We had a jamb-packed pastor’s lunch yesterday in Chicago where Evan McBroom taught that we often communicate “Too Much, Too Little, Too late.” Here’s a key takeaway:
Effective communication requires metaphors.
That’s nothing knew. Christ often used metaphors like I’m the light of the world, I’m the living water, or I’m the bread of life.
Metaphor’s are powerful tools. Another luncheon attendee, pastor Tim Harlow, introduced me to this thought provoking metaphor this afternoon:
“The Suffer Point”
Tim shared how choosing a wrong direction in life leads to a painful destination. And at some point in that wrong direction we’ll eventually get to “The Suffer Point.” The point where we’ve experienced irreparable damage even if we turn around. For example, if we fail to save for retirement until we’re 60, we no longer have time to build up a comfortable cushion and we’ll suffer.
This is sobering stuff and brought to mind a “Suffer Point” I inadvertently passed in 2009. Because of prolonged high cholesterol and high stress, I now have heart disease. I can’t go back…and a radical lifestyle change is required to arrest and hopefully reverse it!
Think carefully…what “Suffer Points” are you about to pass?
This is very true and the sad part is most people do not recognized their path until they’ve already hit the “suffer point”. But thankfully most of the time there is an opportunity to turn things around, with the right attitude and the right GUIDE all things are possible! Thanks for your posts, I enjoy reading your blog. God Bless!
mine right now are kiddos…if I try to focus on my own needs right now, my kids will suffer later on and I will suffer too as a result. I’m trying really hard to see this time as a true investment in their future…and my own. I know that if I stay true to this time of service to my family, I will be more fulfilled in the end than if I did anything else anyway. Now I just need to figure out how much time invested is right and how much time I need for my own refreshment so I can do a good job. To the spa!
An
Rochelle,
Yes…that “Suffer Point” lurks quietly in the weeds. It’s dangerous stuff.
Ed
An,
Life’s a trial and error journey. Try something…assess…recalibrate…try again…assess…and so on.
You’ll get it figured out alright.
Ed