Water only half on:

Have you ever been in a shower, and the water is only half coming out of the shower head while the other half is still coming out of the head from the bathtub?  Sometimes I just don’t pull the lever up all the way so that the water isn’t coming out of the top of the shower all the way.  This recently happened to me, and I realized that this is in many ways similar to how I can act.  I am only half in.  I am like the water that is coming from the shower, when some of myself or the water is still coming out of the tub spigot.  When this is happening, you are not getting the best shower in because the water pressure isn’t as good.  Similarly, I am not being the best version of myself when I am not fully invested.  I sometimes struggle feeling like I am completely present or involved in the things that I am doing.  While I am physically present and even doing my job, I am finding that there are times when I am not emotionally or mentally present. 

 I think that the reason I have a struggle with this concept is because I can have low energy.  I can often want to be just more in my own zone, and I want to make sure that I focus on myself, rather than the Lord or the task that I am doing at hand.   I also have found that I am struggling with this more and more when I am on my phone.  I have found that I can easily feel as though I need to go to my phone as opposed to spending time doing other things.  I have become very selfish with my time and want to do things like be on Facebook, watch my youtube videos, or contact people via text messages.  I don’t like that I have started to focus more and more on my phone as opposed to looking around and appreciating those that are around me.  Because I have focused less and less on living in the present moment with letting myself get distracted by other things is stopping me from being full in or in this metaphor be the water that is fully on.  

This is something that I have also recently discovered in my training for a half marathon.  I have definitely learned in the past from doing my first half marathon to now that it is incredibly important to be fully invested. It is essential to eat healthy, drink water, and run a lot.  I am very good at the running portion.  I am very good about making sure I am getting my miles in every week, and if I am not running, I am making sure that I am doing other strengthening exercises.  However, I am sometimes really bad about making sure that I am hydrating and getting enough water.  I also sometimes don’t eat like a person who is about to run quite a few miles the next day.  My diet isn’t the worst, but it could definitely make some improvement. I can’t just do this halfway.  If I only do it halfway, there is no way that I will be able to run the half-marathon on the day of.  As I am a month out, I need to remember this.  

The Bible talks about being lukewarm as opposed to being fully involved or invested. For example, the Bible mentions this in the last book of the Bible in Revelation.  This is in Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot…So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”  God is very similar to us as humans.  When you are in a special relationship with someone, whether it is a great friend, a love relationship with a significant other, or a parent, you don’t want to have a half hearted relationship.  Relationships that are only half way there are not the ones that you trust and really go to when problems arise.  God is also described as jealous, so he wants to make sure that we are devoted to him fully. God does not desire those who are only half in whatever they are doing.  He is not very happy about those who are not ready to give their full hearts over to him. Therefore, if we are going to be a person that is a Christian and someone who really, truly, represents the Lord, then we need to be willing to fully represent the Lord in every situation we are in, in every conversation, in every relationship, and in everything that we are doing.  

All in all, my goal is to become more and more present wherever I am.  Jim Elliot has a simple quote that best represents this mindset and that is, “Wherever you are, be all there.” If I remember to give 100% to whatever situation I am in, then I believe that I will be a better representation of a person who is living like a water faucet fully on.  I know this is the only way to really do a good job.   I know that this is especially true with my Christian walk with the Lord.  I will only really be able to spread God’s word through being a water that is fully on.