My printer decided to go offline without asking my permission. I needed a particular book to finish a project; it was on Mars or Pluto. It was not in the bookcase. My fountain pen…yes, I use an old fashioned fountain pen…ran out of ink and the nearest ink replacement inserts are at Office Depot. While searching for the book and the ink cartridge, I walked around the end of the twin bed, the one with the wooden frame, and put one leg of the bed firmly between my great toe and its next door neighbor. I hopped around the room, trying to hold my toe and maintain my balance. But I didn’t, and I leaned against the wall, exactly on the overhead light switch, which I turned off with my shoulder. And now I am in complete darkness, without a printer or ink or a normal foot. Then it hit me…not literally…that I needed an Emergency Shut-Off Switch, the one in my brain, the one that says: Ok, calm down. Get control.
The other name for that switch is prayer, or reflection from the mind and heart, or meditation…name it as you will. It’s sitting down, clearing your mind as much as possible, breathing deeply and letting go of the urgencies that have gained control. I know, of course, that not all confusion or chaos is the result of simple inconveniences. Sometimes the situation is much more serious, but the Switch works then, too. To intentionally sit with Jesus, side by side, until the pain lessens is what I need in those moments. An Emergency Shut-Off Switch. Do you have one of those? Do you use it?

If this had come yesterday I suspect my day would have gone better.
Sent from my iPad
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I have one and I use it but it is rather high on the wall and sometimes is a little difficult to easily reach.