The beauty of the military life is being sent all over the world. The stress of military life is being sent all over the world :-). How can the very same act be so contradicting? It is contradicting by how I dealt with it. We were stationed in Guam years ago and I mean y-e-a-r-s ago. While there we learned how to scuba dive. I saw some amazing things while diving. We would use those disturbing sausages you purchase in a can to feed the fish. There was a point when I was descending where I was surrounded by nothingness. I mean all I saw was water. At this point, usually the title tract to Jaws seemed to play in my head, almost as disturbing as mystery meat in a can! I felt like a very large, floating, vienna suasage. At that point, bubbles showed me which direction I was headed. I also had gauges on my vest that gave me information. While I was still learning to dive, we had to take certain skill tests. One skill test in particular almost made me drown. The skill was this - while under the water remove your scuba mask while still breathing with your regulator. Simple right?! Not for this floating sausage! I took the mask off; tried to breathe; inhaled some water in my nose; and tried desperately not to panic. I had to at that point force myself to ignore my feelings and get myself under control. Oh I sucked in more water but I finally got my emotions and body together and I took a breath and kept on taking breaths. My instructor allowed me to put my mask back on, hugged me, and off we swam. At one point I was literally drowning while other divers watched. The instructor was there but he knew the skill must be mastered or it could be mean death later. Emotions are amazing things. They are God given. However, they were never meant to control us. We are to control them and no more so than during the times in life when your face mask is off and you feel like you're drowning. During those times we must not rely on what our feelings are screaming at us but rely on our 'regulator'. The regulator connected me to my air tanks. Our daily, personal walk with the Lord is like our 'regulator' to God. During life's mundane routines, times of joy, and times of sorrow and trials, Bible reading, obedience to His Word, and prayer are my life lines to the Source of my life. Our Ministry Assistant preached on 11/29/2020 evening service "Believe God as He Has Told You" Acts 27:25 "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." Believe and trust in the Lord and not your feelings.
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