an elevator goes up and down, but all of it does really

This past Monday was rough for me. I don't know what it is that makes my anxiety multiply and my ability to think of things rationally and proportionally disappear but it is at times a very real and frightening issue for me.

Grumpiness. A funk. Under a cloud. Call it what you will, sometimes it just feels like nothing is alright and everything is wrong; the ability to appreciate anything good is lost and hope is totally extinguished.

What allows this to happen? Is it multiple elements coming together to form this vortex of sadness or is it a slow piling of straws until one finds they have finally reached one too many? Why does a thought that seems absurd now have seemed so legit before? Where does rationality run to? 

The verse of the day at biblegateway.com is: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5) That's poignant because I could really use some wisdom right now and it being offered without reproach is simply a bonus at this point. God is so generous, so good to be patient, so good to be kind, so good to be constant in His character forever.

Ephesians 4:14 states, "... that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine..." It's a small portion of larger chunk of scripture where Paul is talking about how Jesus has given everyone different spiritual gifts - some to be pastors, some to be teachers, etc.. And whatever the gift He has given you is, it's to be used to build up the Church, the body of Christ, fellow members, one another. Verse 14 is so significant because it comes after describing how we need to be there for each other, be together, ground in the Spirit and knowledge of Jesus Christ. When we are tossed to and fro and carried about by dark winds of thought - we need a friend's encouragement as we wait for the storm to pass. I am so blessed that I found that type of support from another Christian last Monday when I desperately needed it.  

I think it was yesterday morning I got in the elevator with someone finishing a call on their cell phone. They said "I love you" as they hung up. It was nice. Do you ever observe small things like that? A mother holding her child's small mittened hand as they walk along. A person running ahead to get the door for a stranger. A man snow blowing the sidewalk for his elderly mom. The small things are every thing sometimes. Answering a text message. Sending a note of encouragement. Smiling and making eye contact with people you meet. The elevator goes up and down and so do we  - whatever you do today, do it with kindness and love (1 Corinthians 16:14). xo