Bad habits are hard to break.
Genesis 19:26 (MSG) #verseOfReflectionBut Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.
So much has happened since we last met and discussed....what was it? Oh yes, how I know she's beautiful. Moving on, as it isn't good to stay stuck in the past too long, are you familiar with the D.A.S.H. diet?!
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a flexible and balanced eating plan. DASH was one of three eating plans that were compared in research studies sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).Basically, I'm a minority of the black diaspora and ever since we stepped foot on good ole' Americuh we've had some type of problem, in particular a long line of health related issues that ALWAYS seem to disproportionately affect black minorities (and a small subsect of Asians). High blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, kidney this that or the other...you name it, it's in my family's health history (as well as what seems to be a majority of African Americans). In particular the DASH diet has a keen focus on limiting the consumption of salt as this plays heavy in building higher blood pressure levels, causing one to be pre-hypertensive, hypertensive, and so on. From experience I can attest that high blood pressure isn't the way to go for anyone. Try going to the ER for abnormal blood pressure readings on Christmas Eve, oh how you feel the meaning of Christmas when you leave in the wee hours of the morning.
I digress...
Diet is an important part to maintaining a healthy lifestyle along with exercise and many other techniques which we've discussed in this blog (See: Stress, Mindfulness, etc.) Eventually there will be a series of entries on health, exercise, and wellness. Although, the information is already out there I can't yet trust that you might actually do the research yourself and let's face it, I need you to keep reading this blog; it's like my day job for now!
In our #verseOfreflection for today we have Lot who is the nephew of Abraham (father of the 3 monotheistic religions) fleeing with his wife and others from the impending doom and destruction of Soddom & Gomorrah. Many people will say this judgment is directly tied to the sin of homosexuality; I disagree, but that's not the point today. To make a long story short, there was a lot of bad stuff going down at good ole S&G, God sent some special messengers to check it out, things got ugly and it was time to hit the road jack, and you couldn't come back, cuz the town would be no more, no more.
Focal Point #1
In Genesis 19:12-29, the Angels aggressively suggest that Lot and his family need to get moving before they are caught up in the hell fire from heaven. Lot's future son-in-laws take it as a joke. Lot begins to drag his feet saying that he can't go up to the mountains, which is where they were being sent for a number of reasons. Keep in mind the reason Lot and his family is being saved in the first place is due to the fact that he was a righteous man (in the eyes of the Lord), and the kin of Abraham (earlier Abraham had a conversation with God in hopes of saving those who were righteous at the time; not to mention Lot chose originally to settle in Sodom & Gomorrah).
Here we have Lot negotiating with the Angels, who most likely know better than he to let him go to a nearby town instead of all the way to the mountains because there might be "danger" there, as if what is about to happen isn't bad enough.
Focal Point #2
Before leaving to head to the nearby town the Angels warned that Lot and his family was not to stop, nor look back but to press on until they got where they were going. As all good stories go, someone didn't listen. Lot's wife looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt.
Our first focal point is that even though Lot negotiated to go somewhere nearby instead of where he was told to go, we later see in Genesis 19:30 he and his daughters ended up in the hills anyway, because he was afraid to stay in Zoar (also known as smalltown), where he had begged the Angels to let him go. This is the second instance where Lot's choice of real estate didn't pan out too well...like seared steak #burnItUp.
The second focal point is that in being disobedient Lot's wife lost her life...her everything through some wanting, longing, or desire for that which she was leaving behind. We don't know why, there aren't any specifics, but what is clear is that she disregarded a direct order from someone sent by God not to stop nor look back. Technically, by negotiating with the Angels Lot was also disobedient for they were told "not to stop in the Plains". Zoar was up the road.
#culturalRelevancy
There's a church sign I see often that makes me laugh: "No perfect people allowed." I chuckle and think to myself, "Where am I supposed to go?!" #sarcasm.
Often times in life we make mistakes. It comes with the territory. How often have you tried to do something your way and it still happened as according to the original plan? What about when someone suggested the best approach but you just had to be stubborn and go about it, doing what you wanted to do only to fail? In this life some things aren't meant to be negotiated but just taken as is because that's what's necessary. It's what's needed. Lot didn't want to go to the hills and did so anyways eventually. His wife for some reason had to take "one last look" and lost her being.
The past has passed us for a reason. There's nothing wrong with memories, wondering what if and trying to make sense of it all, but be careful for in looking back you may suffer unintended consequences. Perhaps that lustful desire pops back up ever so subtly. Maybe, your former partners in crime just happen to start coming around again as soon as life gets good. You think about how you could've taken the easy way out of some adversity or hardship only to regret that you didn't given the circumstance hasn't gotten considerably better, yet.
When you drive on the road of life all that is in your rear view is there because those objects need no longer be "closer than they appear". Distance does make the heart grow fonder and a love for letting go of that which keeps us bound whether ideologies, temptations, mistakes, fears, relationships...is the only way to truly break free and be set on a path of discovering who we are truly created and called to be.
I had my life planned up to age 25. In my 23rd year of life all Hell broke loose. Supposedly that's when the spiritual encounters and trials/tests come for us faithful, to make us strong. One year ago today I knew the hand of God was moving in a mighty way in my life. My momma even remarked, "...boy something good must be gon happen to you." Within a few months it seems I might've all but threw it away. Sometimes I ponder in the wondering on what should've been. Then again, I now reflect that there are no negotiations to be had if the original plan is to work out (i.e. There are a million ways to get from a-to-b; some easier than others). In closing I offer this piece of comfort and solace in hopes that it may help you as it did me, from yet another church sign.
"Ask us about our pray as you go plan."Anyone can stay stuck in what happened yesterday, but if you're stuck in reverse you continue to pass all that was passed you only to have to encounter it again. Do you really want to drive the wrong way down a one way highway of life?
Share your thoughts on the consequences of lookin' back below.
Sumthn2Ponder (s2p):
- When is lookin' back necessary?!
Links for Consideration(L4C):
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