Jimbo's Jots

Robert Fulghum (It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It) tells another story when he was a teacher of an art class and reflecting on how art affects the function of the brain and vice versa. To illustrate the weight of a human brain, he brought in a cantaloupe. Students were able to feel the tension of holding a 3 pound melon, even tossing it back and forth to each other. Then one bright student, according to Fulghum, spoke up and said, “I can get us a real brain!” Low and behold, she could because her dad did research on brains and had plenty to share. Arrangements were made and she came into the next class session with a brain in a bag. He and his students were able to hold it and even toss it back and forth. He adds, “One cubic centimeter of the brain contains ten billion [with a B] bits of information and it processes five thousand bits a second.” So everything that functions in your body, every thought you have is the result of essentially the equivalent of a 3 pound cantaloupe.

I’ll give you a few minutes to wrap your brain around that . . . Now let’s come back and chat about this for a bit. One of the traits of people that struggle with anxiety is racing thoughts. I hear phrases like, “It seems like my mind can’t shut down.” “I have trouble just keeping my mind from going and going down different directions.”

Let’s try a little experiment . . . set a timer for 30 seconds. When you are ready to go, start to write down everything that comes to your mind. No need to feel rushed just stop at 30 seconds. Evaluate the list – these are things that are important to you at this moment in time. Tomorrow if you try the experiment again, the list could change a bit.

Solomon wrote, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7, NKJV) The people, moments in time, and yes, things that are important to you are the very things that direct your actions and words. Sometimes, even creating or adding to anxious feelings. Apostle Paul would tell us, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. (Philippians 4:6, The Message)

So back to our experiment . . . set another timer for 30 seconds. Create a list of praises. Now compare the lists. Which was easier to create? Which list is longer? Which list puts a smile on your face? Let’s call the second list “hanging on to your cantaloupe!” I think (see what I did there?) we need just a gentle reminder in our cantaloupe of what is good and pure and trustworthy and right (Philippians 4:8).

Be blessed in hanging onto your cantaloupe and be a blessing to others as they hang onto theirs!