You know, I’ve noticed that every time I do one particular thing, I always take a very quick, slightly embarrassed, look around to make sure that no one is watching.  I mean, there’s a very sensible reason why I do what I do, but I’m realistic enough to know that if anyone saw me do it they could very easily think I was just slightly off the planet.

Even Kylie, who knows full well what I’m doing, couldn’t resist teasing me the other day, saying with a laugh, “Yes Mum, it’s a good house isn’t it?”

I just rolled my eyes as I got into the driver’s seat beside her (which is a novelty all of its own since Kylie got her licence last year), and admitted that it did probably look really silly, but at least I avoided the consequences of not doing it.

So what is this slightly loopy thing that’s become a habit every time I drive in or out of the garage?  Well, basically it’s just that I make a very intentional point of patting the brickwork next to the roller door.  As Kylie pointed out, this quick act could very easily look, to the uninitiated, as though I’m giving the house my approval before leaving, or perhaps even telling it to “Stay!” while I’m away.

If that were my intention, then I’d have to report that our house is very good at keeping commands, because it’s never once tried to follow me down the road.

But of course, that isn’t why I do what I do.  I wonder if you’ve guessed why I do it yet.

Some may think that I’m just an incredibly superstitious person, and that I’ve created some sort of “pat the brickwork” protection ritual over the house.

But that would be wrong too.  I suspect that I’m one of the least superstitious people on the planet, which really is as it should be for those who are a part of the family of God.

Then again, some may interpret my action as not superstitious, but perhaps a more Christian type of thing, with that little pat being the end of a prayer of blessing over our home.

I suppose that would actually be quite a nice little thing to do, but again, that’s not why I do the thing I do.

To be honest, there’s only one reason I give the bricks a little pat before opening or closing the garage door, and that’s quite simply to protect myself!

You see, it all started about five months ago when for some reason or other the build up of static electricity in our bodies just seemed to be incredibly high.

Sure there’ve been other times when we’ve had the odd “zap” or two, but this time was different.  After a few months of putting up with these little lightning bolts between our fingers and the metal of the car or garage door, we reached the point where it was becoming just a bit annoying.

Well, actually, quite a lot!  Perhaps it had something to do with the very dry weather we’d been experiencing in Sydney, or maybe we’d just become human power supplies.  Either way, it wasn’t fun.It got to the point where I was almost approaching the garage door with fear and trembling; and sure enough, every time I put the key in the lock, I’d get zapped.

Finally I decided that enough was enough, and that was when I started my habit of tapping the brickwork before touching the roller door.  Instantly the problem was solved as the static charge was somehow earthed through the bricks before it had a chance to give its fingertip fireworks display.

Even though it’s quite possible that the static electricity isn’t quite so bad now, I’m still not taking any chances.  As far as I’m concerned, it’s absolutely no problem whatsoever for me to keep touching base, just to be on the safe side!

Now you may laugh at my cowardice, but I read a sign the other day that made me realise that there are some situations where static’s not only annoying, but can also be quite dangerous as well.  I noticed that our local petrol station has just amended their “warning” sign, to include a note about this very thing.  Right there in the list alongside the rules about not smoking or using a mobile phone, is a new one about the need to discharge static electricity before pumping gas.  As amazing as it seems, just one tiny, little spark of static electricity actually has the potential to ignite the fumes from the tank and cause a very dangerous situation.

So whether the risk to me is minimal or great, I’m definitely going to make sure that I keep doing what’s necessary to protect my physical well being.  In other words, I’m going to keep touching base!

And the same is just as true for my spiritual well being.  Emotional “static” has a tendency to build up in and around us every day, and all too often we end up on the receiving end of an unpleasant jolt as the sparks fly.

The question is, then, what’s the equivalent to brick tapping when it comes to our daily Christian walk?  How do we neutralize or dissipate that spiritual and emotional static before it becomes too powerful?

Well, once again, it’s as simple as touching base, and we can do this by following our Saviour’s example.

No matter whether He was having a good day or a difficult day; no matter whether He was feeling fully awake or very weary, every morning and every evening Jesus always made a point of separating Himself from everyone else and touching base with the Father.  Mark records one such time in Chapter 1, verse 35 of his Gospel account, where he wrote:

Long before the sun had made its first appearance, and before the coming day was able to bring its share of troubles, Jesus touched base with the Father.

In Matthew Chapter 14, verse 23, we see a similar event, but at the other end of what was a very busy day.  Matthew wrote:

Again, Jesus took time to touch base with His Father in Heaven.

How much more then, should we do the same?

As we touch base with our heavenly Father, we’ll find that all the “static” build up that comes from living in a dry and often difficult world, will be totally dissipated leaving us feeling refreshed - emotionally and spiritually.

But there’s even more!  You see, when I touch the brickwork, it only absorbs the electrical charge that’s built up in my body.  That’s great, and I certainly appreciate it, but when we touch base with God, He not only takes our cares and concerns (that’s the static), but he also pours back into us His life, energy and strength, so that we can then go out into the day in the power of his might!

I think we would all agree that in the world today there are a huge number of events and situations that are causing many (if not most) to feel a great build up of “static” in their life.  There’s a sense of helplessness and fear that’s underlying the daily living of many men, women and children.

If that’s you, then I encourage you to take charge and reach out and touch the greatest Power of all.  He’ll absorb those fears and concerns which are causing you pain, and then re-charge you with His love, peace, joy and strength.

So, have you touched base today?