About the only time in life that I really like a good slippery surface is when I am either tobogganing or skating. Other than that I have a bit of paranoia about falling and breaking something on unsure surfaces. Tobogganing is however a different story all together. You want the snow to be just right. It has to be dry enough to not become slush when compressed. At the same time it is best if it is wet enough to be compact so that the toboggan doesn't just sink into the lovely white powder. Of course, when you are determined to toboggan you will even put up with some green patches showing through the thin covering on the ground that called you out to careen down a hill on a mat, tube or wooden toboggan.
One can really pick up speed when tobogganing. I remember once going down what I thought was a little hill and picking up so much speed that I crashed into a concrete block that was at the bottom. It was not very clever aiming, I must admit. It was also totally surprising that I picked up that much momentum in such a short distance/time. Unbeknownst to me, the conditions were perfect for a long and fast ride with very little extra momentum being needed.
I experienced the spontanious effect of momentum last week while I was at our worship service. I was caught off guard by a nasty thought that flickered across my brain. Now this is not what is supposed to happen during worship, but as I said, the moment was spontanious. Interestingly, this bad thought wasn't anything that I had been dwelling on, it just flashed in my mind and rendered me speechless in a moment. I was astonished at myself for even thinking it. I immediately repented and got right with God, but then I began wondering; where had that thought come from? I certainly wasn't in the habit of letting renagate thoughts bombard me. In fact I have worked pretty hard at "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ". On this day, however, I had to admit that I had picked up a negative thought earlier in the day. It was an old thought. A "why do I always go there" thought. Totally useless and unwelcomed. I dismissed it and moved on, but didn't entirely deal with it. I think that was my perfect condition for momentum to occur. All I needed was a sled to hit that perfectly prepared slope and away I would go.
By not entirely dealing with an earlier negative thought I was making snow like they do on ski slopes. I was preparing the very slope I didn't want to go down. Furthermore, I was completely unaware that I was headed into a dangerous position. Being dismissive instead of diligent is always a problem. Well, that thought must have been simmering in the background of my mind until that moment of worship when I became speechless because of a related even uglier thought. Ugly, ugly momentum. It stopped me abruptly, kind of like the concrete block had in my younger days.
So what do I do to not go there again. This is one thing I can control. Since I really do not like crash and burn scenarios I figure it is a good idea to be alert so I don't get devoured that way again. To not go there, I need to deal thoroughly with sin. Dismissing actions, inactions, words and thoughts is a sure fire way to get into a mess fast. If it is something that is nagging or plaguing, then I need to wrestle it into submission as many times as it takes to get it dealt with. Diligence is required. Plain, simple, not hard to figure out. Diligence.
One can really pick up speed when tobogganing. I remember once going down what I thought was a little hill and picking up so much speed that I crashed into a concrete block that was at the bottom. It was not very clever aiming, I must admit. It was also totally surprising that I picked up that much momentum in such a short distance/time. Unbeknownst to me, the conditions were perfect for a long and fast ride with very little extra momentum being needed.
I experienced the spontanious effect of momentum last week while I was at our worship service. I was caught off guard by a nasty thought that flickered across my brain. Now this is not what is supposed to happen during worship, but as I said, the moment was spontanious. Interestingly, this bad thought wasn't anything that I had been dwelling on, it just flashed in my mind and rendered me speechless in a moment. I was astonished at myself for even thinking it. I immediately repented and got right with God, but then I began wondering; where had that thought come from? I certainly wasn't in the habit of letting renagate thoughts bombard me. In fact I have worked pretty hard at "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ". On this day, however, I had to admit that I had picked up a negative thought earlier in the day. It was an old thought. A "why do I always go there" thought. Totally useless and unwelcomed. I dismissed it and moved on, but didn't entirely deal with it. I think that was my perfect condition for momentum to occur. All I needed was a sled to hit that perfectly prepared slope and away I would go.
By not entirely dealing with an earlier negative thought I was making snow like they do on ski slopes. I was preparing the very slope I didn't want to go down. Furthermore, I was completely unaware that I was headed into a dangerous position. Being dismissive instead of diligent is always a problem. Well, that thought must have been simmering in the background of my mind until that moment of worship when I became speechless because of a related even uglier thought. Ugly, ugly momentum. It stopped me abruptly, kind of like the concrete block had in my younger days.
So what do I do to not go there again. This is one thing I can control. Since I really do not like crash and burn scenarios I figure it is a good idea to be alert so I don't get devoured that way again. To not go there, I need to deal thoroughly with sin. Dismissing actions, inactions, words and thoughts is a sure fire way to get into a mess fast. If it is something that is nagging or plaguing, then I need to wrestle it into submission as many times as it takes to get it dealt with. Diligence is required. Plain, simple, not hard to figure out. Diligence.
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