What do you do?

In the last 24 hours so many things have happened...
- Walking home from one of the kids schools I had a dangerous dog sniffing around my ankles, making me nervous about whether I was its breakfast!
- Reading about a certain city council blocking bulk protest emails so that the staff/councillors don't have to read peoples opinions!
- Read an article that says that having sexual desire, no matter what orientation is simply something you are born with (with reference to pedophilia)!
- Seeing a report that a group threw someone off a building because because they didn't agree with their lifestyle. To make it worse, when he miraculously survived the fall they gathered around him and stoned him to death!
- Found out a friend has been diagnosed with cancer!
...I could go on and on....

What do you do?

Vent your spleen on social media?
Medicate yourself so you don't feel it anymore?
Bury yourself in work or a hobby hoping it goes away?
Go on a shooting rampage?

If you have read any other blog from me you will be smart enough to know that they are not things I recommend!

Here are some options to consider:

Pause
I have found that 9 times out of 10 the best course of action is to pause for a moment and think about what the 'next thing' may be, as opposed to just being the 'next thing'.
Giving yourself a chance to breath means you are more likely to respond the best way.

Proverbs tells us that the wise hold their tongue, not 'flap it' reacting with it.
Consider your move before you make a move...and yes, there is probably a move you can make...

Pray
Praying does more than get things off your chest or let God know how you are feeling!
I have found that though prayer I am better able to navigate my thoughts over what I am facing. Many times I have found myself journeying through the matter as I prayed, coming to conclusions and thoughts that seem more in line with God's plan.
Prayer seems to help position your heart better than when we are left to our own devices.

Proceed (with caution)
The Bible goes to great lengths to tell us what we can be/should be. Never have I found it to say that we should be protestors or procrastinators.
Protesting is the domain of others, not God's people.
And when He brings something to our attention, it is not a call to fence sitting.

I read things like these:
That we are called to the ministry of reconciliation.
That we are called to be the Church, which is the hope of the world.
That we are called to be the Salt and Light in the world.

So whatever you find winding you up this week...
How about consider the P's and see if that helps you navigate, reconcile, move through that thing just a little better?

Something to think about...