Good Fences Don't Always Make Good Neighbors

There was an accident on the next street today.  Some fencing pieces, the individual sections that make up a tall, metal fence, were knocked off of the truck they were on top of (by an overhead branch) and fell onto two cars in the school's carpool line.  No one was hurt, the cars were pretty messed up and I'm sure a couple of moms were pretty shaken up.  I spoke with one of them later that afternoon and we both shuddered to think what "might have happened."  It's a sobering moment, and one that leads me to think how precious life is, how nothing should be taken for granted, how much we have to be grateful for.  I'm thankful for the hope I have for the future.  Yet, I need to treasure the time I have now with this gift of a wonderful family.  Too often I'm rushing around like the proverbial chicken sans head, exasperated, frustrated, perforated...no, that doesn't fit.  Instead of appreciating all the morsels, the goodness, the delightful experiences, I allow time or expectations or fear to direct my attitude.  I need to chill out.  Relax.  Lighten up.  Loosen up.  Take it easy.  Cool it.  Let my hair down.  Calm down.  Hang loose.  Mellow out.  Synonyms are so much fun.

I also noticed the word diminish in the synonym list for relax.  That struck me, because I think that if I diminish and the Lord increases then the perspective that kind of change would lead to would then enable the chilling, relaxing, lightening, loosening, cooling, hair-downing, calming, hanging, mellowing of aforementioned I.  And that person might actually be able to live more joyfully in the moment. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.