Posted on by Pastor Poet

Secure Your Own Mask

January 12, 2026

Lessons from Flight Safety

I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve flown around the world. I’ve practically memorized the safety speeches they give at the beginning of each flight. The one that stands out to me is the one about changes in cabin pressure that require the deployment of oxygen masks.

The flight attendants make it clear that if there is an incident, the first thing everyone should do is to secure their own mask. And if you are traveling with someone who cannot secure their own mask, always make sure to secure your OWN mask first.

The Underlying Principle

For me this translates to a simple truth.

We cannot care for others well, when we do not care for ourselves. We set up unhealthy habits and codependence’s based on guilt-savior complexes that can ultimately break us and stifle the growth of those we are aiming to care for when we compromise caring and loving ourselves well.

Secure your own mask.

Encouragement for Caregivers and Leaders

So, if you are a parent, a caregiver, a manager, or a ministry leader, I encourage you to ask for support and seek prayers from those you trust. But when these are missing, do NOT feel bad or guilty about taking time to care for yourself. This is not selfishness; this is wisdom.

Secure your own mask.

The Overlooked Needs of Supporters

While prayers are easy to remember for those who are struggling, those who are ill, or for those who require special care, sometimes prayers for those who provide support and care are lacking. And oftentimes, the actual support for those who care for others is conspicuously absent.

So, the wisest and most compassionate thing you can do for yourselves and for others is to learn to…

Secure your own mask.

We cannot help anyone if we are incapacitated. Get it?

We love others AS we love ourselves.

Matthew 19:19

Now, secure your own mask.

Good Morning, I love you all.

ihs,

just adam 

Posted on by Pastor Poet

Time & Distance

Have you ever been on the road behind a large vehicle that blocks your view and impedes your progress?

I have, and I think it has unnecessarily raised my blood pressure on several occasions. But I’ve learned something over the years.

Some obstacles, and I must stress very firmly the ‘some,’ can be avoided with patience, distance, and just a little bit of planning. Some delays can be prevented when we develop a broader perspective.

By giving ‘big things’ room sometimes we can see better. We can see around them in ways that we cannot when you’re right up on them. Huge impasses become manageable and sometimes avoidable when we give ourselves time and space to move around them.

No, we cannot avoid every obstacle, but we also don’t need to get stuck trying to plow through stuff we may be able to go around if we give ourselves some time and space.

By learning to look down the road a bit, we are not consumed by what’s immediately before us. We realize that we can perhaps even change lanes. Does that make sense?

It may simply be that we need to learn to slow down, and to develop some patience, in order to avoid the frustration caused by the disruptions that life sometimes serves us. We can get where we’re going safely and with less anxiety by giving ourselves just a little extra time and space. Try that out!

Are there some large things looming ahead of you that are obscuring your view and impeding your progress? Give yourself some time and some distance, and you may see that you can get around it, and if you can’t get around it, you can at least make it safely through!

Slow down. Give yourself some time and space. Be patient. You will get where you’re going!

Remember:

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way…

Psalm 37:23

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam