Here Wii go again!

I am approaching another milestone in my life in the next few days - another birthday is almost here! If you have read one of my past entries in this blog you will know that I have wanted a particular gift for several years but I don't expect to get it this year - again. I am coming to realize that may not be all bad. You see, I have been hearing and reading about the many varied forms of injuries that occur from my desired special gift. In fact, check out this article:

"A case of 'Nintendinitis'? Exploring Wii-related injuries"
"Experiencing tennis elbow from overindulging your love of the Nintendo Wii? You may want to put down the remote.

The New York Times has a fascinating story of the number of aches and pains some Wii owners associate with playing games too often. As the article describes it, more people are suffering "Nintendinitis," according to doctors they spoke with.

A sports medicine physician in Manhattan says he's dealt with two types of Wii-related ailments: repetitive stress from playing games such as Wii Sports too long, and more serious injuries caused by playing in tight spaces.

The physician also warns users about not completing full motions on certain activities such as tennis or bowling. Here's how the Times explains it:

A common problem is the realization by players that a full swing is not required; a flick of the wrist is often enough to return a serve or bowl a strike. As several doctors pointed out, that is the exact motion — concentrating the force of a swing in the muscles of the forearm — that can cause tennis elbow.

Injuries and other calamities related to aggressive Wii play have been documented regularly on the Web at sites such as Wii Have A Problem. In fact, problems maintaining a grip on the remote forced Nintendo to replace the wrist straps with a sturdier version."

Now, when I did a google search on the internet for "Wii injuries" I had over 380,000 sites show up! Amazing! There was everything from broken fingers to black eyes, pictures, videos and news articles such as this one from Consumer Affairs: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/06/wii_injuries.html
It all made me wonder how something that is supposed to help you can cause so much damage?

Church is a little like that also don't you think? We often have the same people doing so many things that we wear them out, maybe even to the point of giving them "servantitis". Oftentimes when someone just can't say no, the only thing left for them to do is to leave the church. We have extinguished the light in that individual and now are only seeking to turn over those responsibilities to someone else. But, if we are the body of Christ, the church, wouldn't we serve Him better if we all did what we were designed to do?


"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

Going back to God

“Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.” - Lenny Bruce

Today I had lunch with a friend and then enjoyed some time doing some shopping. As often happens, I ended up in one of those chain-based Christian book stores. As I wandered around the store I found some great bargains - boxes of cards on sale 90% off! Journals and devotionals - only $5! Gifts and knick-knacks for the house, church, or someone else - all on sale! Suddenly I found myself totally bored. And I wasn't sure why.

Maybe it's because I was looking to connect with God in the midst of "church" things. Maybe it's because I realized there was plenty of stuff that was diverting my attention away from God. Maybe it was because I just need to sit and be the person God created me to be. Or maybe, I realized that what I am looking for can not be found anywhere else but in the personal relationship with God and everything else does not measure up to that amazing gift.

Glory, glory to God!


"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments." - Exodus 20:2-6

More than Enough

"After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.* A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages* would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they* sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’ " - John 6:1-14

After having been gone for several weeks I found myself so grateful to be at home and sleeping in my own bed, enjoying my creature comforts. But after a few days - 3 to be exact - I found myself irritated with all the "stuff" piled up throughout the house. At first I blamed this irritation on the dust bunnies that were no longer hiding under the furniture but living out in the open. Then I began to secretly blame various family members for not helping more in the straightening and cleaning department of the housekeeping. After awhile I began to blame myself for being lazy and unproductive with my life. Then I read the scripture above and listened to God's small still voice in my heart.

During this past few days I have realized how much my life is filled with blessings and how often I lose focus on those blessings. You see, sometimes I see the pile of books on the floor and can only see clutter. I forget about the blessing of eyesight, the blessing of the ability to read, the blessing of the financial wealth that allows me to purchase books for education and pleasure. The list goes on. Sometimes I look at the little knick-knacks on the shelves that need dusting and cleaning and I forget the blessings that they each contain. Like, when one of my children picked out that very special one for my birthday or that one that my husband gave me to tell me how much he loves me or the little collection that was passed on to me by my now deceased grandmother. And the list goes on...

As I have looked upon these many blessings and realized just how much I have been given I am filled with gratitude for God's unending abundance. And I realize that what I am really irritated that I am hoarding all of these blessings so it's time to share the blessings and the abundance of God's love by passing some things on. Isn't that what God asks each of us to do?