Path Pondering

Proverbs 4:26a "Ponder the path of thy feet....."

Today is the day I have been anticipating all week. I love to experience Resurrection Day!  It is exhilerating to sit in worship with others and praise and reflect on the awesomeness of a Risen Saviour! As I say, I was looking so forward to fellowship with my congregation, a shared meal,a wonderful day and feeling great....

Yesterday, I got out of bed, slapped  on some old clothes, and told my husband I was joining him in cleaning up a pile of metal waiting to be recycled. This is a job that had been on the spring "to do list" for quite awhile.  The ground was muddy from spring rains; I could tell immediately we were in for a nasty job!  I was doing this because it was a "biggie" and I felt sorry for my husband!  He really didn't think I needed to be out there!  It was my idea!  I am old enough and should be wise enough to know that after about 15 minutes, it was too much for me.  I mentioned previously, I  sometimes don't like being limited in my capabilities.  This was a job I really wanted done!

Feeling my back weakening, my inner voice told me to withdraw;  it was a man's job.  But I determinedly pushed on.  So far, I had been limiting my lifting to what I thought I could handle.  I reached for a bucketful of small pieces of iron and metal. I looked (pondered) its contents. Then I tried to lift it. I pondered some more and concluded I probably shouldn't. Stubbornly, I reached down and tried again and immediately felt searing, hot pain slice through my lower back.  I had to release the bucket, but I was still thinking: "Surely this isn't as bad as it seems!"  Slowly walking to the house, I realized I had really injured my back pretty seriously.

After a lot of agony, some tears and a much anticipated Easter Sunday adjusted,  I am feeling rather foolish. I could have avoided it all, had I let the pondering of my path be the warning I heeded!

It is a lesson needed. My lesson has short term effects, I hope.  But it is so like human thinking when I know choices I make in daily life all have path pondering decisions tied in.  The instruction from Solomon was to "ponder the path" of my feet. To ponder is to "consider thoughtfully".  It is so easy to consider briefly then do what I want to do anyway.

This covers so many choices.  For instance,  I think of shopping. How easy it is to limit myself to an allotted amount of money when I head out then find something I really want.  I  have been known to ponder how I can arrange the budget, not  always thoughtfully considering how it will affect next week or therafter.

Sometimes I rearrange my schedule, fitting in the things that are fun or exciting. Yet tomorrow comes, and the day isn't long enough or my strength strong enough to pick up the slack.

These decisions cover healthy lifestyle choices such as eating (just a few cookies!), exercise(it's easier to do social media).   I can choose my attitudes (it actually seems to feel better, for the moment, to have a bad one). "Self control " is the fruit of the spirit called " temperance". To have it never merits the " instant gratification" I am surrounded and affected by.

Spiritually,  I sometimes cut short my time with God, promising Him I will communicate later. Later never comes and after too much of this, it becomes evident. Impatience,  bitterness,  or selfishness pop up in unexpected places. Then I ponder how that happened!

Pondering the path involves thinking about where the choice for the moment will lead. Often  pondering doesn't go that far;  it only gets to the part where the choice is excused, and adjustments are made for it. No real thoughtful consideration is given to the reaping.

Today I reap for the lack of "pondering" yesterday.  I was embarrassed to explain my foolishness when asked why I was in this predicament.  However, it is giving me time to consider how I may be coming up short in other "ponderings" in my life! I am asking God to gift me with reminders of how to be thoughtfully considerate in what seem to be "little" choices.