In these days of stress and strife, it is more vital than ever for us to maintain a healthy and proper mental attitude in our daily living. We can so easily get dragged down into the muck and the mire. There seems to be way too much negative information floating around these days, and that in itself can burden us to the point of throwing up our hands in despair, saying, “Enough! I have had enough of all the negativity!”
When I started to feel like that recently, I made the conscious decision to seclude myself in my back yard and workshop area for a couple of days. I enjoyed two whole days of no news, no weather forecasts, no surfing the internet, no listening to radio, and no watching television, and it was absolutely refreshing.
So what did I do with all that free time? Well, for one thing, I was working on a new heating system for my houses (we live in one and use the other as for workshop/storage.) I have been working over the past couple of years to build a wood burning system that has now become a reality. It sits outside, between the two houses, and we will ultimately be able to heat both houses and my greenhouse entirely with wood. I am hoping that not only will my heating costs be drastically lower, but that I will be able to raise vegetables all year round, too.
During my two day sabbatical from taking in negative information, while at the same time working with my mind and hands to create something, I was continually looking up. In looking up I am acknowledging that I know whose hands this crazy world is in, so I don’t need to be stressed out. In looking up I am reminding myself that I do not have to figure everything out all by myself. In looking up I am giving thanks to the Creator who have gifted me (and all of us) with an awesome power to think and create. In looking up I am recognizing where my strength and wisdom come from. Whatever I need, I know the answer is to just keep looking up.
Have the negatives of life been ripping you apart? Allow me to encourage you to consider looking up. You’ll find you are better able to tackle whatever the world throws at you in the days and weeks to come.
