Error Messages

The last couple days I'd been getting error messages when opening my four year old safe. Even though I didn't understand what was going on I didn't want to take the time to research the reason for the malfunction and ignored the messages. Like most things in life there comes a point when ignoring the warning signs is not a wise idea because the situation gets worse. It finally dawned on me this could be serious.

Since I didn't know the underlying cause of the problem I dug out the original paperwork to look for the phone number of the safe company thinking I would need to have it serviced. At the very bottom of the Operating Instructions was a small note “changing batteries.” Wow, I didn't even know this safe had batteries!

My “fix it” muscle has developed over the last 4 years and I feel quite competent to follow operating instructions. All I had to do was find out where the battery holder panel was, remove it and the old batteries and install the new ones. Did I say the safe is on the floor with a narrow space between the floor and the drop down panel? So there I was lying on the hardwood floor on my side with my magnifying glass and flashlight looking for the drop down panel so I can get started. Check...did that.

Now I have to figure out how to get the batteries out so I can change them. Okay...did that. Four batteries drop down...no problem. Batteries changed out, little gray panel back in place to support the batteries. Project complete no more error messages.

Looking back over this experience I realized those error messages from the safe were quite illuminating. I believe our body, just like the safe, gives us warnings when we are tipping into malfunction. Being aware of our unique error messages, paying attention and intervening before we hurt ourselves or others by our words, emotions or behaviors would be the goal so we can function efficiently throughout the day.

I began considering the kind of error messages we might receive as a warning that we are about to malfunction. Irritability or tiredness, a sudden onset headache, back going out, dropping or misplacing things, being late to name a few.

I'm wondering...what are the four “batteries” that keep me operating daily and I turn to when I'm tipping into malfunction. With our mind/body/spirit triad we humans are much more complicated and complex than a safe...but what if? Could we make life simpler by being conscious of our “batteries” and error messages?

While I have many helpful tools, after careful thought I could distill my four “batteries” to these:

1) prayer
2) presence
3) eat mostly healthy (includes dark chocolate) and exercise
4) have a meaningful conversation with someone every day to keep my heart open and connected to the larger world

I don't know about you but I want my personal Operating Instructions to be as clear as the one that came with my safe.