Inventory

   In my early adult years I had the privilege of being in the retail business. For twelve years I worked

for a fine men's wear store in Texas. On the last Sunday in February we would take our annual

inventory. We would prepare for the inventory a couple of weeks in advance. 'Big Ed' insisted that every sock, tie, belt, pant, suit, shirt... be counted - by hand. Now mind you, this was during an age when computers were first being installed that could track inventories, but did you think a store with a crank handle cash register would modernize to that - no!  Welcome to the days of the Big Chief writing tablet and a #2 pencil!

   What was out on the shelves and racks was easy, it was the back stock rooms that really made the process of inventory a real challenge. We opened every box, looked through the stacks of double-knit polyester LaJolla pants, laughed our way through the leisure suits, and rummaged through the Touch of Class polyester embroidered shirts. It was a searching and fearless inventory...

   I thought about 'inventory' this week and the fourth step in a recovery program: 

"Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves."

Why is it so difficult for us to open up and search through the taped up boxes full of yesteryear's hurts and hangups? Why is a moral inventory that reveals our true character so fear invoking?  What is it about exposing the strengths and weaknesses of our character that drives us further away from the very people who can help us most?

   As I've thought about this this week, I've come up with a couple of things:

1. Nostalgia: At times it's easier to take hurts out of the box, hang onto them, re-tape the box, set it back on the shelf of our hearts and minds. Somehow we think that over time they will increase in value.  All the while those hurts and hangups do increase in cost, but not in value. It costs us more and more to hang onto our stuff.
2. Fear: This can paralyze even the best of men or women. Fear keeps us from exposing and disposing of sins, hurts and habits; while at the same time helping us maintain our posing in front of our family and friends. Fear tells us that 'if they really knew me, they would reject me!'

Making the inventory does require searching through the stuff (rubbish) and a fearless attitude, that no matter what you find, you deal with it. However, instead of taping up the box and keeping it, you discard it. If you are having a hard time sitting down to take the inventory, start here:

"Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life." (Psalm 139:23, 24 MSG)

The Holy Spirit knows us better than we know ourselves. Take a couple of hours with God, take out that Big Chief tablet and #2 pencil, draw a line down the middle of the page creating two columns (strengths / weaknesses), break it down into periods in your life, list the hurts, sins, habits... victories, successes, blessings... once you've done that - sit down and talk it through with someone. Ask for prayer, seek counsel if need be, reflect and trust (both in God and a trusted friend) to unpack the stuff so you dispose of it. 

What's in the stock room in back that needs to be disposed of? What is keeping you from opening up to The Lord and your friends? What sins have captivated your imagination?  It's that time of year - time for inventory!

In Christ

Tight Focus

A few years ago I purchased a rifle that came with flip up iron sights, which was great. I soon wanted to purchase "necessary" accessories (i.e. bipod, laser / light combo, heat shield, adjustable grip) One of the purchases I made was for a stealth tactical, multi-color-dot scope.

I decided to leave the iron sights on however. This sighting combination really helps me zero in on a target (and I need all the help I can get...) With this sighting combination, I can obtain a target, place a colored dot on it and fire. At first I had a very difficult time acquiring and hitting my target with a high degree of accuracy. Finally, after getting it all sighted in accurately, I began to really enjoy target practice. However, if i really want to be accurate, I flip up the iron sights to bring the target into a tight focus. If I want to put an even tighter focus, I flip up the pin-dot sight, aim and fire. It's amazing what a tight focus can do. Question: Does your vision for life have a similar focus?

I do believe we must approach our life's vision in a similar, tactical fashion. We obtain a target using our natural sight, but too often we fail to tighten the focus in order to hit the target with maximum impact and result. Frustration mounts as we routinely miss our target. Or we may hit the target but we are missing the center of our focus. So pause for a moment, take a deep breath - people can get hurt at this point. (breathing, breathing, breathing, heart rate decreasing...)

Here are a few questions:
1) Are you using all of the assets available to you? (Is the Holy Spirit in control and engaged as a weapon? Are you using the Bible for shaping your vision? Is your focus distorted by the movement of the world around you...?)
2) Is your vision sighted-in? Are there any necessary adjustments for windage or elevation?
3) Have you tightened your focus onto your target?

A transformed vision for life, church, business... begins with an exacting inventory of our assets and liabilities. Then you begin the process of sighting in those assets and dealing with the liabilities, often by making only slight adjustments (sometimes significant adjustments...) At this point you are ready to tighten your focus (breath in and out lightly) pull back slowly (breathing light still), maintaining focus and steady aim, slowwwwwly pulling back to when you are surprised at the discharge. You look, you've hit your target with a high degree of accuracy.

I know this is a "guy" type of article and there are all sorts of analogies I could use, but the question remains, 'does your vision for life have a tight focus...'

In Christ?!