Do you ever feel like the stresses in your life are moving you close to breaking point?
There are stresses for all of us: Students trying to prepare for their High School Certificate or University exams; children coping with teachers they do not get on with or in playgrounds that feel like jungles; parents dealing with responsibilities even when they feel exhausted; workers whose employers push relentlessly for more productivity or simply the frustrations of traffic and queues.
Two health experts Garry Egger and Charles Watson explain that often stress builds up as we shut out parts of reality and develop “tunnel-vision”. In losing sight of the “big picture”, our horizons narrow and our awareness closes down. Things just seem to be too overwhelming.
These health experts answer to dealing with stress is to step back and regain perspective. In Philippians 2, Paul raises our awareness about Jesus. Jesus left heaven to deal with the problems of our world. His death, resurrection and ascension meant that he will one day reappear and rid our existence of its stresses and frustrations. We are involved in a cosmic conflict as God’s kingdom is established. There will be tough times, there will be suffering and there is an ultimate answer and great meaning to our life. Rather than tunnel-vision we should look to the stars.
Stephen Semenchuk
Senior Minister