Halt !!!!

Halt's a pretty strong word.  Stronger than "stop" and much stronger than "stay put".  In fact, when a person hears the word "halt" I would guess that most view it as a strong order, one that needs to be obeyed.  It leaves little doubt in one's mind that one should immediately stop what one is doing and maybe even "freeze" in position....whatever that may be.

With regards to our personal lives, when talking or thinking about ourselves, we never "halt" something.  We will stop smoking or drinking or swearing (or think we need to stop), but we don't halt it. When the kids are boisterous, we don't tell them to halt.  We ask them to stop it.  It just isn't used in our everyday speaking.

Interestingly, "halt" is a word that can be used to make each of us a better man, husband, and father, and in the context of not being an order or a negative.  To many folks who have spent time at the 12 step tables, the word halt has a significant meaning to them.......because by remembering it and using it, it can serve to assure them of a better moment or a better day.  And isn't that what we all want?

Aren't some of the curveballs or problems we face daily of our own doing?  If we really focus and are honest about it, we would have to say yes.  And don't we seem to have our best moments and days when we are "on it", when our mo-jo is at it's peak?  Rarely do we have those best moments and days when we aren't "right", do we?  And here is where "halt" comes in.

Hungry

Angry

Lonely

Tired

How good is your game on when any of those four things has come into play?  And how much worse is it when there is a combination of those four things in play?   When any of those four, or any combination thereof is into play in your life at any given time, what is the effect on your relationship with those around you?  How does it affect your relationship with God? 

 

You see, those four things are really satisfiers  If we are not hungry, angry, lonely, and/or tired, we are pretty much satisfied, are we not?  And if we are satisfied, do not our relationships with all of those about us, including God, seem much more on keel than when we are not? 

 

Could it possibly be time to make a decision to halt getting yourself into situations where you get hungry, angry, lonely, and tired?