I just completed my Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussis) booster to complete my preparations for the upcoming "Faith-Building" trip to Colorado.
That got me thinking about the term "a shot in the arm."
I'm sure you're familiar with this saying - according to one website I found, it originated maybe as early as the 1920's. It means that something gave you a stimulus, a burst of energy / enthusiasm.
For example:
Kim's home run (and cute post-slide celebration) at the softball game last night was just the "shot in the arm" our team needed.
This saying must have evolved from something other than a vaccination. I might be the world's biggest sissy when it comes to needles, and I'm OK with that. But there's nothing about getting a shot (in the arm or any other part of my anatomy) that I even remotely look forward to (or feel invigorated by afterward).
On the other hand, we all need one periodically (literally and figuratively). My Tdap this morning was much overdue (my last one came in 1991 before my very first mission trip).
So here's my thoughts: give yourself a shot in the arm today. Some ideas (no needles required!):
1. Connect with God in a way that's meaningful for you.
Pray. Read. Go for a walk in the woods. Listen to a mix tape of your favorite worship tunes. Have a spiritual conversation with a friend.
Nothing can energize your day / week like a regular, genuine connection point with Him. Make it a habit! You're pre-disposed to be a creature of habit anyway - why not put yourself in a position where your habits continually push you closer to Him instead of pull you away!
2. Do a random act of kindness for someone you know (or someone you don't).
Buy someone else's lunch (or gas - if you can!) Wash the windshield on the car next to you at the pump. Empty the dishwasher when it's not your turn. Let that car turn left in front of you (even if it means you're going to catch a red light).
Doing something loving and caring for someone else (whether you know them or not - or whether they ever even know about it), takes your attention off yourself and that's almost always a GREAT thing! Plus that's perhaps the best way we can imitate Jesus.
3. Spend some time with someone you care about.
Do a puzzle with your kids. Pet your dog and let him lick your face. Take your family to Baskin-Robbins (or make home-made ice cream together).
Have fun! Laugh! Don't worry if the puzzle pieces get bent or an ice cream sundae spills. Watch your stress level drop as the minutes pass. You may be building a memory that will outlive you - and that may be a good or bad thing.
Any other ideas? I've had my "shot in the arm" for today, but I'll need a tip for tomorrow!
Until next time - RevPhil
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7 comments:
So, are you a look away or watch it go in person during needle insertion? Sorry, that's all that comes to mind after reading the post. Peace.
In school to become a teacher, they talked about troubled kids (drugs, family problems, suicide, etc). These kids are many times quiet and into their own things, often planning a tragic act for themselves because they think that no one cares about them. With that in mind, here is what I do.
I do this often at school, the mall (when do I ever go to the mall?), HEB.....random places. If you all didn't know, I enjoy talking to people. Brian knows I waste too much time striking up conversations with strangers. But here is the deal....
I find something to compliment someone on. When I do this at school, its usually when I am walking down the hall and see a kid who is just kind of there:doing their own thing. I will say that I like their shirt, they look good today, ask how they are...anything that comes to mind right then and there. I sometimes look for people who wouldn't normally be approached by people and sometimes it's the best dressed, coolest kid. You never know who is having a bad day.
The thing is...you never know if your kindness will make that person feel just good about themselves (or others) that they will want to wait until tomorrow before they do something hurtful. Find someone to compliment or ask them how they are that day. That one little thing may make them feel great and give THEM the shot in the arm they need to keep going!
And...I watch the needle go in!!!
Coul Mo Be -
I'm going to have to refer you to the section of the post where I mention that I might be the world's biggest sissy when it comes to needles.
The world's biggest sissy looks the opposite direction and cringes.
Sorry. I know that probably wrecks your entire opinion of me.
Or maybe it confirms it.
RevPhil
Since I give myself allergy injections I tend to watch the needle go in. Not always a good thing for the person giving the shot to be looking the other way.
If you haven't realized by now, I tend to try and be the "funny guy" and make everyone smile. Sometimes at my own expense. I like to make people laugh and sometimes I think that it just makes people forget about what has got them down for a few minutes. I am definitely not a "sensitive person" so laughter is how I deal with most stressful situations.
We took the whole family to see Wall-E on opening night. What a great encouragement this movie is first because of the quality of the animation and especially the quality of the storytelling. And then having that little extra knowledge that professing Christians have been actively working to bring this movie to life for years and years...putting in the long hours, standing firm on quality and moral issues, and then telling a universal story to boot...how can you not glean encouragement from these artists?
Alright Tam, you gotta give me some more information on the Wall-E movie. Is there some hidden meaning to the movie? I thought it was just about robots.
A few of the Wall-E ideas to talk about long after you leave the movie theatre...the Biblical metaphors (Noah and the flood, Eve), what it means to be human, the consequences of over consumption both as an individual or as a society as a whole, what endures in a culture after it becomes "ancient"...and I could go on. You can read Christianity Today's review or Roger Eberts (big spoiler in the review) to see that this is much more than a kids movie. Truly a movie your kids can grow up with.
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