I opened my journal from 2017, where I had listed concerns I had during that time. They seem so trivial in light of my current point of view. Dad told he experienced this in his life; how past woes and strains that seemed so monumental became inconsequential. Dad would listen to me share about one of my numerous daily problems, and he would ask me, “Jennifer, is this something you want to harass your mind, or would you like to be free of this?” 

“I obviously want to be free. I don’t want to be plagued in my mind about this relational issue, struggle, or difficulty,” I responded. Dad encouraged me to make my mind a sanctuary, to set aside all the nagging problems, and enter into the “secret garden” of sacred space with God. He reminded me my thoughts are not my masters. I am responsible for the quality of my ruminations. I said to the NBC Camps central office this season that my goal is to have a lovely and peaceful mind. I want a mind that if you had an opportunity to enter at any point, you would encounter God, you would feel loved and welcome, you would find joy and peace, you may even find sorrow, but you would definitely find beauty. You would not find bitterness, resentment, judgment, harsh treatment of myself or others, fear, anxiety, or ego. One of my favorite writers is Fyodor Dostoyevsky. He wrote “Crime and Punishment” which is an incredible book about redemption. He writes, “Beauty will save the world, and nothing is more beautiful than Christ.” As I follow the lyrics of one of my favorite worship songs from my youth, it tells me to “Turn my eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” A mind focused on Christ is a beautiful mind. 

“What is noble, what is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8

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