Sunday, August 25, 2024

Your Life is an Etch A Sketch

Good morning! Kids and teens—how was your first week of school? How many of you look forward to the start of the school year, not just because you "get" to return to school, but because it's a chance for a new beginning? I remember looking forward to it when I was your age. I liked starting fresh with new teachers, classrooms, and a new schedule. I was a bit ornery as a kid, so I was always grateful for those new beginnings.

Fresh starts are powerful and motivating. They remind me of playing with an Etch A Sketch or one of those magnetic drawing boards when I was a kid. You could start drawing, mess up, and then just shake it or swipe it clean, ready to begin again.

Forgiveness in our lives is like wiping the slate clean. It allows us to start over. It feels good to receive forgiveness when we mess up, and it feels just as good to forgive others. Forgiveness is at the heart of what we celebrate taking communion together.

Last week, we witnessed the baptisms of Megan, Abby, and Logan. It was a powerful reminder of new beginnings—the old is gone, the new has come. Communion serves as a reminder that Christ cleared our "Etch A Sketch" or our "magnetic drawing board" We get to begin a new day, a new week, with a fresh start.

As we prepare for communion, here are two things to reflect on:  

1.   Spiritual transformation, or simply put, change takes time. It is normal to come here week after week and sometimes feel like you're not making progress. Spiritual transformation takes time. It takes time for Christ's love to fill us as we remain in Him, it is relational, and a learning process—sometimes even a battle. In Romans, Paul says:

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:15-20, 24-25 NIV)

2.           Remember—thanks to Christ, thanks to the cross, He forgives you. He wipes the slate clean. It is a new day, a new beginning.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4, NIV)

Would you pray with me?


Sunday, July 14, 2024

Open Your Eyes!

Have you ever heard a fan or coach yell to an official, “Open your eyes, ref!” or “Open your eyes, blue!”? The comment clearly implies that they believe the referee made the wrong call. If you’ve ever been an umpire or a referee, you know it can be difficult to see everything accurately. Often, it's easier to see things clearly from a better position to make the right call. But it just seems like some officials may not make enough effort to get into the right position to make the right call. If they had just taken a few extra steps, maybe they would’ve been able to see clearly. Could it be the same for us sometimes? If we would just seek to understand, to see things from a different perspective, perhaps we could make the right calls more often. But it’s a lot easier to judge than to understand, right?

Communion is a special time when we can pray for God to help open our eyes, to help us see where He is, to help us see where we are, and where He needs us to be. As scripture tells us, it's a time to examine ourselves to ensure we are focused on what we should be thinking about at this moment. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 states:

“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”

The new covenant that Jesus established through His blood opens our eyes. Let me share a personal story. Our family was in Washington, D.C., eating in Union Station when a man approached our table and asked me for money for transportation. Working in Canton, I am frequently asked for money and have developed a knee-jerk reaction. I am just into a habitual, more efficient way of responding in these cases and it’s just easier to judge than to understand. I told him no. My daughter questioned me, asking, "You mean you can’t help him?" I explained that I would be willing to take him to a restaurant to buy food. Sure enough, a second individual approached asking for money. I offered to buy him food instead, and he agreed. As we stood in line together, I wanted to get to know him. It was hard. It was awkward. I fumbled over my words, and after we received his food, I let him know Jesus loves him. It was in that moment I realized my initial knee-jerk reaction, that habitual way of thinking about a circumstance, had closed my eyes to an opportunity to show Christ’s love to others.

This morning, let’s ask God to open our eyes to the impact of His body and blood on our lives. Pray that He will help us see where we are and where He wants us to be.

Would you pray with me:

Father, thank you for Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. Help us see where You are, where we are, and where You want us to be. Give us the courage, the energy, and the motivation to get into the proper position. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Would you pray with me:

Sunday, June 16, 2024

Forgiveness. One of Dad's Super Powers

Good morning, and happy Father’s Day to all the men who serve in a mentoring role. As we prepare for communion this morning, I’d like to start with a question: Have you ever had a “my dad is going to kill me” moment? One of mine involved a beautiful, full-size, four-wheel-drive 1979 Chevy Blazer with two-toned light and dark blue paint. Our driveway was down an icy hill, and one day, I misjudged it. As I tried to turn in, the ice sent me sliding into a concrete-filled light pole, leaving three big dents in the fender. Without cell phones back then, I had to wait until the end of the day to tell my dad. I spent all day worrying—through classes, wrestling practice, and the drive home—rehashing how I would break the news to him. When I finally told him, he saw my sincerity and regret, and he forgave me quickly, without making me feel guilty. It’s one of my best memories of my dad—how he forgave so readily and completely.


Our Heavenly Father provides an amazing story about forgiveness through a parable in Luke 15. Jesus tells the story of a young man who makes a huge mistake, asking for his inheritance early and wasting it on wild living. His life hits rock bottom, and he finds himself willing to eat the same food as pigs. This desperation brings him to his senses, and he decides to return to his father, hoping for any kind of handout. Here is where the story picks up:


“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

Father’s Day can be hard for those who didn’t experience this kind of forgiveness from their earthly fathers. The good news is that our Heavenly Father offers perfect forgiveness through His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Weekly communion is a wonderful time to learn how to accept forgiveness and move on. You may have learned guilt-ridden patterns of thinking because of bad forgiveness habits growing up, but Christ encourages us to examine our hearts, change the way we think about our sin, pray for forgiveness, and move on. Philippians 3:13-14 states, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for which Christ Jesus has called me.”

Dads, grandpas, uncles, men who lead the younger generations, our goal is to make disciples of all the nations so never underestimate the power of your influence, words, loving actions, and forgiveness. You are more often caught than taught. Know that when you lead, your loving Savior forgives you and forgives those you lead. Lead humbly. Lead bravely in challenging environments where you can help to break bad habitual thought patterns to help build future generations for Christ. Forget what is behind and strain ahead!


Let’s pray.

Sunday, May 12, 2024

No More Mommy Guilt!

 As we prepare for communion, I want to speak to biological mothers, adoptive mothers, Aunts, and the ladies who are committed to mentoring the younger generation using the amazing mothering powers that God has given. 


First, I want to thank you for leading and loving those around you. Here is to the times you rock it out of the park! You can tie the hair bows, clean the dirty uniform in preparation for the next day's 8:00AM game, rub backs, take care of the child who wakes up vomiting at 1AM, provide encouraging spiritual council to the other child who just had a nightmare, make a breakfast that includes all major food groups, clean the kitchen, show up to church looking like you just spent the day at the spa and do all of this without yelling once while in the car. 


But, some days you may feel like you will hardly be able to function. You look longingly for the energy just to get out of bed, to get a shower, and to have something to eat. You may wonder how in the world you can repeat this process in the days to come. You keep telling yourself the good intended advice that “the days are long but the years are short,” but that just seems to add to the guilt because you don’t feel you can compare.


Speaking of guilt, there seems to be a little "mommy guilt" that creeps in from time to time. It’s that self-doubt you may experience that is related to your perceived shortcomings in your ability to balance work, parenting, and personal life. It's the pressure, the internal and external judgment, and comparisons with others that bring feelings of failure that are sometimes more than you can bear.


Can anyone relate to falling into the comparison trap? If so, this time of communion is for you! When you sometimes feel less than amazing, I want you to remember some truths from Ephesians 1:5-6- In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. 


  1. Through Jesus, God adopted you! No matter how bad you mess up, You are His! 

  2. Thanks to Jesus, You are forgiven! When you fall short in reality or when you get sucked into the comparison trap and can’t get away from the Mommy guilt. Remember, You. Are. Forgiven!

  3. Thanks to Jesus, You can let go. Loosen your grip. You are redeemed! You are made new!


Would you pray with me?


Sunday, April 7, 2024

A Ghost!

How do we embrace belief in the face of what may seem unbelievable? Consider the astounding rhythms of nature: the heart, pulsing 100,000 times each day, with the same force required to squeeze a tennis ball, not requiring our conscious influence. Then there's the Sun, emitting enough energy in a single second to power our world for millions and millions of years—releasing a staggering 386 million trillion megawatts per second!


Yet, for many, the resurrection of Jesus Christ remains a challenge to belief. This week, I delved into the accounts of Jesus' first appearances following his resurrection and found myself pondering, "What motivates ordinary people like us to embrace the seemingly impossible?"


Think about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They heard reports of Jesus' resurrection from women who had visited the tomb, they encountered Jesus themselves and engaged in a Bible study with him during a seven-mile walk, yet they did not fully believe until Jesus broke bread and shared communion with them.


After this moment, Jesus vanished, only to reappear shortly afterward to the rest of the disciples. Their initial reaction was one of terror, mistaking him for a ghost. In Luke 24:39, Jesus reassured them, saying, "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." Consider doubting Thomas—he needed to see and feel the wounds in Jesus' hands and side to believe.


Doubting is a natural aspect of human behavior, but so is believing! Take Mary Magdalene, a devoted follower of Jesus who had experienced his healing power firsthand. Upon hearing the voice of the risen Jesus, Mary Magdalene believed immediately! Similarly, the other women at the tomb were initially filled with fear but ultimately believed, courageously spreading the news despite the potential stigma.


Communion provides us with an opportunity to reflect on Christ's sacrificial love, symbolized by his body and blood. It's a time to examine our hearts, acknowledging moments of both belief and doubt. Would you join me in prayer?


Jesus, your resurrection defies comprehension. We are humbled as we contemplate the greatest miracle in history! Like Doubting Thomas, who sought tangible proof, we acknowledge our moments of doubt and pray for the faith to believe without seeing. We confess that, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we may study and seek you without always recognizing your presence in our lives. Yet, just as you revealed yourself through the breaking of bread, may our eyes be opened to perceive you among us today.


Father, like Mary Magdalene, who was so transformed by your love that she recognized your voice immediately, may we be drawn by your relentless grace and seek you earnestly, yearning for your presence in every moment. And like the women who encountered you at the tomb, initially gripped by fear but spurred to action, may we, too, through the power of your Holy Spirit, overcome our fears. Grant us boldness and wisdom as we endeavor to be your witnesses in every facet of our lives, from the mundane to the extraordinary. May our words and deeds radiate your love and truth, transforming the world around us. Amen.


Friday, March 22, 2024

Try Softer

I provided the following talk on 3-21-24 to the Strength for the Journey team at Aultman. Thanks to John Ortberg for the inspiration and content for this talk. 

Thank you for having me. Thank you to Terry, Joy, Janice, and the team. This afternoon I want to share something that has been on my mind for about two years. What I am going to share I believe holds the key to a fulfilling life. 

This afternoon, my goal is to give one simple thought to provide strength for your journey today. This thought is super memorable. It is highly likely to change your life.


Have you ever tried really hard to make a relationship work, or make loved ones, friends, or colleagues like and accept you, but failed?


Is there an endeavor, a project, a goal, a task that you want to accomplish and you are trying with all of your might, but you just can’t get it right?


Are you trying really hard to sleep or to have faith, but you are just failing?


If you are trying as hard as you can, but not getting where you would like to be, here is something you could consider. Try softer.


As a high school wrestler in the 90s on a team that won the NBC championship five years in a row, we prided ourselves in trying harder than everyone else. We resolved to work harder than any opponent and our practices were grueling. During practices, the wrestling mats would be so covered in sweat that we would slip on all of the water. I know this may sound dramatic, but I honestly felt like I was going to a place like hell every day after school. As a high school sophomore, I would try so hard, but I would fail. Not only would I fail, but I would get beat up, exhausted, and find it hard to even want to wake up the next day. Saturday morning practices were the worst. They would begin at 8:00 and would be a harder version of everything we endured the week before. Well, one Saturday morning was different. Somehow I remember transforming into a carefree happy, ornery way of thinking about practice, young man. I went into this mode where I could stay loose, laugh, and I had a grin on my face. I remember my eyebrows being raised. I remember feeling like I wasn’t trying hard at all, but here is the crazy thing….I was winning. I was fast, quick to react. I was able to get into and out of positions that made me unstoppable. Guys that would usually crush me and everyone else in their path were not able to beat me. I went from hating Saturday mornings to being happy and no worries. The crazy thing, everyone around me was both shocked and really mad and annoyed at the same time. My performance was outstanding and I didn’t know what happened. Instead of trying harder to be a better wrestler, I was able to shift into this more laid-back wrestler who was still working hard, but I was just almost allowing something to flow through me to be more reflexive and less cognitive. I suppose you could say I had unlocked the code to learn how to try softer.


I see this in my patients. Something goes wrong with their balance system so they try harder to have good balance. They tighten all of their muscles and try to control each movement and each step. You know what happens? They become hypersensitive. They feel more. They start to think that normal sway and normal movement are abnormal. Their system becomes overheated because they are trying to control a bodily function which is balance, that was never meant to be controlled. Balance is reflexive. Unconscious. Instead of trying harder, I have to teach them to try softer. 


Many of my thoughts in the next few minutes come directly from John Ortberg. John is a pastor who speaks from his heart. He has endured many challenges and I find his transparency to be just what the doctor ordered.


A pastor who heard John Ortberg’s sermon on Try Softer preached about it at his church. His 8-year-old granddaughter was visiting from out of town and listened to his sermon. He often wondered what she heard when he was preaching. The day after he preached he took his granddaughter and family to the airport to go home. His daughter couldn’t get the luggage handle to retract so he tried. He was forcing and pushing hard. When everyone was frustrated, his granddaughter stated, “Try softer” Grandpa. He relaxes his grip, and pushes the button gently, Wouldn’t you know? The luggage handle retracted beautifully. 


John tells the story of trying to lead for everything he is worth when he first began his ministry. Working extra hard. Working over. Supervise. Challenge. Come in early. Stay late. Exhausted. Someone came in and told John he was working and trying very hard. Here is my advice for you. “Try softer.” 


John goes on to state that sometimes trying harder, more strain, and more work, just begins to feel contrived and ineffective. You are not at your best. You are not natural. He states, “If trying harder is not getting you where you want to go, try softer.


trying softer doesn’t mean trying is a bad thing. The ability to exercise effort is a glorious capacity God has given us. But if trying harder is not getting you where you want to go, here is something you might try. Try softer. Instead of white-knuckling, teeth-gritting, clenched fists, more effortful, trying to be in control.


A thought that John gave in his talk that has really struck me personally is that “control is the master addiction.”


To kind of summarize this main point is this. “The kind of trying that doesn’t do us good is when we are trying to control what we are not able to control.”


Ancient greeks. Painter appellas. Trying to paint foam from horse's mouth when the horse is running. Tried, tried, tried.  Couldn’t do it. Threw a sponge for cleaning his brushes against painting and that sponge created what he could not do. When he quit trying so hard, it happened.


We all know this. Athletics. There is a moment where trying to hit a serve harder actually reaches a point of diminishing returns. Playing a piece of music doesn’t cut it. Trying hard to impress someone actually makes you less yourself. So then, try softer.


Again, what exhausts us is not effort. Capacity for effort is good. What is exhausting is when we try to control, what we are not able to control 


  1. I want to take a moment to reflect by making a statement and then asking a question:  Trying softer means learning how to control only those things that you can control. 


Reflection: Can you think of a time when you were in a state of letting go. When you were able to loosen your grip. Knowing you were doing your best, but you weren’t trying to control the outcome? What was that like? How did you get there?


  1. What is your greatest barrier to trying softer?

    1. For me, it is probably my habitual need for control- the outcome will be the way I want it to be.

      1. Control is the master addiction

      2. Anyone addicted to feeling safe. 

      3. Why is control so addicting?

      4. Which personalities are more susceptible?

      5. We quickly forget that there are some things we just can’t control

        1. I think it is because we have habitual ways of thinking we can control everything.


Leslie Farmer, a college scholar, states that we live in the age of disordered will. Two realms of the will:

  1. Objects we can control by choosing

  2. Goals/trajectories/outcomes that we cannot control. 


Can will knowledge, but not wisdom, can will going to bed, but not going to sleep. Have you ever tried really hard to go to sleep? I can will eating, but not hunger, bravado, but not courage, religiosity, but not faith. 


(In summary, while religiosity focuses on the outward expression of religious beliefs through practices and adherence to religious traditions, faith is an inward conviction or trust in something greater, which may or may not be tied to organized religion. One can be highly religious without necessarily having strong faith, and vice versa.)


(In summary, while bravado may involve a superficial display of confidence or boldness for the sake of appearances, courage involves a sincere willingness to confront fear or adversity, driven by inner strength and conviction.)


William James noted there are certain endeavors like a name you are trying to remember and the harder you try you can’t remember, but when you give up it just comes. It just comes when you try softer.


That is a picture of grace.


  1. The ability to try is a good thing. Give examples of things where trying is helpful and when trying is not helpful

    1. Try to create a restful environment, but you can’t try to sleep

    2. Try to make your muscles stronger, but you can't try to have balance. 

    3. Try to make your heart healthy, but you can’t try to make your heartbeat

    4. Can eat lots of carats for better eye health, but you can’t try to make your eyes see.


  1. The mystery of trying softer involves a daily ability to reboot our default mode to be in control

    1. Let go and let God

    2. How do you do it?

    3. How long does it take?


Jesus Matthew 11. Religious people sent the message to try harder to believe in God, Try harder to be a more spiritual person. Try harder to be more faithful. When he came to people who were exhausted from trying really hard.  Jesus said come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart. And you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden is light. 


Jesus said, if you If you are tired, come to me and I will give you rest. Take my yoke.

This is interesting. Jesus says he will give us rest by giving us a burden. A yoke is an instrument of burden and work. Ortberg states “He doesn’t say I will give you Valium or a trip to Vegas because we were made to contribute, but we wear ourselves out trying to contribute.”


The commandments were a great gift to Israel, but the Rabis had to try to figure out how to apply them to life. We all have a yoke- The yoke is a way of life. We do this. We try to do everything just right. We consult experts. Did you know that if you take all the advice from experts it would be literally impossible to function? If you add up:

                    

                        How much time do all the sleep experts say you should sleep a day

Health experts say you should work on health-related activities a day

Financial experts say you should manage finances a day

Parenting experts say you should be parents

Vocational how much time do you spend at work


Totalled up= 36 hours a day to be perfect. Impossible. 


So. We have to understand that everyone has a yoke. The question is whose yoke will you choose. Jesus says my Yoke is easy.


Ortberg states that transformation from the inside means learning to rely on God’s power, not on my own power. It begins with surrender. “I can’t, He can. I will learn to let him. Your will be done.”


Good carpenters go to a farm and build a yoke that is specific to the stronger more experienced animal. Hole may be different so the stronger animal can bear the heavier weight.


Jesus was a good carpenter. We don’t bear it on our own. Neither do you. John states, “That is why I don’t have to go through life with my teeth clenched, my brow furrowed, my muscles all tensed up.”


Amazing things happen when you relax. 


Father, help us to relax and take it easy.


So today, John states, “Try softer.


When it comes to your relationship with God, don’t try harder to have more faith. John tells a story of fainting twice because he was trying so hard in his early days. Just try harder to trust God? You ever try harder to have faith? Try softer.


Don’t try harder to get more done faster. You can’t control time. You can’t control traffic. You can’t control your computer freezing, the wifi going down, the person coming late to the meeting. Try softer.


Today in your relationships. Instead of trying to manage and control your friends, your relatives, your spouse, your x, your kids, your colleagues, your parents. Let them be them. Let them worry about them. Try softer.


Today at work instead of obsessing about that email, that project…try softer.


That is the easy yoke. 


One day at a time.


Practical application:

So this is easier said than done. It is wonderful to hear, but another thing to practice. If you are like me, you might have times when you do well at focusing on only the things you can control. However, the lines become blurry. It is easy to become exhausted because we lose focus and we try to control everything. 


“Life is like an obstacle course. each challenge requires its own unique balance of skill, timing, and focus. So don’t expect to conquer new obstacles using the same old strategies. Make sure to update your approach.” Calm App 


We need to continually update our approach by learning to work on controlling the controllables.


Application step one: 

  1. Recognize we have to train to learn to give God control of things we cannot control. Giving over control does not come naturally. It is not our default mode. Did you know that oxen have to be trained to work in a yoke?

    1. We aren’t doing life alone. We have to learn to allow Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God to take the lead and share the burden.


How do we do that?

  1. Take an inventory. Write it down. Learn upon which things we have influence. Control the controllables.

    1. For instance, I can come to work prepared. I can learn. I can do my best. 

    2. I can’t control others' responses to me. I can’t control the weather which can make patients cancel, the building mechanicals- the air conditioning the heater. I can’t miraculously heal diseases. I can manage diseases. I can’t miraculously heal people, but I can help create the optimal environment for them to heal.

    3. I can provide concepts of healing to people, I can teach them what to do, but I can’t understand it for them and I can’t force them to practice healing ways of life.

      1. Make a prayer journal of the controllables in your life. Ask God for guidance and to help you do your best with the things of which he has given you control. 

      2. Ask for miracles and healing with those things that you cannot control.


  1. Make a new habit or continue to build the habit of trusting God.

    1. The habit of trusting ourselves and counting on our hard work to fix all problems and prevent all problems is hard to break.

      1. Step one: Be honest. Upon which God are you placing your trust?

        1. Trusting the wrong God will cause failure. 

        2. Trusting the God of money to fix everything will cause a false sense of security because money cannot fix everything, stocks fall, prices go up, and money eventually runs out. 

        3. The God of health to make it all better is not dependable because we are all human. 

        4. The God of safety only exists until it doesn’t. 


  1. Step two: Cultivate a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute, second-by-second relationship with the God who is powerful overall. The God who will not fail us. Learn to talk to him and turn over the moments and events that you cannot control. Trying softer means more of Him and less of you. I can’t. He can. I will learn to let him. How?

    1.  This really happens through prayer. 

      1. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.

        1. Father: Love me. Patient. Kind. Etc

        2. Art in heaven: Not bound to earthly father examples or rules. Supernatural power to overcome and do anything

        3. Hallowed be thy name: Unlike any God. Set apart.

        4. Thy kingdom come/thy will be done

          1. Not about me. More of you. Less of me.

      2. Fasting:

        1. From phone

        2. From apps- stock market ticker. One of my Gods is money. I look to money to provide security.


Optional


  1. Step 3:

    1. Learn how to relax muscles you don’t need on physically. Scanning through sign breathing/gathering energy.



Conclusion: Trying softer is simple to say. Harder to do. Takes practice. Not our default. As we find strength in our journey together we will have more moments with him and less with us. We will be at peace. So remember this:  God did not take the fire away from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he was there with them and that seemed to make the fire cooler. Jesus didn’t take the apostles out of the boat, he stayed in the boat with them and that seemed to calm the storm. God did not take Goliath away from David, he was with him which seemed to help as he threw the stone. He didn’t take the flood away, but he directed the ark, he didn’t take the hunger away from the crowd, but he provided bread and fish. 


Trying harder means doing life alone and trying to control what you cannot control. Instead. Try softer.