Issue 611
How many sources of stress do you think there are in your world? What about in everybody’s world? You may be thinking there are too many to count or at least a rather large number.
I would like to suggest to you that there are three main sources of stress in the world. Let me explain.
You already know that there is great pleasure when relationships go well. Friendship, comradery, teamwork, family can be immensely rewarding. There is also great pain when they go wrong.
So, my first source of stress in anybody’s world is trouble in relationships with other people. I don’t need to spell it out, but you can if you wish. Think of the circles of people you live in; work, home, social or church. When something goes wrong with you and these people, stress can be the result.
There is one person who is with you all the time. He or she has been with you since birth and goes everywhere with you. That person is, of course, you.
My second stress source is when there are difficulties in the relationship with yourself. You have phrases to describe this. “You’re your own worst enemy” or “Don’t be too hard on yourself”. Much has been written about low self-esteem or people who live with guilt, regret or shame. Are you at peace with yourself?
We humans have a habit and a need of believe in something or someone bigger than ourselves. It might be a cause, a hero or shero (the new word for heroine?) This might be found in politics, science or philosophy. For the religious, the big person in their lives is their god. For some, they are their own god.
My third possible source of stress is when something goes wrong in your relationship with your cause or your god.
Disillusionment, doubt, disappointment through to downright fury can be generated in a person who has crisis of faith.
When Jesus of Nazareth discussed the important and greatest principles of life, he came back to three commandments. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself”. These three commands define for you the best way to live. They also warn of the dangers of avoiding them. They are designed for our benefit.
Take a look at the sources of stress in your work and life and you will be able to put them under one (or more) of these three headings. This in itself is good news because the list is not as daunting as you first thought.
The really good news, however, is that the same Jesus of Nazareth gave his life to release the power of God in you so that there can be health and wholeness in these three areas which can flood your soul with three dimensions of authenticity instead of trouble. Easter is here.
Work well today,
Geoff Shattock
© Geoff Shattock April 2019
BIBLE SECTIONS
Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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