Right In Front Of You

Confession. I’m burned out. My mental capacity is ok, but somewhere along the way, the world changed and I missed it. There is too much information coming into my brain. Do you feel that way? I have realized that I don’t have the added mental capacity that the information engine is throwing at me. Too much is coming through my handheld that I attend to. I don’t have the capacity to respond to the latest bombing in Ukraine, or a missing submarine near the Titanic, or the coronation of an adulterer King, another algae bloom, or presidential prediction poll, or yet another indictment, the latest pronoun change, the latest forest fire, or the next hurricane, or the potential for yet another Covid strain to arrive soon, or why Kevin Costner is leaving Yellowstone, etc., etc. My mind has been flooded for years. I heard the Lord say, “Right in front of you.” He has given me a marvelous brain to interact and respond to the important things right in front of me. My wife, my children, my extended family, my neighbors, our ministry and businesses… and mostly the Holy Spirit that lives in me and with me and serves as the “voice of all truth, my counselor, my comforter.” I haven’t been present for those nearest to me because of the lack of capacity in my brain and soul. And when we aren’t present we cause pain to those that need us most. I know I have, and for that, I am sorry… especially to my wife whose heart needs me present. I chose endless information over, “right in front of me.” It is my own fault. I once asked the Lord, “Why do I love Jesus so much but feel so little joy.” The Lord responded clearly and succinctly, “Because I live with you in the present but you are living in the future or past.” I realized then that my mind races when I am not living in the present. Not only do I miss the hand and voice of God, but also those most important to me. And so, I am realigning my mind to that which is “right in front of me.” I’m done. The change in my peace and joy these past couple of days since shutting off the spigot is incredible. I am present again… in the present. My marriage has changed, and my relationship with the Holy Spirit has returned. I’m taking a few weeks or months (still deciding and praying) to reconnect to the present, recharge, refresh, and be renewed and healed. If you don’t see One Minute in Utopia for a few weeks… or months, you will understand. Maybe there are some of you out there that need to join me in the journey to “right in front of you.” I am excited to hear more of Him and less from the information engine. That is where freedom resides. It’s where deep love exists. It’s where relationships thrive. It’s where revelation is revealed. It’s where joy and peace abound.

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4: 8

"Love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself."
Luke 10: 27 NIV