Is God in your Zone?

Matthew 6: 25 - 34 (Highlights)

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?...Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan?...Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.  Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.  Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

In sports they call it "Being in the Zone".  The person "in the zone" is able to block out all things external to their situation.  If it is a pitcher in a baseball, the mound becomes a base of operations where the focused delivery is in area of homeplate.  Perhaps the pitcher only sees the batter at the plate and the circular catcher's mitt in his vision.  The crowd is not seen and not heard.  The ball feels as if it is part of his hand as he grips the strings to maneuver the ball to create a particular pitch.  For the moment, the pitcher is in perfect harmony with his situation, his environment, and his emotions.  He is in perfect control.  He is "in the zone".  Perhaps the textbook example of a sports figure being in the zone, was Michael Jordan in the Chicago Bulls versus the New York Knicks playoff series.  Michael Jordan simply could not miss in a game played in New York.  The crowd stood in awe of his performance.  Even Michael Jordan looked at Spike Lee and shrugged his shoulders while running down court as if to say, "I have no idea how I am doing this, but I will take it".  He was "in the zone" and he was in control.

The majority of us do not spend our life "in the zone".  We do not have control over the nuances that affect our daily endeavors like an athlete does on their particular field of play.  Life is a professional pitcher and is an expert at throwing us curves.  For those of you that view this blog, it is no secret that I struggle to overcome some minor heart issues.  That is one of the reasons why the preparation for this bicycle ride is so important to me.  I have been working hard and the last time I wrote I spoke about how good I felt and how much stronger I was feeling physically and spiritually.  Well, life wound up and let loose a slight curve.  I received some tests back and have been put on yet another supplement to counteract another level of a different enzyme that is out of whack.  After all of this training.  After all of this soul searching.  After this time trying to connect with God and getting my physical life in order.  Nothing has changed.  Ahhh...whoas me, right?

Tonight God taught me a lesson.  Subtly, but loud and clear, nonetheless.  I control my anxiety and my fear by controling my situations.  If you control the situation, you can control the outcomes.  Makes sense, huh? I spend my life playing a game of chess.  I try to anticipate the next three to four things that are going to occur in all aspects of life so I can plan for and respond appropriately to each situation.  It is the analytical mind at work.  On my bike, to monitor my heart, I depend heavily on my heart rate monitor.  I look at it constantly on the ride.  I know what my heart rate should be and I know the indications that something abnormal is going on.  The heart rate monitor is my security blanket.  I have been down all day about this new supplement being added to my daily routine and I have had some dialogue in my head with God that was full of anger.  His response was to turn my heart rate monitor off 2 minutes into my ride tonight.  Nothing registered.  Not one beat.  My first inclination was to stop and get off the bike.  "I can't do this," I thought, "Not without monitoring every beat".  I struggled for 10-15 minutes as to what I should do.  Then the verse I typed above came into my head.  I was filled with worry and I had no faith.  I cleared my mind and said a prayer.  The prayer was short, "God show me what you want me to learn.  I give you control."  Shortly after the prayer, I found myself in the zone.  I rode 30 miles tonight.

So, a couple of things.  My heart is good and my heart is strong.  The supplement is what it is; a supplement.  I am sure that all of us need those in their diet, I am just lucky enough to get tests done to check up on me.  The bad thing was that I was feeling sorry for myself without turning to God.  I was arrogant to think that He was not with me.  A subtle reminder was all that was necessary for Him to demonstrate how wrong I was.  Please look for those subtle reminders in your own lives.  God is working in our lives every day.  We should never feel abandoned, and if we do, we should turn to Him for guidance because chances are He will answer.