Daily Gospel Chat | Jan 10 | Thoughts

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. -Isaiah 55:8

During a snowstorm in Colorado, the roads can ice up suddenly, so drivers quickly learn the cardinal rule of hazardous winter driving: When sliding on a patch of ice, always steer into the direction of the slide. I used to think that was a strange solution because steering into the slide is the exact opposite of what I feel like doing. My instinctive reaction tells me to turn the wheel in the other direction. But I have to admit from experience that steering into the slide works.

I thought about this opposite solution the other day when I was feeling sad and discouraged. My instinctive reaction was to pull away from others and retreat within the protective solitude of my home. That is exactly what I was doing when a friend phoned and asked me to fill in for her at the volunteer desk at school. Spending the afternoon in a hallway filled with energetic high-school students was the exact opposite of what I felt like doing, but for some reason, I said, "Okay."

Several hours later as I was driving home in a totally turned-around mood, I thought about "steering into the slide." Going out and doing something for someone else was the exact opposite of what I felt like doing, but it was exactly the right solution to my problem. It steered me out of my bad mood.

Should you try the opposite solution today and do something that you don't feel like doing?

Father, my instincts aren't always right. Enable me to know when I should do the opposite of what I feel like doing. -Carol Kuykendall