Page 24 - Have Faith Oct_Neat

Day 27 Understand the messages you need to act on...

Spam... Luke 1: 79
The very thought of the word ‘spam’ leaves us by. I think what I’m trying to say here is
me in giggles thinking back to the days of that it is very easy to take in information that
Monty Python and the singing Vikings. Those we want to take in regardless whether it is
younger readers probably think I have a truth or not. This can lead us into very com-
screw loose at this point but anyone around promising positions. It is true that within our
in the 70’s will know what I’m talking about. lives the truth can sometimes be uncomfort-
One of the most famous comedy sketches able but also necessary. Imagine the final
ever. But Spam had a different meaning back warnings turning up in your inbox from a com-
then to what it does today. We used to know pany you owe money to, for whatever reason
spam as a kind of chopped pork type of you can’t afford to pay them at that time so
canned meat that we used to grill on toast. It the quickest way to deal with it is to delete the
was truly awful but we loved it. In fact, it was email or send it to the ‘spam’ folder so you
a very common item in the household of the don’t have to see it. It sounds like a very irre-
(forgive the expression) working class. Ah, sponsible thing to do but it happens all too
those were the days. These days Spam has often. For me, spiritually I have found myself
a totally different meaning. Unwanted mes- ignoring the truth in the past, racking up debts
sages in your email now own the word ‘spam’. in my soul that were getting out of control.
As a website manager and editor of a maga- Thankfully, I have found a way to manage
zine, spam is a daily sight for me. Practically those debts and clear my account but to do
every time I open my inbox there is a com- so meant I had to check all of my spiritual
pany trying to find a way of separating me emails and face the ones that meant uncom-
from my money or some Prince in a far-off fortable readings. I still disregard the ones
land wanting to deposit millions in to my bank that aren’t important but I will read them all
account just because he found my email on first and make a better decision of those I
line and thinks he can trust me. Sound famil- need to send to my ‘Spam’. I suppose this
iar? Of course, we very quickly acclimatise isn’t rocket science but one we are all find
ourselves to all of this and delete it or send it ourselves doing from time to time. I have
to our junk folder so we don’t have to deal found that God’s inbox must be full of spiritual
with it anymore. But just recently I found my- emails that I send him. But I think I can put
self in the position of the sender and not the my hand on my heart and say that the ones
receiver. Of course, the information was not that are important are always answered. Of
spam (to me) but I found that subscribers to course, the stuff I ask for that I don’t really
my newsletters had me marked as spam. need or is not in my best interest will end up
Quite upsetting really, all of this information in his ‘Spam’ box. He will do this because he
and hard work was treated as rubbish and loves me and knows what is best for me.
discarded. This has got me thinking. How That eventually teaches me to only send
much important information do we discard as emails that are necessary and important.
useless? But I also thought how much use- Maybe this is what I should be doing with my
less information do we pick up on and waste newsletters. The word ‘Spam’ still brings a
time with while the real important stuff passes smile to my face though.

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