age.  Dead. Not dried up, invalid, elderly crones in a nursing home.  Strokes, heart attacks, COVID.  One moment here, the next gone.  One Tuesday evening at a work function I was laughing and joking with the man I assumed would be my boss once my current supervisor retired. But three days later ---between Friday night and Saturday morning ---he went to be with the Lord. No warning.  No known sickness or accident.  Just here one minute and gone the next.

As we processed the loss of this talented man who was universally loved and admired, my husband and I were impressed with how it made us reassess our lives, i.e. what we were here on earth for, and how good of a job we were doing with the talents that God had bestowed on us.  We were chagrined at how easily we were being distracted into fretting about and wasting time on things that really just don’t matter.  

The enemy wants to distract you:

Distraction is a finesse move that allows the evil one to keep you so occupied with life’s overwhelming drama, or even its minutia … that you utterly fail to move forward in the mission that God designed you for.  Take your pick: war, rumors of more war, pandemic, gas prices, global warning, inflation, racial division, cultural division, etc. These calamities certainly capture our attention.  But sometimes with Big Important Problems and the strong emotions they elicit …it can be fairly obvious that you’ve gotten yourself sidetracked into expended energy on things that you can’t control and may not be able to have a great impact in. You quickly recognize the detour, turn off the TV news and your social media and then get back on the course.  

Beware the stealth move:

It is crucial that we are aware of and wise to ALL methods of the evil one. Realize that the enemy really doesn’t even have to use dramatic happenings to make us divert ourselves into (unproductive and neutralizing) fear, anger, anxiety, or hopelessness.  No, sometimes it’s just the small things ---an accumulation of very small aggravations ---that gets us off the path.  The very insidiousness of this type distraction is what makes this technique such a winner for the enemy.  You can be lead very easily and subtly down the path of wasting time and emotional resources dealing with myriad pesky, irritating little inconveniences and offenses. And then, ever so imperceptibly, you completely lose sight of your purpose because you have become focused on things that just don’t really matter.  Such a very effective technique: Victory, not through strife or force, but through mere diversion.  The enemy does not have to strong-arm us, only divert our attention from what we ought to be focused on.  And we let it happen every day.

Refuse to be diverted:

As I pondered on the Meaning of Life during the weeks following my friend’s death, I realized how off course I was.  In this phase of life I have the benefit of wisdom and maturity and I should be doing more to help my fellow man and point him to Jesus. … But here I was, wasting time complaining to God about my crepe-ish skin and veiny legs, and not thanking him with all my heart that I still had legs that worked.  I have friends who are struggling with serious health issues, gut-wrenching family dysfunction, and overwhelming life dilemmas.  And here I am griping about superficial trivialities.  I must give myself a stern talking to when I find myself getting distracted in this manner: “Simba…remember who you are.”

Stay focused.  Stay on target:

In the original Star Wars movie from 1977, there is a scene in the climatic ending where the good guys are attacking the bad guys.  There is a frantic battle where scores of smaller spacecraft are on their way to engage the enemy.  Chaos erupts as they close in.  Fighters begin exploding left and right.  We see one intrepid pilot as he grimly carries out his part of the attack plan while death erupts all around him, the commander’s voice repeating in his ear:  “Stay on target, stay on target.”  By staying on target the pilot fulfilled his part of commander’s plan and helped ensure a victory for the good guys---even if the pilot did not get to be around to see the ultimate victory.   

I found some encouragement, some joy, in this revelation.  I am still here and I still have a purpose.  If I stay on target, my small contribution means a victory for The Good Guy, even if I may not get to see how it all plays out in the future.  I have a commission from God that matters in His great big Plan, even if I have flappy upper arms and splotchy skin.  So I re-direct my attention back to what really matters:  I am thrilled that I have arms and legs that work and skin that covers my body.  I still have hearing and eyesight and teeth.   I possess a mind and a heart that desires to please God, and a task that He wants me to complete.  So WHAT, exactly what do I have to complain about??  

My takeaway from this season is that I must beware of getting distracted with small irritations.  I must ask more of myself. The Creator of the Universe thought I’d be a good idea and sent me here so that I can be an answer to someone else’s need.  I matter and I have a purpose. And that brings me JOY.  Yes, there have been and will be seasons of trouble and despair, but if I can but focus on the blessing of Life itself, and my part of the Plan, I feel confident that I can get back on track, thrive, and complete my mission.

So stay on target, my friends. You matter.

Some things to think about:

[1] How has God blessed your life? 

[2] What things have caused you to get distracted, off course?

[3] How can you re-focus and get back on track?

*Appropriately known as der Hangebusen in German. ☺