I’ve grown weary of the phrase, “Think outside the box.” Box? What box? But then, I got to pondering. I live on the east side of a medium-large town. It takes maybe 20 minutes to get as far west as one would want to go.

Yet I don't know anything about the west side. It might as well be 1,000 miles away. I’m perfectly happy to shop, eat, and do all the business of living here on the east side.

I live in a box.

In some ways, we all live in a box, whether it’s self-imposed by geography, time constraints, fears, or plain, old habit. How rarely we venture out of our comfort zones! I mean, they're called “comfort zones” for a reason. Who wants to be voluntarily uncomfortable? Not me.

Sometimes life conspires to force us out of our boxes. How you react to that may very well reveal your true nature. May the only boxes we live in be those of our choosing. And even then, may they be expansive.

Reaching Up and Out

When I feel that I cannot truly help,
please help me reach up to You.
Lend me Your strength so that I can see,
that although I cannot fix the problem itself,
there are a hundred other things
that I can do to bring comfort
and a hint of You into her day.
Please help me reach up to You,
so that I may reach out in love.

"WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET YOU OUT OF YOUR 'BOX'?"