What Do You Think You Like? How come you like it? With Harvey and Irma still causing problems and interrupting lives, stress can be at an all-time high and moving us towards burnout. So the question is how can we relax? An all too common answer is to do something you like. Dr. Paul Bloom is a professor at Yale University and shared his points of view on NPR (click here for the link). He believes pleasure is not based on our physical senses, but rather how we perceive the essence of the object. Put another way, what we think about it determines if we like it or not. Bloom gave a few examples: the first being a scruffy guy fiddling around on a violin in a subway who made a few dollars. That guy was a world class violinist who had played Boston Symphony Hall the night before and made considerably more. The difference? Who people believed to be playing the violin. Not everyone likes a scruffy guy in a subway, while a world class violinist is much more impressive. The music was the same. Another example was the often discussed blind wine tasting. When untold the difference between wines, often a cheaper wine will be declared the better. However, when one knows which is more expensive, the judgement often favors the higher priced. It’s been shown repeatedly what we think about an object determines if we like it or not.
So, what about a situation? How can flooded houses, moldy sheetrock, and lung infections bring a sense of peace rather than stress? The answer is to know the violinist. I’m not saying God caused the hurricanes, who understands the mind of God? We can understand His character because we see it throughout scripture. People in hard times, turning to God, and His love was there for them. How many times in Scripture do we see God helping His people? In the Old Testament as a nation and in the New Testament as individuals? And in both testaments, He used other people. He raised up leaders like the murderer Moses and his brother Aaron, He raised judges like lustful Samson, and prideful kings like David. He used tax collectors and doctors. . . He used the guy from down the street with a boat, the people from the relief team from the church you never heard of, the older people who put together sandwiches, and the support of friends and neighbors from all around. You see, this is more than a flooded house. . .this is an opportunity for you to see the violinist and recognize Him for who He is. It’s that presence of God that allows a peace in your soul. “That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil-this is the gift of God” (Eccl 3:13).
If you are in ministry and facing stress and burnout. We offer free retreats for you to Renew you connection with God, and be Restored by Him, so you can Return to your calling. If you or someone you know is in need, please contact us. If you would like to help support these retreats, please click here. Feel free to leave a comment or start a conversations. And as always, To GOD Be The Glory.