There are several recliners in this nice condo we are staying at while having fun with our family in Southern California, but I’m not too fond of either one. The back only goes up to the base of my neck, so you can’t put your head back, meaning I can’t nap in them. My recliner at home has a back that goes up to the top of my head, and the top part behind my head has its own adjustment, so I can get it to fit me perfectly, and I can take a really nice nap in it. A recliner that you can’t take a nap in is useless.

One of the things that I have learned in life is that comfort is relative. Our bicycle trip is coming up in a month, and because we won’t have a support vehicle with us, we will carry everything we need on our bicycles for 44 days. Because we have to carry everything on our bikes, weight is important, so I have a folding three-legged stool that weighs 1 pound. It is much less comfortable than the recliner that I am now sitting in, but it is much nicer than the ground, and I will appreciate it.

God designed life as a whole to be uncomfortable and full of trials and problems so that we would grow in character to be like Jesus, and also so that we would desire heaven and look forward to it. Life in heaven is going to be a million, billion times better than the best day on earth, and no recliner on earth will equal the one I will have in heaven.

The key to growing in character is to enjoy whatever recliner I have, not grumbling and complaining about anything, rejoicing about everything, and being very thankful for all I have from the Lord at any given time. It’s not easy because we are naturally discontent, greedy, and unappreciative of almost everything, but I can do it if I train myself to be content and grateful always.