I had a short, but interesting encounter, yesterday, with the young lady who was on one of the tills in a local supermarket! She was maybe in her early 20s and she caught my eye immediately … she was exceptionally different from the number of other cashiers on duty. It struck me straight away how well she sat!!… Yes I did say sat!

Most cashiers (and probably most of us generally!) are quite slouched at a desk or till… but not her! She had a lovely straight posture and looked very elegant and, dare I say, almost out of place at this till!

I commented on how lovely she looked and what a beautiful straight back she had. She beamed at me and said, “Thank you… most people tease me for it!!”

I couldn’t believe she said that and when I asked her more, she replied that she had a slight curvature of the spine and she had practised toning her back muscles so that she sat, and stood, tall because it made her back stronger.

As serendipitous encounters usually get me thinking… that is what I found myself doing

How easy it is for us to slouch in life -as well as how we sit stand or walk! Our default is often to slouch and allow the loose sloppy ways to define us, rather than straightening up and living free, bold and confidently… which is our inheritance in Christ! Why should we be bent with worries when He has said “Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy laden”? Why should we continue to be bowed with fear when we are loved by Almighty God and “perfect love casts out all fear”! Why should we be timorous and shy when God as made us “more than conquerors though Him who loved us”?

May be we need to practice our spiritual back muscles to strengthen our life! Let us stand tall – and confident in the love of God for us, His peace, His Grace and His joy over our lives!

Have a “tall” week!