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10-29-2007, 07:52 PM
Tension Adjustment Needed
by Marilyn Ehle
“Are you tired? Worn out?… Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest” (Matthew 11:28, The Message).
It had been a frustrating morning. I had set up the ironing board, cut the fabric to exact size, and placed thread in the sewing machine. A simple sewing project which from start to finish should have taken two hours or less hadn’t even begun. Years of sewing experienced dictated that I should first sew a line of stitching on a fabric scrap. And that’s where the problem began—or at least where the problem was detected. While the stitching looked good on the top side, underneath was a tangle of loops. A quick pull on one of those loops unraveled the entire seam.
In an attempt to solve the problem, I re-adjusted the dials, changed the needle and re-read the instruction book. Finally, with grim face and clenched teeth, I packed up the machine and carted it off to the repairman who quickly determined what I suspected: the machine tension needed professional adjustment. Just turning the dials wasn’t enough; work needed to be done deep within the machine.
We often need spiritual tension adjustments by a “Professional.” The burdens of work, family, unforeseen crises, unmet expectations combine to produce tangled loops of frustration in our lives. While there are certain things we can do to make life run more smoothly, we must frequently take ourselves obediently and humbly to the One who said, “Come to me…I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”
Tension in life is not only inevitable, but useful. Healthy tension can motivate us to attempt higher goals. But when tangled loops appear, it’s time to seek advice from the Master.
~ Lord, my problem really isn’t tension. It’s knowing how to deal with tension. Help me recognize when I’m using my human methods instead of turning to You. And thank You for the true rest You provide.
Questions: Do you have tension in your life right now…how do deal with it? What are some of the signs of tension in ones life? What is the solution to a life full of worry and anxiety?
by Marilyn Ehle
“Are you tired? Worn out?… Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest” (Matthew 11:28, The Message).
It had been a frustrating morning. I had set up the ironing board, cut the fabric to exact size, and placed thread in the sewing machine. A simple sewing project which from start to finish should have taken two hours or less hadn’t even begun. Years of sewing experienced dictated that I should first sew a line of stitching on a fabric scrap. And that’s where the problem began—or at least where the problem was detected. While the stitching looked good on the top side, underneath was a tangle of loops. A quick pull on one of those loops unraveled the entire seam.
In an attempt to solve the problem, I re-adjusted the dials, changed the needle and re-read the instruction book. Finally, with grim face and clenched teeth, I packed up the machine and carted it off to the repairman who quickly determined what I suspected: the machine tension needed professional adjustment. Just turning the dials wasn’t enough; work needed to be done deep within the machine.
We often need spiritual tension adjustments by a “Professional.” The burdens of work, family, unforeseen crises, unmet expectations combine to produce tangled loops of frustration in our lives. While there are certain things we can do to make life run more smoothly, we must frequently take ourselves obediently and humbly to the One who said, “Come to me…I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”
Tension in life is not only inevitable, but useful. Healthy tension can motivate us to attempt higher goals. But when tangled loops appear, it’s time to seek advice from the Master.
~ Lord, my problem really isn’t tension. It’s knowing how to deal with tension. Help me recognize when I’m using my human methods instead of turning to You. And thank You for the true rest You provide.
Questions: Do you have tension in your life right now…how do deal with it? What are some of the signs of tension in ones life? What is the solution to a life full of worry and anxiety?