Ian Heininger

This is not a global warming message but nearly as important (well maybe not ‘nearly’). Its funny watching people react to something that puts them out, or inconveniences them in some way. The most obvious example is in traffic chaos. I personally cant stand the person who realises they are about to miss their turn off and then proceed to block the entire road going in both directions to make the turn and save themselves about 39 seconds by not having to go around the block (and in the process costs every car within sight about 18 seconds being the equivalent of 9min. and 42sec. if everyones lost time was accumulated). I hope you see my frustration here.

Anyway, this is not about being more considerate and making yourself go around the block in future but about how we react when we are inconvenienced. I personally don’t like the person I become sometimes when someone gets in my way or puts me out for a few extra seconds. I have come up with 3 ways of being inconvenienced:

1. Someone else did it- this is when we get bad service or someone steals our car park.

2. We did it- this is when we decide we want to get fit and excercise even when we don’t want to or we decide to have children (which results in many inconveniences for years to come).

3. God did it- this is when we are confronted with ourselves in some way or God speaks and asks us to do something we are not that excited about.

The thing I have noticed is whichever one it is you can still end up reacting in a way that looks nothing like the person you were before you were inconvenienced. Have a think about yourself and how you to tend to react when you are put out or ‘inconvenienced’. Its easy to end up complaining, shutting people down, getting angry with someone, giving up on relationships, and turning on the people closest to you.

I think 1 of the top 10 inconveniences ever is found in Numbers 9 where the Israelites had to follow the pillar of cloud (fire at night) whenever it moved, day or night. The people had to break camp whenever it moved and stay when it stayed whether for ’2 days, a month, or a year’. Imagine this when there are about 2-3 million people who have to break camp. No wonder Moses was dealing with a bit of rebellion over the next few chapters.

Anyway, you may not be in the wilderness following a pillar of cloud but you can still ‘rebel’ when faced with your own inconveniences, whether type 1,2, or 3. So when you face some inconveniences this week try and stay open to people, be flexible, keep your attitude sweet, and adapt quickly using it to build your character and consistency.

Ian Heininger
CANVAS

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There are times when I look back over my week and wonder what actually happened? Things can get so busy that I feel like I spent the week sprinting towards something and not even realise what it was. There are lots of options in what we can spend our time pursuing, like a good coffee, a great parking spot, sale items, a date, a job offer, a good conversation, or in my case this week, a way to stop the mouse getting down the chimney (you gotta love chicken wire).

In Isaiah 5 it speaks of people tying themselves to building, pursuing stuff, only to end up alone. Its easy in the business of our lives to sometimes look around and sometimes feel alone. There needs to be an intentional engagement with people in how we live that allows us to share a large part of our lives with others. This is more than the monthly catch up with a friend but involves a weekly pursuit of engagement with people. A pursuit that is intentional about getting close to people and opening ourselves to others. A pursuit that is intentional about forgiving and engaging with someone even where there is conflict. A pursuit that is intentional about bringing other peoples needs to the forefront and praying for each other.

So this week, I encourage you to pursue someone nearby and engage with them in a deeper way and discover their world while they discover yours.

Ian Heininger
CANVAS

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