Page 32 - Dainfern Precinct October 2021

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

DISTRACTION OR DEFENCE?

BY PETER STOFFBERG

If outdoor adventures are your thing, then like me, you
probably enjoy visiting outdoor equipment stores. It’s
not just the cool stuff in there, it’s also the people who
demonstrate and sell it. I recently witnessed a sales
presentation of a non-lethal self-defence weapon
that can incapacitate attackers with chemical irritants
delivered by high velocity projectiles. The salesperson
was enthralling and I found myself hoping for a
demonstration. That never happened, and it’s probably
just as well.

These devices are ingenious, but my fascination with
them was disrupted by a sombre reflection on the
current social climate responsible for the surge in their
popularity. Intrigue and amusement gave way to a
familiar contemplation of the sad state of our world. One
minute I’m enjoying the exuberant salesperson and the
ingenuity of the product he’s presenting, and the next
I’m despairing at the world. Perhaps my joy was just a
brief distraction.

This probably happens because of the sheer volume
of negative news we’re bombarded with. We’re
living in tough times and our thoughts automatically
gravitate towards the constant threats delivered by the
media. These mingle with the challenges of our own
circumstances and this chain of thoughts pushes us
under the dark cloud of anxiety. Does this ever happen
to you? Perhaps it’s just me, but if you know this cloud,
then may I suggest that we don’t have to stay under it?

It involves
another ingenious this design. We can marvel at the brilliance of it, but
self-defence what about the Designer? Here’s where we can choose
mechanism our chain of thought.
that’s found
in bombardier If we choose to contemplate the brilliance of the
beetles. They Designer of something like this little beetle, we can
can blast a foul- marvel at the even more amazing purpose and beauty
smelling caustic of every human being, including ourselves. Then we
irritant at nearly can meditate on the work He’s put into creating each of
ten metres a us for a very specific purpose, and get on with enjoying
second. This fulfilling that purpose.
custom-made tear
gas is heated to The Bible assures us of God’s love for us. The life, death
boiling point and and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, proves that He is in
fired in bursts at control and can turn any situation around to achieve His
more than five purpose. The God that designed the bombardier beetle,
hundred times a designed us and has planned our purpose.
second. Incredibly,
they do all this We may not always know what our purpose looks like,
without blowing but we can choose to focus on, and trust in the One
themselves up. I’d who has determined it. This chain of thought isn’t a
pay good money distraction, it’s the truth and a wonderful defence.
to watch the Anxiety is the distraction, and we can
aforementioned choose not to live under its cloud.
salesperson’s
presentation on

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