Holidays And Hotels

What is it with hotel shower curtains?

I’ll admit I haven’t stayed in thousands of hotels, but it seems like almost all of the ones I have stayed in have had really crappy shower curtains. You know the ones that are a little bit porous and never quite wide enough. Even though you are super careful to make sure the curtain is inside the bath, you still end up with more water on the floor than on your body!

It can’t be a money thing surely? I mean most of these hotels have fancy linen and flat screen TVs in the room. A decent shower curtain costs a fraction of these other luxuries. Surely they could spare an extra bob or two? Or maybe go all out and put in a glass door. Or is glass to risky for the general public?

Anyway, I digress…

For the past week my wife and I have been staying at a gorgeous hotel called the Beacon Island in Plettenberg Bay. As you can see in the photo, the hotel was built on probably one of the most exquisite locations in the whole country. And (other than the shower curtain fiasco) it has been such a wonderful stay.

I heard someone say that God loves to “create space for life” and that we too are called to “create space” in our own lives, and in the lives of others.

So often our day-to-day existence becomes just that – simply existing. We give our time to and fill up our plates with so many things that seem to steal life, not create it. And so this holiday Jess and I have tried to be really intentional about doing just that.

Creating space.

For our marriage. For our friendships. For our health. For our minds and thoughts.

We’ve ordered room service, lazed around the pool, exercised, slept, had deep conversations, spent quality time with old friends, and generally just switched off and relaxed.

Now of course all this is easy when you’re on holiday. But it’s got me asking questions…

How can I “create space for life” in my everyday world? What things do I need to let go of? What things drain me? What fills me up? What do I need to be more disciplined about?

And of course, what is wrong with this stupid shower curtain?!

Do Power Balance Bracelets Really Work?

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, let me enlighten you. Power Balance bracelets are plastic bracelets embedded with a hologram that supposedly “works with your body’s natural energy field to increase strength, flexibility and overall performance.”

And they are everywhere!  In fact, it seems nowadays that every second person you meet is wearing one.

A while ago as a joke I tweeted -

“To all you Power Balance bracelet wearers – I have a ring that repels dragons, and I am willing to send it to you for free!”

- and it caused quite a stir! It seems to me that there are people on both sides. Those who swear by them, and those who say they are a complete scam!

As a physiotherapist trained in clinical reasoning, my initial reaction was “C’mon – you’ve got to be kidding me! Where are the random-double-blind studies? The hard facts proving it works?” And the truth is – there are none. In fact in Australia recently Power Balance posted a retraction and had to apologize to consumers for misleading advertising.

But, despite all this, I am also an owner of the infamous Power Balance bracelet (someone gave it to me I promise!) and, I have to be honest, I’ve worn it a few times surfing and paddling. You see, even though my brain is telling me this thing is just a brilliant and well-marketed money-making scheme – a modern version of “snake-oil” – there is also a small part of me that wants to believe it works.

Because the truth is we all want a magic formula.

Whether it’s to sort out our marriage, increase our business, build our ministry, or get a six-pack, we are all susceptible to taking the quick and easy option. Unfortunately, as I’m figuring out, for the most part there are no magic formulas or quick fixes in life. Relationships, love and financial freedom, like “power, balance, and flexibility” take work. A lot of hard work.

The bible says it like this: “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” (Prov 21:5)

So… what do you think about Power Balance? Real-deal, placebo or hoax?

And more importantly, what challenge or problem in your life are you avoiding or looking for the magic formula to fix?

PS: I still have those dragon rings if any of you are interested. I’ll give you a special price

Unforced Rhythms

I’ve recently taken up surf-ski paddling. And I love it! I love being out on the ocean, riding the swells, and looking back over the skyscape of the city I call home. The problem is I’m pretty useless as a paddler. Initially I thought it was all about upper body strength. But I quickly learnt that it’s not about strength at all – it’s about rhythm.

I think spirituality is a bit like that too. It’s not about strength – trying harder to be a better person through sheer willpower – but more about rhythm.

Rob Bell says, “When I think of God, I hear a song.”

It’s a song about love, peace, grace and hope. It’s a song that’s playing all around us all the time, and everyone is playing the song. In fact, the question isn’t whether we are playing the song or not, but rather “are we in tune?”

I’ve met many Christians who claim to know God, and yet seem so out of tune, and I’ve met many people who know nothing about Christianity and yet seem completely in tune with God’s song. Why is that?

You see, when it comes to rhythm, it helps to have knowledge about music. It helps you to appreciate the little nuances and complexities that make up the song, but you can still be way out of tune. On the other hand, you can know nothing about notes and keys and still sing in perfect harmony.

Jesus says it this way: Walk with me and learn the “unforced rhythms of grace”.  He says, the closer we get to God, the more in step we are with His song.

Are you still trying to use your own strength to “force” spirituality? Or are you learning God’s “unforced rhythms”, tapping your feet to His beat?

Inspiration for this blog came from Rob Bell’s NOOMA DVD “Rhythm”.