NxtGen Energy

Recently, I had the privilege of traveling as a team member on a Mission Trip to Haiti.   Our team of fourteen people had been sent out of Trinity Church (Miami, Florida) to the Mission of Hope in Titanyen, Haiti.  During our time there, we were able to work at the Mission of Hope’s medical clinic, travel to nearby orphanages to provide medical care, and also do some light construction work around the site.

In that part of the country, there is no water treatment or wastewater treatment, nor is there any garbage pick-up.  We had electricity in the evenings, sparse internet, and little running water.  We drank bottled water and cooked with it.  Because of the lack of sanitary conditions, we mostly ate peanut butter, crackers, canned tuna, and other canned goods.  There was no grocery store or corner pharmacy.  We faithfully downed our malaria pills.

Every evening after dinner was “family time.”   We played card games, read books, and just talked.  One of the many things we talked about was how we were going to live our lives when we returned to the United States.   After what we had seen and experienced, we knew that we would be viewing our lives from a new perspective.

What I realized about myself was that with all of the resources, conveniences, opportunities, and choices that I have, I can chose to live a peace-filled life.  I can go to the grocery store or restaurant and select the healthiest food for me.  I can exercise. I can buy products from businesses that support environmental sustainability.  And I can use less of everything.

I don’t have to just talk about it.  I can take control of myself and make the best choices for me daily.   The choices that I have the power to make right now will impact my health in the future, my family in the future, and my community in the future.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

Being well includes building healthy habits into our daily routine. Rather than saying, “Oh, I will just eat this today and diet tomorrow” or “I will eat this now and exercise twice as long tomorrow,” I propose building healthy food choices, exercise, prayer/meditation on scripture, and worship of God into each day. When you have all of those elements present in one day, you acknowledge that the present day is what you have been given. Tomorrow is a future possibility only.

Students often tell me that they don’t always have time to exercise or time to really plan out a healthy snack, etc. But I think that if we let the amount of time we think we have to dictate our lifestyle choices, we are going to lose in the long run.

Try building healthy food, exercise, prayer/mediation, and worship into a few days in a row. I think you will be amazed at how great you will feel!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you.  I do not give as the world gives.  Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27 (NIV)

For me, being happy is most often a function of my emotions.   And my emotions for any given day are usually subject to my perceived circumstances.    Maybe this isn’t true for you, but it’s my struggle.  So, I have decided to not allow my circumstances to direct my emotions.  Well, at least, I am going to work on consciously not allowing my circumstances to direct my emotions.  Instead, whenever I feel like I am “not happy”, I am going to focus my attention on the verse above, John 14:27.  I am going to focus on having a peaceful spirit.

One of the definitions of the word “peace” found on Dictionary.com is this:  freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquility; serenity.  Sounds great!  How do I plan to actually have a peaceful spirit?  Well, I am going to focus my mind on the reality that Jesus gave me His peace.  It is mine.  And whenever, I feel agitated, annoyed, distracted, anxious, or fearful, I am going to meditate on John 14:27.  I am a work in progress.  How about you?