Tag Archives: decay

The Cure to an Eroding Soul

Whether you call it depression, a funk or unhappiness, whenever things start going in the wrong direction, it’s hard to snap yourself out of it.  Sometimes a vacation, getting away from the mundane will do the trick.  Other people try to allot time from busy schedules for activities which bring them joy.  If these attempts fail, your condition likely involves an eroding soul.

After dwelling upon my current situation, I tried to back track to ascertain where this all began.  I only had to go back a few months to discover that my life has become void of goals, planning and vision.  Subsequently, I am aimlessly wandering without any direction, purpose or vigor for life.  To stop the bleeding so to speak, I must begin to reconsider my priorities, restructure my schedule and seek discernment from God.

The prophet Hosea proclaimed that people without wisdom or vision will perish, Hosea 4:6.  Modern motivational speakers claim, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail!”  Meanwhile, a tiny voice in my head suggests that if I invest my time in what I was created to do, I will once again be able to say, “it is well with my soul.”  If you find yourself in a similar stage in life, may the Lord answer your cry for help by healing your eroding soul.

by Jay Mankus

 

When the World Around You Begins to Fall Apart

Seven years ago, I felt like I was on top of the world.  My family and I spent a month traveling around the country, with the Grand Canyon as the main attraction.  A year later, we had enough money to put an addition on our house, giving each of our 3 children the privacy of their own room.  With the summers off as a teacher, a good paying hard-scaping job provided the extra funds to buy accessories for this new project.  However, as I cut my grass today, I realized that I have slowly allowed the world around me to fall apart.

By foregoing a few upgrades on our addition, there is now a water fall directly under the front door during each rain storm.  This lack of foresight has led to a now rotted door frame which needs to be replaced.  Recognizing I didn’t have the financial resources to maintain my yard properly in the spring, I waited to see what would happen without applying fertilizer, lime or weed and feed.  The consequence has been a yard of clovers, weeds and vegetation more suitable for a jungle than a neighborhood.  The appearance of the exterior of my home highlights that lack of care, concern and priority I possess for having a green thumb.

When you don’t set aside time for things or make it a priority, decay often follows.  When neglect turns to denial, people’s lives can  fall apart.  On the other hand, you don’t want to waste your life trying to pretend to be happy on the outside, yet when the camera is off, you’re a wreck.  Thus, balance is crucial, Philippians 2:4, taking care of your own needs before you can be of any help to others.  Honestly, I don’t know if my yard can be saved, but for those around me, hurting or in need of encouragement, that is where I need to invest my time for now.  Take part in this spiritual harvest, Matthew 9:37-38.

by Jay Mankus

Potty Mouth

If you are honest with yourself, we have all had a regretful moment in reflecting, “I can’t believe I just said that!”  At times in life, often unexpected, the strangest things come out of our mouths.  This is likely the context of Psalm 59:12, when mere words become like venom, filling ears with poison and contaminating the souls of children.

There was a time, not so long ago when communities helped police themselves.  Adult figures served as guardians, instilling character within neighborhoods.  If a child ever publicly cursed, displayed disrespect or harmed another kid, parents would immediate intervene, forcing this individual to apologize and vow never to do this act again.

Today, the fear of confrontation, law suits and a gradual decay within society has led to an epidemic of sins of the mouth.  Whether you are at your local mall, walking through a park or catching a quote family show on television, put downs, 4 letter words and F-bombs have become common place.  Garbage in, garbage out has impacted children under the age of 10, spewing out what they hear, without any regard to listening ears.

The Bible’s diagnosis of this problem places the blame on the human heart, Jeremiah 17:9.  According to Jesus, the heart serves as a storage center, absorbing up good and bad things, Luke 6:45.  Vocabulary is simply a byproduct of what your heart has accumulated.  Therefore, if you want to stop these sins before they roll off your tongue, guard your heart for it is the well spring of life, Proverbs 4:23.  Replace these sins of the mouth with the peace of Christ, Colossians 3:15-17.

by Jay Mankus