Have you ever had one of those days, or possibly one of those weeks, or maybe even one of those months where you just felt discombobulated? You may ask yourself, “What is going on here?” Normal is no longer normal, up is down and down is sideways with a twist. Everything seems to be shaken up, thrown out of balance, or turned upside down. It feels like you are the punch line of a bad joke.
Speaking of punch lines of bad jokes, there was a television show which started back in 1948 known for its hidden cameras and practical jokes. Candid Camera was very popular as it found unsuspecting people and put them into a discombobulated state. Cast members setup “victims” and at the last moment they would pop out and laughingly say, “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera.” It is all very funny unless it’s you on the camera.
We have all had our awkward uncomfortable moments which discombobulate us. For instance, on the way to your job interview your car locates the only pothole in seven counties sending coffee down your chin and right to the middle of your finely pressed white shirt. One of my favorites is getting dressed after a workout in the locker room when you suddenly encounter a wardrobe malfunction, and you must wear the outfit anyway. Finally, you are out with friends at a nice restaurant and somehow manage to spill food all over the table and the guest of honor. Heading to the washroom for wet paper towels, you grasp the hot water faucet handle a little too aggressively, dislodging it, and sending water to the ceiling.
Then there’s the “I have finally got it together fake out.” Always the last parent to pick up your children, you arrive twenty minutes early, and are really feeling good. But your toddler is feeling anything but good, and promptly throws up on you. Talk about discombobulating!
We can all relate to these and take them in stride. Discombobulated is a feeling of disconnect or confusing someone to make them feel uncomfortable.
Since I am being completely transparent, this is exactly what I have been experiencing for a few months. I have been looking around and saying out loud, “Really, seriously? Where’s the camera?” That’s just my way of dealing with the unexpected. It is hard for me to remember an extended period of time in my life with so much discombobulation, if that’s even a word? Nothing really bad is happening, and nothing really challenging is rocking my world. Actually, there are a lot of great things going on and I thank God for each and every one of them!
Here’s the deal, I am a routine oriented person. I like things in order. I need things to be in order. I believe I might have spoken about this in earlier columns.
With this type of personality, I want to know when something is going to happen, how it’s going to happen and where it is going to happen so that I can mentally prepare myself. And, if I can plan it myself, and be in charge, I am good to go. Absolutely no surprise parties for this girl, no thank you! If I know in advance that something challenging is coming down the pike, I pray more specific or strategically. My mindset usually shifts into higher power gear and prepares
Itself for that thing that’s coming. Even though I do not know the outcome, I know to trust God with it. I become more aware of my thoughts, actions, and emotions and take notice if I am allowing them to affect my physical body. I am reminding and encouraging myself with Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Since December 31st I have been out of my home office. Again, nothing bad going on, just some things need to be worked on. Our kitchen island has become my temporary work place. I love our kitchen, it’s bright and cheery, but sometimes it’s a little too bright when trying to work from a lap top. Even if I turn the computer every angle imaginable the glare from the light coming in is almost blinding. I have worn my sun glasses just to reduce the glare. I realize I could move to a different space in our home, but I prefer the kitchen for now.
My home office is my place of comfort. It’s my go to room. It’s the room I meet God every morning, read a devotional, study the Word, and just listen for God to speak. It’s the room where column blossom, events come together, answer emails and play with the grandchildren. So you can see my reasoning for discombobulating. But, there is no reason for this feeling to continue.
Sometimes God takes us out of our area of comfort and places us somewhere else to see where we are with Him? Could it be He wants us to learn something about ourselves in order to mature us? Could it be God wants us to solely depend upon Him in each and every situation? The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Here’s the encouraging word from the Word; I have “learned!” Even the Apostle Paul struggled with things, but he learned how to depend on the strength of Jesus Christ! This means there is hope for us and we can learn too! God is not going to leave us discombobulated, He is a God recombobulating people every day and He wants to connect with you too!
Here’s how to start recombobulating. Stop conforming to the ways of the world. Start transforming your mind with new mental food. Read a morning devotional and study the Word. Find your “go to room” and be alone with God in prayer. Nothing hard about it because you can do all things with the strength of Jesus Christ!
God is the soul provider of contentment, and it is a learned behavior.