Coffee to Go
“As coffee is for g-o-i-n-g, tea is for s-t-o-p-p-i-n-g.” I read that on a tea drinker’s blog once. Lady Baker’s Tea Trolley, an online tea shoppe, offers mail order for their fine tea business based out of Prince Edward Island. My favorite flavor is London Fog; unfortunately, my stash is getting low. It may be time to get another order in shortly.
As I shared last week, each of us has a purpose. Just as coffee and tea have a purpose... one for getting one “going;” the other to help one to stop to breathe, we all have been created with an assignment to be carried out on this earth. Regardless of your parents, your background or your makeup, you were born with and for a purpose. “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you.” (Jeremiah 1:5) Don’t ever let the circumstances of your birth determine the trajectory of your life! No matter how you got here, God has a plan for your life... a future and a hope.”
No matter how many mistakes or detours you’ve taken, God has a redemption plan for your life. He has a way of making the wrongs right. The world is awaiting you to fulfill your purpose. No matter your age or your past, God will mold you into what is needed to fulfill your destiny. Just think of Gideon who became a mighty leader even though he started out as a coward. What about the prostitute at the well of Jacob who became a preacher? Or what about you... maybe you were the one who was labelled “never meant to succeed?” I’ve got great news for you! When you discover why you were created and what assignment you are meant to fulfill, you will flourish and become your true self.
Dr. Myles Munroe teaches that “everything, no matter how insignificant it may seem, exists for a distinct purpose in the mind of God to serve a greater purpose. The hairs in your nostrils were carefully designed by God and intentionally placed there for the purpose of trapping bacteria, germs and dust particles, preventing them from contaminating the lungs during inspiration.” It is interesting how the smallest of details on our body are created to serve a vital purpose. I would interject here, and take opportunity to mention that as we age, some hairs are not as welcome as they once were. There seems to be an increase of nose and ear hair on males as they age that I may gently suggest could be trimmed once in a while?
Another principle of purpose is: “Wherever purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable.” (Myles Munroe) I am reminded of the time when Hubby was putting in the plumbing for the new bathroom downstairs and he used a dirty tea towel to wipe some plumbing glue on. Little did he realize that tea towel was nearly brand new... and little did he realize that I have an aspiration to nice tea towels... but you see, Hubby didn’t realize the purpose of that towel. It was not to wipe glue on. It was to dry dishes with. (That glue never did come out.) I realize this is just a minor explanation of the importance of knowing the purpose of something but it drives the point home. My prayer is that each of us will begin to see we are created with a purpose and for a purpose. Stay tuned for more next week... Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a kind of depression that appears at certain times of the year. It usually begins in the fall when the days get shorter and lasts through the winter. SAD doesn’t only happen in the colder months though. A less common form of Seasonal Affective Disorder affects people in the summer months and usually starts in the spring. It isn’t really clear what causes SAD, but it’s thought that winter SAD may be caused by lack of sunlight. But this may not be the whole answer, as it’s also thought to run in families: 13–17% of people who develop SAD have an immediate family member with the disorder.
As we head into the holiday season, it’s even more important to understand the signs and symptoms, which can include: Feeling depressed most of the day, losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, low energy, problems with sleeping, changes in your appetite or weight, feeling sluggish or agitated, lost interest in sex and other physical contact, difficulty concentrating, feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty, frequent thoughts of death or suicide.
Light therapy, medication, counselling or self-help such as good sleep habits, daily exercise and a healthy diet are all known to help treat symptoms.
We ask that you turn up your mental health radar when you are engaging with family, friends and coworkers, as it is often difficult for people to see through the fog of their illness to ask for help in a timely manner. If you do sense some of the above symptoms in a family member or friend, understand that:
* Depression is a serious condition
* The symptoms of depression aren’t personal * Hiding the problem won’t make it go away
* You can’t ‘fix’ someone else’s depression Don’t expect a single conversation to be the end of it. Depressed people tend to withdraw from others and isolate themselves. You may need to express your concern and willingness to listen over and over again. Be gentle, yet persistent.
For more on understanding depression, check out https://bit.ly/2wwojOB. 1 Anita Duncan - Donna Campbell 2 Dorothy McFadden - Maureen Keal
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Rae Trites - Jude MacGowan Len Davidson - Ken Newton
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