Grief

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Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

Sentinel

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"Dreams, combat, terror, numbness or subservience--every day these things wipe out your sacred principles, whenever your mind entertains them uncritically or lets them slip in." (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.9)

Let nothing slip by without checking, for the old saying goes, "If the big things don't get you, the little ones will kill you." Don't let the little ones kill you, ok?

As we move through a day our mind meets many uninvited guests. The difficulty is that we open the door and let the uninvited guests stay. We even sit them down and serve them dinner--something we would never do in "real life". These distractions, these influences are sly--sapping energy we should be using elsewhere. They push and pull until we find ourselves so far out in left field wondering how we wound up out there.

Protect your mind, your principles by posting a Sentinel at the mind's gate. Here's how Commander Mark Divine DIRECTs mental traffic, as described in his book "The Way Of The Seal":

Detect the thoughts that slip in--they never stop.
Interdict, forbid useless thoughts, distractions, negativity.
Redirect to new thoughts, with intentionality.
Energize new thoughts by supporting with your whole being.
Communicate right thinking by saturation in the truth.
Train the mind to be strong.

This fellow gives a summative presentation one might find helpful. Watch from 3:40 or enjoy its entirety:

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