A few weeks ago I posted about Doug Jones’ (one of my good friends and colleagues) blog at www.perigrinatio.com. Lately Doug’s posts have been great. He encourages, inspires and challenges with his writing. I want to — again — encourage you to check out his blog if you haven’t already.

I met Doug about 10 years or so ago at a Sonlife sponsored event in Baltimore, MD. From the first time I met him I was drawn towards his humble, sincere and steadfast commitment to serving the church (specifically youth workers, students, volunteers, etc.).

Doug and I have worked together on several writing projects over the years, consulted together on occasion, co-led concerts of prayers together and I have consulted him on much of what we have done to reculture Sonlife the last three years.

Here is his latest post…

You know the drill… after watching a very full flight go through the necessary hustle and bustle of shifting carry-on’s in the overhead and people get latched into their seats, you finally pushback from the gate. Then the real “entertainment” begins either live or on memorex - how to latch your seatbelt, the seat becomes a flotation device, yada yada yada.We can become so jaded to this presentation of life-saving instruction. There are lessons that stretch into many areas of life from this observation. The one that I have been thinking about lately is when they say, “in the unlikely event of temporary loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend; secure your oxygen mask first, before helping others.”

Secure your oxygen mask first, before helping others. Boy, why didn’t I think of that? Why did I think that I must take care of everyone else, before I tended to my own soul? How did I overlook that from the very beginning we have been admonished to ensure we were “well” before we cared for others? I Tim. 4.16 is very clear on this idea of securing your oxygen mask first,

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

May we save both ourselves and others. Take time time to breath. Take time to be with The Mystery. Take time to care for your soul. As we are diligent to care for ourselves; we ensure we can faithfully finish “the race” that is before us.