For those that post on a regular basis, especially young people, you might want to remember once it is on the internet; it is going to be available forever.

Forever as in when your future boss looks at your internet posts; when law enforcement can find your posts on criminal behavior; as an adult, when you look back and see some things you were posting were embarrassing and you hope YOUR children never see them.   

I was surfing on a subject last night and my name came up – curious I clicked on the link.  This was about the final of the first season on History channel’s “Alone.” 

To us it was an interesting video history of 10 people going through the daunting experience of being all alone, with only certain possessions allowed. 

The eventual winner also reminded us, early on, of her brother, Norm.  Mannerism, phrases, and many other things were exactly the way Norm is – so we had the added interest on how well Alan, would do – we both figured that Norm would have done well and he too would have won at the same age.

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Below is what I found, note the date:

Posted Aug 21.2015

The final episode of ‘Alone,’ a show on the History channel that placed ten men on Vancouver Island with a minimal amount of gear and cameras to record their adventure.  But, they had no contact with each other.  Their lifeline was a satellite phone.

Some gave in almost immediately, but two held on for weeks, the second to the last giving up on the 55^th day.  The last man probably could have gone on for several more weeks, if not months.

The thing that hit them the hardest, even more than lack of food, fierce storms and other essentials was the isolation from society and their families in particular.

Some ‘psyched’ themselves out, dwelling so much on their predicament that they couldn’t focus on working within their environment.  They were all trained in survival techniques, but none of them had experienced the challenges of an environment that they were dropped into – being unprepared, mentally, some broke early – others took several weeks to finally give in and go home.

Because they were filming themselves, we could see the progression of their mental and physical state over time.  The longer they stayed the more weight they lost, the more important food became to them and the feeling of isolation became a physical burden to them.  It was reflected not only in their recorded thoughts, but also in the physical pain they were enduring.

It was an interesting program.  It makes those oh-dark-thirty moments we go through seem like nothing.  These men had no way to avert their thoughts.  They had nothing but survival to distract them.  They had to live and deal with those inner-most things that all of us try to hide and not deal with – they either overcame, or were overcome by those memories, it was a struggle with one’s self.

As the last one said, “It is just you, the Creator and the Creation.”

Psalm 107:8-9 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

⁹ For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

We all too often focus on our trials and forget all the things God has done for us.  We become distressed at our burdens and forget that it is carried by Jesus.

We boast of our abilities, forgetting they are gifts of God.  We look at our endeavors and pat ourselves on our back for our accomplishments, forgetting that they are gifts of God.

We rejoice over our children and brag about their undertakings, forgetting that they, too, are gifted by God.

We fall into the well of self-pity asking ‘why me?’ instead of asking, ‘Lord how can you use this for our glory?’

We look at sunrises, sunsets, the beauty of the landscape and are in awe over their magnificence, forgetting to praise God who created it all.

A person comes to us in sorrow, and we forget that God is touching his heart and wants to reach out to Him.  Instead of praising God and guiding Him with scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to comfort them, we give worldly advice and comments.

We have an obligation to God.  An obligation to Praise Him; to thank Him; and to share Him.

Mathew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Too often we read verses such as these and think it only applies to those that are in full-time ministry.  After all they have the training and the responsibility to tell others, teach others, baptize others; we aren’t in the ministry so it doesn’t relate to us.

But it does.  While we may seldom have the opportunity to baptize others we can – and many of us have – but we do have the opportunity AND the obligation to share our faith with others.  To teach and disciples others.

Being a Christian is a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week relationship with God.  We may need to be reminded from time to time – and the best time to have that conversation is the first thing in our day.  We may meditate at a different time, but just contacting Him, thanking Him for the gift of life and asking Him to guide our steps this day, is enough to help us realize we are His, not our own.

Colossians 4:6  Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

What a wonderful gift God has given to us, we need to share it with others allowing them, too, to experience the great comfort and love of God.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again