2 Degrees of Change

I need to share this because it is fairly profound and it's one of those points that - when explained - makes you go "That is so EASY - why didn't I think of it!?"

Today, R. and I attended the "Focus My Marriage" satellite simulcast today. It was marvelous!
We sat with a cross-section of married couples and a few singles from varying walks, diverse denominations and at different points in their spiritual journeys. It is estimated that the event was viewed by over 70,000 and what we got was life-changing stuff.

The last speaker was John Trent of Strong Families, he pointed out something that may be trite to some people, but I do not believe I have ever heard it. Using a steering wheel, he illustrated how "good driving" involves a series of "two degree turns", making slight adjustments to stay between the lines.

He amplified his illustration with a story about going to sleep at the wheel and waking up after crossing six lanes of traffic and leaving the road. Our first reaction in such cases is to way over - correct. This will usually result in a catastrophe.

When we wake up and find out our marriage is in trouble or a relationship has been damaged, we often choose a big solution to the big problem.

In most cases, John Trent contends, we are better off to apply small solutions to big problems.

One story he gave to bolster his point was from 2 Kings 5 - this is the story of Naaman ... a Sunday School favorite.

Naaman was a mighty warrior but he had a big problem - he was a leper.

Read the story and you will see that God provided small, seemingly insignificant solutions to this big problem.

In the story, you will see that Naaman's king sought big solutions - he sent a letter to the King of Israel, but he couldn't help.

When Naaman finally ended up at the right place, Elisha the prophet did not even see him, he just sent his servant to tell him to wash in the Jordan seven times.

Naaman - still looking for big solutions to his big problem, thought to reject the notion altogether. But his servant convinced him otherwise.

After a conference like the one we attended today, our minds can be astir with all kinds of ideas and big solutions.
I am hoping instead, to apply small adjustments - 2 degrees of change here and there. I'll let God handle the results.
I just thought this was sound advice.