How to put Organization into Your Chaos

~~ Psalm 46:10a (NIV) ~~  He says, "Be still, and know that I am God..."

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by Carley Cooper

Downtown Toronto, Ontario at Top Speed
Photo by Carley Cooper  All Rights Reserved

Everyone has a busy life these days.  Are you one that has 78 things on your To-Do list, and they’re all #1 priority?  You have an early breakfast meeting, shopping for cousin Emily’s wedding gift, get the kids off to school, a presentation for an important potential client, 6 dozen cupcakes for the church’s bake sale; and if possible, maybe time for a pee, and to kiss your spouse on the way out the door.  You are on system overload.

 

Is Chaos is the Theme of Your Life Sometimes?

Yea, me too.  My head has been like Union Station on a holiday weekend, lately.  There’s noise and people coming and going in every direction.  These scurrying folks are much like the mind of a person with Bipolar Disorder.  Racing thoughts is one of the basic traits (I hate the word symptoms... oops, there it is again).  It’s up there with:

• Extreme Mood Swings (from Depression to Mania)
• Taking on too Much
• Extreme Energy Changes
• Impulsive Behavior
• Damaged Relationships
• Increased Creativity
• Poor Judgement
• Heightened Senses
• Hyper Sexuality
• Talking a Lot (and fast)
• Delusions
• Decreased (or No) Sleep
• Poor Concentration
• Risky Behavior
• Loss of Appetite
• and Mental Breakdowns
• (And those are just the basics; there's more). 

That’s a lot of chaos to put into an already full day.  Racing thoughts are not a question of “If?”, but “How fast?”  Am I going the speed limit on a busy city street, or at maximum speed (in a fast car) on a German autobahn?  Make no wonder our brain’s can’t seem to turn off. 

When You Can’t Prioritize Your List, God Will

In the past few weeks I have been getting messages from God everywhere that says:

• Quiet
• Rest
• Be still

and the scripture verse Psalm 46:10a (NIV), He says, "Be still, and know that I am God..."

I’m not just talking about a few times here and there, but a few times daily.  Obviously God is trying to make me rest.  I’ve tried hard to quiet myself.  My brain, and sometimes my body, doesn’t want to be still. 

Every morning before I get up I do my devotional time.  I read some email devotionals on my Blackberry that came in overnight.  Then, one or two from my books.  Then, I have prayer time.  If I have time, I listen to some worship music.  Other times, maybe a 30 minute meditation program on my MP3 Player.  This morning, again a couple of devotions (from different sources), had the message ‘Be still’.  As,  I began talking to God, I very  clearly felt Him saying in a quiet whisper “Stop”. 

I thought “Huh?”

He said “Stop  talking.  Just listen.”

“Uh, OK”, I said.  I laid down, closed my eyes and listened.

He said “I love you, Child.”

I listened more.  I felt a sensation in my head as though He were touching my mind.  I was aware He was showing me how to slow down my mind, but it wasn’t going to happen in one fell swoop.  I waited to hear what He would say next.  Then, my brain began jumping to different thoughts.  Random items not related to each other.  Emotions and sensory perception is always heightened in those times.  I didn’t move as I laid there.  As if I had turned away from Him, He turned my face (yet, I didn’t move, physically), saying “Me.  Focus on Me.”

My focus went back to Him for a few moments.  My thoughts started jumping to all sorts of things from bills I had to pay, to stressful things happening right now, to conversations I’ve had, conversations I would like to have, and more.  He touched my mind and brought my focus to Him, every time I drifted.    

You Will Be Amazed at the New Prioritized List

I knew immediately that He wasn’t about to drop a miracle cure on me, though He could have.  I also knew it was because there wouldn’t be a lesson in it for me, and I wouldn’t have the tools I need to help others later.  Truthfully, that was totally fine with me.  As hard as this road is to travel, and as much as I’ve longed to fit in, the idea of being normal when I’ve never been there is kinda very scary.  Research for my new book, Cocoa with Jesus; about my life, mental illness and abuse, has taught me that many Bipolar patients feel the same.   

In a documentary called The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive: The Stephen Fry Story (Video’s Part 1, Part 2 - 1 hr each) actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, and film director,  Stephen Fry said:

“I asked many of my fellow Manic Depressives… if they could press a button to release them from their Bipolarity, would they do so?  Most, despite traumatic moments in their life, said ‘No’.  So, after all this, what would I do?  I wouldn’t press the button and live a normal life; not for all the tea in China.”

God Will Organize the Chaos

I know God will be helping me to calm my mind.  If I can create enough strength to control this issue of a run-away brain, then I could have some control over Bipolar Disorder.  It would be much like what Tom Wooton; speaker, author, Bipolar sufferer, founder of Bipolar Advantage, and writer of a column of the same name for Psychology Today calls Bipolar IN Order; as opposed to Bipolar DISorder.  The mission of Bipolar Advantage is ” to help people with mental conditions shift their thinking and behavior so that they can lead extraordinary lives. “ 

It’s a fascinating concept.  It’s also a course offered to sufferers and clinicians alike, that is getting rave reviews.  They teach how to control the disorders in such a way the patient can still function in life.  It is NOT remission, but it makes that extremely wide zone, that is dangerous to the Bipolar patient, become controlled enough to be safe.  Life will still be in the extreme-personality zones without the danger, or restriction to a ‘box’ life that personalities just don’t fit into. 

I’ve learned God does not waste anything; not even mental breakdowns, mania, or bad decisions.  If I can still my thoughts, even for a few minutes each day, to allow God to work in my mind as He does in my heart, I could eliminate much of the chaos from the Bipolar Disorder, and put it IN order.  Then maybe I can help others do the same.  How cool would that be?!   

Nothing is ever so hopeless that God can’t organize, clean, straighten, lighten, vacuum, build, or fix it.  It’s when you are racing at top speed and can’t stop, be still, and listen; is exactly when you need to do exactly that.  Stop, be quietly, breathe, be still, and listen.  He will help you organize the chaos.

Let’s Pray

 ~~ Dear God ~~ Merciful, Loving Father; thank You for never giving up on me.  I know that sometimes You can be at the bottom of my To-Do list.  Help me to make You my very first priority each morning, and to go to bed each night knowing that I accomplished all the tasks assigned to me in a manner that is pleasing to You.  Please use my struggles and victories to further Your kingdom, and to help others.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

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