What we Cling To...
How strong are your moments of energy and/or drive and/or clarity?
Let’s measure it with some questions... How do you feel when you feel Love...or lust? Did you feel an excitement that takes your breath away? Does your mind create a million different pictures of how it could/would be? What silent-expectations form in your mind? Did you fool yourself into believing that you are just enjoying the moment – or are you enjoying how those moments could affect your future?
I ask about Love/lust to illustrate to everyone what I mean by a Hypo-M Moment. 95% of us must have them (reference the Bell Curve). They are the emotion filled events that often drive our decisions. Please don’t tell me you haven’t felt the surge of energy when you see something you want, or when you are protecting something, or when you suddenly feel free of your constraining anxieties. Yes, in varying degrees, we all have these moments. Admittedly, each of us presents them in different circumstances with different triggers. At the right times, and under necessary circumstances, Hypo-M moments are very beneficial. However, I would like to discuss some of the dangers of that state.
We often hold onto our Hypo-M decisions or understandings or incites as though they are infallible and above contestation. We unconsciously cling to that decision with amazingly-creative justifications. All so we can cling to that moment of living-brilliance. We are “physiologically” divorced from an awareness of the negatives attached to that decision. Our emotions have clouded our judgment.
The hypo-M state allows us to make decisions that are foolhardy and potentially dangerous. (witness the hero running into a burning building) How many marriages are wrecks because someone thought they could cheat without consequence? How many hearts are wounded by the one night stand – Where a moment-of-brilliance met a person-of-opportunity? How many “loves-of-a-lifetime” have been lost because each could not sustain their Hypo-M state to live up to each other’s expectations? How many shopping-trips-to-solve-a-desire did it take before a person’s finances are in ruin? How many kids remember their parent’s unreasonable-anger over inane things?
My friend, the problem is not someone else. It is us, and the Hypo-M point that we are allowing to oft-influence our decisions. We misuse/abuse ourselves and others by driving for something, refusing to regard the obstacles and consequences of our actions. No wonder our heart breaks when we realize we cannot have things as we imagined.
I think a good first step is for us to get a good measure of how strong our ups and downs are. Once we have an HONEST picture of them (for me, it has taken months) THEN, we should take inventory of the decisions and convictions we came to in those states. Can we, with a sober eye, turn away from what is blinding us?
We may be surprised at the foolishness we are clinging to... I know I am.
(BTW – I am still struggling to come up with a succinct picture of a Hypo-M moment. – Any suggestions????)
3 comments:
Hehe - you are on Novicaine. :P
You did have a Hypo-M Moment. And it was fun! (As they often are.) And you are happy as a result of that decision. As a matter of fact, you could say that you are still in a hypo-m moment. Eventually you will come down. The hardness of a relationship will test your resolve. Durring those moments you will have a chance to view the impact of your decisions. At THAT point you will have a choice: to continue down this path, or to leave it for another. In this state, you cannot predict what issues you will have to address. (Though most of your friends have plenty of opinions about what you will face - lol-sigh)
You are viewing the result of a great decision that was the wrong decision. I too was happy in my decision. However, at no time did I SOBERLY listen for God's lead. I pray and hope that is not the case in your life.
The problem with the state you are in, is that it cannot last. It is a good thing too. Because life is full of real issues and real conflicts and real hardships, all we can truly do is seek God's unbiased-will in each and every moment. In the end, things will work out as-good-as-they-could-have.
Hehe, but a man on the Novicaine of a freash new love can hardly be expected to consider these things :P ;)
The second paragraph was referring to ME not Soccerplayer!!! in case there was any confusion
I am glad to see you are working it through in your head. It will be fun watching it develop. You are in a great position with a wonderful person and an awesome opportunity.
Please do not mistake my words for a call to in-action. My point about drawing close to God is that it will bear fruit in our lives. And the result of your Godly actions will allow things to be as good as they possibly can be. If your actions are motivated solely from your perspective (sometimes influenced by a hypo-M state) INSTEAD of God's perspective, then the consequences will illuminate your error. Life simply would not be as good as it could have been. You would have missed a blessing, or a lesson.
We don't let God do it FOR us, but THROUGH us. What we achieve on our own is nothing compared to what God can achieve through us. No plan or goal or achievement that we conjure up can match what we can do led by his Spirit.
Here is a question that might lend a hint as to what your perspective is. Would you give it all up for God?
Abraham answered that question with his son...
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