Staying connected.

I stumbled back to bed last night. The nightly ritual unfolded like always. I entered a dark room by the glow of my cellphone screen. Bending down, I grabbed the charger wire and plugged it into my phone. At 14% battery, I needed to recharge. I must have been exceptionally tired, because I don't remember much after that.

This morning I was whisked awake by the clock radio cracking on at 5:55. Actually, I was awake at 5:30 but waited for my daily wake-up music. This time of year is always a bit of a downer. During the summer months, morning wake-ups are met with relatively light mornings. Now, it is quite dark. I fumbled around to find my pedometer and cell phone and headed toward the bedroom door. I needed to use the soft glow of my phone again. To my surprise and chagrin, I noted the battery was now at 10% charge. Huh?

In the course of events yesterday, I had used the charger in the kitchen and returned it to the bedroom but never plugged it into the outlet. In the grand scheme of things, a diminished phone battery is no 'biggie'. I turned around, went back, and grabbed the charger and got this day started.

In the time I have taken to write this blog, my battery has been recharged and we're good to go for the day.

Jesus understood connection and his need to remain attached to his source of life and strength. It was because of his attention to this connection that he was able to fulfill his ministry and mission. Ultimately, when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36), he was relying on this strong connection to see him through the horrific events that would soon unfold. His understanding of remaining connected to his Father God was/is essential.

"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to

the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became

the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the

order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:7-10, NIV)

How many of us try to navigate our daily schedules while running on fumes. We jump on the treadmill of life and run. When life gets steep or the pace of it increases, we realize our batteries aren't up to the challenges. We wonder why. Oops, we forgot to plug our batteries into a functional charger. No worries, if you forget to plug into some Bible reading, silent prayer, and meditation, there is always opportunity to course correct and get the needed nourishment for you soul.

Take a deep breath, pause, and reconnect to our source of strength. Our spiritual batteries require care and the Lord is waiting to fill us up each day. While the electricity is always available in the wall outlet, it is only accessed when we plug into it. God stands at the ready to charge us, but we have to willingly and intentionally plug in. Do it.