By Ashlie Miller
While my family eagerly awaits the cooler temperatures of fall and a slew of birthdays within several weeks of each other, one menacing bully lurking around the third week of September makes them shudder. Each year, this culprit subtly claims his territory, often shifting the blame to a fairly innocent bystander – ragweed, often confused with goldenrod.
Unlike the carpet of spring pollen, ragweed takes a more subtle approach, yet hits with intensity as it floats through the air and wrecks those it encounters. Naively, many leave windows open to welcome crisp morning breezes, and that is precisely when ragweed strikes. Symptoms pop up overnight without warning, but we know the pollen must have been waiting in the wings because it suddenly affects us.
I recently had conversations with young adults, asking them about spirituality and their beliefs about things beyond what they can see. As staunch materialists, they cannot fathom believing in something they cannot feel and measure. It could be easy to judge people with those beliefs, but I could also look at myself and wonder how often I don’t believe God is at work in my life or in the world when His work is not immediately visible to me.
Because I keep track of the supplements and medications we have needed from year to year, I try to prepare my family by having supplements and other care items on hand ahead of time. I encourage them to take specific supplements to get ahead of the issue. Some listen, and others take a little more risk. It is important to care for ourselves now, before the things we anticipate arrive.
The same is true of our spiritual lives. How many times do we wait until we are spiritually depleted before we call out to God? We often do not think to ask God for wisdom until we are overwhelmed by decisions. Do we wait until we are hurting and needy before we open a Bible or attend church? Do we see the gifts of prayer, scripture, and church as only for emergencies and when our life is falling apart? It does not have to be, nor should it be that way.
Despite our best efforts to keep doors and windows closed, change our clothes (sometimes multiple times) throughout the day, or shower at the end of the day, we cannot fully control or prevent the impact of the tiny pollen that invades our air. We still have to live our lives. We want to enjoy the fire pit in the backyard, outdoor playdates with friends, and jumping in piles of leaves. We just have to be smart about it.
The same is true of the environment and culture that surrounds us. Although many messages are loud and obvious enough to avoid, others subtly creep in to distract us and bring fear, unwanted opinions, damaging messages, and values inconsistent with ours. If we are not careful, we end up breathing in these seemingly insignificant influences which can eventually take over our lives. While we still cannot control the environment or even isolate ourselves from it, we can insulate ourselves against it.
Allergy season is upon us, whether you anticipated it like my family or whether it seems like an annual surprise. We know it is here by what we experience and how it affects us. We can prepare ahead of time if we take the time to notice the effects of subtle messages trying to invade our spirits. We do not have to be caught by surprise or poorly prepared. We can still live and move in the world without being overtaken by it, but we have to abide in the truth of Scripture, prayer, and godly fellowship. How are you preparing now for what lies ahead in your life?
