Keeping it simple.

Years ago, I can remember trying to train incredibly ill people about the finer points of oxygen concentrator usage. It never seemed to be real effective to speak to someone who was suffering from low O2 saturations. Some symptoms of low blood oxygen levels are:

* poor focus

* low retention of information

* irritability

* lethargy

* denial of need

Fact remains, when your body isn't feeling well, there are ways to make it feel better but some effort is required. Our instruction plan included a respiratory therapist to come in a few days after my initial visit to follow-up. Instructing more than once was helpful and produced good results for compliance.

The last 3-4 days have been interesting for my sinus conditions. Foggy head, stuffy nose, sore throat, and a dry cough seem to have set up shop within me. Great! My attention span has been altered and my grumpiness has increased.

If you have familiarity with these symptoms then you know I have felt miserable. Enter the "over the counter" meds that are promising to reduce sinus pressure, coughing, and drainage. Yea!

Except, in this day and age of liability, the packaging of said mediation is constructed like Fort Knox. The instructions seem simple. Peel and Push. On a good day, when my mind is clear and the fingers are limber, I could open this easily. Today when nothing seems to be working correctly, I'm fumbling and bumbling with this task. Oh, okay, I was fuming! I may have mentioned something derogatory toward the designer of this package.....or maybe it was their mother.

WHERE ARE MY SHEARS!

I now understand better the challenges our senior citizens deal with in opening their medication containers. When you don't feel well, patience isn't high on the list of importance. Feeling better is!

As our journey continues through Lent, it stands to reason that sin deforms and injures our soul. We aren't well and a miserable feeling overcomes us. In this place of revolving demise, a well meaning person (lover of the Lord) can come alongside and offer warm advice. They can share their witness of faith and try to help us see the love of Jesus Christ. Sin is conniving and will try to quiet the helper. Sin will confuse the situation and make you to think nothing will help. Frustrations will rise and those caught in sin will close down. Sort of like instructing an oxygen deprived person how to use their O2 concentrator. The well meaning person should keep the message simple and not press the issue. In some cases, the helper may add to the confusion and frustration by offering complex and intellectual information about Jesus. A follow-up visit is in order and will occur at a better time.

Today, if you meet somebody struggling with sin,keep the message of salvation simple. The basic message is, God created you and loves you, sin is killing you, Jesus died to defeat sin's curse, repent of your sin and receive new life. Experience again the healthy relationship with God who created and loves you. The struggle you are dealing with is real and it is curable. Jesus came to redeem you and me. He has done the work and awaits our cry for help.

"On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what

this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

(Matthew 9:12-13, NIV)

Hmmm, "peel and push" sounds a lot like "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13, NIV)

Simple!