Check Your Connection

The other day I went for a walk with our pug puppy Milo and my iPod, two of my favorite things in the world besides my family. The sun was shining and the air spoke of spring for the first time in weeks, months even. I cleared my lungs and my head simultaneously, breathing deeply and letting the stress of a busy morning dissipate. Milo paused to sniff a clump of grass. "Oh, you're so cute!" I cooed. Then he tugged to smell a fire hydrant. "Ewww. why do dogs do that?" I wondered. Then he squatted to do his business. "Yuck, this is the worst part about puppy parenthood!" I grumbled, scooping his "present" into a plastic bag.

With that out of the way, it was time to focus on me! Pushing playlists on my iPod, I selected my favorite walking tunes, preparing to be inspired. My stride quickened as U2's "Beautiful Day" filled my ears and mind with clarity. Before I knew it, my ear buds slipped out, first one, then the other. A mere annoyance, but quickly remedied. Then, static rasped across my sheet music, drowning out Bono. Ugh! "Don't mess up my perfect moment, please!," I pleaded with my iPod. I jiggled the cord, restarted the song, and twisted my earbuds, but to not avail.

Finally after wasting almost 30 minutes fidgeting with my tunes, I pulled the earplug cord out completely then put it back in the tiny, silver, magic 8gb box. Eureka! Clear notes filled my ears. The raspiness was gone, no static or interruptions. The problem was the connection between my earbuds and the iPod. It was only superficial, it wasn't a true, deep connection. Of course, I should've checked the connection to begin with! Troubleshooting for Dummies - first unplug everything and check your connections!

How many times have I done this spiritually? I've felt out of synch relationally, with the kids, with friends, with my husband and I just overanalyze and have a pity party, going nowhere but down. When I'm "a bit off" with others it's often because I'm off with God. I'm not abiding in Him, I'm not making time to ground myself by resting in Him. I'm not giving Him my heart, casting my cares on Him, and letting Him replace my burdens with His truth and joy. Jesus talks about this in John 15:5. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Jesus goes on to talk about loving others in this chapter and I can't help but see the connection between abiding in Jesus and loving others. Without the connection to Him, we can't be connected to others.

What does it look like for you to "check your connection"? Reading his word, prayer, solitude and quiet? Make some time to listen and rest in Him. And leave your iPod behind. Bono can wait! :)