Tag: imagine

A Time Machine for Decision Making!

On By josephbarlowIn EncouragementLeave a comment

Most of you have seen some sort of show about a time machine. So, you probably know that if you go into the past and change something it could change your current world dramatically or even affect your very existence.

But what if you or I could use a time machine to look ahead? See beyond a decision that we are about to make? What if we could go into the future and see the outcome of choosing an option A vs. option B? What would the world look like? What would it feel like? Is it desirable? Do I want the world to look like that?

If I could use a time machine for that, I would use it a lot! I could choose the best possible future.

Yesterday, a friend of mine told me to, “Swing like you can’t miss!” He’s referring to me playing baseball and being at bat, standing there ready for the pitch. With each pitch I have to make a decision. I could let that ball pass by or I could give a fair attempt at swinging; maybe an attempt that others would say “He tried.” Or I could swing at that ball at just the right time, with all the force I can muster and if I connect with the ball- it is definitely out of here.

So, which of those three possible futures do I want? Do I want the future that happens after I don’t swing? How about the future that happens after I make a feeble attempt? Or do we want the future that happens after I knock the ball clean out of the park?

So, where’s my time machine? I want to know the answer! There could be good in each of those scenarios because I don’t know all the variables. Let me take three trips in my time machine, one trip to each of those possible futures. I’ll look around a bit in each scenario, then I’ll come back and make my decision about how hard I want to swing this bat.

Well, my friend, I am happy to inform you that you already have a time machine that can do this.

Uh, Joe, either I’m crazy or you are! I don’t have a time machine!

My friend, yes you do! It is your imagination! You have the ability to look ahead. Imagine the outcome of each decision. Paint the picture in your imagination with as much detail as you can. Follow through each of those possible decisions. Spend time imagining what the world would look like if you choose option A. Take time and look around a bit in that imagination. Describe it the best you can. Do you like it? Do you love it?

Now dial your time machine back just before the decision. Imagine option B. Now follow it through. Imagine the outcome of that. Does option B create the world you want to live in?

I believe imagination works quite well as a time machine! So go for it. Look into the future. See the world you want to live in. Then make a decision and swing like you can’t miss!

Welcome to your future. The one you chose, because you were already here in your time machine.

Making decisions is going to be fun now. Use that powerful time machine you’ve been given:

Your awesome imagination.

copyright 2016 Joseph Barlow

Vengeance Is So Heavy

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, MinistryLeave a comment

OVER A WEEK AGO I WAS TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF THE GLEN ELLYN LIBRARY TO HEAD NORTH OVER THE TRACKS. I WAS WAITING WHILE THREE CARS WERE HEADING SOUTH TOWARD ME THEN TURNING RIGHT. THE LAST CAR LOOKED LIKE HE HAD HIS BLINKER ON SO I PULLED OUT  TO TURN LEFT. AFTER I PULLED OUT HE SLOWED  BECAUSE HE APPARENTLY WAS NOT PLANNING ON TURNING AND I WAS NOW IN HIS WAY. HE YELLED OUT THE WINDOW AT ME SOME UNREPEATABLE CURSE WORDS.  WELL I’M NOT AROUND PEOPLE MUCH WHO TALK LIKE THAT SO THAT STUFF HURTS MY EARS; ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S DIRECTED AT ME. I THEN STARTED TO FEEL OFFENDED AND THE CHEMICAL REACTIONS IN MY BODY STARTED TO RISE UP WITH HOW TO HANDLE THIS. ALL KINDS OF IMAGINATIONS FLOODED MY HEAD. THEN I REMEMBERED THE SCRIPTURE VERSE THAT SAID, “BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU.” SO, I STARTED PRAYING FOR THIS GUY, TO BLESS HIM. I PRAYED THAT HE WOULD GET A RAISE IN HIS JOB AND MAYBE EVEN A PROMOTION AND THAT GOD WOULD BLESS HIS MARRIAGE AND FINANCES AND ALL HIS RELATIONSHIPS. THAT THE GOODNESS OF GOD WOULD OVERTAKE HIM. IT WAS SUCH A RELIEF TO TAKE THIS POSITION, BECAUSE BEFORE I THOUGHT OF THIS SCRIPTURE, SOME OF MY IMAGINATIONS TOWARD HIM WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE CLASSIFIED AS CHRISTIAN. LATER I REMEMBERED THE SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT I REALIZED THE HEAVINESS OF THE BURDEN OF WANTING TO PAY THAT GUY BACK FOR YELLING CURSES AT ME. WHEN I COMPARE THAT TO THE LIGHT FEELING THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS PRAYING FOR BLESSINGS ON HIS LIFE THERE WAS A STARK CONTRAST. NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY GOD SAYS THAT VENGEANCE IS HIS. IT IS TOO HEAVY FOR US AS HUMANS TO CARRY IT. I LOVE GOD. HIS WISDOM REALLY MAKES THINGS EASIER.