Have you ever had a stressful week in which everything feels off-kilter?''
That's been my week!
My normal healthy habit routine was disrupted and my body has suffered for it.
But this morning, I woke up with a phrase on my mind that gave me hope.
It was a phrase I heard from an acquaintance that I have never forgotten:
''Turn that Ship Around.''
Here is the story from a conversation my husband Mike and I had with a young minister who was asked to lead a church.
Many of the congregants are older and been church members for years.
The young Pastor wanted to implement some technological changes that would help the church function more efficiently.
Mike suggested one such technology update.
But the young Pastor told us about the resistance he faced when he tried to introduce another software system, one that he knew would save the church staff time and use their resources better.
He ended his story with: ''It's going to take some time to turn that ship around!''
The young Pastor knew the ship needed turning, however he also knew that it would take time.
He was willing to make progress little by little and invest the time necessary to see the ''Ship'' established on a new course!
Now consider the great ship Titanic.
Many of us know that the ship, which the experts declared was unsinkable, struck an iceberg - and it sank!
Now, imagine this: Let's say that the Captain saw the iceberg at a distance and realized the ship was headed right for it.
Do you think the Captain would delay turning the ship around, especially if he knew about the disastrous consequences that would occur if he didn't?
Do you think the Captain would say things like:
- ''I'll start turning the ship around on Monday.''
- ''I might fail in turning the ship around in time, so we might as well hit the iceberg!''
- ''It will take too much time and effort to turn the ship around.''
Of course not!
So why do we sometimes delay in ''turning the ship around'' when we know that we are headed for a disaster concerning our health habits?
Wouldn't it be better to start turning the ship on a new course, even if it takes time for it to turn?
Now, back to my stressful week. It is past and the situation I faced is in the Lord's hands.
Today, I turned my ship back on course. I asked myself a critical question this morning:
''How can I set myself up for success today?''
I did some small things:
- Drank 22 ounces of water with lemon (that's the size of my water bottle)
- Took out some frozen Spinach/kale mix and put that in a skillet so that it's ready to cook for my vegetable side dish at lunch
- Put on my workout clothes and put in my workout DVD to prepare to exercise
It doesn't take much to turn a ship around. But it does take faith and patience.
Consider the wisdom of James 3:4:
Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
The small habits that you practice every day are the ''rudders'' of your life.
If you don't like the direction in which your health is headed, then why wait to set those rudders in a new direction?
Turn that ship around!