As Minnesota residents, you're likely all familiar with the practice of
"catch and release"
in recreational fishing. Intended as a conservation technique, captured fish are unhooked and returned to the water. American conservationists have advocated catch and release as a way to ensure sustainability and to avoid over fishing of fish stocks as early as the 1930's. Not all anglers were on board right away, but most eventually came to realize that
not every fish caught should be kept
.
I've recently seen that Christians use a similarly coined term, called
"bless and release"
. Though not entirely the same concept, I would say it's a
self-
conservation technique. Humans are prone to ruminate, sometimes seemingly unable to let go of the bothersome. It may be a fear, grudge, old baggage; but it almost always involves another person, or, just yourself. This phrase is unique to me becomes it combines the positive, freeing feeling characteristic of
disengaging hurt
, with the healing affects brought by
praise and gratitude
.
If we look to the book of Ecclesiastes, we see instruction on how to live purposefully and joyfully, contented by God's provision, in trust and obedience to Him. Aptly titled, chapter 3 goes into considerable detail to explain that there is "
A Time for Everything
". Verse 6 exemplifies that there is "a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,".
Next time you face
adversity
, give yourself permission to fully feel and express whatever emotion you carry, then bless the person-or situation-and let it go. This is a process. Some may find it helpful to visualize dumping the weight or writing it on paper that is later thrown away; just make sure to repeat as necessary until you attain the desired results ;)
Harboring negativity holds us back from being the
Kingdom centered blessings
that God intended. Rest easy knowing our Lord has plans for our futures and our welfare, so keep blessing and releasing your way through this month, my friends!
