White Coat Hypertension

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so I thought I'd share a technique I've been using to try to make myself less nervous. I try to think of the doctor and nurses (and all of the other people whose titles include various combinations of the words assistant, tech, clerk, student and practitioner) as stylists, masseurs and general well-being pamperers.

  I imagine those montages that occur in chick flicks right before the leading lady goes to the big party.  You know what I'm talking about.  When she gets her hair done and her friends shower her with outfit options.

  If you're getting a colonoscopy (which thankfully I am not) maybe you can imagine your doctor is one of those masseurs who rubs you with hot stones or beats you with birch branches.  :)  
    My point is that, whatever the appointment is for, you pay medical professionals to contribute to your well-being. Even though they are experts, they work for you.  And no matter what unpleasant treatments and tests they convince you to undergo, ultimately they are caring for you and trying to help you.

I know this little mind trick is not a Biblical truth but here's a Biblical truth: When you're anxious or afraid, it should help to know...

1. How God feels about you - "Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?  ...for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us." Romans 8:32, 33b-34 
2. That you and your loving Savior are literally inseparable -  "No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39
3. In spite of circumstances, Together You can say no to fear - "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?"Psalm 27:1

The Dog Whisperer: Calm Submission to Our Heavenly Pack Leader

       The National Geographic Channel's The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan features misbehaving canines who get a visit from the highly successful dog trainer.  He shares his dog psychology philosophy which centers around the pack.        
       Dogs are pack animals and need direction.  When the owner is not the "pack leader", dogs develop problems like insecurity, fear, obsession, and aggression.  Cesar teaches pet owners to practice "calm assertive energy" and to nurture "calm submissive" energy in their dogs.
       The show is both exciting and soothing.  Exciting because it presents out of control situations and soothing because a confident authority figure, Cesar, comes in and corrects the situations with the best intentions for everyone involved.  Cesar is all about being calm so it makes sense that the show, even though it's full of crazy barking and wild behavior, is strangely calming.
       Cesar occasionally brings his favorite dog with him on cases, a pit bull named Daddy.  Daddy helps Cesar by modeling calm submissive behavior to other dogs.  No matter what happens when he and Cesar visit problem dogs, Daddy is unfazed, curious, with tail wagging.
       On one episode, Cesar is dealing with a territorial dog.  Cesar has to enter the backyard gate with the dog ready to attack.  Cesar brings Daddy to help him as he enters.  Cesar opens the gate and the dog goes crazy, lunging at Daddy.  But Daddy doesn't respond.  Cesar explains that even though the other dog was showing aggression towards Daddy, Daddy won't return the aggression or run away because he is with Cesar, his pack leader.
       Cesar and Daddy remind me of Christians and God.  Of course, God loves us more than a person could ever love a pet.  He loves us infinitely more than we can even understand.  But God wants us to be "calm submissive".  To trust Him no matter what is going on around us.  To obey Him even when we don't understand, it's difficult or it hurts.
       No matter what "dogs" are attacking us.  Whether they are hostile family members, coworkers or strangers.  Whether they are blatantly aggressive, snide or arrogant.  God wants us to be like Daddy and just- not react.  Not with insecurity, fear, obsession or aggression.  Because we're with Him.  We don't have to be afraid.  We don't have to defend ourselves.  We're with Him.  Every moment.  We need to trust Him to handle the situation His way.  And obey.

Psalm 27:1
"The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear? 

The Lord is the strength of my life;

 Of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 55:22
"Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."

1 Peter 3:17   "For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good then for doing evil."

2 Timothy 2:23-26
"But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."